Wisdom 16

DOUAI-RHEIMS	BIBLIA
1 For these things, and by the like things to these, they were worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.	1 Por eso, mediante seres semejantes, fueron justamente castigados; una multitud de bichos les sometieron a tormento.
2 Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing for them quails for their meat:	2 En vez de tal castigo, concediste favores a tu pueblo: para satisfacer su voraz apetito, les preparaste como alimento un manjar exquisito: codornices;
3 To the end that they indeed desiring food, by means of those things that were shewn and sent among them, might loathe even that which was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want for a short time, tasted a new meat.	3 para que aquéllos, aun ansiando el alimento, por el asqueroso aspecto de los bichos que les enviabas, hasta el apetito natural perdiesen, y éstos, pasadas unas breves privaciones, viniesen a gustar manjares exquisitos.
4 For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how their enemies were destroyed.	4 Era razón que aquéllos, los opresores, sufrieran un hambre irremediable, mientras a éstos bastaba mostrarles la clase de tormento que sus enemigos padecían.
5 For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were destroyed with the bitings of crooked serpents.	5 Incluso cuando cayó sobre ellos la ira terrible de animales feroces, cuando por mordeduras de sinuosas serpientes perecían, no persistió tu cólera hasta el fin.
6 But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.	6 Como advertencia se vieron atribulados por breve tiempo, pues tenían una señal de salvación como recuerdo del mandamiento de tu Ley;
7 For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, but by thee the Saviour of all.	7 y el que a ella se volvía, se salvaba, no por lo que contemplaba, sino por ti, Salvador de todos.
8 And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who deliverest from all evil.	8 De este modo convenciste a nuestros enemigos de que tú eres el que libras de todo mal:
9 For the bitings of locusts, and of flies killed them, and there was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be destroyed by such things.	9 a ellos picaduras de langostas y moscas los mataban, - y bien merecían que bichos tales los castigasen - sin que remedio hallaran para su vida;
10 But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy children: for thy mercy came and healed them.	10 a tus hijos, en cambio, ni dientes de serpientes venenosas los vencieron, pues vino tu misericordia en su socorro y los sanó.
11 For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might not be able to use thy help.	11 Las mordeduras - pronto curadas - les recordaban tus preceptos no fuera que, cayendo en profundo olvido, se vieran excluidos de tu liberalidad.
12 For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster that healed them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.	12 Ni los curó hierba ni emplasto alguno, sino tu palabra, Señor, que todo lo sana.
13 For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:	13 Pues tú tienes el poder sobre la vida y sobre la muerte, haces bajar a las puertas del Hades y de allí subir.
14 A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is received:	14 El hombre, en cambio, puede matar por su maldad, pero no hacer tornar al espíritu que se fue, ni liberar al alma ya acogida en el Hades.
15 But it is impossible to escape thy hand.	15 Es imposible escapar de tu mano.
16 For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and rain, and consumed by fire.	16 Los impíos que rehusaban conocerte fueron fustigados por la fuerza de tu brazo; lluvias insólitas, granizadas, aguaceros implacables los persigueron y el fuego los devoró.
17 And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.	17 Y lo más extraño era que con el agua, que todo lo apaga, el fuego cobraba una violencia mayor. El universo, en efecto, combate en favor de los justos.
18 For at one time, the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which were sent against the wicked might not be burned, but that they might see and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.	18 Las llamas unas veces se amansaban para no consumir a los animales enviados contra los impíos, y darles a entender, por lo que veían, que el juicio de Dios les hostigaba;
19 And at another time the fire, above its own power, burned in the midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.	19 pero otras, aun en medio de las aguas, abrasaban con fuerza superior a la del fuego para destruir las cosechas de una tierra inicua.
20 Instead of which things thou didst feed thy people with the food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven prepared without labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.	20 A tu pueblo, por el contrario, le alimentaste con manjar de ángeles; les suministraste, sin cesar desde el ciel un pan ya preparado que podía brindar todas las delicias y satisfacer todos los gustos.
21 For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and serving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked.	21 El sustento que les dabas revelaba tu dulzura con tus hijos pues, adaptándose al deseo del que lo tomaba, se tranformaba en lo que cada uno quería.
22 But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that they might know that fire burning in the hail and flashing in the rain destroyed the fruits of the enemies.	22 Nieve y hielo resistían al fuego sin fundirse, para que supieran que el fuego, para destruir las cosechas de sus enemigos, entre el granizo abrasaba y fulguraba entre la lluvia,
23 But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even forget its own strength.	23 mientras que, para que los justos pudieran sustentarse, hasta de su natural poder se olvidaba.
24 For the creature serving thee the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust for their punishment; and abateth its strength for the benefit of them that trust in thee.	24 Porque la creación, sirviéndote a ti, su Hacedor, se embravece para castigo de los inicuos y se amansa en favor de los que en ti confían.
25 Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was obedient to thy grace that nourisheth all, according to the will of them that desired it of thee.	25 Por eso, también entonces, cambiándose en todo, servía a tu liberalidad que a todos sustenta, conforme al deseo de los necesitados.
26 That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word preseveth them that believe in thee:	26 De este modo enseñabas a tus hijos queridos, Señor, que no son las diversas especies de frutos los que alimentan al hombre, sino que es tu palabra la que mantiene a los que creen en ti.
27 For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam presently melted away:	27 El fuego no alcanzaba a disolver lo que sencillamente derretía el calor de un breve rayo de sol.
28 That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.	28 Con ello le enseñabas que debían adelantarse al sol para darte gracias y recurrir a ti al rayar el día,
29 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.	29 pues la esperanza del ingrato como escarcha invernal se derrite y corre como agua inútil.