Sapienza 18

BIBBIA MARTINI	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Ma i tuoi santi godevano splendidissima luce, e le voci di quelli ascoltavano, ma non li vedevano in, faccia, e a te davan gloria, perché non pativano quelle medesime cose.	1 But your saints were your greatest light, and they heard your voice, but did not see your form. And because they themselves did not also suffer the same things, they praised you greatly.
2 E grazie rendevano, perché dopo di essere stali maltrattati, non io erano più, e la grazia chiedevano di tal divario.	2 And those who were wounded before, gave thanks, because they were no longer being wounded, and because they had petitioned for this gift, that there would be this difference.
3 Quindi nell'ignoto cammino ebber per guida una ardente colonna di fuoco, e un sole, che non li offendesse desti loro nel buon pellegrinaggio.	3 Because of this, they had a burning column of fire as a guide on the unknown way, and you displayed a harmless sun of a good hospitality.
4 E ben meritavan quelli di restar privi di luce, e di soffrire una prigione di tenebre come quelli, che chiusi tenevano i tuoi figliuoli, per mezzo de' quali la luce incorrotta della legge doveva al mondo comunicarsi.	4 The others, indeed, deserved to be deprived of the light and to endure a prison of darkness, who watched for an opportunity to imprison your sons, by whom the incorruptible light of the law was beginning to be given to future generations.
5 E quando quelli ebbero risoluto uccidere i pargoletti; ed esposto uno di que' figliuoli, fu per loro sciagura salvato, tu li privasti de' molti loro figliuoli, e tutti insieme gli sterminasti sotta la mole dell'acque.	5 When they thought to kill the babes of the just, one son having been exposed and set free, to their disgrace, you took away a multitude of their sons and destroyed them all together in a mighty water.
6 Conciossiaché quella notte fu anticipatamente notificata a' padri nostri, affinchè con certezza veggendo a quali giurate promesse avesser prestata fede, fossore più tranquilli.	6 For that night was known beforehand by our fathers, so that, knowing the truth of the oaths in which they had trusted, they might be more peaceful in their souls.
7 E il popol tuo osservò quindi la salvazione de' giusti, indi lo sterminio de' malvagi.	7 Yet your people received not only the salvation of the just, but also the destruction of the unjust.
8 Perocché siccome gastigasti i nemici, così noi esaltasti chiamandoci a te.	8 For just as you wounded our adversaries, so also did you greatly esteem calling us forth.
9 Imperocché i giusti figliuoli de' santi di nascosto offerivano il sagrifizio, e di unanime consentimento stabilirono questa legge di giustizia, che i giusti avrebbon del pari avuto parte ai beni, e ai mali; e cantavan già gli inni de' padri.	9 For the just children of goodness were secretly offering sacrifice, and in agreement they administered the law of justice, so that both good and bad would be able to receive justice, and so that you might now approve of their chanting to the father.
10 Rimbombavan però le stuonate voci de' nemici, e flebili lamenti si udivano sopra i morti fanciulli.	10 On the other hand, a dissimilar voice was resounding from the enemies, and a lamentable wailing was heard for the children who were being cried over.
11 E la stessa pena soffrì lo schiavo, e il padrone, e l'uomo plebeo, ed il re furon del pari nel gastigo.	11 But the same punishment afflicted the servant with the master, and the common man endured the same as the king.
12 Cosi tutti allo stesso modo si trovavano con numero infinito di morti, periti dello stesso genere di morte; né i vivi sopperivano a dar sepoltura; perocché in un momento il meglio della lor progenie fa sterminato.	12 Therefore, all were the same, with one name for death, and the dead were innumerable. For neither were the living sufficient to bury the dead, because, with a single effort, their most illustrious nation was exterminated.
13 E quelli, che a nissuna cosa crederono (a motivo degli incantesimi), allora per la prima volta, quando segui lo sterminio de' primogeniti, riconobbero, che quello era il popol di Dio.	13 For they would not believe anything because of the drugs; then truly, at the beginning, when the extermination of the firstborn happened, they pledged the people to belong to God.
14 Imperocché meutro un tranquillo silenzio le cose tutte occupava, e la notte facendo suo corso era alla metà del viaggio.	14 For, when a quiet silence surrounded all things, and when the course of the night was passing the middle of its journey,
15 La onnipotente partita tua, o Signore, dal ciclo, dal trono reale, (qual) terrìbil campione discese in mezzo alla terra destinata all'esterminio,	15 your almighty word from heaven leapt down from your royal throne, as a fierce warrior in the midst of the land of extermination,
16 Ella (come) acuta spada portante il tuo irresistibil comando, al suo venire empié tutto di morte, e stando sopra la terra insino al cielo arrivava.	16 as a sharp sword carrying your unfeigned authority, and standing, filled all things with death, and, standing on the earth, reached all the way up to touch heaven.
17 Allora quelli furon subitamente turbati da visioni di tetri sogni, e furon presi da repentine paure.	17 Then, incessant visions of nightmares disturbed them, and unexpected fears overcame them.
18 E gettati semivivi chi in questa, e chi in quella parte indicavano la causa della loro morte;	18 And another was thrown down elsewhere half-alive; and so, by means of that which was dying, the cause of death was revealed.
19 Imperocché le visioni stesse, ond'erano stati agitati, gli aveano di ciò avvertiti, affinché non perissero senza sapere la ragion del gastigo.	19 For the visions that disturbed them had forewarned of these things, lest they should perish and not know why they suffered these evils.
20 Furono allora anche i giusti in pericolo di morte, e la moltitudine sofferse calamità nel deserto; ma non lungo tempo durò il tuo sdegno.	20 Yet, at that time, the trial of death touched even the just, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness, but your wrath did not continue for long.
21 Perocché quell'uomo irreprensibile si mosse subito ad intercedere a favore del popolo, e dato di mano allo scudo del suo ministero, la orazione, e coll'incenso le preghiere offerendo, si oppose all'ira, e pose fine al disastro, facendosi conoscere tuo servo.	21 For a blameless man, prospering, is to be entreated for your people, bringing forth the shield of your service, through prayer and incense, making prayerful supplication, he withstands anger, and so establishes an end to the necessary difficulty, revealing that he is your servant.
22 Ed egli calmò lo scompiglio non col valore del corpo, né col potere delle armi, ma colla parola disarmò colui, che lo affliggeva, rammentando i giuramenti fatti a' padri, e l'alleanza;	22 Yet he outlasted the disturbance, not by virtue of the body, nor by force of arms, but, with a word, he subdued those who were troubling him, commemorating the oaths and covenant of the parents.
23 Perocché quando già a masse cadevano i morti l'un sopra l'altro, egli si pose di mezzo, e fece argine all'ira, tagliò a lei la strada, che menava verso dei vivi.	23 For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between them and cut off their attack, and he divided those who controlled the path to the living.
24 Conciossiachè nella veste talare, che egli portava, tutto il mondo era rappresentato, e i gloriosi nomi de' Padri ne' quattro ordini di pietre erano scolpiti; e sul diadema, ch'egli portava in testa era scolpito il nome tuo grande.	24 For, within the garment of shame which he held, the world was all together, and the great deeds of the parents were engraved on four orders of stones, and your majesty was engraved on the crown of his head.
25 A tali cose cede lo sterminatore, e a queste portò rispetto: perocché bastava il solo aver dato saggio dell'ira.	25 Yet he who was exterminating yielded even to those he frightened. For one trial of wrath was sufficient.