Sabiduría · Vulgata Clementina
Sabiduría 16 Vulgata Clementina
1 [Propter hæc et per his similia passi sunt digne tormenta, et per multitudinem bestiarum exterminati sunt.
1 For this cause, they were deservedly punished through creatures like those which they worship, and tormented through a multitude of vermin.
2 Pro quibus tormentis bene disposuisti populum tuum, quibus dedisti concupiscentiam delectamenti sui novum saporem, escam parans eis ortygometram:
2 Instead of this punishment, you, giving benefits to your people, prepared quails for food, a delicacy to satisfy the desire of their appetite,
3 ut illi quidem, concupiscentes escam propter ea quæ illis ostensa et missa sunt, etiam a necessaria concupiscentia averterentur. Hi autem in brevi inopes facti, novam gustaverunt escam.
3 to the end that your enemies, desiring food, might for the hideousness of the creatures sent among them, loathe even the necessary appetite; but these, your people, having for a short time suffered lack, might even partake of delicacies.
4 Oportebat enim illis sine excusatione quidem supervenire interitum exercentibus tyrannidem; his autem tantum ostendere quemadmodum inimici eorum exterminabantur.
4 For it was necessary that inescapable lack should come upon those oppressors, but that to these it should only be showed how their enemies were tormented.
5 Etenim cum illis supervenit sæva bestiarum ira, morsibus perversorum colubrorum exterminabantur.
5 For even when terrible raging of wild beasts came upon your people, and they were perishing by the bites of crooked serpents, your wrath didn’t continue to the uttermost;
6 Sed non in perpetuum ira tua permansit, sed ad correptionem in brevi turbati sunt, signum habentes salutis ad commemorationem mandati legis tuæ.
6 but for admonition were they troubled for a short time, having a token of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of your law;
7 Qui enim conversus est, non per hoc quod videbat sanabatur, sed per te, omnium salvatorem.
7 for he who turned toward it was not saved because of that which was seen, but because of you, the Savior of all.
8 In hoc autem ostendisti inimicis nostris quia tu es qui liberas ab omni malo.
8 Yes, and in this you persuaded our enemies that you are he who delivers out of every evil.
9 Illos enim locustarum et muscarum occiderunt morsus, et non est inventa sanitas animæ illorum, quia digni erant ab hujuscemodi exterminari.
9 For the bites of locusts and flies truly killed them. No healing for their life was found, because they were worthy to be punished by such things.
10 Filios autem tuos nec draconum venenatorum vicerunt dentes: misericordia enim tua adveniens sanabat illos.
10 But your children weren’t overcome by the very fangs of venomous dragons, for your mercy passed by where they were and healed them.
11 In memoria enim sermonum tuorum examinabantur, et velociter salvabantur: ne in altam incidentes oblivionem non possent tuo uti adjutorio.
11 For they were bitten to put them in remembrance of your oracles, and were quickly saved, lest, falling into deep forgetfulness, they should become unable to respond to your kindness.
12 Etenim neque herba, neque malagma sanavit eos: sed tuus, Domine, sermo, qui sanat omnia.
12 For truly it was neither herb nor poultice that cured them, but your word, O Lord, which heals all people.
13 Tu es enim, Domine, qui vitæ et mortis habes potestatem, et deducis ad portas mortis, et reducis.
13 For you have authority over life and death, and you lead down to the gates of Hades, and lead up again.
14 Homo autem occidit quidem per malitiam; et cum exierit spiritus, non revertetur, nec revocabit animam quæ recepta est.
14 But though a man kills by his wickedness, he can’t retrieve the spirit that has departed or release the imprisoned soul.
15 Sed tuam manum effugere impossibile est.
15 But it is not possible to escape your hand;
16 Negantes enim te nosse impii, per fortitudinem brachii tui flagellati sunt: novis aquis, et grandinibus, et pluviis persecutionem passi, et per ignem consumpti.
16 for ungodly men, refusing to know you, were scourged in the strength of your arm, pursued with strange rains and hails and relentless storms, and utterly consumed with fire.
17 Quod enim mirabile erat, in aqua, quæ omnia extinguit, plus ignis valebat: vindex est enim orbis justorum.
17 For, what was most marvelous, in the water which quenches all things, the fire burned hotter; for the world fights for the righteous.
18 Quodam enim tempore mansuetabatur ignis, ne comburerentur quæ ad impios missa erant animalia, sed ut ipsi videntes scirent quoniam Dei judicio patiuntur persecutionem.
18 For at one time the flame was restrained, that it might not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that these themselves as they looked might see that they were chased by the judgment of God.
19 Et quodam tempore in aqua supra virtutem ignis exardescebat undique, ut iniquæ terræ nationem exterminaret.
19 At another time even in the midst of water it burns more intensely than fire, that it may destroy the produce of an unrighteous land.
20 Pro quibus angelorum esca nutrivisti populum tuum, et paratum panem de cælo præstitisti illis sine labore, omne delectamentum in se habentem, et omnis saporis suavitatem.
20 Instead of these things, you gave your people angels’ food to eat, and you provided ready-to-eat bread for them from heaven without toil, having the virtue of every pleasant flavor, and agreeable to every taste.
21 Substantia enim tua dulcedinem tuam, quam in filios habes, ostendebat; et deserviens uniuscujusque voluntati, ad quod quisque volebat convertebatur.
21 For your nature showed your sweetness toward your children, while that bread, serving the desire of the eater, changed itself according to every man’s choice.
22 Nix autem et glacies sustinebant vim ignis, et non tabescebant: ut scirent quoniam fructus inimicorum exterminabat ignis ardens in grandine et pluvia coruscans;
22 But snow and ice endured fire, and didn’t melt, that people might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies, burning in the hail and flashing in the rains;
23 hic autem iterum ut nutrirentur justi, etiam suæ virtutis oblitus est.
23 and that this fire, again, in order that righteous people may be nourished, has even forgotten its own power.
24 Creatura enim tibi factori deserviens, exardescit in tormentum adversus injustos, et lenior fit ad benefaciendum pro his qui in te confidunt.
24 For the creation, ministering to you, its maker, strains its force against the unrighteous for punishment and in kindness, slackens it on behalf of those who trust in you.
25 Propter hoc et tunc in omnia transfigurata, omnium nutrici gratiæ tuæ deserviebat, ad voluntatem eorum qui a te desiderabant:
25 Therefore at that time also, converting itself into all forms, it ministered to your all-nourishing bounty, according to the desire of those who had need,
26 ut scirent filii tui quos dilexisti, Domine, quoniam non nativitatis fructus pascunt homines, sed sermo tuus hos qui in te crediderint conservat.
26 that your children, whom you loved, O Lord, might learn that it is not the growth of crops that nourishes a man, but that your word preserves those who trust you.
27 Quod enim ab igne non poterat exterminari, statim ab exiguo radio solis calefactum tabescebat:
27 For that which was not destroyed by fire, melted away when it was simply warmed by a faint sunbeam,
28 ut notum omnibus esset quoniam oportet prævenire solem ad benedictionem tuam, et ad ortum lucis te adorare.
28 that it might be known that we must rise before the sun to give you thanks, and must pray to you at the dawning of the light;
29 Ingrati enim spes tamquam hibernalis glacies tabescet, et disperiet tamquam aqua supervacua.]
29 for the hope of the unthankful will melt as the winter’s hoar frost, and will flow away as water that has no use.
Lo que dijeron los Padres
Pasajes de los Padres de la Iglesia que comentan o citan este capítulo, tal como aparecen en la edición de Schaff (traducciones inglesas del siglo XIX, de dominio público). Los textos están en inglés.
Cómo se eligieron
«Comentario» es el comienzo de una homilía o exposición sobre este capítulo (homilías de san Juan Crisóstomo; tratados, sermones y comentarios a los Salmos de san Agustín). «Cita» es una frase en la que las notas de la propia edición identifican la cita de un versículo de este capítulo; solo se conserva si el texto coincide con el versículo. Solo se usan obras de autoría segura. Los Salmos siguen la numeración hebrea (Agustín usa la de los Setenta: su Salmo 50 es aquí el 51).
"For the hope of the unthankful," saith one, "is like the winter's hoar frost;" it benumbs and deadens the soul, as that doth our bodies.
Leer en contexto · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)