“Wickedness is a cowardly thing.
It is condemned
By its own testimony.
Distressed by conscience,
It has always exaggerated the difficulties.
Fear is nothing but a giving up of the helps
That come from reason.
Fear gives up hope.
It is defeated
By this inward weakness.
It prefers ignorance of what causes the torment.
Throughout the night,
That was really powerless,
Which came upon them
From the recesses of powerless Hades.
They all slept the same sleep.”
Wickedness (πονηρία) is cowardly. Its own witness (μαρτυρεῖ) condemns it. Wickedness always exaggerates difficulties so that it fears (φόβος) everything that comes from reason (λογισμοῦ). The wicked give up hope. They are defeated by their own inner weakness. They prefer ignorance of what causes problems. They are powerless throughout the night, like a powerless hell or Hades (ἀδυνάτου ᾅδου). However, everyone sleeps the same sleep, no matter what.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 