Biblia Platense (Straubinger) · Catholic Public Domain Version
Sabiduría 19
1Mas sobre los impíos descargó la ira, sin misericordia hasta el fin; como que Él estaba previendo lo que les había de acontecer. But the impious, all the way to the very end, were overcome by anger without mercy. Indeed, he knew beforehand even their future.2Porque después de haber ellos permitido que los hebreos se marchasen, y aun habiéndoles dado prisa para que saliesen, arrepentidos luego les iban al alcance. Yet, seeing that they might have repented, so that they would be led by him and be sent forth with great concern, the just sought the impious, while regretting their deeds.3De modo que, estando todavía cubiertos de luto, derramando lágrimas sobre los sepulcros de los muertos, tomaron otra resolución de locura, y se pusieron a perseguir como a fugitivos a los que habían hecho marchar con ruegos. For, while the just were still holding grief in their hands and weeping at the tombs of the dead, these others took upon themselves another senseless thought, and they cast out the legislators and pursued them as if they were fugitives.4A este fin los conducía una necesidad merecida; y perdían la memoria de lo que les había acaecido, para que el castigo pusiese el colmo al resto de sus tormentos; For a fitting necessity was leading them to this end, and they were losing the remembrance of those things which had happened, so that what was lacking in the sufferings of the conflict might be completed by the punishment,5y así tu pueblo pasase milagrosamente, y los otros hallasen un nuevo género de muerte. and so that your people, indeed, might wonderfully pass through, but these others might find a new death.6Porque las creaturas todas, según su género, obedeciendo a tus preceptos, tomaban una nueva forma a fin de que tus hijos se conservasen ilesos. For every creature according to its kind was fashioned again as from the beginning, diligently serving your teachings, so that your children would be preserved unharmed.7Así una nube hacía sombra a su campamento; y donde antes había agua, apareció tierra enjuta, un camino sin tropiezo en medio del Mar Rojo, y en el profundo abismo una verdadera pradería, For a cloud overshadowed their camp, and where water was before, dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea, a way without hindrance, and out of the great deep, a level field sprung up,8por la cual atravesó todo el pueblo, protegido de tu mano, viendo tus maravillas y portentos. through which the whole nation passed, protected by your hand, seeing your miracles and wonders.9Pues como caballos bien pacidos, y como corderillos, daban brincos de alegría, engrandeciéndote a Ti, oh Señor, que los libraste. For they consumed food like horses, and they leapt about like lambs, praising you, O Lord, who had freed them.10Pues se acordaban todavía de aquellas cosas que habían sucedido allá donde moraron como forasteros; cuando en vez de crías de animales produjo la tierra moscas; y en lugar de peces echó fuera el río muchedumbre de ranas. For they were still mindful of those things which had happened during the time of their sojourn, how, instead of cattle, the earth brought forth flies, and instead of fish, the river cast up a multitude of frogs.11Y a la postre vieron una nueva creación de aves, cuando llevados del antojo pidieron viandas delicadas. And, lastly, they saw a new kind of bird, when, being led by their desire, they demanded a feast of meat.12Porque para contentar su apetito vinieron volando del mar codornices; pero sobre los pecadores vinieron venganzas, precediendo los mismos fenómenos que antes se habían producido por la violencia de los rayos; pues justamente padecían según sus maldades. For, to console their loss, the quail came up to them from the sea, and yet troubles overcame the sinners, though they were not without the evidence of what had happened before by the power of lightning, for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness.13Pues su hospitalidad fue muy inhumana, porque si otros no acogieron a unos forasteros desconocidos, los egipcios reducían a la esclavitud a huéspedes bienhechores. And indeed, they set up a more detestable inhospitality. Certainly, some have refused to receive unknown foreigners, but these others were drafting good guests into servitude,14Ni es de considerar solamente esto, sino que hay otra diferencia en aquellos que hospedaban de mala gana a unos extraños. and not only foreigners, but also those who had been under their care, because they were reluctantly sheltering the outsiders.15Afligían con crudelísimos trabajos a los que habían recibido con alegría, y que vivían bajo las mismas leyes. Yet whoever had sheltered them with gladness, by making use of the very same justice, they afflicted with the most severe sorrow.16Por lo que fueron castigados con la ceguera al modo que lo fueron aquellos otros a la puerta del justo, cuando, envueltos en repentinas tinieblas, buscaban cada uno la puerta de su casa. Yet they were struck with blindness, like someone brought before the gates of justice, so that they were suddenly covered with darkness, and each one was left searching for the threshold of his front door.17Porque los elementos cambiaban entre sí sus propias funciones, como en un salterio varían los sonidos bien que cada cuerda retenga el propio tono. Esto se puede conocer evidentemente por la misma experiencia. For the elements in themselves are in the process of being changed, just as when the sound of a musical instrument is being altered in quality, yet each one keeps its own sound, from where it is considered to be and according to its fixed appearance.18A este modo las creaturas terrestres se hacían acuáticas y las que nadaban se pasaban a la tierra. For the countryside was transformed by water, and things which were swimming, crossed over the land.19El fuego, excediendo su condición, era activo en medio del agua, y el agua se olvidaba de su natural virtud de apagar. Fire prevailed in the midst of water, beyond its own power, and the water forgot its quenching nature.20Al contrario, las llamas no dañaban a los cuerpos de los animales corruptibles, de suyo combustibles, que andaban dentro de ellas, ni derretían aquel delicioso manjar, que se deshacía tan fácilmente como la escarcha. Así que, oh Señor, en todo y por todo engrandeciste a tu pueblo, y le honraste ni te desdeñaste de asistirle en todo tiempo y en todo lugar. On the other hand, the flames did not trouble the bodies of the mortal animals walking around, nor did they melt that good food, which is as easily melted as ice. For in all things, O Lord, you magnified your people, and honored them, and did not despise them, but at every time and in every place, you assisted them.