Sabiduría 16

BIBLIA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Por eso, mediante seres semejantes, fueron justamente castigados; una multitud de bichos les sometieron a tormento.	1 Therefore they were fittingly punished by similar creatures, and were tormented by a swarm of insects.
2 En vez de tal castigo, concediste favores a tu pueblo: para satisfacer su voraz apetito, les preparaste como alimento un manjar exquisito: codornices;	2 Instead of this punishment, you benefited your people with a novel dish, the delight they craved, by providing quail for their food;
3 para que aquéllos, aun ansiando el alimento, por el asqueroso aspecto de los bichos que les enviabas, hasta el apetito natural perdiesen, y éstos, pasadas unas breves privaciones, viniesen a gustar manjares exquisitos.	3 That those others, when they desired food, since the creatures sent to plague them were so loathsome, should be turned from even the craving of necessities, While these, after a brief period of privation, partook of a novel dish.
4 Era razón que aquéllos, los opresores, sufrieran un hambre irremediable, mientras a éstos bastaba mostrarles la clase de tormento que sus enemigos padecían.	4 For upon those oppressors, inexorable want had to come; but these needed only be shown how their enemies were being tormented.
5 Incluso cuando cayó sobre ellos la ira terrible de animales feroces, cuando por mordeduras de sinuosas serpientes perecían, no persistió tu cólera hasta el fin.	5 For when the dire venom of beasts came upon them and they were dying from the bite of crooked serpents, your anger endured not to the end.
6 Como advertencia se vieron atribulados por breve tiempo, pues tenían una señal de salvación como recuerdo del mandamiento de tu Ley;	6 But as a warning, for a short time they were terrorized, though they had a sign of salvation, to remind them of the precept of your law.
7 y el que a ella se volvía, se salvaba, no por lo que contemplaba, sino por ti, Salvador de todos.	7 For he who turned toward it was saved, not by what he saw, but by you, the savior of all.
8 De este modo convenciste a nuestros enemigos de que tú eres el que libras de todo mal:	8 And by this also you convinced our foes that you are he who delivers from all evil.
9 a ellos picaduras de langostas y moscas los mataban, - y bien merecían que bichos tales los castigasen - sin que remedio hallaran para su vida;	9 For the bites of locusts and of flies slew them, and no remedy was found to save their lives because they deserved to be punished by such means;
10 a tus hijos, en cambio, ni dientes de serpientes venenosas los vencieron, pues vino tu misericordia en su socorro y los sanó.	10 But not even the fangs of poisonous reptiles overcame your sons, for your mercy brought the antidote to heal them.
11 Las mordeduras - pronto curadas - les recordaban tus preceptos no fuera que, cayendo en profundo olvido, se vieran excluidos de tu liberalidad.	11 For as a reminder of your injunctions, they were stung, and swiftly they were saved, Lest they should fall into deep forgetfulness and become unresponsive to your beneficence.
12 Ni los curó hierba ni emplasto alguno, sino tu palabra, Señor, que todo lo sana.	12 For indeed, neither herb nor application cured them, but your all-healing word, O LORD!
13 Pues tú tienes el poder sobre la vida y sobre la muerte, haces bajar a las puertas del Hades y de allí subir.	13 For you have dominion over life and death; you lead down to the gates of the nether world, and lead back.
14 El hombre, en cambio, puede matar por su maldad, pero no hacer tornar al espíritu que se fue, ni liberar al alma ya acogida en el Hades.	14 Man, however, slays in his malice, but when the spirit has come away, it does not return, nor can he bring back the soul once it is confined.
15 Es imposible escapar de tu mano.	15 But your hand none can escape.
16 Los impíos que rehusaban conocerte fueron fustigados por la fuerza de tu brazo; lluvias insólitas, granizadas, aguaceros implacables los persigueron y el fuego los devoró.	16 For the wicked who refused to know you were punished by the might of your arm, Pursued by unwonted rains and hailstorms and unremitting downpours, and consumed by fire.
17 Y lo más extraño era que con el agua, que todo lo apaga, el fuego cobraba una violencia mayor. El universo, en efecto, combate en favor de los justos.	17 For against all expectation, in water which quenches anything, the fire grew more active; For the universe fights on behalf of the just.
18 Las llamas unas veces se amansaban para no consumir a los animales enviados contra los impíos, y darles a entender, por lo que veían, que el juicio de Dios les hostigaba;	18 For now the flame was tempered so that the beasts might not be burnt up that were sent upon the wicked, but that these might see and know they were struck by the judgment of God;
19 pero otras, aun en medio de las aguas, abrasaban con fuerza superior a la del fuego para destruir las cosechas de una tierra inicua.	19 And again, even in the water, fire blazed beyond its strength so as to consume the produce of the wicked land.
20 A tu pueblo, por el contrario, le alimentaste con manjar de ángeles; les suministraste, sin cesar desde el ciel un pan ya preparado que podía brindar todas las delicias y satisfacer todos los gustos.	20 Instead of this, you nourished your people with food of angels and furnished them bread from heaven, ready to hand, untoiled-for, endowed with all delights and conforming to every taste.
21 El sustento que les dabas revelaba tu dulzura con tus hijos pues, adaptándose al deseo del que lo tomaba, se tranformaba en lo que cada uno quería.	21 For this substance of yours revealed your sweetness toward your children, and serving the desire of him who received it, was blended to whatever flavor each one wished.
22 Nieve y hielo resistían al fuego sin fundirse, para que supieran que el fuego, para destruir las cosechas de sus enemigos, entre el granizo abrasaba y fulguraba entre la lluvia,	22 Yet snow and ice withstood fire and were not melted, that they might know that their enemies' fruits Were consumed by a fire that blazed in the hail and flashed lightning in the rain.
23 mientras que, para que los justos pudieran sustentarse, hasta de su natural poder se olvidaba.	23 But this fire, again, that the just might be nourished, forgot even its proper strength;
24 Porque la creación, sirviéndote a ti, su Hacedor, se embravece para castigo de los inicuos y se amansa en favor de los que en ti confían.	24 For your creation, serving you, its maker, grows tense for punishment against the wicked, but is relaxed in benefit for those who trust in you.
25 Por eso, también entonces, cambiándose en todo, servía a tu liberalidad que a todos sustenta, conforme al deseo de los necesitados.	25 Therefore at that very time, transformed in all sorts of ways, it was serving your all-nourishing bounty according to what they needed and desired;
26 De este modo enseñabas a tus hijos queridos, Señor, que no son las diversas especies de frutos los que alimentan al hombre, sino que es tu palabra la que mantiene a los que creen en ti.	26 That your sons whom you loved might learn, O LORD, that it is not the various kinds of fruits that nourish man, but it is your word that preserves those who believe you!
27 El fuego no alcanzaba a disolver lo que sencillamente derretía el calor de un breve rayo de sol.	27 For what was not destroyed by fire, when merely warmed by a momentary sunbeam, melted;
28 Con ello le enseñabas que debían adelantarse al sol para darte gracias y recurrir a ti al rayar el día,	28 So that men might know that one must give you thanks before the sunrise, and turn to you at daybreak.
29 pues la esperanza del ingrato como escarcha invernal se derrite y corre como agua inútil.	29 For the hope of the ingrate melts like a wintry frost and runs off like useless water.