Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 16 - Interlinear Translation

1 Διὰ τοῦτο δι’ ὁμοίων ἐκολάσθησαν ἀξίως καὶ διὰ πλήθους κνωδάλων ἐβασανίσθησαν.

1 Therefore on account of these same things they are punished worthily and tormented by a multitude of beasts,

2 ἀνθ’ ἧς κολάσεως εὐεργετήσας τὸν λαόν σου εἰς ἐπιθυμίαν ὀρέξεως ξένην γεῦσιν τροφὴν ἡτοίμασας ὀρτυγομήτραν,

2 instead of which punishment, working kindly for Your people for their longing of appetite You prepared quail-mothers, meat of a strange taste,

3 ἵνα ἐκεῖνοι μὲν ἐπιθυμοῦντες τροφὴν διὰ τὴν εἰδέχθειαν τῶν ἐπαπεσταλμένων καὶ τὴν ἀναγκαίαν ὄρεξιν ἀποστρέφωνται, αὐτοὶ δὲ ἐπ’ ὀλίγον ἐνδεεῖς γενόμενοι καὶ ξένης μετάσχωσι γεύσεως.

3 in order that they, on the one hand desiring food, on account of the ugly sight of the things sent upon them, then they would turn away from the necessity of appetite while they having been a little needy also had been partakers of a strange taste.

4 ἔδει γὰρ ἐκείνοις μὲν ἀπαραίτητον ἔνδειαν ἐπελθεῖν τυραννοῦσιν, τούτοις δὲ μόνον δειχθῆναι πῶς οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτῶν ἐβασανίζοντο.

4 For it was necessary for them that while unmerciful poverty came upon those ruling as tyrants, on the other hand to these alone it was shown how their enemies had been tormented.

5 Καὶ γὰρ ὅτε αὐτοῖς δεινὸς ἐπῆλθεν θηρίων θυμὸς δήγμασίν τε σκολιῶν διεφθείροντο ὄφεων, οὐ μέχρι τέλους ἔμεινεν ἡ ὀργή σου·

5 For even when a terrible wrath of beasts came upon them and they were destroyed by the bites of crooked serpents, Your wrath did not abide to an end.

6 εἰς νουθεσίαν δὲ πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐταράχθησαν σύμβολον ἔχοντες σωτηρίας εἰς ἀνάμνησιν ἐντολῆς νόμου σου·

6 But for an admonishment they were troubled for awhile, having a token of salvation for a reminder of the commandment of Your law.

7 ὁ γὰρ ἐπιστραφεὶς οὐ διὰ τὸ θεωρούμενον ἐσῴζετο, ἀλλὰ διὰ σὲ τὸν πάντων σωτῆρα.

7 For he having turned was not saved by that thing having been seen but by You, the Savior of all.

8 καὶ ἐν τούτῳ δὲ ἔπεισας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἡμῶν ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ῥυόμενος ἐκ παντὸς κακοῦ·

8 Then even in this, You had persuaded our enemies that You are the Deliverer from every evil.

9 οὓς μὲν γὰρ ἀκρίδων καὶ μυιῶν ἀπέκτεινεν δήγματα, καὶ οὐχ εὑρέθη ἴαμα τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἄξιοι ἦσαν ὑπὸ τοιούτων κολασθῆναι·

9 Indeed for them the bites of grasshoppers and flies have killed, and there has not been found a remedy for their life because they were worthy to be punished by such things.

10 τοὺς δὲ υἱούς σου οὐδὲ ἰοβόλων δρακόντων ἐνίκησαν ὀδόντες, τὸ ἔλεος γάρ σου ἀντιπαρῆλθεν καὶ ἰάσατο αὐτούς.

10 But Your sons not even the teeth of poisonous dragons had overcome, for Your mercy had permeated and healed them.

11 εἰς γὰρ ὑπόμνησιν τῶν λογίων σου ἐνεκεντρίζοντο καὶ ὀξέως διεσῴζοντο, ἵνα μὴ εἰς βαθεῖαν ἐμπεσόντες λήθην ἀπερίσπαστοι γένωνται τῆς σῆς εὐεργεσίας.

11 Indeed for a reminder of Your words they were pricked and quickly preserved, in order that not falling into deep forgetfulness they would come to Your good works without anxiety.

12 καὶ γὰρ οὔτε βοτάνη οὔτε μάλαγμα ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ ὁ σός, κύριε, λόγος ὁ πάντας ἰώμενος.

12 For it was neither herb nor medicinal plaster which cured them, but Your word, O Yahweh, Healer of all.

13 σὺ γὰρ ζωῆς καὶ θανάτου ἐξουσίαν ἔχεις καὶ κατάγεις εἰς πύλας ᾅδου καὶ ἀνάγεις·

13 For You have authority over life and death, and lead down to the gates of Hades and lead up.

14 ἄνθρωπος δὲ ἀποκτέννει μὲν τῇ κακίᾳ αὐτοῦ, ἐξελθὸν δὲ πνεῦμα οὐκ ἀναστρέφει οὐδὲ ἀναλύει ψυχὴν παραλημφθεῖσαν.

14 And indeed, a man kills in his wickedness, but he is not able to return the departed spirit nor restore the life being taken,

15 Τὴν δὲ σὴν χεῖρα φυγεῖν ἀδύνατόν ἐστιν·

15 whereas it is impossible to flee Your Hand.

16 ἀρνούμενοι γάρ σε εἰδέναι ἀσεβεῖς ἐν ἰσχύι βραχίονός σου ἐμαστιγώθησαν ξένοις ὑετοῖς καὶ χαλάζαις καὶ ὄμβροις διωκόμενοι ἀπαραιτήτοις καὶ πυρὶ καταναλισκόμενοι.

16 For refusing to know You, the impious with the strength of Your arm had been scourged with unusual rains and hailstones and storms, being persecuted unavoidably and in fire being consumed,

17 τὸ γὰρ παραδοξότατον, ἐν τῷ πάντα σβεννύντι ὕδατι πλεῖον ἐνήργει τὸ πῦρ, ὑπέρμαχος γὰρ ὁ κόσμος ἐστὶν δικαίων·

17 since it is most incredible that the fire works more in the water which extinguishes all things; for the Order is a defender of the righteous.

18 ποτὲ μὲν γὰρ ἡμεροῦτο φλόξ, ἵνα μὴ καταφλέξῃ τὰ ἐπ’ ἀσεβεῖς ἀπεσταλμένα ζῷα, ἀλλ’ αὐτοὶ βλέποντες εἰδῶσιν ὅτι θεοῦ κρίσει ἐλαύνονται·

18 For indeed at times the flame was softened in order that it would not consume the creatures sent against the impious, but those seeing, they know that they were attacked by the judgment of God.

19 ποτὲ δὲ καὶ μεταξὺ ὕδατος ὑπὲρ τὴν πυρὸς δύναμιν φλέγει, ἵνα ἀδίκου γῆς γενήματα διαφθείρῃ.

19 And then another time the flame of fire is capable beyond water that it may destroy the produce of the unrighteous land,

20 ἀνθ’ ὧν ἀγγέλων τροφὴν ἐψώμισας τὸν λαόν σου καὶ ἕτοιμον ἄρτον ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ παρέσχες αὐτοῖς ἀκοπιάτως πᾶσαν ἡδονὴν ἰσχύοντα καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν ἁρμόνιον γεῦσιν·

20 instead of which having fed Your people the food of angels then You provided bread prepared from heaven for them without labor, prevailing for all pleasure and every agreeable taste.

21 ἡ μὲν γὰρ ὑπόστασίς σου τὴν σὴν πρὸς τέκνα ἐνεφάνιζεν γλυκύτητα, τῇ δὲ τοῦ προσφερομένου ἐπιθυμίᾳ ὑπηρετῶν πρὸς ὅ τις ἐβούλετο μετεκιρνᾶτο.

21 For indeed Your substance manifested Your sweetness to the children, and transformed itself to the desire of he taking it to himself, ministering to any who were willing.

22 χιὼν δὲ καὶ κρύσταλλος ὑπέμεινε πῦρ καὶ οὐκ ἐτήκετο, ἵνα γνῶσιν ὅτι τοὺς τῶν ἐχθρῶν καρποὺς κατέφθειρε πῦρ φλεγόμενον ἐν τῇ χαλάζῃ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ὑετοῖς διαστράπτον·

22 Then snow and ice survived the fire and did not melt, in order that they would know that fire burning in the hail and flashing in the rain had destroyed the fruits of the enemies.

23 τοῦτο πάλιν δ᾽, ἵνα τραφῶσιν δίκαιοι, καὶ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιλέλησται δυνάμεως.

23 Yet again even this had forgotten its own strength, in order that the righteous may be nourished.

24 Ἡ γὰρ κτίσις σοὶ τῷ ποιήσαντι ὑπηρετοῦσα ἐπιτείνεται εἰς κόλασιν κατὰ τῶν ἀδίκων καὶ ἀνίεται εἰς εὐεργεσίαν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐπὶ σοὶ πεποιθότων.

24 For the creation which is serving You the Maker augments itself for punishment against those of the unrighteous and relaxes in kindness for the sake of those who are complying before You,

25 διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τότε εἰς πάντα μεταλλευομένη τῇ παντοτρόφῳ σου δωρεᾷ ὑπηρέτει πρὸς τὴν τῶν δεομένων θέλησιν,

25 on which account at that time also being transformed into all things within Your all-nourishing gift, it had served for the favor of those in want,

26 ἵνα μάθωσιν οἱ υἱοί σου, οὓς ἠγάπησας, κύριε, ὅτι οὐχ αἱ γενέσεις τῶν καρπῶν τρέφουσιν ἄνθρωπον, ἀλλὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου τοὺς σοὶ πιστεύοντας διατηρεῖ.

26 in order that Your sons, O Yahweh, whom You love, may learn that it is not the productions of fruits which nourish a man but Your word which maintains those who are believing in You.

27 τὸ γὰρ ὑπὸ πυρὸς μὴ φθειρόμενον ἁπλῶς ὑπὸ βραχείας ἀκτῖνος ἡλίου θερμαινόμενον ἐτήκετο,

27 For that which by fire is not destroyed, simply by a little ray of the sun, being warmed was melted

28 ὅπως γνωστὸν ᾖ ὅτι δεῖ φθάνειν τὸν ἥλιον ἐπ’ εὐχαριστίαν σου καὶ πρὸς ἀνατολὴν φωτὸς ἐντυγχάνειν σοι·

28 so that it may be known that it is necessary to rise before the sun for which to give You thanks and to entreat You at the dawning of light.

29 ἀχαρίστου γὰρ ἐλπὶς ὡς χειμέριος πάχνη τακήσεται καὶ ῥυήσεται ὡς ὕδωρ ἄχρηστον.

29 For the hope of the ungrateful shall melt as wintry frost and shall flow as useless water.