Sabiduría 16

BIBLIA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Por eso, mediante seres semejantes, fueron justamente castigados; una multitud de bichos les sometieron a tormento.	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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 And so, when fierce beasts overcame them in anger, they were exterminated by the bites of perverse snakes.
6 Como advertencia se vieron atribulados por breve tiempo, pues tenían una señal de salvación como recuerdo del mandamiento de tu Ley;	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 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 to it was not healed 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 Yet in this you revealed to our enemies 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 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 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 teeth of venomous serpents conquered your sons, for your mercy came to them and healed 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, 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 Ni los curó hierba ni emplasto alguno, sino tu palabra, Señor, que todo lo sana.	12 And, indeed, neither an herb, nor a poultice, healed them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all.
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 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 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 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 Es imposible escapar de tu mano.	15 But it is impossible to escape your hand.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 mientras que, para que los justos pudieran sustentarse, hasta de su natural poder se olvidaba.	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 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 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 Por eso, también entonces, cambiándose en todo, servía a tu liberalidad que a todos sustenta, conforme al deseo de los necesitados.	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 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 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 El fuego no alcanzaba a disolver lo que sencillamente derretía el calor de un breve rayo de sol.	27 For that which could not be destroyed by fire, was immediately melted when warmed by a few rays of the sun,
28 Con ello le enseñabas que debían adelantarse al sol para darte gracias y recurrir a ti al rayar el día,	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 pues la esperanza del ingrato como escarcha invernal se derrite y corre como agua inútil.	29 For the hope of the ungrateful will melt away like the winter’s ice and will disperse like overflowing water.