Sapientia 16

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Propter hæc et per his similia passi sunt digne tormenta, et per multitudinem bestiarum exterminati sunt.	1 Thus they were appropriately punished by similar creatures and tormented by swarms of vermin.
2 Pro quibus tormentis bene disposuisti populum tuum, quibus dedisti concupiscentiam delectamenti sui novum saporem, escam parans eis ortygometram :	2 In contrast to this punishment, you did your people a kindness and, to satisfy their sharp appetite,provided quails -- a luscious rarity -- for them to eat.
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 Thus the Egyptians, at the repulsive sight of the creatures sent against them, were to find that, thoughthey longed for food, they had lost their natural appetite; whereas your own people, after a short privation, wereto have a rare relish for their portion.
4 Oportebat enim illis sine excusatione quidem supervenire interitum exercentibus tyrannidem ; his autem tantum ostendere quemadmodum inimici eorum exterminabantur.	4 Inevitable that relentless want should seize on the former oppressors; enough for your people to beshown how their enemies were being tortured.
5 Etenim cum illis supervenit sæva bestiarum ira, morsibus perversorum colubrorum exterminabantur.	5 Even when the fearful rage of wild animals overtook them and they were perishing from the bites ofwrithing snakes, your retribution did not continue 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 Affliction struck them briefly, by way of warning, and they had a saving token to remind them of thecommandment of your Law,
7 Qui enim conversus est, non per hoc quod videbat sanabatur, sed per te, omnium salvatorem.	7 for whoever turned to it was saved, not by what he looked at, but by you, the Saviour of all.
8 In hoc autem ostendisti inimicis nostris quia tu es qui liberas ab omni malo.	8 And by such means you proved to our enemies that you are the one who delivers from every evil;
9 Illos enim locustarum et muscarum occiderunt morsus, et non est inventa sanitas animæ illorum, quia digni erant ab hujuscemodi exterminari.	9 for them, the bites of locusts and flies proved fatal and no remedy could be found to save their lives,since they deserved to be punished by such creatures.
10 Filios autem tuos nec draconum venenatorum vicerunt dentes : misericordia enim tua adveniens sanabat illos.	10 But your children, not even the fangs of poisonous snakes could bring them down; for your mercycame to their help and cured them.
11 In memoria enim sermonum tuorum examinabantur, et velociter salvabantur : ne in altam incidentes oblivionem non possent tuo uti adjutorio.	11 One sting -- how quickly healed!-to remind them of your pronouncements rather than that, by sinkinginto deep forgetfulness, they should be cut off from your kindness.
12 Etenim neque herba, neque malagma sanavit eos : sed tuus, Domine, sermo, qui sanat omnia.	12 No herb, no poultice cured them, but your al -healing word, Lord.
13 Tu es enim, Domine, qui vitæ et mortis habes potestatem, et deducis ad portas mortis, et reducis.	13 Yes, you are the one with power over life and death, bringing to the gates of Hades and back again.
14 Homo autem occidit quidem per malitiam ; et cum exierit spiritus, non revertetur, nec revocabit animam quæ recepta est.	14 A human being out of malice may put to death, but cannot bring the departed spirit back or free thesoul that Hades has once received.
15 Sed tuam manum effugere impossibile est.	15 It is not possible to escape your hand.
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 The godless who refused to acknowledge you were scourged by the strength of your arm, pursued byno ordinary rains, hail and unrelenting downpours, and consumed by fire.
17 Quod enim mirabile erat, in aqua, quæ omnia extinguit, plus ignis valebat : vindex est enim orbis justorum.	17 Even more wonderful, in the water -- which quenches al -- the fire raged fiercer than ever; for theelements fight for the upright.
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 At one moment, the fire would die down, to avoid consuming the animals sent against the godlessand to make clear to them by that sight, that the sentence of God was pursuing them;
19 Et quodam tempore in aqua supra virtutem ignis exardescebat undique, ut iniquæ terræ nationem exterminaret.	19 at another, in the very heart of the water, it would burn more fiercely than fire to ruin the produce of awicked 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 How differently with your people! You gave them the food of angels, from heaven untiringly providingthem bread already prepared, containing every delight, to satisfy every taste.
21 Substantia enim tua dulcedinem tuam, quam in filios habes, ostendebat ; et deserviens uniuscujusque voluntati, ad quod quisque volebat convertebatur.	21 And the substance you gave showed your sweetness towards your children, for, conforming to thetaste of whoever ate it, it transformed itself into what each eater 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 Snow and ice endured the fire, without melting; this was to show them that, to destroy the harvests oftheir enemies, fire would burn even in hail and flare in fal ing rain,
23 hic autem iterum ut nutrirentur justi, etiam suæ virtutis oblitus est.	23 whereas, on the other hand, it would even forget its own strength in the service of feeding the upright.
24 Creatura enim tibi factori deserviens, exardescit in tormentum adversus injustos, et lenior fit ad benefaciendum pro his qui in te confidunt.	24 For the creation, being at the service of you, its Creator, tautens to punish the wicked and slackensfor the benefit of 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 And this is why, by changing into al things, it obediently served your all-nourishing bounty,conforming to the wishes of those who were in need;
26 ut scirent filii tui quos dilexisti, Domine, quoniam non nativitatis fructus pascunt homines, sed sermo tuus hos qui in te crediderint conservat.	26 so that your beloved children, Lord, might learn that the various crops are not what providenourishment, but your word which preserves al who believe in you.
27 Quod enim ab igne non poterat exterminari, statim ab exiguo radio solis calefactum tabescebat :	27 For that which fire could not destroy melted in the heat of a single fleeting sunbeam,
28 ut notum omnibus esset quoniam oportet prævenire solem ad benedictionem tuam, et ad ortum lucis te adorare.	28 to show that, to give you thanks, we must rise before the sun and meet you at the dawning of theday;
29 Ingrati enim spes tamquam hibernalis glacies tabescet, et disperiet tamquam aqua supervacua.	29 whereas the hope of the ungrateful melts like winter frost and flows away like water running to waste.