Sirach 38

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
1 Honor the physician because of necessity, and because the Most High created him.	1 Honra al médico por sus servicios, como corresponde, porque también a él lo ha creado el Señor.
2 For all healing is from God, and so he will receive gifts from the King.	2 La curación procede del Altísimo, y el médico recibe presentes del rey.
3 The expertise of the physician will lift up his head, and in the sight of great men, he will be praised.	3 La ciencia del médico afianza su prestigio y él se gana la admiración de los grandes.
4 The Most High has created medicines from the earth, and a prudent man will not abhor them.	4 El Señor hizo brotar las plantas medicinales, y el hombre prudente no las desprecia.
5 Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?	5 ¿Acaso una rama no endulzó el agua, a fin de que se conocieran sus propiedades?
6 The benefits of these things is recognized by men, and the Most High has given this knowledge to men, so that he may be honored in his wonders.	6 El Señor dio a los hombres la ciencia, para ser glorificado por sus maravillas.
7 By these things, he will cure or mitigate their suffering, and the pharmacist will make soothing ointments, and he will form healing medicines, and there will be no end to his works.	7 Con esos remedios el médico cura y quita el dolor, y el farmacéutico prepara sus ungüentos.
8 For the peace of God is upon the surface of the earth.	8 Así, las obras del Señor no tienen fin, y de él viene la salud a la superficie de la tierra.
9 Son, in your infirmity, you should not neglect yourself, but pray to the Lord, and he will cure you.	9 Si estás enfermo, hijo mío, no seas negligentes, ruega al Señor, y él te sanará.
10 Turn away from sin, and direct your hands, and cleanse your heart from every offense.	10 No incurras en falta, enmienda tu conducta y purifica tu corazón de todo pecado.
11 Give a sweet offering, and a memorial of fine flour, and fatten your oblation, but also give a place to the physician.	11 Ofrece el suave aroma y el memorial de harina, presenta una rica ofrenda, como si fuera la última.
12 For the Lord created him. And so, do not let him depart from you, for his works are necessary.	12 Después, deja actuar al médico, porque el Señor lo creó; que no se aparte de ti, porque lo necesitas.
13 For there is a time when you may fall into their hands.	13 En algunos casos, tu mejoría está en sus manos,
14 Truly, they will beseech the Lord, so that he may direct their treatments and cures, for the sake of their way of life.	14 y ellos mismos rogarán al Señor que les permita dar un alivio y curar al enfermo, para que se restablezca.
15 He who sins in the sight of the One who made him will fall into the hands of the physician.	15 El hombre que peca delante de su Creador, ¡que caiga en manos del médico!
16 Son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to weep, as if you had suffered dreadfully. And according to judgment, cover his body, and you should not neglect his burial.	16 Hijo mío, por un muerto, derrama lágrimas, y entona un lamento, como quien sufre terriblemente. Entierra su cadáver en la forma establecida y no descuides su sepultura.
17 And though you will sink down into bitterness, bear his mourning for one day, and then be consoled in your sadness.	17 Llora amargamente, golpéate el pecho, y observa el duelo que él se merece, uno o dos días, para evitar comentarios, y luego consuélate de tu tristeza.
18 And carry out his mourning, according to his merit, for one or two days because of this loss.	18 Porque la tristeza lleva a la muerte y un corazón abatido quita las fuerzas.
19 Yet sadness hastens death and overwhelms strength, and the sorrow of the heart bows down the neck.	19 En la desgracia la tristeza es permanente, y el corazón maldice una vida miserable.
20 When one is taken away, sorrow remains. But the resources of a destitute man is found in his heart.	20 No te dejes llevar por la tristeza, aléjala, acordándote de tu fin.
21 You should not give your heart over to sadness, but push it away from you. And remember the very end.	21 Nunca lo olvides: ¡no hay camino de retorno! Al muerto, no podrás serle útil y te harás mal a ti.
22 Do not be willing to forget this; for there is no turning back. Otherwise, it will not benefit you, and you will cause great harm to yourself.	22 «Recuerda mi destino, que será también el tuyo: ayer a mí y hoy a ti».
23 Call to mind my judgment. For so shall it be for you also. Yesterday is mine, and today is yours.	23 Ya que el muerto descansa, deja en paz su memoria, y trata de consolarte, porque ha partido su espíritu.
24 When the deceased is at rest, let his memory rest also. And console him at the departure of his spirit.	24 La sabiduría del escriba exige tiempo y dedicación, y el que no está absorbido por otras tareas, se hará sabio.
25 The wisdom of a scribe is found in his time of leisure. So whoever has less to do will gain wisdom.	25 ¿Cómo se hará sabio el que maneja el arado y se enorgullece de empuñar la picana, el que guía los bueyes, trabaja con ellos, y no sabe hablar más que de novillos?
26 With what wisdom will someone be filled who holds the plow, and who boasts of the cattle prod that drives the oxen forward, and who is occupied in these labors, and whose only conversation is about the offspring of bulls?	26 El pone todo su empeño en abrir los surcos y se desvela por dar forraje a las terneras.
27 He will give his mind over to the plowing of furrows, and his vigilance to the fattening of the cows.	27 Lo mismo pasa con el artesano y el constructor, que trabajan día y noche; con los que graban las efigies de los sellos y modifican pacientemente los diseños: ellos se dedican a reproducir el modelo y trabajan hasta tarde para acabar la obra.
28 Similarly, every craftsman and artisan, who crafts in the night as well as in the day, who sculpts graven seals, and who, by his diligence, varies the image, will give his mind over to the likeness of the image. And he will complete the work by his vigilance.	28 Lo mismo pasa con el herrero, sentado junto al yunque, con la atención fija en el hierro que forja: el vaho del fuego derrite su carne y él se debate con el calor de la fragua; el ruido del martillo ensordece sus oídos y sus ojos están fijos en el modelo del objeto; pone todo su empeño en acabar sus obras y se desvela por dejarlas bien terminadas.
29 The blacksmith, sitting by his anvil and considering a work of iron, is similar. The steam from the fire singes his flesh, and he struggles against the heat of the furnace.	29 Lo mismo pasa con el alfarero, sentado junto a su obra, mientras hace girar el torno con sus pies: está concentrado exclusivamente en su tarea y apremiado por completar la cantidad;
30 The voice of the hammer is ever in his ears, and his eye is upon the pattern of the ironwork.	30 con su brazo modela la arcilla y con los pies vence su resistencia; pone todo su empeño en acabar el barnizado y se desvela por limpiar el horno.
31 He gives his heart to the completion of his work, and his vigilance adorns it to perfection.	31 Todos ellos confían en sus manos, y cada uno se muestra sabio en su oficio.
32 The potter, sitting at his work and turning the wheel with his feet, is similar. He has settled into a continual concern for his work, and there is a rhythm in all that he does.	32 Sin ellos no se levantaría ninguna ciudad, nadie la habitaría ni circularía por ella.
33 He forms the clay with his arm, and he bends his strength over his feet.	33 Pero no se los buscará para el consejo del pueblo ni tendrán preeminencia en la asamblea; no se sentarán en el tribunal del juez ni estarán versados en los decretos de la Alianza.
34 He will give his heart over to the completion of the glazing, and his vigilance to the cleansing of the furnace.	34 No harán brillar la instrucción ni el derecho, ni se los encontrará entre los autores de proverbios. Sin embargo, ellos afianzan la creación eterna y el objeto de su plegaria son los trabajos de su oficio.
35 All these persons trust in their own hands, and each one is wise in his own art.
36 Without these persons, a city is not built.
37 But they will neither inhabit nor walk around in the city. And they will not go across to the church.
38 They will not sit upon the seats of judges, and they will not understand a decree of judgment. And they will not make clear discipline and judgment, and they will not be found to understand parables.
39 But they will strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer will be in their artistic works, applying their soul, and searching the law of the Most High.