Wisdom of Solomon, 16

1. Because of this, and by means of things similar to these, they were allowed to endure fitting torments, and they were exterminated by a multitude of beasts.

1. Zato bijahu primjereno kažnjeni sliènim životinjama i muèeni mnoštvom kukaca.

2. Instead of these torments, you administered your people kindly, giving them a desire for a new taste from your delights, and preparing quails for their food,

2. A narod si svoj, mjesto takvom kaznom, obasuo dobroèinstvom; i da zadovoljiš njegovu žudnju žarku, pripravio si jelo izvanredno: slasne prepelice.

3. so that, even those desiring food, because of those things which were sent and revealed to them, were now turned away from a necessary desire. Yet these, after a brief time, having become weak, tasted a new food.

3. I tako Egipæanima, premda željnima hrane, kad vidješe odvratne stvorove poslane protiv njih, zataji i naravna želja za jelom; a narodu si svojem poslije kratke oskudice poklonio jelo èudesno.

4. For it was necessary, though they are without excuse, for them to unexpectedly come upon the ruin of exercising tyranny, yet this was as if to show them how their enemies were being exterminated.

4. Na tlaèitelje morade doæi neuklonjiva oskudica, dok je tvojima trebalo samo pokazati kako su teško muèeni neprijatelji njihovi.

5. And so, when fierce beasts overcame them in anger, they were exterminated by the bites of perverse snakes.

5. I kad je na njih navalio životinjski bijes te pogibahu od ujeda zmija vijugavih, srdžba tvoja još ne bješe došla do kraja.

6. But your anger did not continue forever, though they were troubled for a short time for their correction, they have a sign of salvation as a remembrance of the commandment of your law.

6. Da se opamete, bijahu samo uplašeni na kratak èas, jer su dobili spasonosni znak da se sjete zapovijedi tvoga Zakona.

7. For he who turned to it was not healed by what he saw, but by you, the Savior of all.

7. Jer tko god je u nj pogledao, ozdravio je, ali ne po onom u što je pogledao, veæ zbog tebe, Spasitelju sviju!

8. Yet in this you revealed to our enemies that you are he who delivers from all evil.

8. Ujedno si time dokazao našim dušmanima da si ti izbavitelj od zla svakoga.

9. For they were killed by the biting of locusts and flies, and there was found no remedy for their life, because they deserved to be destroyed by such things.

9. Umirahu od ujeda skakavaca i muha i ne bijaše lijeka životu njihovu, jer su zaslužili da budu tako kažnjeni.

10. But not even the teeth of venomous serpents conquered your sons, for your mercy came to them and healed them.

10. A sinovima tvojim nisu naudili ni zubi zmija otrovnica, jer im je milost tvoja u pomoæ pritekla te ih iscijelila.

11. For, in remembrance of your words, they were examined and were quickly saved, for forgetfulness is not engraved into your altar so that they would be unable to obtain your help.

11. Podbadao si ih samo i odmah ozdravljao da se sjete proroštava tvojih, da ne zapadnu u zaboravnost duboku i ostanu bez tvojeg dobroèinstva.

12. And, indeed, neither an herb, nor a poultice, healed them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all.

12. Jer njih nije lijeèila ni trava ni melem nego tvoja rijeè, o Gospode, koja lijeèi sve.

13. For it is you, O Lord, who holds the power of life and death; you both lead to the threshold of death and you restore.

13. Ti imaš vlast nad životom i smræu, ti dovodiš do vrata Podzemlja i opet izvodiš.

14. Yet man, indeed, kills his own soul through malice, and when his spirit goes forth, it will not be returned, nor will he call back his soul when it has been received.

14. Èovjek može svojom zloæom ubiti, ali kad duh izaðe, ne može ga vratiti niti izbaviti dušu oduzetu.

15. But it is impossible to escape your hand.

15. Ruci se tvojoj ne može uteæi.

16. For the impious, having refused to know you, have been scourged by the strength of your arm, enduring persecution by unusual waters, and by hailstorms, and by rain storms, and being consumed by fire.

16. Mišica je tvoja silna kaznila bezbožnike koji te ne htjedoše priznati; gonio ih neèuven dažd i tuèa, i pljusak neumoljiv, i oganj ih proždirao.

17. For there was something extraordinary in water, which extinguishes all things; it has prevailed more than fire; for the world is the defender of the just.

17. A najèudnije: u vodi koja gasi sve rasla je ognju sve žešæa moæ, jer se svemir borio za pravednike.

18. Indeed, at a certain time, the fire was subdued, so as not to burn away the animals, which were sent against the impious; and so that, in seeing this, they might know that they are suffering persecution by the judgment of God.

18. Èas bi se plamen ublažio da ne spali životinje poslane na bezbožnike, nego da ovi vide i spoznaju kako ih goni sud Božji;

19. And, at another time, fire burned, beyond its own power, in the midst of water, and it flared up from all around, so as to destroy the nations of an unjust land.

19. èas bi opet buknuo u samoj vodi od ognja snažnije da uništi plodove zemlje opake.

20. Instead of these things, you nourished your people with the food of angels, and, having prepared bread from heaven, you served them without labor that which holds within itself every delight and the sweetness of every flavor.

20. A narod si svoj hranio hranom anðeoskom, slao mu s neba gotov kruh koji je imao u sebi svaku slast i ugaðao svakom ukusu.

21. For your nature showed your sweetness, which you hold within your sons, and serving the will of each one, it was converted to what each one preferred.

21. Pokazao si svojim darom slatku nježnost prema djeci, jer je dar ugaðao svakom teku i mijenjao se u što je tko htio.

22. But snow and ice held back the strength of fire, and did not melt, so that they might know that fire, burning in the hail and flashing in the rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.

22. Snijeg i led odolijevahu ognju ne topeæi se, da bi se znalo kako je neprijateljske plodove uništio oganj koji je plamtio u tuèi i bljeskao u daždu,

23. Yet it was also the case, so that the just might be nourished, that fire had even been deprived of its own power.

23. dok je opet oganj zaboravio snagu svoju da bi se nahranili pravednici.

24. For the creature serving you, the Creator, grows red hot in the midst of the conflict against the unjust, and yet it subsides for the benefit of those who trust in you.

24. Jer sve stvorenje služi tebi, svojem Stvoritelju, napinje snagu svoju za kaznu opakima, a popušta za dobro onima koji se u te uzdaju:

25. Because of this, and at that time, having been transfigured in all things, your grace was diligently serving as the nursemaid of all things, according to the will of those who long for you,

25. zato se i tada u sve preobražavalo da posluži tvojoj darežljivosti svehraniteljskoj, prema želji potrebitih,

26. so that your sons, whom you loved, O Lord, might know that it is not the fruits of nature which feed men, but your word, which preserves those who believe in you.

26. da bi sinovi tvoji, koje ljubiš, Gospode, nauèili kako èovjeka na hrane razlièiti plodovi, nego rijeè tvoja uzdržava sve koji u te vjeruju;

27. For that which could not be destroyed by fire, was immediately melted when warmed by a few rays of the sun,

27. jer ono što nije mogao oganj uništiti rastopilo se pod toplinom jedne zrake sunèane,

28. so that it might be clear to all that it is right to come before the sun to bless you, and to adore you at the dawning of the light.

28. da bi se znalo kako treba sunce preteæi i tebi zahvaliti, prije svjetla zorina preda te stupiti.

29. For the hope of the ungrateful will melt away like the winter’s ice and will disperse like overflowing water.

29. Jer se nada nezahvalnika rastapa kao zimski mraz i razlijeva se kao voda nekorisna.