| 1 Ed eccoli castigati degnamente con simili animali e tormentati da una moltitudine di bestioline. | 1 Because of this, and by means of things similar to these, they were allowed to endure fitting torments, and they were exterminated by a multitude of beasts. |
| 2 Invece di questo castigo, tu hai beneficato il tuo popolo al cui avido appetito, leccornia inaudita, hai preparato in refezione, le quaglie. | 2 Instead of these torments, you administered your people kindly, giving them a desire for a new taste from your delights, and preparing quails for their food, |
| 3 Ora, quelli bramavano cibo, ma, per il ribrezzo degli animali mandati, detestarono anche i gusti naturali; questi, invece, divenuti indigenti per breve tempo, gustarono di più un’inaudita leccornia. | 3 so that, even those desiring food, because of those things which were sent and revealed to them, were now turned away from a necessary desire. Yet these, after a brief time, having become weak, tasted a new food. |
| 4 Così a quelli, oppressori, bisognava che toccasse una severa penuria; ma a questi bisognava solo che si dimostrasse come i loro nemici erano tormentati. | 4 For it was necessary, though they are without excuse, for them to unexpectedly come upon the ruin of exercising tyranny, yet this was as if to show them how their enemies were being exterminated. |
| 5 Anche quando sopravvenne loro un’ira terribile di fiere ed erano sterminati dai morsi dei serpenti perniciosi, non continuò fino in fondo la tua ira. | 5 And so, when fierce beasts overcame them in anger, they were exterminated by the bites of perverse snakes. |
| 6 Per richiamo vennero poi scompigliati per poco: avevano già un pegno di salute, a ricordo dei precetti della tua legge. | 6 But your anger did not continue forever, though they were troubled for a short time for their correction, they have a sign of salvation as a remembrance of the commandment of your law. |
| 7 Era, infatti, salvo chi si volgeva a quello: non per la cosa riguardata, ma per te, salvatore di tutti. | 7 For he who turned to it was not healed by what he saw, but by you, the Savior of all. |
| 8 E, anche in questo, dimostrasti al nostri e di essere tu colui che libera da ogni male | 8 Yet in this you revealed to our enemies that you are he who delivers from all evil. |
| 9 Infatti, i morsi delle locuste e delle mosche uccisero loro e non si trovò rimedio per la loro vita, perchè meritavano di essere tormentati con tali mezzi; | 9 For they were killed by the biting of locusts and flies, and there was found no remedy for their life, because they deserved to be destroyed by such things. |
| 10 ma neppure i denti di serpenti velenosi vinsero i tuoi figli, perchè giunse la tua misericordia e li guarì. | 10 But not even the teeth of venomous serpents conquered your sons, for your mercy came to them and healed them. |
| 11 Così perchè ricordassero i tuoi precetti, venivano addentati e subito risanati, affinchè, caduti in un oblio profondo, non divenissero insensibili alla tua beneficenza. | 11 For, in remembrance of your words, they were examined and were quickly saved, for forgetfulness is not engraved into your altar so that they would be unable to obtain your help. |
| 12 Quindi, non li guarì erba nè impiastro, ma la tua parola, o Signore, che risana tutto. | 12 And, indeed, neither an herb, nor a poultice, healed them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all. |
| 13 Tu, o Signore, hai potere di vita e di morte; tu fai discendere alle porte dell’Ade e fai risalire! | 13 For it is you, O Lord, who holds the power of life and death; you both lead to the threshold of death and you restore. |
| 14 E l’uomo può certamente uccidere con la sua malvagità, ma non può riportare lo spirito, che se n'è andato, nè liberare un’anima che è rinchiusa. | 14 Yet man, indeed, kills his own soul through malice, and when his spirit goes forth, it will not be returned, nor will he call back his soul when it has been received. |
| 15 È impossibile sfuggire alla tua mano! | 15 But it is impossible to escape your hand. |
| 16 Perciò gli empi che rifiutarono di conoscerti furono flagellati dal tuo forte braccio:cioè battuti da piogge inaudite, grandine e nembi impossibili a scongiurare, e consumati dal fuoco. | 16 For the impious, having refused to know you, have been scourged by the strength of your arm, enduring persecution by unusual waters, and by hailstorms, and by rain storms, and being consumed by fire. |
| 17 Infatti era soprattutto incredibile come mentre nell’acqua si smorza tutto, il fuoco si invigorisse di più, poichè l’universo vendica i giusti. | 17 For there was something extraordinary in water, which extinguishes all things; it has prevailed more than fire; for the world is the defender of the just. |
| 18 Ora, così, la fiamma si mitigava, per non bruciare gli animali spediti contro gli empi, ed essi, riconoscendolo, si sapessero premuti da un giudizio divino; | 18 Indeed, at a certain time, the fire was subdued, so as not to burn away the animals, which were sent against the impious; and so that, in seeing this, they might know that they are suffering persecution by the judgment of God. |
| 19 ora, contro la natura del fuoco, ardeva anche tra le acque, per distruggere i proventi di una terra iniqua. | 19 And, at another time, fire burned, beyond its own power, in the midst of water, and it flared up from all around, so as to destroy the nations of an unjust land. |
| 20 Tu, invece, hai nutrito il tuo popolo con il cibo degli angeli e hai elargito loro dal cielo, senza fatica, un pane preparato, che sa di ogni delizia ed è grato a ogni gusto. | 20 Instead of these things, you nourished your people with the food of angels, and, having prepared bread from heaven, you served them without labor that which holds within itself every delight and the sweetness of every flavor. |
| 21 Certo quel tuo alimento manifestava la tua dolcezza verso i figli e si adattava al desiderio di chi ne prendeva e si trasformava in ciò che egli voleva. | 21 For your nature showed your sweetness, which you hold within your sons, and serving the will of each one, it was converted to what each one preferred. |
| 22 Neve e ghiaccio resisteva e non si liquefaceva al fuoco, affinché sapessero che i frutti dei nemici distrugge il fuoco che arde fra la grandine e che lampeggia tra le piogge; | 22 But snow and ice held back the strength of fire, and did not melt, so that they might know that fire, burning in the hail and flashing in the rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies. |
| 23 ma che, per il nutrimento dei giusti, dimenticava perfino la propria virtù. | 23 Yet it was also the case, so that the just might be nourished, that fire had even been deprived of its own power. |
| 24 Infatti tutto il creato, che serve a te suo Creatore è rigido, se a castigo degli ingiusti ed è accomodabile, se a beneficio di chi confida in te! | 24 For the creature serving you, the Creator, grows red hot in the midst of the conflict against the unjust, and yet it subsides for the benefit of those who trust in you. |
| 25 E però, piegandosi anche allora a tutte le trasformazioni, serviva alla tua generosità, che nutre tutti, secondo la volontà di coloro che pregavano: | 25 Because of this, and at that time, having been transfigured in all things, your grace was diligently serving as the nursemaid of all things, according to the will of those who long for you, |
| 26 perchè i tuoi figli, che hai amato, o Signore, imparassero che non le diverse specie dei frutti nutrono l’uomo, ma che la tua parola conserva chi crede in te. | 26 so that your sons, whom you loved, O Lord, might know that it is not the fruits of nature which feed men, but your word, which preserves those who believe in you. |
| 27 Così quel che non veniva consumato dal fuoco, subito si discioglieva non appena riscaldato da lieve raggio di sole: | 27 For that which could not be destroyed by fire, was immediately melted when warmed by a few rays of the sun, |
| 28 affinchè fosse a tutti noto che si deve prevenire il sole per ringraziarti, e pregarti prima del sorgere della luce. | 28 so that it might be clear to all that it is right to come before the sun to bless you, and to adore you at the dawning of the light. |
| 29 Poichè la speranza dell’ingrato si scioglie come ghiaccio invernale e scorre come acqua inutile! | 29 For the hope of the ungrateful will melt away like the winter’s ice and will disperse like overflowing water. |
