Wisdom 16

DOUAI-RHEIMS	Biblia Sagrada
1 For these things, and by the like things to these, they were worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.	1 Por eso, fueron justamente castigados por seres semejantes | y fueron atormentados por una plaga de alimañas.
2 Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing for them quails for their meat:	2 En vez de ese castigo, favoreciste a tu pueblo | y, para satisfacer su apetito, | les proporcionaste como alimento | un manjar exquisito: las codornices.
3 To the end that they indeed desiring food, by means of those things that were shewn and sent among them, might loathe even that which was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want for a short time, tasted a new meat.	3 Así que los egipcios, aun estando hambrientos, | perdían hasta el apetito natural, | asqueados por los repugnantes bichos que les habías enviado, | mientras los israelitas, después de una breve privación, | saboreaban un manjar exquisito.
4 For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how their enemies were destroyed.	4 Pues era justo que aquellos opresores sufrieran un hambre irremediable, | mientras a estos bastaba con mostrarles cómo eran torturados sus enemigos.
5 For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were destroyed with the bitings of crooked serpents.	5 Incluso cuando les sobrevino la terrible furia de las fieras | y perecían mordidos por serpientes sinuosas, | tu ira no llegó hasta el final.
6 But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.	6 Para que escarmentaran, se les atormentó por poco tiempo, | pues tenían un signo de salvación como recordatorio del mandato de tu ley.
7 For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, but by thee the Saviour of all.	7 Y el que se volvía hacia él se curaba, no por lo que contemplaba, | sino gracias ti, Salvador de todos.
8 And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who deliverest from all evil.	8 Así convenciste a nuestros enemigos | de que eres tú quien libra de todo mal.
9 For the bitings of locusts, and of flies killed them, and there was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be destroyed by such things.	9 Ellos morían por las picaduras de langostas y moscas, | sin poder encontrar remedio para sus vidas, | pues merecían ser castigados por tales bichos;
10 But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy children: for thy mercy came and healed them.	10 a tus hijos, en cambio, ni los dientes de las serpientes venenosas les pudieron, | sino que tu misericordia salió en su ayuda y los salvó.
11 For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might not be able to use thy help.	11 Las mordeduras, que se curaban enseguida, | les recordaban tus palabras, | no fuera que cayeran en profundo olvido | y quedaran excluidos de tu bondad.
12 For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster that healed them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.	12 No los curó hierba ni cataplasma, | sino tu palabra, Señor, que todo lo sana.
13 For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:	13 Pues tú tienes poder sobre la vida y la muerte, | haces bajar a las puertas del Hades y haces regresar.
14 A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is received:	14 El hombre, en cambio, puede matar con su maldad, | pero no puede devolver el espíritu que se fue, | ni rescatar el alma ya prisionera.
15 But it is impossible to escape thy hand.	15 Es imposible escapar de tu mano.
16 For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and rain, and consumed by fire.	16 Los impíos que no querían conocerte | fueron castigados con la fuerza de tu brazo: | los persiguieron extrañas lluvias, granizadas, tormentas implacables | y el fuego los devoró.
17 And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.	17 Y lo más sorprendente era que con el agua, que todo lo apaga, | el fuego cobraba una violencia mayor, | pues el universo es paladín de los justos.
18 For at one time, the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which were sent against the wicked might not be burned, but that they might see and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.	18 Unas veces la llama se amortiguaba, | para no abrasar a los animales enviados contra los impíos | y para que, al verlos, comprendieran que los impulsaba el juicio de Dios;
19 And at another time the fire, above its own power, burned in the midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.	19 pero, otras veces, aun en medio del agua, la llama ardía con más fuerza que el fuego, | para destruir los frutos de una tierra malvada.
20 Instead of which things thou didst feed thy people with the food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven prepared without labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.	20 A tu pueblo, en cambio, lo alimentaste con manjar de ángeles, | y les mandaste desde el cielo un pan preparado sin esfuerzo, | lleno de toda delicia y grato a cualquier gusto.
21 For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and serving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked.	21 Este sustento revelaba a tus hijos tu dulzura, | pues se adaptaba al gusto de quien lo tomaba | y se convertía en lo que cada uno quería.
22 But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that they might know that fire burning in the hail and flashing in the rain destroyed the fruits of the enemies.	22 Nieve y hielo resistían al fuego sin derretirse, | para que supieran que el fuego, | ardiendo entre el granizo y resplandeciendo bajo la lluvia, | destruía las cosechas de los enemigos;
23 But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even forget its own strength.	23 mientras que, para que los justos se alimentaran, | se olvidaba hasta de su propia fuerza.
24 For the creature serving thee the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust for their punishment; and abateth its strength for the benefit of them that trust in thee.	24 Porque la creación, sirviéndote a ti, su creador, | despliega su fuerza para castigar a los malvados | y la modera para beneficiar a los que en ti confían.
25 Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was obedient to thy grace that nourisheth all, according to the will of them that desired it of thee.	25 Por eso también entonces, adoptando todas las formas, | estaba al servicio de tu generosidad, que a todos sustenta, | según el deseo de los que te necesitan.
26 That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word preseveth them that believe in thee:	26 Así aprenderán tus hijos queridos, Señor, | que la variedad de frutos no alimenta al hombre, | sino tu palabra, que mantiene a los que creen en ti.
27 For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam presently melted away:	27 Pues lo que el fuego no pudo devorar | se derritió simplemente al calor de un tenue rayo de sol,
28 That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.	28 para que supieran que hay que adelantarse al sol para darte gracias | y salir a tu encuentro al rayar el alba.
29 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.	29 Pues la esperanza del ingrato se derrite como escarcha invernal | y se escurre como agua inservible.