Sabiduría 16

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Por eso, con toda justicia fueron castigados con seres semejantes y atormentados con una infinidad de bichos.	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 lugar de ese castigo, fuiste benévolo con tu pueblo, y para satisfacer su voraz apetito, le preparaste como alimento un manjar exquisito: ¡las 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 Así los egipcios, a pesar de su deseo de comer, perdieron el apetito natural, ante el aspecto repugnante de los animales enviados contra ellos; tu pueblo, en cambio, sometido a privación por poco tiempo, participó de un manjar exquisito.	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 Porque era necesario que a aquellos opresores les sobreviniera una penuria inevitable y que a estos sólo se les hiciera ver cómo eran atormentados sus enemigos.	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 se desencadenó sobre tu pueblo el furor terrible de animales feroces, y ellos perecían por la mordedura de serpientes huidizas, tu ira no duró hasta el extremo.	5 And so, when fierce beasts overcame them in anger, they were exterminated by the bites of perverse snakes.
6 A manera de advertencia, fueron atribulados por poco tiempo, teniendo ya una prenda de salvación para que recordaran el 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 en efecto, aquel que se volvía hacia ella era salvado, no por lo que contemplaba, sino por ti, el 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 Así demostraste a nuestros enemigos que eres tú el que libra de todo mal:	8 Yet in this you revealed to our enemies that you are he who delivers from all evil.
9 ellos murieron por la picadura de langostas y moscas, y no se podía encontrar un remedio para sus vidas, porque merecían ser castigados por esos animales.	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 Pero contra tus hijos, ni siquiera pudieron los dientes de las serpientes venenosas, porque tu misericordia vino a su encuentro 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 Para que se acordaran de tus palabras, eran aguijoneados y se curaban rápidamente, no sea que cayeran en un profundo olvido y así quedaran excluidos de tu acción bienhechora.	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 Y no los sanaron las hierbas ni los ungüentos sino tu palabra, Señor, que todo lo cura.	12 And, indeed, neither an herb, nor a poultice, healed them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all.
13 Porque tú tienes poder sobre la vida y la muerte, haces bajar a las puertas del Abismo y haces subir de allí.	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 su malicia, puede matar, pero no hace volver el espíritu una vez que se fue, ni libera al alma recibida por el Abismo.	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 golpeados por la fuerza de tu brazo: los acosaron lluvias insólitas, granizadas, aguaceros implacables, y el fuego los consumió.	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 Pero lo más extraño era que en el agua, que todo lo apaga, el fuego se encendía más, porque el universo combate en defensa 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 Unas veces, las llamas se apaciguaban para no abrasar a los animales enviados contra los impíos, y para que, al verlas, estos se sintieran perseguidos por un juicio de Dios.	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 Otras veces, dentro mismo del agua, las llamas ardían con una fuerza superior a la del fuego, para destruir las cosechas de una tierra injusta.	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 En lugar de esto, nutriste a tu pueblo con un alimento de ángeles, y sin que ellos se fatigaran, les enviaste desde el cielo un pan ya preparado, capaz de brindar todas las delicias y adaptado a 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 Y el sustento que les dabas manifestaba tu dulzura hacia tus hijos, porque, adaptándose al gusto del que lo comía, se transformaba según el deseo de cada uno.	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 La nieve y el hielo resistían al fuego sin derretirse, a fin de que supieran que solamente los frutos de los enemigos eran destruidos por el fuego que ardía en medio del granizo y fulguraba bajo 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, por el contrario, ese mismo fuego olvidaba hasta su propio poder, para respetar el alimento de los justo.	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, que está al servicio de ti, su Creador, se pone en tensión para castigar a los injustos y se distiende para beneficiar a los que confían en ti.	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, transformándose completamente, ella estaba al servicio de tu generosidad, que a todos alimenta, de acuerdo con el deseo de los que te suplicaban.	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 Así los hijos que tú has amado, Señor, debían aprender que no son las diversas clases de frutos los que alimentan al hombre, sino que es tu palabra la que sostiene 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 Porque lo que el fuego no lograba destruir se derretía al simple calor de un tenue 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 para que se pusiera bien de manifiesto que hay que anticiparse al sol para darte gracias y encontrarse contigo al despuntar 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 Pero la esperanza del ingrato se diluirá como la escarcha invernal y correrá como agua inservible.	29 For the hope of the ungrateful will melt away like the winter’s ice and will disperse like overflowing water.