Sabiduría 17

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Grandes e inenarrables son tus juicios, por eso, las almas ignorantes se extraviaron.	1 For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.
2 Porque cuando los impíos pensaban que podían oprimir a una nación santa, yacían encadenados en las tinieblas, prisioneros de una larga noche, encerrados bajo sus techos, excluidos de la providencia eterna.	2 For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the eternal providence.
3 Ellos pensaban mantenerse ocultos con sus pecados secretos, bajo el oscuro velo del olvido, pero fueron dispersados, presa de terrible espanto, y aterrorizados por fantasmas.	3 And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly afraid and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.
4 Porque el reducto que los protegía no los preservaba del miedo; ruidos estremecedores resonaban a su alrededor y se les aparecían espectros lúgubres, de rostro sombrío.	4 For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, affrighted them.
5 Ningún fuego tenía fuerza suficiente para alumbrar, ni el resplandor brillante de las estrellas lograba iluminar aquella horrible noche.	5 And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.
6 Solamente brillaba para ellos una masa de fuego que se encendía por sí misma, sembrando el terror, y una vez desaparecida aquella visión, quedaban aterrados y consideraban lo que habían visto peor de lo que era.	6 But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the things which they saw to be worse:
7 Los artificios de la magia resultaban ineficaces, y su pretendida ciencia quedaba vergonzosamente desmentida,	7 And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.
8 porque los que prometían liberar las almas enfermas de temores y sobresaltos, estaban, ellos mismos, enfermos de un temor ridículo.	8 For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.
9 Aunque nada terrorífico les infundiera temor, horrorizados por el paso de los bichos y el silbido de los reptiles,	9 For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear: and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.
10 se morían de miedo, y hasta rehusaban mirar el aire, del que nadie puede escapar.	10 For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things.
11 Porque la maldad es cobarde y su propio testimonio la condena: acosada por la conciencia, imagina siempre lo peor.	11 For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from thought.
12 El miedo, en efecto, no es sino el abandono de la ayuda que da la reflexión:	12 And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.
13 cuanto menos se cuenta con esa seguridad interior, tanto más grave se considera ignorar la causa del tormento.	13 But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the same sleep.
14 Durante esa noche verdaderamente impotente, salida de las profundidades del Abismo impotente, sumergidos en un mismo sueño,	14 Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for fear was come upon them.
15 eran perseguidos a la vez por espectros monstruosos y paralizados por el desfallecimiento de su alma, porque un terror repentino e inesperado los había invadido.	15 Moreover if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in prison without irons.
16 Así, cualquiera que caía en ese estado quedaba prisionero, encerrado en esa prisión sin hierros.	16 For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly.
17 Ya fuera labrador o pastor, o trabajara en lugares solitarios, al ser sorprendido, tenía que soportar la ineludible necesidad,	17 For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with violence,
18 porque todos estaban atados por una misma cadena de tinieblas. El silbido del viento, el canto melodioso de los pájaros en la arboleda, el ruido cadencioso de las aguas en su impetuoso correr,	18 Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these things made them to swoon for fear.
19 el violento estruendo de las rocas cayendo en avalanchas, la invisible carrera de animales encabritados, el rugido de las fieras más salvajes, el eco que retumba en los huecos de las montañas, todo los llenaba de terror y los paralizaba.	19 For the whole world was enlightened with a clear light, and none were hindered in their labours.
20 Porque el mundo entero estaba iluminado por una luz resplandeciente y se dedicaba libremente a sus trabajos;	20 But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more grievous than the darkness.
21 solamente sobre ellos se extendía una pesada noche, imagen de las tinieblas que les estaban reservadas. Pero más que de las tinieblas, ellos sentían el peso de sí mismos.