Job 29
1 And Job continued to take up his parable, and said,
Job siguió hablando.
2 Who will give me back months like those which are past, days like those when God guarded me;
“¡Ojalá volviera a los viejos tiempos en que Dios me cuidaba!
3 When his lamp shone over my head, when by his light I could walk in darkness;
Su luz brillaba sobre mí y alumbraba mi camino en la oscuridad.
4 As I was in the days of my abundance, when the confidence of God was upon my tent:
Cuando era joven y fuerte, Dios era mi amigo y me hablaba en mi casa.
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my servants stood round about me;
El Todopoderoso seguía conmigo y estaba rodeado de mis hijos.
6 When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets of oil!
Mis rebaños producían mucha leche, y el aceite fluía libremente de mis prensas de aceitunas.
7 When I went out to the gate close by the city, when in the open place I established my seat:
Salí a la puerta de la ciudad y me senté en la plaza pública.
8 Young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose up, and remained standing;
Los jóvenes me veían y se apartaban del camino; los ancianos me defendían.
9 Princes stopped in the midst of [their] words, and laid their hand on their mouth:
Los dirigentes guardaron silencio y se taparon la boca con las manos.
10 The voice of nobles was arrested, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
Las voces de los funcionarios se acallaron; se callaron en mi presencia.
11 For the ear that heard me called me happy; and the eye that saw me bore witness for me;
“Todos los que me escuchaban me alababan; los que me veían me elogiaban,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, yea, that had none to help him.
porque daba a los pobres que me llamaban y a los huérfanos que no tenían quien los ayudara.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and the heart of the widow I caused to sing for joy.
Los que estaban a punto de morir me bendijeron; hice cantar de alegría a la viuda.
14 I took righteousness as my garment, and it clothed me: as a robe and a mitre was justice unto me.
Siendo sincero y actuando correctamente eran lo que yo llevaba como ropa.
15 Eyes was I to the blind; and feet to the lame was I.
Fui como los ojos para los ciegos y los pies para los cojos.
16 A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.
Fui como un padre para los pobres, y defendí los derechos de los extranjeros.
17 And I broke the cutting-teeth of the wrong-doer, and out of his teeth I cast down his prey.
Rompí la mandíbula de los malvados y les hice soltar su presa de los dientes.
18 And I said then, “In the midst of my nest shall I depart hence, and like the sand shall I have many days.
Pensé que moriría en casa, después de muchos años.
19 My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.
Como un árbol, mis raíces se extienden hasta el agua; el rocío se posa en mis ramas durante la noche.
20 My glory will ever be new with me, and my bow will acquire fresh strength in my hand.”
Siempre se me concedían nuevos honores; mi fuerza se renovaba como un arco infalible.
21 Unto me men listened, and waited, and watched in silence for my counsel
“La gente escuchaba atentamente lo que yo decía; se callaba al escuchar mis consejos.
22 After my words they made no reply, and my speech dropped on them [like dew].
Una vez que yo hablaba, no tenían nada más que decir; lo que yo decía era suficiente.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened wide their mouth as for the latter rain.
Me esperaban como quien espera la lluvia, con la boca abierta por la lluvia de primavera.
24 I smiled on those that had lost their confidence; and the light of my countenance they never cast down.
Cuando les sonreía, apenas podían creerlo; mi aprobación significaba todo el mundo para ellos.
25 I chose their way for them, and I sat as chief, and dwelt as king in his army, as one that comforteth mourners.
Decidí el camino a seguir como su líder, viviendo como un rey entre sus soldados, y cuando estaban tristes los consolaba”.
