Liber Sapientiae, 16

1. Propter haec per his similia castigati sunt digne et per multitudinem bestiarum tormenta passi sunt.

1. Therefore those men were deservedly punished through such creatures, and were tormented by a multitude of animals.

2. Pro qua castigatione bene disponens populum tuum ad concupiscentiam delectamenti sui, novum saporem, escam parasti eis ortygometram:

2. Instead of this punishment thou didst show kindness to thy people, and thou didst prepare quails to eat, a delicacy to satisfy the desire of appetite;

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. in order that those men, when they desired food, might lose the least remnant of appetite because of the odious creatures sent to them, while thy people, after suffering want a short time, might partake of delicacies.

4. Oportebat enim illis quidem sine excusatione supervenire interitum exercentibus tyrannidem, his autem tantum ostendere quemadmodum inimici eorum exterminabantur.

4. For it was necessary that upon those oppressors inexorable want should come, while to these it was merely shown how their enemies were being tormented.

5. Etenim, cum illis supervenit saeva bestiarum ira, morsibus perversorum colubrorum exterminabantur; sed non in perpetuum ira tua permansit,

5. For when the terrible rage of wild beasts came upon thy people and they were being destroyed by the bites of writhing serpents, thy wrath did not continue to the end;

6. sed ad correptionem in brevi turbati sunt, signum habentes salutis ad commemorationem mandati legis tuae.

6. they were troubled for a little while as a warning, and received a token of deliverance to remind them of thy law's command.

7. Qui enim conversus est, non per hoc, quod videbat, sanabatur, sed per te omnium salvatorem.

7. For he who turned toward it was saved, not by what he saw, but by thee, the Savior of all.

8. In hoc autem ostendisti inimicis nostris quia tu es, qui liberas ab omni malo.

8. And by this also thou didst convince our enemies that it is thou who deliverest 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 they were killed by the bites of locusts and flies, and no healing was found for them, because they deserved to be punished by such things;

10. filios autem tuos nec draconum venenatorum vicerunt dentes: misericordia enim tua adveniens sanabat illos.

10. but thy sons were not conquered even by the teeth of venomous serpents, for thy mercy came to their help and healed them.

11. In memoriam enim sermonum tuorum pungebantur et velociter salvabantur, ne in altam incidentes oblivionem non possent distrahi a tua beneficientia.

11. To remind them of thy oracles they were bitten, and then were quickly delivered, lest they should fall into deep forgetfulness and become unresponsive to thy kindness.

12. Etenim neque herba neque malagma sanavit eos, sed tuus, Domine, sermo, qui sanat omnia.

12. For neither herb nor poultice cured them, but it was thy word, O Lord, which heals all men.

13. Tu enim vitae et mortis habes potestatem, et deducis ad portas mortis et reducis.

13. For thou hast power over life and death; thou dost lead men down 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 man in his wickedness kills another, but he cannot bring back the departed spirit, nor set free the imprisoned soul.

15. Sed tuam manum effugere impossibile est:

15. To escape from thy hand is impossible;

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. for the ungodly, refusing to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thy arm, pursued by unusual rains and hail and relentless storms, and utterly consumed by fire.

17. Quod enim valde mirabile erat, in aqua, quae omnia exstinguit, plus ignis valebat; vindex est enim orbis iustorum.

17. For -- most incredible of all -- in the water, which quenches all things, the fire had still greater effect, for the universe defends the righteous.

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 time the flame was restrained, so that it might not consume the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that seeing this they might know that they were being pursued by the judgment of God;

19. Quodam autem tempore et in medio aquarum supra virtutem ignis exardescit, ut iniquae terrae genimina exterminet.

19. and at another time even in the midst of water it burned more intensely than fire, to destroy the crops of the unrighteous 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. Instead of these things thou didst give thy people food of angels, and without their toil thou didst supply them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste.

21. Substantia enim tua dulcedinem tuam in filios ostendebat; et deserviens sumentis voluntati, ad quod quisque volebat, convertebatur.

21. For thy sustenance manifested thy sweetness toward thy children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit every one's liking.

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 withstood fire without melting, so that they might know that the crops of their enemies were being destroyed by the fire that blazed in the hail and flashed in the showers of rain;

23. hic autem iterum, ut nutrirentur iusti, etiam suae virtutis oblitus est.

23. whereas the fire, in order that the righteous might be fed, even forgot its native power.

24. Creatura enim tibi Factori deserviens invalescit in tormentum adversus iniustos et lenior fit ad benefaciendum pro his, qui in te confidunt.

24. For creation, serving thee who hast made it, exerts itself to punish the unrighteous, and in kindness relaxes on behalf of those who trust in thee.

25. Propter hoc, et tunc in omnia transfigurata, omnium nutrici gratiae tuae deserviebat ad voluntatem eorum, qui a te desiderabant,

25. Therefore at that time also, changed into all forms, it served thy all-nourishing bounty, according to the desire of those who had 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 thy sons, whom thou didst love, O Lord, might learn that it is not the production of crops that feeds man, but that thy word preserves those who trust in thee.

27. Quod enim ab igne non poterat exterminari, statim ab exiguo radio solis calefactum tabescebat,

27. For what was not destroyed by fire was melted when simply warmed by a fleeting ray of the sun,

28. ut notum esset quoniam oportet praevenire solem ad benedictionem tuam et ad ortum lucis te adorare.

28. to make it known that one must rise before the sun to give thee thanks, and must pray to thee at the dawning of the light;

29. Ingrati enim spes tamquam hibernalis glacies tabescet et disperiet tamquam aqua supervacua.

29. for the hope of an ungrateful man will melt like wintry frost, and flow away like waste water.