Job 29
1 Job retomó su parábola y dijo
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 “Oh, si yo fuera como en los meses de antaño, como en los días en que Dios velaba por mí;
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 cuando su lámpara brilló sobre mi cabeza, y con su luz atravesé las tinieblas,
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 como estaba en mi mejor momento, cuando la amistad de Dios estaba en mi tienda,
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,
5 cuando el Todopoderoso aún estaba conmigo, y mis hijos estaban a mi alrededor,
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 cuando mis pasos fueron lavados con mantequilla, y la roca derramó chorros de aceite para mí,
when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 cuando salí a la puerta de la ciudad, cuando preparé mi asiento en la calle.
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 Los jóvenes me vieron y se escondieron. Los ancianos se levantaron y se pusieron de pie.
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 Los príncipes se abstuvieron de hablar, y se puso la mano en la boca.
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 La voz de los nobles se acalló, y su lengua se pegó al paladar.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 Porque cuando el oído me escuchó, entonces me bendijo, y cuando el ojo me vio, me elogió,
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 liberé a los pobres que lloraban, y también al huérfano, que no tenía quien le 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 la bendición del que estaba dispuesto a perecer vino sobre mí, y he hecho que el corazón de la viuda cante de alegría.
The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Me vestí de justicia, y me vistió. Mi justicia era como un manto y una diadema.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 Yo era los ojos de los ciegos, y los pies a los cojos.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 Fui padre de los necesitados. Investigué la causa de él que no conocía.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Rompí las mandíbulas de los injustos y arrancó la presa de sus dientes.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 Entonces dije: “Moriré en mi propia casa, Contaré mis días como la arena.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Mi raíz se extiende hasta las aguas. El rocío reposa toda la noche en mi rama.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Mi gloria está fresca en mí. Mi arco se renueva en mi mano’.
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 “Los hombres me escucharon, esperaron, y guardé silencio por mi consejo.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Después de mis palabras no volvieron a hablar. Mi discurso cayó sobre ellos.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 Me esperaron como a la lluvia. Sus bocas bebieron como con 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 Les sonreí cuando no tenían confianza. No rechazaron la luz de mi rostro.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
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 selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
