Sabiduría 17

BIBLIA	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Grandes son en verdad tus juicios e inenarrables, por donde almas ignorantes se vinieron a engañar.	1 For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.
2 Imaginaban los impíos que podrían oprimir a una nación santa; y se encontraron prisioneros de tinieblas, en larga noche trabados, recluidos en sus casas, desterrados de la Providencia eterna.	2 For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the eternal providence.
3 Creían que se mantendrían ocultos con sus secretos pecados bajo el oscuro velo del olvido; y se vieron dispersos, presa de terrible espanto, sobresaltados por apariciones.	3 And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly afraid and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.
4 Pues ni el escondrijo que les protegía les libraba del miedo; que también allí resonaban ruidos escalofriantes y se aparecían espectros sombríos de lúgubre aspecto.	4 For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, affrighted them.
5 No había fuego intenso capaz de alumbrarles, ni las brillantes llamas de las estrellas alcanzaban a esclarecer aquella odiosa noche.	5 And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.
6 Tan sólo una llamarada, por sí misma encendida, se dejaba entrever sembrando el terror; pues en su espanto, al desaparecer la visión, imaginaban más horrible aún lo que acababan de ver.	6 But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the things which they saw to be worse:
7 Los artificios de la magia resultaron ineficaces; con gran afrenta quedó refutado su pretendido saber,	7 And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.
8 pues los que prometían expulsar miedos y sobresaltos de las almas enloquecidas, enloquecían ellos mismos con ridículos temores.	8 For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.
9 Incluso cuando otro espanto no les atemorizara, sobresaltados por el paso de los bichos y el silbido de los reptiles,	9 For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear: and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.
10 se morían de miedo, y rehusaban mirar aquel aire que de ninguna manera podían evitar.	10 For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things.
11 Cobarde es, en efecto, la maldad y ella a sí misma se condena; acosada por la conciencia imagina siempre lo peor;	11 For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from thought.
12 pues no es otra cosa el miedo sino el abandono del apoyo que presta la reflexión;	12 And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.
13 y cuanto menos se cuenta con los recursos interiores, tanto mayor parece la desconocida causa que produce el tormento.	13 But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the same sleep.
14 Durante aquella noche verdaderamente inerte, surgida de las profundidades del inerte Hades, en un mismo sueño sepultados,	14 Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for fear was come upon them.
15 al invadirles un miedo repentino e inesperado, se vieron, de un lado, perseguidos de espectrales apariciones y, de otro, paralizados por el abandono de su alma.	15 Moreover if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in prison without irons.
16 De este modo, cualquiera que en tal situación cayera, quedaba encarcelado, encerrado en aquella prisión sin hierros;	16 For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly.
17 ya fuera labrador o pastor, o bien un obrero dedicado en la soledad a su trabajo, sorprendido, soportaba la ineludible necesidad,	17 For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with violence,
18 atados todos como estaban por una misma cadena de tinieblas. El silbido del viento, el melodioso canto de las aves en la enramada, el ruido regulado del agua que corría impetuosa,	18 Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these things made them to swoon for fear.
19 el horrísimo fragor de rocas que caían de las alturas, la invisible carrera de animales que saltando pasaban, el rugido de las fieras más salvajes, el eco que devolvían las oquedades de las montañas, todo les aterrorizaba y les dejaba paralizados.	19 For the whole world was enlightened with a clear light, and none were hindered in their labours.
20 Estaba entonces el mundo entero iluminado de luz esplendorosa, y, sin traba alguna, se ocupaba en sus quehaceres;	20 But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more grievous than the darkness.
21 sólo sobre ellos se extendía pesada noche, imagen de las tinieblas que les esperaban recibir. Aunque ellos a sí mismos se eran más pesados que las tinieblas.