Job 23

1 Entonces Job respondió,

Then Job answered and said,

2 “Incluso hoy mi queja es rebelde. Su mano pesa a pesar de mis gemidos.

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

3 ¡Oh, si supiera dónde puedo encontrarlo! ¡Que pueda llegar incluso a su asiento!

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

4 Yo pondría mi causa en orden ante él, y llenarme la boca de argumentos.

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

5 Yo sabría las palabras que él me respondería, y entender lo que me decía.

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

6 ¿Acaso quiere enfrentarse a mí con la grandeza de su poder? No, pero me escucharía.

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

7 Allí los rectos podrían razonar con él, para que sea liberado para siempre de 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, no está allí. Si voy al oeste, no puedo encontrarlo.

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

9 Trabaja hacia el norte, pero no lo veo. Se gira hacia el sur, pero no consigo verle.

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 Pero él conoce el camino que tomo. Cuando me haya probado, saldré como el oro.

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

11 Mi pie se ha mantenido firme a sus pasos. He mantenido su camino, y no me he apartado.

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

12 No me he apartado del mandamiento de sus labios. He atesorado las palabras de su boca más que mi comida necesaria.

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 él está solo, ¿y quién puede oponerse a él? Lo que su alma desea, incluso eso hace.

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

14 Porque él realiza lo que me ha sido asignado. Muchas cosas así están con él.

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

15 Por eso me aterra su presencia. Cuando lo considero, me da miedo.

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

16 Porque Dios ha hecho desfallecer mi corazón. El Todopoderoso me ha aterrorizado.

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

17 Porque no fui cortado antes de la oscuridad, tampoco cubrió la espesa oscuridad de mi cara.

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