Wisdom 18

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Biblia Sagrada
1 But your saints were your greatest light, and they heard your voice, but did not see your form. And because they themselves did not also suffer the same things, they praised you greatly.	1 Para tus fieles, en cambio, brillaba una espléndida luz. | Los egipcios, que oían su voz pero sin distinguir su figura, | los felicitaban por no haber padecido como ellos.
2 And those who were wounded before, gave thanks, because they were no longer being wounded, and because they had petitioned for this gift, that there would be this difference.	2 Les daban las gracias porque no se vengaban de los agravios recibidos | y les pedían perdón por su conducta hostil.
3 Because of this, they had a burning column of fire as a guide on the unknown way, and you displayed a harmless sun of a good hospitality.	3 En lugar de esto les diste una columna de fuego, | como guía para un viaje desconocido, | y como sol inofensivo para su gloriosa marcha.
4 The others, indeed, deserved to be deprived of the light and to endure a prison of darkness, who watched for an opportunity to imprison your sons, by whom the incorruptible light of the law was beginning to be given to future generations.	4 Bien merecían verse privados de luz y prisioneros de las tinieblas | aquellos que habían encerrado en la prisión a tus hijos, | que iban a transmitir al mundo la luz incorruptible de la ley.
5 When they thought to kill the babes of the just, one son having been exposed and set free, to their disgrace, you took away a multitude of their sons and destroyed them all together in a mighty water.	5 Por haber decretado matar a los niños de tus fieles | —uno solo de los niños, abandonado, se salvó—, | en castigo, les arrebataste una multitud de hijos, | y los hiciste perecer a todos juntos en las aguas impetuosas.
6 For that night was known beforehand by our fathers, so that, knowing the truth of the oaths in which they had trusted, they might be more peaceful in their souls.	6 Aquella noche les fue preanunciada a nuestros antepasados, | para que, sabiendo con certeza en qué promesas creían, | tuvieran buen ánimo.
7 Yet your people received not only the salvation of the just, but also the destruction of the unjust.	7 Tu pueblo esperaba la salvación de los justos | y la perdición de los enemigos,
8 For just as you wounded our adversaries, so also did you greatly esteem calling us forth.	8 pues con lo que castigaste a los adversarios, | nos glorificaste a nosotros, llamándonos a ti.
9 For the just children of goodness were secretly offering sacrifice, and in agreement they administered the law of justice, so that both good and bad would be able to receive justice, and so that you might now approve of their chanting to the father.	9 Los piadosos hijos de los justos ofrecían sacrificios en secreto | y establecieron unánimes esta ley divina: | que los fieles compartirían los mismos bienes y peligros, | después de haber cantado las alabanzas de los antepasados.
10 On the other hand, a dissimilar voice was resounding from the enemies, and a lamentable wailing was heard for the children who were being cried over.	10 Hacían eco los gritos destemplados de los enemigos, | y se extendía el lamento de quienes lloraban a sus hijos.
11 But the same punishment afflicted the servant with the master, and the common man endured the same as the king.	11 Idéntico castigo sufrían el esclavo y el amo, | y el plebeyo padecía lo mismo que el rey.
12 Therefore, all were the same, with one name for death, and the dead were innumerable. For neither were the living sufficient to bury the dead, because, with a single effort, their most illustrious nation was exterminated.	12 Todos por igual tenían innumerables cadáveres, | víctimas de un mismo género de muerte; | los vivos no daban abasto para enterrarlos, | porque en un instante había perecido lo mejor de su raza.
13 For they would not believe anything because of the drugs; then truly, at the beginning, when the extermination of the firstborn happened, they pledged the people to belong to God.	13 Aunque la magia los había hecho desconfiar de todo, | ante la muerte de los primogénitos reconocieron que este pueblo era hijo de Dios.
14 For, when a quiet silence surrounded all things, and when the course of the night was passing the middle of its journey,	14 Cuando un silencio apacible lo envolvía todo | y la noche llegaba a la mitad de su carrera,
15 your almighty word from heaven leapt down from your royal throne, as a fierce warrior in the midst of the land of extermination,	15 tu palabra omnipotente se lanzó desde el cielo, desde el trono real, | cual guerrero implacable, sobre una tierra condenada al exterminio; | empuñaba la espada afilada de tu decreto irrevocable,
16 as a sharp sword carrying your unfeigned authority, and standing, filled all things with death, and, standing on the earth, reached all the way up to touch heaven.	16 se detuvo y todo lo llenó de muerte, | mientras tocaba el cielo, pisoteaba la tierra.
17 Then, incessant visions of nightmares disturbed them, and unexpected fears overcame them.	17 De repente los sobresaltaron horribles pesadillas, | los asaltaron terrores inesperados.
18 And another was thrown down elsewhere half-alive; and so, by means of that which was dying, the cause of death was revealed.	18 Tendidos y medio muertos, cada uno por su lado, | manifestaban la causa de su muerte;
19 For the visions that disturbed them had forewarned of these things, lest they should perish and not know why they suffered these evils.	19 pues sus sueños turbulentos los habían prevenido, | para que no pereciesen sin conocer el motivo de su desgracia.
20 Yet, at that time, the trial of death touched even the just, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness, but your wrath did not continue for long.	20 También a los justos alcanzó la prueba de la muerte | y una multitud de ellos pereció en el desierto. | Pero aquella ira no duró mucho,
21 For a blameless man, prospering, is to be entreated for your people, bringing forth the shield of your service, through prayer and incense, making prayerful supplication, he withstands anger, and so establishes an end to the necessary difficulty, revealing that he is your servant.	21 porque pronto un hombre intachable salió en su defensa, | manejando las armas de su ministerio: | la oración y el incienso expiatorio. | Hizo frente a la ira y puso fin a la catástrofe, | demostrando ser tu servidor.
22 Yet he outlasted the disturbance, not by virtue of the body, nor by force of arms, but, with a word, he subdued those who were troubling him, commemorating the oaths and covenant of the parents.	22 Venció la indignación no a fuerza de músculos, | ni esgrimiendo la espada, | sino que con la palabra sometió a quien los castigaba, | recordando los juramentos y alianzas | que hizo con los antepasados.
23 For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between them and cut off their attack, and he divided those who controlled the path to the living.	23 Cuando ya los muertos yacían amontonados, | se puso en medio, detuvo el avance de la ira | y le cerró el paso hacia los que todavía vivían.
24 For, within the garment of shame which he held, the world was all together, and the great deeds of the parents were engraved on four orders of stones, and your majesty was engraved on the crown of his head.	24 Pues en su vestido talar estaba el universo entero, | los nombres gloriosos de los patriarcas en cuatro hileras de piedras preciosas, | y tu majestad en la diadema de su cabeza.
25 Yet he who was exterminating yielded even to those he frightened. For one trial of wrath was sufficient.	25 Ante esto, el exterminador retrocedió atemorizado, | pues era suficiente una sola demostración de tu ira.