Wisdom 18:18

In the middle of the night, he says that the almighty God sends a word from heaven, from royal seats, a harsh conqueror, to leap into the midst of the land of destruction, and to exercise the judgment of death powerfully upon the wicked. For what is the word of the Lord, if not the Son of God? Of whom John says: In the beginning was the Word, and it is rightly said that the visions of evil dreams and unexpected fears disturbed the enemies of the people of God, so that neither to those awake nor to those sleeping was any rest given, who, because of their crimes, were destined for perpetual torments. But the very plagues warned the guilty so that they might recognize why they suffered evils, lest they perish in ignorance; this is the goodness of God, who therefore chastises sinners so that they may restrain themselves from sins and repent of past evils; but if they persist in evil and abuse the patience of God for the increase of their crimes, condemned by the just judgment of God, they will be punished without excuse in the future.

And one here, another there, namely than the other, cast down half-dead, that is, at the extremity of his life; he showed the cause of death on account of which he was dying, namely by indicating to others, as he was able, namely on account of the hardness of heart rebelling against the God of the Hebrews and against Moses, his servant: Romans 2: "According to your hardness and impenitent heart."