Wisdom 17

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	BIBLIA
1 For your judgments, O Lord, are great, and your words are indescribable. Therefore, undisciplined souls have wandered astray.	1 Grandes son en verdad tus juicios e inenarrables, por donde almas ignorantes se vinieron a engañar.
2 For, while they managed to convince the unjust, so as to obtain dominion over the holy nation, they themselves were fettered with chains of darkness and of endless night, enclosed in their houses, fugitives of everlasting providence, lying in ruins.	2 Imaginaban los impíos que podrían oprimir a una nación santa; y se encontraron prisioneros de tinieblas, en larga noche trabados, recluidos en sus casas, desterrados de la Providencia eterna.
3 And, while they thought to escape notice in their secret sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of oblivion, being horribly afraid, and having been disturbed with great astonishment.	3 Creían que se mantendrían ocultos con sus secretos pecados bajo el oscuro velo del olvido; y se vieron dispersos, presa de terrible espanto, sobresaltados por apariciones.
4 For neither did the cave which enclosed them preserve them from fear, because descending noises disturbed them, and the sorrowful persons appearing to them intensified their fear.	4 Pues ni el escondrijo que les protegía les libraba del miedo; que también allí resonaban ruidos escalofriantes y se aparecían espectros sombríos de lúgubre aspecto.
5 And, indeed, even fire had no strength to provide them light, nor could the clear flames of the stars illuminate that horrible night.	5 No había fuego intenso capaz de alumbrarles, ni las brillantes llamas de las estrellas alcanzaban a esclarecer aquella odiosa noche.
6 Yet there appeared to them a sudden fire, filled with fear; and, having been struck with the fear of that face which is unseen, they considered those things which they did see to be worse,	6 Tan sólo una llamarada, por sí misma encendida, se dejaba entrever sembrando el terror; pues en su espanto, al desaparecer la visión, imaginaban más horrible aún lo que acababan de ver.
7 and, having been ridiculed, the illusions were removed from their arts along with their contemptuous rebuke of glorious wisdom.	7 Los artificios de la magia resultaron ineficaces; con gran afrenta quedó refutado su pretendido saber,
8 Indeed, those who promised to drive away fears and disturbances from a languishing soul, though they were filled with derision, were themselves languishing in fear.	8 pues los que prometían expulsar miedos y sobresaltos de las almas enloquecidas, enloquecían ellos mismos con ridículos temores.
9 And, even if nothing unnatural disturbed them, yet being agitated by the passing of animals and the hissing of snakes, they died of fear, denying what they themselves saw even in the air, which no one thinks to be able to escape.	9 Incluso cuando otro espanto no les atemorizara, sobresaltados por el paso de los bichos y el silbido de los reptiles,
10 For, while there may be apprehension with wickedness, it gives testimony to condemnation, for a troubled conscience always forecasts harshness.	10 se morían de miedo, y rehusaban mirar aquel aire que de ninguna manera podían evitar.
11 For fear is nothing else but unfaithfulness to thinking helpful things.	11 Cobarde es, en efecto, la maldad y ella a sí misma se condena; acosada por la conciencia imagina siempre lo peor;
12 And, while expectation is driven from within, the cause of this is supposing that one is great in knowledge, and as a result, conflict excels.	12 pues no es otra cosa el miedo sino el abandono del apoyo que presta la reflexión;
13 Yet those who were truly powerless that night, being overcome by both the vilest and the deepest hell, were sleeping the same sleep,	13 y cuanto menos se cuenta con los recursos interiores, tanto mayor parece la desconocida causa que produce el tormento.
14 sometimes stirred up by the fear of unnatural things, other times sinking down in disgrace of soul, for a sudden and unexpected fear overcame them.	14 Durante aquella noche verdaderamente inerte, surgida de las profundidades del inerte Hades, en un mismo sueño sepultados,
15 Then, if any among them had fallen away, he was kept in a prison without bars which had been left open.	15 al invadirles un miedo repentino e inesperado, se vieron, de un lado, perseguidos de espectrales apariciones y, de otro, paralizados por el abandono de su alma.
16 For if a farmer, or a shepherd, or a worker in a field of labor were suddenly overcome, he endured an inescapable necessity.	16 De este modo, cualquiera que en tal situación cayera, quedaba encarcelado, encerrado en aquella prisión sin hierros;
17 For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Or if there were a whistling wind, or the sweet sound of birds among the thick tree branches, or the force of water rushing excessively,	17 ya fuera labrador o pastor, o bien un obrero dedicado en la soledad a su trabajo, sorprendido, soportaba la ineludible necesidad,
18 or the strong noise of rocks crashing down, or the scattering of playful animals having been seen, or the strong voice of bellowing beasts, or the resounding of the highest mountain echo, these things made them sink down because of fear.	18 atados todos como estaban por una misma cadena de tinieblas. El silbido del viento, el melodioso canto de las aves en la enramada, el ruido regulado del agua que corría impetuosa,
19 For the whole world was enlightened with a clear light, and none were being hindered in their labors.	19 el horrísimo fragor de rocas que caían de las alturas, la invisible carrera de animales que saltando pasaban, el rugido de las fieras más salvajes, el eco que devolvían las oquedades de las montañas, todo les aterrorizaba y les dejaba paralizados.
20 But then, the heavy night was placed over the sun for them, an image of that darkness which was about to overcome them. Yet they were more grievous to themselves than was the darkness.	20 Estaba entonces el mundo entero iluminado de luz esplendorosa, y, sin traba alguna, se ocupaba en sus quehaceres;
	21 sólo sobre ellos se extendía pesada noche, imagen de las tinieblas que les esperaban recibir. Aunque ellos a sí mismos se eran más pesados que las tinieblas.