Sapienza 11

BIBBIA CEI 1974	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Essa fece riuscire le loro imprese per mezzo di un santo profeta:	1 She directed their works in the hands of the holy prophet.
2 attraversarono un deserto inospitale, fissarono le tende in terreni impraticabili,	2 They made a path through desolate areas, which were uninhabited, and set up their homes in remote places.
3 resistettero agli avversari, respinsero i nemici.	3 They stood firm against the enemy, and vindicated themselves from their adversaries.
4 Quando ebbero sete, ti invocarono e fu data loro acqua da una rupe scoscesa, rimedio contro la sete da una dura roccia.	4 They thirsted, and they called upon you, and water was given them out of the deepest rock, and respite from thirst out of the hard stone.
5 Ciò che era servito a punire i loro nemici, nel bisogno fu per loro un beneficio.	5 For through water, their enemies had been punished, by the corruption of their drinking water; and so, among them, when the sons of Israel lacked the abundance they would have had, their enemies rejoiced;
6 Invece della corrente di un fiume perenne, sconvolto da putrido sangue	6 yet though water, when they were in need, it turned out well for them.
7 in punizione di un decreto infanticida, tu desti loro inaspettatamente acqua abbondante,	7 For instead of a fountain, even everlasting in flow, you gave human blood to the unjust,
8 mostrando per la sete di allora, come avevi punito i loro avversari.	8 and while they would be crushed into disgrace because of the murdering of infants, you unexpectedly gave your own abundant water,
9 Difatti, messi alla prova, sebbene puniti con misericordia, compresero quali tormenti avevan sofferto gli empi, giudicati nella collera,	9 revealing through the thirst, which occurred at that time, how you would exalt your own and would kill their adversaries.
10 perché tu provasti gli uni come un padre che corregge, mentre vagliasti gli altri come un re severo che condanna.	10 For when they were being tested, and even when receiving merciful correction, they knew in what way, when your wrath judged the impious, they would suffer torments.
11 Lontani o vicini erano ugualmente tribolati,	11 For these, advising like a father, you approved; but the others, interrogating like a severe king, you condemned.
12 perché un duplice dolore li colse e un pianto per i ricordi del passato.	12 For whether absent or present, they were tortured alike.
13 Quando infatti seppero che dal loro castigo quegli altri ricevevano benefici, sentirono la presenza del Signore;	13 For they had received double: weariness and groaning in the remembrance of things past.
14 poiché colui che avevano una volta esposto e quindi respinto con scherni, lo ammiravano alla fine degli eventi, dopo aver patito una sete ben diversa da quella dei giusti.	14 For when they paid attention to their punishments, to attend to their own benefit, they called to mind the Lord, admiring the end result.
15 Per i ragionamenti insensati della loro ingiustizia, da essi ingannati, venerarono rettili senza ragione e vili bestiole. Tu inviasti loro in castigo una massa di animali senza ragione,	15 For though they showed scorn by throwing out distorted statements, in the end they were amazed at the result, but this is not the same as thirsting for justice.
16 perché capissero che con quelle stesse cose per cui uno pecca, con esse è poi castigato.	16 For according to the thinking of their irrational iniquity, because some, going astray, were worshiping mute serpents and worthless beasts, you sent upon them a multitude of mute beasts for vengeance,
17 Certo, non aveva difficoltà la tua mano onnipotente, che aveva creato il mondo da una materia senza forma, a mandare loro una moltitudine di orsi e leoni feroci	17 so that they might know that by whatever things a man sins, by the same also is he tormented.
18 o belve ignote, create apposta, piene di furore, o sbuffanti un alito infuocato o esalanti vapori pestiferi o folgoranti con le terribili scintille degli occhi,	18 For it was not impossible for your all-powerful hand, which created the world from unknown material, to send forth upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,
19 bestie di cui non solo l'assalto poteva sterminarli, ma annientarli anche l'aspetto terrificante.	19 or, in anger, beasts of a new kind, massive and strange, either breathing out a fiery vapor, or sending forth an odorous smoke, or shooting horrible sparks from their eyes;
20 Anche senza questo potevan soccombere con un soffio, perseguitati dalla giustizia e dispersi dallo spirito della tua potenza. Ma tu hai tutto disposto con misura, calcolo e peso.	20 whereby, not only wounds would be able to destroy them, but also the very sight would kill them through fear.
21 Prevalere con la forza ti è sempre possibile; chi potrà opporsi al potere del tuo braccio?	21 Yet, even without these, they could have been killed with one breath, suffering persecution of their own making and being scattered by your spirit of virtue; but you have ordered all things in size and number and weight.
22 Tutto il mondo davanti a te, come polvere sulla bilancia, come una stilla di rugiada mattutina caduta sulla terra.	22 Though many are strong, you alone always overcome. And who will withstand the strength of your arm?
23 Hai compassione di tutti, perché tutto tu puoi, non guardi ai peccati degli uomini, in vista del pentimento.	23 For, like a tiny grain on a scale, just so is the world before you, and like a drop dew before dawn, which descends upon the earth.
24 Poiché tu ami tutte le cose esistenti e nulla disprezzi di quanto hai creato; se avessi odiato qualcosa, non l'avresti neppure creata.	24 But you are merciful to all, because you can do all, and you dismiss the sins of man because of repentance.
25 Come potrebbe sussistere una cosa, se tu non vuoi? O conservarsi se tu non l'avessi chiamata all'esistenza?	25 For you love all things that are, and you hate nothing of the things you have made; for you would not have created or established anything that you hated.
26 Tu risparmi tutte le cose, perché tutte son tue, Signore, amante della vita,	26 For how could anything endure, except by your will? Or what, having been called by you not to exist, would be preserved?
	27 Yet you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord, who loves souls.