How a snake-catcher stole a snake from another snake-catcher.

A petty thief carried off a snake from a snake-catcher and in his folly was accounting it a prize.

The snake-catcher escaped from the snake's bite; the man who had robbed him was miserably killed by the snake.

The snake-catcher saw him (dead); then he recognised him and said, “My snake has emptied him of life.

My soul was desiring of Him (God) in prayer that I might find him and take the snake from him.

Thanks to God that that prayer was rejected: I thought ’twas loss, but it has turned out to be gain.”

Many are the prayers which are loss and destruction, and from kindness the Holy God is not hearing them.