Job 29
1 Job siguió hablando.
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 “¡Ojalá volviera a los viejos tiempos en que Dios me cuidaba!
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 Su luz brillaba sobre mí y alumbraba mi camino en la oscuridad.
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 Cuando era joven y fuerte, Dios era mi amigo y me hablaba en mi casa.
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,
5 El Todopoderoso seguía conmigo y estaba rodeado de mis hijos.
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 Mis rebaños producían mucha leche, y el aceite fluía libremente de mis prensas de aceitunas.
when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 Salí a la puerta de la ciudad y me senté en la plaza pública.
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 Los jóvenes me veían y se apartaban del camino; los ancianos me defendían.
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 Los dirigentes guardaron silencio y se taparon la boca con las manos.
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 Las voces de los funcionarios se acallaron; se callaron en mi presencia.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 “Todos los que me escuchaban me alababan; los que me veían me elogiaban,
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
12 porque daba a los pobres que me llamaban y a los huérfanos que no tenían quien los ayudara.
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.
13 Los que estaban a punto de morir me bendijeron; hice cantar de alegría a la viuda.
The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Siendo sincero y actuando correctamente eran lo que yo llevaba como ropa.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 Fui como los ojos para los ciegos y los pies para los cojos.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 Fui como un padre para los pobres, y defendí los derechos de los extranjeros.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Rompí la mandíbula de los malvados y les hice soltar su presa de los dientes.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 Pensé que moriría en casa, después de muchos años.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Como un árbol, mis raíces se extienden hasta el agua; el rocío se posa en mis ramas durante la noche.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Siempre se me concedían nuevos honores; mi fuerza se renovaba como un arco infalible.
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 “La gente escuchaba atentamente lo que yo decía; se callaba al escuchar mis consejos.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Una vez que yo hablaba, no tenían nada más que decir; lo que yo decía era suficiente.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 Me esperaban como quien espera la lluvia, con la boca abierta por la lluvia de primavera.
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.
24 Cuando les sonreía, apenas podían creerlo; mi aprobación significaba todo el mundo para ellos.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
25 Decidí el camino a seguir como su líder, viviendo como un rey entre sus soldados, y cuando estaban tristes los consolaba”.
I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
