Sapientia 16

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Propter hæc et per his similia passi sunt digne tormenta, et per multitudinem bestiarum exterminati sunt.	1 Therefore they were fittingly punished by similar creatures, and were tormented by a swarm of insects.
2 Pro quibus tormentis bene disposuisti populum tuum, quibus dedisti concupiscentiam delectamenti sui novum saporem, escam parans eis ortygometram :	2 Instead of this punishment, you benefited your people with a novel dish, the delight they craved, by providing quail for their food;
3 ut illi quidem, concupiscentes escam propter ea quæ illis ostensa et missa sunt, etiam a necessaria concupiscentia averterentur. Hi autem in brevi inopes facti, novam gustaverunt escam.	3 That those others, when they desired food, since the creatures sent to plague them were so loathsome, should be turned from even the craving of necessities, While these, after a brief period of privation, partook of a novel dish.
4 Oportebat enim illis sine excusatione quidem supervenire interitum exercentibus tyrannidem ; his autem tantum ostendere quemadmodum inimici eorum exterminabantur.	4 For upon those oppressors, inexorable want had to come; but these needed only be shown how their enemies were being tormented.
5 Etenim cum illis supervenit sæva bestiarum ira, morsibus perversorum colubrorum exterminabantur.	5 For when the dire venom of beasts came upon them and they were dying from the bite of crooked serpents, your anger endured not to the end.
6 Sed non in perpetuum ira tua permansit, sed ad correptionem in brevi turbati sunt, signum habentes salutis ad commemorationem mandati legis tuæ.	6 But as a warning, for a short time they were terrorized, though they had a sign of salvation, to remind them of the precept of your law.
7 Qui enim conversus est, non per hoc quod videbat sanabatur, sed per te, omnium salvatorem.	7 For he who turned toward it was saved, not by what he saw, but by you, the savior of all.
8 In hoc autem ostendisti inimicis nostris quia tu es qui liberas ab omni malo.	8 And by this also you convinced our foes that you are he who delivers from all evil.
9 Illos enim locustarum et muscarum occiderunt morsus, et non est inventa sanitas animæ illorum, quia digni erant ab hujuscemodi exterminari.	9 For the bites of locusts and of flies slew them, and no remedy was found to save their lives because they deserved to be punished by such means;
10 Filios autem tuos nec draconum venenatorum vicerunt dentes : misericordia enim tua adveniens sanabat illos.	10 But not even the fangs of poisonous reptiles overcame your sons, for your mercy brought the antidote to heal them.
11 In memoria enim sermonum tuorum examinabantur, et velociter salvabantur : ne in altam incidentes oblivionem non possent tuo uti adjutorio.	11 For as a reminder of your injunctions, they were stung, and swiftly they were saved, Lest they should fall into deep forgetfulness and become unresponsive to your beneficence.
12 Etenim neque herba, neque malagma sanavit eos : sed tuus, Domine, sermo, qui sanat omnia.	12 For indeed, neither herb nor application cured them, but your all-healing word, O LORD!
13 Tu es enim, Domine, qui vitæ et mortis habes potestatem, et deducis ad portas mortis, et reducis.	13 For you have dominion over life and death; you lead down to the gates of the nether world, and lead back.
14 Homo autem occidit quidem per malitiam ; et cum exierit spiritus, non revertetur, nec revocabit animam quæ recepta est.	14 Man, however, slays in his malice, but when the spirit has come away, it does not return, nor can he bring back the soul once it is confined.
15 Sed tuam manum effugere impossibile est.	15 But your hand none can escape.
16 Negantes enim te nosse impii, per fortitudinem brachii tui flagellati sunt : novis aquis, et grandinibus, et pluviis persecutionem passi, et per ignem consumpti.	16 For the wicked who refused to know you were punished by the might of your arm, Pursued by unwonted rains and hailstorms and unremitting downpours, and consumed by fire.
17 Quod enim mirabile erat, in aqua, quæ omnia extinguit, plus ignis valebat : vindex est enim orbis justorum.	17 For against all expectation, in water which quenches anything, the fire grew more active; For the universe fights on behalf of the just.
18 Quodam enim tempore mansuetabatur ignis, ne comburerentur quæ ad impios missa erant animalia, sed ut ipsi videntes scirent quoniam Dei judicio patiuntur persecutionem.	18 For now the flame was tempered so that the beasts might not be burnt up that were sent upon the wicked, but that these might see and know they were struck by the judgment of God;
19 Et quodam tempore in aqua supra virtutem ignis exardescebat undique, ut iniquæ terræ nationem exterminaret.	19 And again, even in the water, fire blazed beyond its strength so as to consume the produce of the wicked land.
20 Pro quibus angelorum esca nutrivisti populum tuum, et paratum panem de cælo præstitisti illis sine labore, omne delectamentum in se habentem, et omnis saporis suavitatem.	20 Instead of this, you nourished your people with food of angels and furnished them bread from heaven, ready to hand, untoiled-for, endowed with all delights and conforming to every taste.
21 Substantia enim tua dulcedinem tuam, quam in filios habes, ostendebat ; et deserviens uniuscujusque voluntati, ad quod quisque volebat convertebatur.	21 For this substance of yours revealed your sweetness toward your children, and serving the desire of him who received it, was blended to whatever flavor each one wished.
22 Nix autem et glacies sustinebant vim ignis, et non tabescebant : ut scirent quoniam fructus inimicorum exterminabat ignis ardens in grandine et pluvia coruscans ;	22 Yet snow and ice withstood fire and were not melted, that they might know that their enemies' fruits Were consumed by a fire that blazed in the hail and flashed lightning in the rain.
23 hic autem iterum ut nutrirentur justi, etiam suæ virtutis oblitus est.	23 But this fire, again, that the just might be nourished, forgot even its proper strength;
24 Creatura enim tibi factori deserviens, exardescit in tormentum adversus injustos, et lenior fit ad benefaciendum pro his qui in te confidunt.	24 For your creation, serving you, its maker, grows tense for punishment against the wicked, but is relaxed in benefit for those who trust in you.
25 Propter hoc et tunc in omnia transfigurata, omnium nutrici gratiæ tuæ deserviebat, ad voluntatem eorum qui a te desiderabant :	25 Therefore at that very time, transformed in all sorts of ways, it was serving your all-nourishing bounty according to what they needed and desired;
26 ut scirent filii tui quos dilexisti, Domine, quoniam non nativitatis fructus pascunt homines, sed sermo tuus hos qui in te crediderint conservat.	26 That your sons whom you loved might learn, O LORD, that it is not the various kinds of fruits that nourish man, but it is your word that preserves those who believe you!
27 Quod enim ab igne non poterat exterminari, statim ab exiguo radio solis calefactum tabescebat :	27 For what was not destroyed by fire, when merely warmed by a momentary sunbeam, melted;
28 ut notum omnibus esset quoniam oportet prævenire solem ad benedictionem tuam, et ad ortum lucis te adorare.	28 So that men might know that one must give you thanks before the sunrise, and turn to you at daybreak.
29 Ingrati enim spes tamquam hibernalis glacies tabescet, et disperiet tamquam aqua supervacua.	29 For the hope of the ingrate melts like a wintry frost and runs off like useless water.