Wisdom 17

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
1 For your judgments, O Lord, are great, and your words are indescribable. Therefore, undisciplined souls have wandered astray.	1 Grandes e inenarrables son tus juicios, por eso, las almas ignorantes se extraviaron.
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 Porque cuando los impíos pensaban que podían oprimir a una nación santa, yacían encadenados en las tinieblas, prisioneros de una larga noche, encerrados bajo sus techos, excluidos 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 Ellos pensaban mantenerse ocultos con sus pecados secretos, bajo el oscuro velo del olvido, pero fueron dispersados, presa de terrible espanto, y aterrorizados por fantasmas.
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 Porque el reducto que los protegía no los preservaba del miedo; ruidos estremecedores resonaban a su alrededor y se les aparecían espectros lúgubres, de rostro sombrío.
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 Ningún fuego tenía fuerza suficiente para alumbrar, ni el resplandor brillante de las estrellas lograba iluminar aquella horrible 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 Solamente brillaba para ellos una masa de fuego que se encendía por sí misma, sembrando el terror, y una vez desaparecida aquella visión, quedaban aterrados y consideraban lo que habían visto peor de lo que era.
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 resultaban ineficaces, y su pretendida ciencia quedaba vergonzosamente desmentida,
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 porque los que prometían liberar las almas enfermas de temores y sobresaltos, estaban, ellos mismos, enfermos de un temor ridículo.
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 Aunque nada terrorífico les infundiera temor, horrorizados 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 hasta rehusaban mirar el aire, del que nadie puede escapar.
11 For fear is nothing else but unfaithfulness to thinking helpful things.	11 Porque la maldad es cobarde y su propio testimonio la 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 El miedo, en efecto, no es sino el abandono de la ayuda que da 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 cuanto menos se cuenta con esa seguridad interior, tanto más grave se considera ignorar la causa del 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 esa noche verdaderamente impotente, salida de las profundidades del Abismo impotente, sumergidos en un mismo sueño,
15 Then, if any among them had fallen away, he was kept in a prison without bars which had been left open.	15 eran perseguidos a la vez por espectros monstruosos y paralizados por el desfallecimiento de su alma, porque un terror repentino e inesperado los había invadido.
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 Así, cualquiera que caía en ese estado quedaba prisionero, encerrado en esa 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 trabajara en lugares solitarios, al ser sorprendido, tenía que soportar 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 porque todos estaban atados por una misma cadena de tinieblas. El silbido del viento, el canto melodioso de los pájaros en la arboleda, el ruido cadencioso de las aguas en su impetuoso correr,
19 For the whole world was enlightened with a clear light, and none were being hindered in their labors.	19 el violento estruendo de las rocas cayendo en avalanchas, la invisible carrera de animales encabritados, el rugido de las fieras más salvajes, el eco que retumba en los huecos de las montañas, todo los llenaba de terror y los paralizaba.
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 Porque el mundo entero estaba iluminado por una luz resplandeciente y se dedicaba libremente a sus trabajos;
	21 solamente sobre ellos se extendía una pesada noche, imagen de las tinieblas que les estaban reservadas. Pero más que de las tinieblas, ellos sentían el peso de sí mismos.