Sapienza 19

BIBBIA CEI 2008	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Sugli empi sovrastò sino alla fine una collera senza pietà, perché Dio prevedeva anche ciò che avrebbero fatto,	1 But the impious, all the way to the very end, were overcome by anger without mercy. Indeed, he knew beforehand even their future.
2 cioè che, dopo aver loro permesso di andarsene e averli fatti partire in fretta, cambiato proposito, li avrebbero inseguiti.	2 Yet, seeing that they might have repented, so that they would be led by him and be sent forth with great concern, the just sought the impious, while regretting their deeds.
3 Mentre infatti erano ancora occupati nei lutti e piangevano sulle tombe dei morti, presero un’altra decisione insensata e inseguirono come fuggitivi quelli che già avevano pregato di partire.	3 For, while the just were still holding grief in their hands and weeping at the tombs of the dead, these others took upon themselves another senseless thought, and they cast out the legislators and pursued them as if they were fugitives.
4 A questo estremo li spingeva un meritato destino, che li gettò nell’oblio delle cose passate, perché colmassero la punizione che ancora mancava ai loro tormenti,	4 For a fitting necessity was leading them to this end, and they were losing the remembrance of those things which had happened, so that what was lacking in the sufferings of the conflict might be completed by the punishment,
5 e mentre il tuo popolo intraprendeva un viaggio straordinario, essi incappassero in una morte singolare.	5 and so that your people, indeed, might wonderfully pass through, but these others might find a new death.
6 Tutto il creato fu modellato di nuovo nella propria natura come prima, obbedendo ai tuoi comandi, perché i tuoi figli fossero preservati sani e salvi.	6 For every creature according to its kind was fashioned again as from the beginning, diligently serving your teachings, so that your children would be preserved unharmed.
7 Si vide la nube coprire d’ombra l’accampamento, terra asciutta emergere dove prima c’era acqua: il Mar Rosso divenne una strada senza ostacoli e flutti violenti una pianura piena d’erba;	7 For a cloud overshadowed their camp, and where water was before, dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea, a way without hindrance, and out of the great deep, a level field sprung up,
8 coloro che la tua mano proteggeva passarono con tutto il popolo, contemplando meravigliosi prodigi.	8 through which the whole nation passed, protected by your hand, seeing your miracles and wonders.
9 Furono condotti al pascolo come cavalli e saltellarono come agnelli esultanti, celebrando te, Signore, che li avevi liberati.	9 For they consumed food like horses, and they leapt about like lambs, praising you, O Lord, who had freed them.
10 Ricordavano ancora le cose avvenute nel loro esilio: come la terra, invece di bestiame, produsse zanzare, come il fiume, invece di pesci, riversò una massa di rane.	10 For they were still mindful of those things which had happened during the time of their sojourn, how, instead cattle, the earth brought forth flies, and instead of fish, the river cast up a multitude of frogs.
11 Più tardi videro anche una nuova generazione di uccelli, quando, spinti dall’appetito, chiesero cibi delicati;	11 And, lastly, they saw a new kind of bird, when, being led by their desire, they demanded a feast of meat.
12 poiché, per appagarli, dal mare salirono quaglie.	12 For, to console their loss, the quail came up to them from the sea, and yet troubles overcame the sinners, though they were not without the evidence of what had happened before by the power of lightning, for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness.
13 Sui peccatori invece piombarono i castighi non senza segni premonitori di fulmini fragorosi; essi soffrirono giustamente per le loro malvagità, perché avevano mostrato un odio tanto profondo verso lo straniero.	13 And indeed, they set up a more detestable inhospitality. Certainly, some have refused to receive unknown foreigners, but these others were drafting good guests into servitude,
14 Già altri infatti non avevano accolto gli sconosciuti che arrivavano, ma costoro ridussero in schiavitù gli ospiti che li avevano beneficati.	14 and not only foreigners, but also those who had been under their care, because they were reluctantly sheltering the outsiders.
15 Non solo: per i primi ci sarà un giudizio, perché accolsero ostilmente i forestieri;	15 Yet whoever had sheltered them with gladness, by making use of the very same justice, they afflicted with the most severe sorrow.
16 costoro invece, dopo averli festosamente accolti, quando già partecipavano ai loro diritti, li oppressero con lavori durissimi.	16 Yet they were struck with blindness, like someone brought before the gates of justice, so that they were suddenly covered with darkness, and each one was left searching for the threshold of his front door.
17 Furono perciò colpiti da cecità, come quelli alla porta del giusto, quando, avvolti fra tenebre fitte, ognuno cercava l’ingresso della propria porta.	17 For the elements in themselves are in the process of being changed, just as when the sound of a musical instrument is being altered in quality, yet each one keeps its own sound, from where it is considered to be and according to its fixed appearance.
18 Difatti gli elementi erano accordati diversamente, come nella cetra in cui le note variano la specie del ritmo, pur conservando sempre lo stesso tono, come è possibile dedurre da un’attenta considerazione degli avvenimenti.	18 For the countryside was transformed by water, and things which were swimming, crossed over the land.
19 Infatti animali terrestri divennero acquatici, quelli che nuotavano passarono sulla terra.	19 Fire prevailed in the midst of water, beyond its own power, and the water forgot its quenching nature.
20 Il fuoco rafforzò nell’acqua la sua potenza e l’acqua dimenticò la sua proprietà naturale di spegnere.	20 On the other hand, the flames did not trouble the bodies of the mortal animals walking around, nor did they melt that good food, which is as easily melted as ice. For in all things, O Lord, you magnified your people, and honored them, and did not despise them, but at every time and in every place, you assisted them.
21 Le fiamme non consumavano le carni di fragili animali che vi camminavano sopra, né scioglievano quel celeste nutrimento di vita, simile alla brina e così facile a fondersi.
22 In tutti i modi, o Signore, hai reso grande e glorioso il tuo popolo e non hai dimenticato di assisterlo in ogni momento e in ogni luogo.