Job 29
1 Job siguió hablando.
Job spoke again,
2 “¡Ojalá volviera a los viejos tiempos en que Dios me cuidaba!
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 Su luz brillaba sobre mí y alumbraba mi camino en la oscuridad.
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 Cuando era joven y fuerte, Dios era mi amigo y me hablaba en mi casa.
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 El Todopoderoso seguía conmigo y estaba rodeado de mis hijos.
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 Mis rebaños producían mucha leche, y el aceite fluía libremente de mis prensas de aceitunas.
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 Salí a la puerta de la ciudad y me senté en la plaza pública.
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 Los jóvenes me veían y se apartaban del camino; los ancianos me defendían.
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 Los dirigentes guardaron silencio y se taparon la boca con las manos.
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 Las voces de los funcionarios se acallaron; se callaron en mi presencia.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 “Todos los que me escuchaban me alababan; los que me veían me elogiaban,
When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
12 porque daba a los pobres que me llamaban y a los huérfanos que no tenían quien los ayudara.
because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
13 Los que estaban a punto de morir me bendijeron; hice cantar de alegría a la viuda.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 Siendo sincero y actuando correctamente eran lo que yo llevaba como ropa.
I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
15 Fui como los ojos para los ciegos y los pies para los cojos.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Fui como un padre para los pobres, y defendí los derechos de los extranjeros.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Rompí la mandíbula de los malvados y les hice soltar su presa de los dientes.
My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
18 Pensé que moriría en casa, después de muchos años.
“At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
19 Como un árbol, mis raíces se extienden hasta el agua; el rocío se posa en mis ramas durante la noche.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Siempre se me concedían nuevos honores; mi fuerza se renovaba como un arco infalible.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 “La gente escuchaba atentamente lo que yo decía; se callaba al escuchar mis consejos.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Una vez que yo hablaba, no tenían nada más que decir; lo que yo decía era suficiente.
After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
23 Me esperaban como quien espera la lluvia, con la boca abierta por la lluvia de primavera.
They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
24 Cuando les sonreía, apenas podían creerlo; mi aprobación significaba todo el mundo para ellos.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Decidí el camino a seguir como su líder, viviendo como un rey entre sus soldados, y cuando estaban tristes los consolaba”.
I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
