Biblia Platense (Straubinger) · Catholic Public Domain Version
Sabiduría 16
1Por eso con semejantes cosas fueron justamente atormentados, y exterminados por una turba de animales. 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.2Mas a tu pueblo, en lugar de estos tormentos, le hiciste favores; concediéndole los apetecidos deleites de un nuevo sabor, con traerle por manjar gordas codornices; 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,3de manera que cuando los otros, bien que hambrientos, perdían las ganas aun del necesario sustento, por el asco de aquellas cosas que se les ponían delante de los ojos, y les eran enviadas, estos padeciendo necesidad por un poco de tiempo, lograron un nuevo manjar. 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.4Porque convenía que a los que se portaban como tiranos, les sobreviniese irremediable ruina, y a estos otros se les mostrase solamente de qué manera eran exterminados sus enemigos. 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.5Así que cuando contra ellos se enfurecieron las bestias crueles, perecían de las mordeduras de venenosas serpientes. And so, when fierce beasts overcame them in anger, they were exterminated by the bites of perverse snakes.6Pero no duró siempre tu enojo, sino que fueron aterrados por un breve tiempo para escarmiento, recibiendo luego una señal de salud, para recuerdo de los mandamientos de tu Ley. 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.7A la cual (insignia) quien miraba, quedaba sano; no por virtud del objeto que veía, sino por Ti, oh Salvador de todos. For he who turned to it was not healed by what he saw, but by you, the Savior of all.8Con lo que demostraste a nuestros enemigos que Tú eres el que libra de todo mal. Yet in this you revealed to our enemies that you are he who delivers from all evil.9Pues ellos perecieron mordidos de las langostas y moscas, sin que se hallase remedio para su vida; porque merecían ser así exterminados. 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.10Mas contra tus hijos ni aun los dientes de dragones venenosos pudieron prevalecer, porque acudió a curarlos tu misericordia. But not even the teeth of venomous serpents conquered your sons, for your mercy came to them and healed them.11Pues eran puestos a prueba, a fin de que se acordasen de tus preceptos; y presto quedaban curados, para que no sucediese que cayendo en un profundo olvido, no pudiesen gozar de tu socorro. 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.12Porque no fue yerba, ni ningún emplasto suave lo que los sanó, sino que fue tu palabra, oh Señor, la cual sana todas las cosas. And, indeed, neither an herb, nor a poultice, healed them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all.13Tú eres, Señor, el dueño de la vida y de la muerte; conduces hasta las puertas de la muerte y de allí retiras. 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.14Un hombre bien puede matar a otro por malicia; pero salido que haya el espíritu, no volverá, ni hará tornar el alma una vez recogida (allá). 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.15Mas el huir de tu mano es cosa imposible. But it is impossible to escape your hand.16Así los impíos, que negaban conocerte, fueron azotados por tu fuerte brazo, siendo perseguidos de extrañas lluvias, de pedriscos y tempestades, y consumidos por el fuego. 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.17Y lo más maravilloso era que el fuego en el agua, que lo apaga todo, tenía mayor actividad; porque el universo venga a los justos. 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.18A veces se amansaba el fuego, para no quemar a los animales, enviados contra los impíos; a fin de que viéndolo ellos mismos, acabasen de conocer que por juicio de Dios eran perseguidos. 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.19Otras veces el fuego, contra su natural virtud, ardía en el agua por todas partes, para consumir las producciones de aquella tierra maldita. 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.20Al contrario, alimentaste a tu pueblo con manjar de ángeles, y le suministraste del cielo un pan aparejado sin fatiga suya, que contenía en sí todo deleite, y la suavidad de todo sabor. 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.21Y así este tu sustento demostraba cuan dulce eres para con tus hijos; y acomodándose al gusto de cada uno, se trasmutaba en lo que cada cual quería. 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.22La nieve y el hielo resistían a la fuerza del fuego, y no se derretían, para que viesen, cómo arrasaba las cosechas de los enemigos aquel fuego que ardía y relampagueaba en medio del granizo y de la lluvia. 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.23Aquí, al contrario, se olvidó el fuego de su misma actividad; para que tuviesen los justos de qué alimentarse. Yet it was also the case, so that the just might be nourished, that fire had even been deprived of its own power.24Pues la creatura, sirviéndote a Ti, hacedor suyo, redobla los ardores para atormentar a los injustos, y los mitiga en beneficio de aquellos que en Ti confían. 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.25Por eso también entonces, tomando el gusto de todos los manjares, servía a tu gracia, sustentadora de todos, acomodándose al deseo de aquellos que a Ti recurrían; 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,26a fin de que tus hijos, oh Señor, de Ti tan amados, reconociesen que no tanto son los frutos naturales los que alimentan a los hombres, sino que tu palabra sustenta a los que creen en Ti. 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.27Porque lo que no podía ser consumido del fuego, calentado al más leve rayo del sol, luego se deshacía; For that which could not be destroyed by fire, was immediately melted when warmed by a few rays of the sun,28para que supiesen todos que era necesario adelantarse al sol para obtener tu bendición, y adorarte así que amanece. 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.29Porque la esperanza del ingrato se deshace como la escarcha del invierno, y desaparece como agua perdida. For the hope of the ungrateful will melt away like the winter’s ice and will disperse like overflowing water.