Sapienza 16

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Propter haec per his similia castigati sunt digne et per multitudinem bestiarum tormenta passi sunt.	1 Thus they were appropriately punished by similar creatures and tormented by swarms of vermin.
2 Pro qua castigatione bene disponens populum tuum ad concupiscentiam delectamenti sui, novum saporem, escam parasti 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 foeditatem eorum animalium, quae missa sunt, etiam a necessaria concupiscentia averterentur; hi autem in brevi inopes facti etiam novam gustarent 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 quidem sine excusatione 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 saeva bestiarum ira, morsibus perversorum colubrorum exterminabantur; sed non in perpetuum ira tua permansit,	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 ad correptionem in brevi turbati sunt, signum habentes salutis ad commemorationem mandati legis tuae.	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 animae illorum, quia digni erant ab huiusmodi 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 memoriam enim sermonum tuorum pungebantur et velociter salvabantur, ne in altam incidentes oblivionem non possent distrahi a tua beneficientia.	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 enim vitae 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 suam et spiritum, qui exierit, restituere non potest, nec liberare animam, quae 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 pluviis et grandinibus et imbribus 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 valde mirabile erat, in aqua, quae omnia exstinguit, plus ignis valebat; vindex est enim orbis iustorum.	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 flamma, ne combureret, quae ad impios missa erant, animalia, sed ut ipsi videntes scirent quoniam Dei iudicio 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 Quodam autem tempore et in medio aquarum supra virtutem ignis exardescit, ut iniquae terrae genimina exterminet.	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 caelo praestitisti illis sine labore, omne delectamentum in se habentem et ad omnem gustum aptum.	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 in filios ostendebat; et deserviens sumentis 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 ignem et non tabescebant, ut scirent quoniam fructus inimicorum exterminabat ignis ardens in grandine et in pluviis 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 iusti, etiam suae 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 invalescit in tormentum adversus iniustos 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 gratiae tuae 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 discerent filii tui, quos dilexisti, Domine, quoniam non nativitates fructuum pascunt homines, sed sermo tuus credentes in te 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 esset quoniam oportet praevenire 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.