Job 29
1 And Job continued and said in his parable,
Job siguió hablando.
2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
“¡Ojalá volviera a los viejos tiempos en que Dios me cuidaba!
3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
Su luz brillaba sobre mí y alumbraba mi camino en la oscuridad.
4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
Cuando era joven y fuerte, Dios era mi amigo y me hablaba en mi casa.
5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
El Todopoderoso seguía conmigo y estaba rodeado de mis hijos.
6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
Mis rebaños producían mucha leche, y el aceite fluía libremente de mis prensas de aceitunas.
7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
Salí a la puerta de la ciudad y me senté en la plaza pública.
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
Los jóvenes me veían y se apartaban del camino; los ancianos me defendían.
9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
Los dirigentes guardaron silencio y se taparon la boca con las manos.
10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
Las voces de los funcionarios se acallaron; se callaron en mi presencia.
11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
“Todos los que me escuchaban me alababan; los que me veían me elogiaban,
12 For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
porque daba a los pobres que me llamaban y a los huérfanos que no tenían quien los ayudara.
13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yes, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
Los que estaban a punto de morir me bendijeron; hice cantar de alegría a la viuda.
14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgement like a mantle.
Siendo sincero y actuando correctamente eran lo que yo llevaba como ropa.
15 I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
Fui como los ojos para los ciegos y los pies para los cojos.
16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
Fui como un padre para los pobres, y defendí los derechos de los extranjeros.
17 And I broke the jaw teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
Rompí la mandíbula de los malvados y les hice soltar su presa de los dientes.
18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.
Pensé que moriría en casa, después de muchos años.
19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
Como un árbol, mis raíces se extienden hasta el agua; el rocío se posa en mis ramas durante la noche.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
Siempre se me concedían nuevos honores; mi fuerza se renovaba como un arco infalible.
21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
“La gente escuchaba atentamente lo que yo decía; se callaba al escuchar mis consejos.
22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
Una vez que yo hablaba, no tenían nada más que decir; lo que yo decía era suficiente.
23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
Me esperaban como quien espera la lluvia, con la boca abierta por la lluvia de primavera.
24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
Cuando les sonreía, apenas podían creerlo; mi aprobación significaba todo el mundo para ellos.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
Decidí el camino a seguir como su líder, viviendo como un rey entre sus soldados, y cuando estaban tristes los consolaba”.
