Job 23

1 Job contestó:

Then Job answered and said,

2 “De todos modos, mis quejas hoy siguen siendo amargas. A pesar de mis gemidos, me sigue castigando.

“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.

3 Si supiera dónde puedo encontrarlo para ir a donde se sienta a juzgar.

Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!

4 Allí expondría mi caso ante él y presentaría todos mis argumentos en su totalidad.

I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Descubriría cómo me respondería y aprendería lo que tiene que decirme.

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

6 ¿Lucharía contra mí usando su poderosa fuerza? No, prestaría atención a lo que tengo que decir.

Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

7 Allí una buena persona podría razonar con él, y yo sería absuelto para siempre por mi juez.

There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 Si voy al este, él no está; si voy al oeste, no lo encuentro.

See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.

9 Si está trabajando en el norte, no lo distingo; si va al sur, no lo veo.

To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

10 “Sin embargo, él siempre sabe a dónde voy. Cuando me haya probado, saldré brillante como el oro.

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

11 Me he mantenido al paso con él; he seguido su camino sin desviarme.

My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.

12 No he descuidado sus mandatos, porque valoro más lo que me ha ordenado que el alimento que como cada día.

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

13 “Pero Dios es inmutable: ¿quién puede desviarlo de sus propósitos? Él hace todo lo que quiere hacer.

But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

14 Así que terminará lo que ha planeado para mí, y tiene muchos planes para mí.

For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

15 Por eso me aterra encontrarme con él; cuando pienso en él tiemblo de miedo.

Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

16 Dios me ha hecho desfallecer; el Todopoderoso me ha hecho morir de miedo.

For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 Sin embargo, sigo aquí a pesar de la oscuridad, aunque no pueda ver a través de la oscuridad total”.

I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.