Sabiduría 17

BIBLIA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Grandes son en verdad tus juicios e inenarrables, por donde almas ignorantes se vinieron a engañar.	1 For your judgments, O Lord, are great, and your words are indescribable. Therefore, undisciplined souls have wandered astray.
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 they managed to convince the unjust, so as to obtain dominion over the holy nation, they themselves were fettered with chains of darkness and of endless night, enclosed in their houses, fugitives of everlasting providence, lying in ruins.
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 escape notice in their secret sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of oblivion, being horribly afraid, and having been disturbed with 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 cave which enclosed them preserve them from fear, because descending noises disturbed them, and the sorrowful persons appearing to them intensified their fear.
5 No había fuego intenso capaz de alumbrarles, ni las brillantes llamas de las estrellas alcanzaban a esclarecer aquella odiosa noche.	5 And, indeed, even fire had no strength to provide them light, nor could the clear flames of the stars illuminate 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 Yet there appeared to them a sudden fire, filled with fear; and, having been struck with the fear of that face which is unseen, they considered those things which they did see to be worse,
7 Los artificios de la magia resultaron ineficaces; con gran afrenta quedó refutado su pretendido saber,	7 and, having been ridiculed, the illusions were removed from their arts along with their contemptuous rebuke of glorious wisdom.
8 pues los que prometían expulsar miedos y sobresaltos de las almas enloquecidas, enloquecían ellos mismos con ridículos temores.	8 Indeed, those who promised to drive away fears and disturbances from a languishing soul, though they were filled with derision, were themselves languishing in fear.
9 Incluso cuando otro espanto no les atemorizara, sobresaltados por el paso de los bichos y el silbido de los reptiles,	9 And, even if nothing unnatural disturbed them, yet being agitated by the passing of animals and the hissing of snakes, they died of fear, denying what they themselves saw even in the air, which no one thinks to be able to escape.
10 se morían de miedo, y rehusaban mirar aquel aire que de ninguna manera podían evitar.	10 For, while there may be apprehension with wickedness, it gives testimony to condemnation, for a troubled conscience always forecasts harshness.
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 unfaithfulness to thinking helpful things.
12 pues no es otra cosa el miedo sino el abandono del apoyo que presta la reflexión;	12 And, while expectation is driven from within, the cause of this is supposing that one is great in knowledge, and as a result, conflict excels.
13 y cuanto menos se cuenta con los recursos interiores, tanto mayor parece la desconocida causa que produce el tormento.	13 Yet those who were truly powerless that night, being overcome by both the vilest and the deepest hell, were sleeping the same sleep,
14 Durante aquella noche verdaderamente inerte, surgida de las profundidades del inerte Hades, en un mismo sueño sepultados,	14 sometimes stirred up by the fear of unnatural things, other times sinking down in disgrace of soul, for a sudden and unexpected fear overcame 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 Then, if any among them had fallen away, he was kept in a prison without bars which had been left open.
16 De este modo, cualquiera que en tal situación cayera, quedaba encarcelado, encerrado en aquella prisión sin hierros;	16 For if a farmer, or a shepherd, or a worker in a field of labor were suddenly overcome, he endured an inescapable necessity.
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. Or if there were a whistling wind, or the sweet sound of birds among the thick tree branches, or the force of water rushing excessively,
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 strong noise of rocks crashing down, or the scattering of playful animals having been seen, or the strong voice of bellowing beasts, or the resounding of the highest mountain echo, these things made them sink down because of 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 being hindered in their labors.
20 Estaba entonces el mundo entero iluminado de luz esplendorosa, y, sin traba alguna, se ocupaba en sus quehaceres;	20 But then, the heavy night was placed over the sun for them, an image of that darkness which was about to overcome them. Yet they were more grievous to themselves than was 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.