Job 23

1 Respondió Job y dijo:

Job replied,

2 Cierto que hoy es amarga mi queja; pero más grande que ella es mi carga.

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

3 ¡Oh, quién me diera a conocer dónde hallarle a Él! Me llegaría hasta su trono,

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

4 expondría delante de Él mi causa, y llenaría mi boca de argumentos.

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

5 Quisiera saber las palabras que Él me respondería, y entender sus razones.

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

6 ¿Acaso me opondría Él su gran poder? ¡No! Seguro que me atendería.

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

7 Entonces el justo disputaría con Él; para siempre quedaría yo absuelto por el que me juzga.

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 Pero si voy al oriente, no está allí, si hacia el occidente, no le diviso,

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

9 si me vuelvo al norte, no le descubro, si hacia el mediodía, tampoco le veo.

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

10 Él, empero, conoce el camino que sigo. Que me pruebe; yo saldré como el oro.

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

11 Mi pie siguió siempre sus pasos, guardé siempre su camino sin desviarme en nada.

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

12 No me he apartado del mandamiento de sus labios, más que mis necesidades personales he atendido las palabras de su boca.

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

13 Pero Él no cambia de opinión; ¿quién podrá disuadirle? Lo que le place, eso lo hace,

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

14 ÉL cumplirá lo decretado sobre mí; y aún tiene planeadas muchas cosas semejantes.

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

15 Por eso estoy turbado ante Él; cuando pienso en ello, me sobreviene temor.

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

16 Dios ha aterrado mi corazón, el Omnipotente me ha conturbado.

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

17 Porque lo que me consume no es la tiniebla, ni la oscuridad que me cubre el rostro.”

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.