Sabiduría 13

BIBLIA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Sí, vanos por naturaleza todos los hombres en quienes había ignorancia de Dios y no fueron capaces de conocer por las cosas buenas que se ven a Aquél que es, ni, atendiendo a las obras, reconocieron al Artífice;	1 But all men are vain, who are not under the knowledge of God, and who, from these good things that are seen, were not able to understand he who is, nor, by paying attention to the works, did they acknowledge he who was the artisan.
2 sino que al fuego, al viento, al aire ligero, a la bóveda estrellada, al agua impetuosa o a las lumbreras del cielo los consideraron como dioses, señores del mundo.	2 Instead, they had considered either the fire, or the air, or the atmosphere, or the circle of stars, or the great sea, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.
3 Que si, cautivados por su belleza, los tomaron por dioses, sepan cuánto les aventaja el Señor de éstos, pues fue el Autor mismo de la belleza quien los creó.	3 If they, being delighted by such sights, supposed them to be gods, let them know how great the Lord of them is in splendor. For he who created all things is the author of beauty.
4 Y si fue su poder y eficiencia lo que les dejó sobrecogidos, deduzcan de ahí cuánto más poderoso es Aquel que los hizo;	4 Or, if they wondered at their power and their effects, let them understand by these things, that he who created them is mightier than they are.
5 pues de la grandeza y hermosura de las criaturas se llega, por analogía, a contemplar a su Autor.	5 For, by the greatness of the creation and its beauty, the creator of these will be able to be seen discernibly.
6 Con todo, no merecen éstos tan grave reprensión, pues tal vez caminan desorientados buscando a Dios y queriéndole hallar.	6 Yet, up to this point, the complaint about this is lesser. For perhaps they made a mistake in this, while desiring and seeking to find God.
7 Como viven entre sus obras, se esfuerzan por conocerlas, y se dejan seducir por lo que ven. ¡Tan bellas se presentan a los ojos!	7 And, indeed, having some familiarity with him through his works, they search, and they are persuaded, because the things that they are seeing are good.
8 Pero, por otra parte, tampoco son éstos excusables;	8 But, then again, neither can their debt be ignored.
9 pues si llegaron a adquirir tanta ciencia que les capacitó para indagar el mundo, ¿cómo no llegaron primero a descubrir a su Señor?	9 For, if they were able to know enough so that they could value the universe, how is it they did not easily discover the Lord of it?
10 Desgraciados, en cambio, y con la esperanza puesta en seres sin vida, los que llamaron dioses a obras hechas por mano de hombre, al oro, a la plata, trabajados con arte, a representaciones de animales o a una piedra inútil, esculpida por mano antigua.	10 Yet they are unhappy, and their hope is among the dead, for they have called ‘gods’ the works of the hands of men, gold and silver, the inventions of skill, and the likeness of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.
11 Un leñador abate con la sierra un árbol conveniente, lo despoja diestramente de toda su corteza, lo trabaja con habilidad y fabrica un objeto útil a las necesidades de la vida.	11 Or, it is as if a craftsman, a workman of the forest, had cut straight wood, and, with his expertise, shaved off all of its bark, and, with his skill, diligently fashioned a vessel, practical for use in life,
12 Con los restos de su trabajo se prepara la comida que le deja satisfecho.	12 and even the remains of his work were exhausted in the preparation of food;
13 Queda todavía un resto del árbol que para nada sirve, un tronco torcido y lleno de nudos. Lo toma y lo labra para llenar los ratos de ocio, le da forma con la destreza adquirida en sus tiempos libres; le da el parecido de una imagen de hombre	13 and, from the remainder of this, which has become useful for nothing, a curved piece of wood and full of knots, he diligently carves it in his spare time, and, through the knowledge of his art, forms it and makes it in the image of a man,
14 o bien la semejanza de algún vil animal. Lo pinta de bermellón, colorea de rojo su cuerpo y salva todos sus defectos bajo la capa de pintura.	14 or something comparable to an animal, thoroughly rubbing it with red ochre, to make it red with the color of the pigment, and to cover every imperfection which is in it;
15 Luego le prepara un alojamiento digno y lo pone en una pared asegurándolo con un hierro.	15 and it is as if he made a fitting resting place for it, even setting it in a wall and fastening it with iron,
16 Mira por él, no se le caiga, pues sabe que no puede valerse por sí mismo, que sólo es una imagen y necesita que le ayuden.	16 providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself, for it is an image and it is in need of help.
17 Pues bien, cuando por su hacienda, bodas o hijos ruega, no se le cae la cara al dirigirse a este ser sin vida. Y pide salud a un inválido,	17 And then, making an offering, he inquires about his wealth, and about his sons, and about marriage. And he is not ashamed to talk to that which has no soul.
18 vida a un muerto, auxilio al más inexperto, un viaje feliz al que ni de los pies se puede valer,	18 And for health, indeed, something unhealthy is being prayed to, and for life, he petitions what is dead, and for help, he calls upon something helpless,
19 y para sus ganancias y empresas, para el exito en el trabajo de sus manos, al ser más desmañado le pide destreza.	19 and for a good journey, he entreats that which is unable to walk, and for acquiring, and for working, and for success in all things, he entreats that which is useless in all things.