Job 29
1 Job resumed speaking and said,
Entonces Job respondió:
2 “Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
Ojalá volviera a ser como en meses pasados, como en los días cuando ʼElohim me vigilaba,
3 when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
cuando su lámpara estaba sobre mi cabeza y a su luz yo caminaba en la oscuridad,
4 Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,
aquellos días de mi vigor cuando la amistad íntima de ʼElohim velaba sobre mi vivienda,
5 when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
cuando ʼEL-Shadday aún estaba conmigo, y mis hijos alrededor de mí,
6 when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
cuando mis pasos eran lavados con mantequilla y la roca me derramaba ríos de aceite,
7 When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
cuando iba a la puerta de la ciudad y en la plaza preparaba mi asiento.
8 the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
Los jóvenes me veían y se escondían. Los ancianos se levantaban y permanecían en pie.
9 The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
Los magistrados detenían sus palabras y ponían la mano sobre sus bocas.
10 The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
La voz de los nobles enmudecía y su lengua se les pegaba al paladar.
11 For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
Los oídos que me escuchaban me llamaban bienaventurado, y los ojos que me miraban daban testimonio a mi favor.
12 because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.
Porque yo libraba al pobre que clamaba y al huérfano que no tenía ayudador.
13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
La bendición del que iba a perecer caía sobre mí, y daba alegría al corazón de la viuda.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
Me vestía de rectitud y con ella me cubría. Mi justicia era como un manto y un turbante.
15 I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
Yo era ojos para el ciego y pies para el cojo.
16 I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
Era padre de los menesterosos. Me informaba con diligencia de la causa que no entendía.
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
Rompía las quijadas del perverso y de sus dientes arrancaba la presa.
18 Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
Me decía: En mi nido moriré, y como la arena multiplicaré mis días.
19 My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
Mi raíz se extendía hacia las aguas, y el rocío pernoctaba en mi ramaje.
20 The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
Mi honra se renovaba en mí, y mi arco se fortalecía en mi mano.
21 To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
Me escuchaban, esperaban y guardaban silencio ante mi consejo.
22 After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
Después de mi palabra no replicaban. Mi razón destilaba sobre ellos.
23 They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
La esperaban como a la lluvia temprana, y abrían su boca como a la lluvia tardía.
24 I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
Si me reía con ellos, no lo creían, y no tenían en menos la luz de mi semblante.
25 I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
Yo les escogía el camino, y me sentaba entre ellos como su jefe. Yo vivía como un rey en medio de su tropa, como el que consuela a los que están de duelo.
