Wisdom 13

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
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.	1 Sí, vanos por naturaleza son todos los hombres que han ignorado a Dios, los que, a partir de las cosas visibles, no fueron capaces de conocer a «Aquel que es»., al considerar sus obras, no reconocieron al Artífice.
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.	2 En cambio, tomaron por dioses rectores del universo al fuego, al viento, al aire sutil, a la bóveda estrellada, al agua impetuosa o a los astros luminosos del cielo.
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.	3 Ahora bien, si fascinados por la hermosura de estas cosas, ellos las consideraron como dioses, piensen cuánto más excelente es el Señor de todas ellas, ya que el mismo Autor de la belleza es el que las creó.
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.	4 Y si quedaron impresionados por su poder y energía, comprendan, a partir de ellas, cuánto más poderoso es el que las formó.
5 For, by the greatness of the creation and its beauty, the creator of these will be able to be seen discernibly.	5 Porque, a partir de la grandeza y hermosura de las cosas, si llega, por analogía, a contemplar a su Autor,
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.	6 Sin embargo, estos hombres no merecen una grave reprensión, porque tal vez se extravían buscando a Dios y queriendo encontrarlo;
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.	7 como viven ocupándose de sus obras, las investigan y se dejan seducir por lo que ven: ¡tan bello es el espectáculo del mundo!
8 But, then again, neither can their debt be ignored.	8 Pero ni aún así son excusables:
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?	9 si han sido capaces de adquirir tanta ciencia para escrutar el curso del mundo entero, ¿cómo no encontraron más rápidamente al Señor de todo?
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.	10 ¡Desgraciados, porque han puesto su esperanza en cosas muertas, los que llamaron dioses a obras fabricadas por las manos del hombre, al oro y la plata trabajados con arte, a figuras de animales, o a una piedra sin valor esculpida por una mano antigua!
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,	11 Tomemos por ejemplo un leñador: él derriba con la sierra un árbol fácil de voltear, le quita hábilmente toda la corteza, lo trabaja con maestría y hace con él un objeto útil para el uso común.
12 and even the remains of his work were exhausted in the preparation of food;	12 Con las astillas que sobran calienta su comida y sacia su apetito.
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,	13 Pero queda todavía un resto que no sirve para nada, un tronco retorcido y lleno de nudos: él lo toma, lo esculpe para llenar sus ratos de ocio, lo talla con habilidad en sus momentos libres, y le da forma humana
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;	14 o lo hace semejante a un vil animal. Después, lo recubre de minio, colorea la superficie de rojo, y disimula todos sus efectos con un enduido;
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,	15 le prepara un sitio adecuado, lo coloca en la pared y lo asegura con un clavo.
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.	16 De esa manera, toma precauciones para que no se caiga, sabiendo que no puede valerse por sí mismo, porque no es más que una imagen y tiene necesidad de ayuda.
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.	17 Sin embargo, cuando ruega por sus bienes, por su hogar o sus hijos, no se avergüenza de dirigir la palabra a ese objeto sin vida: ¡reclama salud a un inválido,
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,	18 implora vida a un muerto, pide socorro al más inexperto; al emprender un viaje, ruega al que es incapaz de dar un paso;
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.	19 para sus ganancias, sus empresas y el éxito de sus trabajos, pide vigor al que no tiene en sus manos ningún vigor!