< Job 29 >
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
“¡Ojalá volviera a los viejos tiempos en que Dios me cuidaba!
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
Su luz brillaba sobre mí y alumbraba mi camino en la oscuridad.
4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
Cuando era joven y fuerte, Dios era mi amigo y me hablaba en mi casa.
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
El Todopoderoso seguía conmigo y estaba rodeado de mis hijos.
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
Mis rebaños producían mucha leche, y el aceite fluía libremente de mis prensas de aceitunas.
7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
Salí a la puerta de la ciudad y me senté en la plaza pública.
8 The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
Los jóvenes me veían y se apartaban del camino; los ancianos me defendían.
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
Los dirigentes guardaron silencio y se taparon la boca con las manos.
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
Las voces de los funcionarios se acallaron; se callaron en mi presencia.
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
“Todos los que me escuchaban me alababan; los que me veían me elogiaban,
12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
porque daba a los pobres que me llamaban y a los huérfanos que no tenían quien los ayudara.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
Los que estaban a punto de morir me bendijeron; hice cantar de alegría a la viuda.
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
Siendo sincero y actuando correctamente eran lo que yo llevaba como ropa.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
Fui como los ojos para los ciegos y los pies para los cojos.
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
Fui como un padre para los pobres, y defendí los derechos de los extranjeros.
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
Rompí la mandíbula de los malvados y les hice soltar su presa de los dientes.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
Pensé que moriría en casa, después de muchos años.
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
Como un árbol, mis raíces se extienden hasta el agua; el rocío se posa en mis ramas durante la noche.
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
Siempre se me concedían nuevos honores; mi fuerza se renovaba como un arco infalible.
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
“La gente escuchaba atentamente lo que yo decía; se callaba al escuchar mis consejos.
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
Una vez que yo hablaba, no tenían nada más que decir; lo que yo decía era suficiente.
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
Me esperaban como quien espera la lluvia, con la boca abierta por la lluvia de primavera.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
Cuando les sonreía, apenas podían creerlo; mi aprobación significaba todo el mundo para ellos.
25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
Decidí el camino a seguir como su líder, viviendo como un rey entre sus soldados, y cuando estaban tristes los consolaba”.