Sabiduría, 16

1. Por eso, mediante seres semejantes, fueron justamente castigados; una multitud de bichos les sometieron a tormento.

1. Therefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the multitude of beasts tormented.

2. En vez de tal castigo, concediste favores a tu pueblo: para satisfacer su voraz apetito, les preparaste como alimento un manjar exquisito: codornices;

2. Instead of which punishment, dealing graciously with thine own people, thou preparedst for them meat of a strange taste, even quails to stir up their appetite:

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.

3. To the end that they, desiring food, might for the ugly sight of the beasts sent among them lothe even that, which they must needs desire; but these, suffering penury for a short space, might be made partakers of a strange taste.

4. Era razón que aquéllos, los opresores, sufrieran un hambre irremediable, mientras a éstos bastaba mostrarles la clase de tormento que sus enemigos padecían.

4. For it was requisite, that upon them exercising tyranny should come penury, which they could not avoid: but to these it should only be shewed how their enemies were tormented.

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.

5. For when the horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these, and they perished with the stings of crooked serpents, thy wrath endured not for ever:

6. Como advertencia se vieron atribulados por breve tiempo, pues tenían una señal de salvación como recuerdo del mandamiento de tu Ley;

6. But they were troubled for a small season, that they might be admonished, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.

7. y el que a ella se volvía, se salvaba, no por lo que contemplaba, sino por ti, Salvador de todos.

7. For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing that he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all.

8. De este modo convenciste a nuestros enemigos de que tú eres el que libras de todo mal:

8. And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who deliverest from all evil:

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;

9. For them the bitings of grasshoppers and flies killed, neither was there found any remedy for their life: for they were worthy to be punished by such.

10. a tus hijos, en cambio, ni dientes de serpientes venenosas los vencieron, pues vino tu misericordia en su socorro y los sanó.

10. But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them.

11. Las mordeduras - pronto curadas - les recordaban tus preceptos no fuera que, cayendo en profundo olvido, se vieran excluidos de tu liberalidad.

11. For they were pricked, that they should remember thy words; and were quickly saved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy goodness.

12. Ni los curó hierba ni emplasto alguno, sino tu palabra, Señor, que todo lo sana.

12. For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored them to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

13. Pues tú tienes el poder sobre la vida y sobre la muerte, haces bajar a las puertas del Hades y de allí subir.

13. For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates of hell, and bringest up again.

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.

14. A man indeed killeth through his malice: and the spirit, when it is gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up cometh again.

15. Es imposible escapar de tu mano.

15. But it is not possible to escape thine hand.

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.

16. For the ungodly, that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thine arm: with strange rains, hails, and showers, were they persecuted, that they could not avoid, and through fire were they consumed.

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.

17. For, which is most to be wondered at, the fire had more force in the water, that quencheth all things: for the world fighteth for the righteous.

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;

18. For sometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up the beasts that were sent against the ungodly; but themselves might see and perceive that they were persecuted with the judgment of God.

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.

19. And at another time it burneth even in the midst of water above the power of fire, that it might destroy the fruits of an unjust land.

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.

20. Instead whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels' food, and didst send them from heaven bread prepared without their labour, able to content every man's delight, and agreeing to every taste.

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.

21. For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man's liking.

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,

22. But snow and ice endured the fire, and melted not, that they might know that fire burning in the hail, and sparkling in the rain, did destroy the fruits of the enemies.

23. mientras que, para que los justos pudieran sustentarse, hasta de su natural poder se olvidaba.

23. But this again did even forget his own strength, that the righteous might be nourished.

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.

24. For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker increaseth his strength against the unrighteous for their punishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee.

25. Por eso, también entonces, cambiándose en todo, servía a tu liberalidad que a todos sustenta, conforme al deseo de los necesitados.

25. Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to the desire of them that had need:

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.

26. That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know, that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it is thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee.

27. El fuego no alcanzaba a disolver lo que sencillamente derretía el calor de un breve rayo de sol.

27. For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away:

28. Con ello le enseñabas que debían adelantarse al sol para darte gracias y recurrir a ti al rayar el día,

28. That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.

29. pues la esperanza del ingrato como escarcha invernal se derrite y corre como agua inútil.

29. For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's hoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.