Wisdom 19

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
1 But the impious, all the way to the very end, were overcome by anger without mercy. Indeed, he knew beforehand even their future.	1 Pero sobre los impíos se abatió hasta el fin una ira despiadada, porque Dios tenía previsto lo que ellos harían:
2 Yet, seeing that they might have repented, so that they would be led by him and be sent forth with great concern, the just sought the impious, while regretting their deeds.	2 después de dejar que el pueblo se fuera, y de ungirlos a partir apresuradamente, ellos, cambiando de idea, saldrían a perseguirlos.
3 For, while the just were still holding grief in their hands and weeping at the tombs of the dead, these others took upon themselves another senseless thought, and they cast out the legislators and pursued them as if they were fugitives.	3 En efecto, cuando todavía celebraban sus ritos fúnebres y se lamentaban junto a las tumbas de sus muertos, concibieron otro proyecto descabellado: a los que ellos mismos habían rogado que se fueran los comenzaron a perseguir como fugitivos.
4 For a fitting necessity was leading them to this end, and they were losing the remembrance of those things which had happened, so that what was lacking in the sufferings of the conflict might be completed by the punishment,	4 La fuerza de las cosas los arrastraba con toda justicia a ese extremo y les hacía olvidar lo que había sucedido, para que terminaran de sufrir el castigo que aún faltaba a sus tormentos:
5 and so that your people, indeed, might wonderfully pass through, but these others might find a new death.	5 así, mientras tu pueblo emprendía una maravillosa travesía, ellos encontrarían una muerte insólita.
6 For every creature according to its kind was fashioned again as from the beginning, diligently serving your teachings, so that your children would be preserved unharmed.	6 Porque la creación entera, obedeciendo a tus órdenes, adquiría nuevas formas en su propia naturaleza, para que tus hijos fueran preservados incólumes.
7 For a cloud overshadowed their camp, and where water was before, dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea, a way without hindrance, and out of the great deep, a level field sprung up,	7 Se vio a la nuble cubrir el campamento con su sombra y emerger la tierra seca de lo que antes era agua; apareció en el Mar Rojo un camino despejado y una verde llanura, entre las olas impetuosas:
8 through which the whole nation passed, protected by your hand, seeing your miracles and wonders.	8 por allí paso todo un pueblo, protegido por tu mano, contemplando prodigios admirables.
9 For they consumed food like horses, and they leapt about like lambs, praising you, O Lord, who had freed them.	9 Eran como caballos en un pastizal y retozaban como corderos, alabándote a ti, Señor, su liberador.
10 For they were still mindful of those things which had happened during the time of their sojourn, how, instead cattle, the earth brought forth flies, and instead of fish, the river cast up a multitude of frogs.	10 Todavía recordaban lo que había sucedido en su destierro: cómo los mosquitos, en lugar de reproducirse naturalmente, fueron producidos por la tierra, y cómo las ranas, en lugar de nacer de otros animales acuáticos, fueron vomitadas por el Río en gran cantidad.
11 And, lastly, they saw a new kind of bird, when, being led by their desire, they demanded a feast of meat.	11 Más tarde, vieron también un nuevo modo de nacer las aves: cuando, excitados por la gula, ellos reclamaron manjares delicados,
12 For, to console their loss, the quail came up to them from the sea, and yet troubles overcame the sinners, though they were not without the evidence of what had happened before by the power of lightning, for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness.	12 para reconfortarlos, subieron codornices desde el mar.
13 And indeed, they set up a more detestable inhospitality. Certainly, some have refused to receive unknown foreigners, but these others were drafting good guests into servitude,	13 Pero sobre los pecadores se abatieron los castigos, no sin antes ser preanunciados por la furia de los rayos: con toda justicia, ellos sufrían a causa de su maldad, ya que habían llevado al extremo su odio contra el extranjero.
14 and not only foreigners, but also those who had been under their care, because they were reluctantly sheltering the outsiders.	14 Porque otros no recibieron a los desconocidos que llegaban, pero estos redujeron a servidumbre a huéspedes bienhechores.
15 Yet whoever had sheltered them with gladness, by making use of the very same justice, they afflicted with the most severe sorrow.	15 Más aún, aquellos –y eso se les tendrá en cuenta– mostraron desde el principio hostilidad ante el extranjero;
16 Yet they were struck with blindness, like someone brought before the gates of justice, so that they were suddenly covered with darkness, and each one was left searching for the threshold of his front door.	16 pero estos, en cambio, después de recibir a tu pueblo con fiestas, y de hacerlo participar de sus mismos derechos, lo maltrataron con terribles trabajos.
17 For the elements in themselves are in the process of being changed, just as when the sound of a musical instrument is being altered in quality, yet each one keeps its own sound, from where it is considered to be and according to its fixed appearance.	17 Por eso fueron castigados con la ceguera, como aquellos otros a las puertas del justo cuando rodeados de profundas tinieblas, cada uno buscaba el acceso de su puerta.
18 For the countryside was transformed by water, and things which were swimming, crossed over the land.	18 Así, los elementos intercambiaban entre sí sus propiedades, como en un instrumento de cuerdas los sonidos cambian su ritmo, permaneciendo siempre la misma tonalidad. Esto es lo que se infiere claramente al examinar lo sucedido:
19 Fire prevailed in the midst of water, beyond its own power, and the water forgot its quenching nature.	19 seres terrestres se volvían acuáticos, los que nadan se desplazaban sobre la tierra;
20 On the other hand, the flames did not trouble the bodies of the mortal animals walking around, nor did they melt that good food, which is as easily melted as ice. For in all things, O Lord, you magnified your people, and honored them, and did not despise them, but at every time and in every place, you assisted them.	20 el fuego superaba en el agua su propia fuerza y el agua olvidaba su poder de apagar;
	21 las llamas, por el contrario, no consumían la carne de los seres corruptibles que pasaban por ellas, ni tampoco derretían aquel alimento divino, parecido a la escarcha y tan fácil de disolverse.
	22 Por todos los medios, Señor, tú has engrandecido y glorificado a tu pueblo, y no has dejado de asistirlo en todo tiempo y lugar.