Job 29

1 Job retomó su parábola y dijo

Job spoke again,

2 “Oh, si yo fuera como en los meses de antaño, como en los días en que Dios velaba por mí;

“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.

3 cuando su lámpara brilló sobre mi cabeza, y con su luz atravesé las tinieblas,

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 como estaba en mi mejor momento, cuando la amistad de Dios estaba en mi tienda,

At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.

5 cuando el Todopoderoso aún estaba conmigo, y mis hijos estaban a mi alrededor,

Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.

6 cuando mis pasos fueron lavados con mantequilla, y la roca derramó chorros de aceite para mí,

[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.

7 cuando salí a la puerta de la ciudad, cuando preparé mi asiento en la calle.

“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,

8 Los jóvenes me vieron y se escondieron. Los ancianos se levantaron y se pusieron de pie.

and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].

9 Los príncipes se abstuvieron de hablar, y se puso la mano en la boca.

The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],

10 La voz de los nobles se acalló, y su lengua se pegó al paladar.

and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].

11 Porque cuando el oído me escuchó, entonces me bendijo, y cuando el ojo me vio, me elogió,

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 liberé a los pobres que lloraban, y también al huérfano, que no tenía quien le 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 la bendición del que estaba dispuesto a perecer vino sobre mí, y he hecho que el corazón de la viuda cante de alegría.

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 Me vestí de justicia, y me vistió. Mi justicia era como un manto y una diadema.

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 Yo era los ojos de los ciegos, y los pies a los cojos.

[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.

16 Fui padre de los necesitados. Investigué la causa de él que no conocía.

I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.

17 Rompí las mandíbulas de los injustos y arrancó la presa de sus 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 Entonces dije: “Moriré en mi propia casa, Contaré mis días como la arena.

“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 Mi raíz se extiende hasta las aguas. El rocío reposa toda la noche en mi rama.

I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.

20 Mi gloria está fresca en mí. Mi arco se renueva en mi mano’.

People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.

21 “Los hombres me escucharon, esperaron, y guardé silencio por mi consejo.

“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].

22 Después de mis palabras no volvieron a hablar. Mi discurso cayó sobre ellos.

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 esperaron como a la lluvia. Sus bocas bebieron como con 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 Les sonreí cuando no tenían confianza. No rechazaron la luz de mi rostro.

When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.

25 elegí fuera de su camino, y me senté como jefe. Viví como un rey en el ejército, como quien consuela a los dolientes.

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.”