Job 29

1 Y tornó Job a tomar su parábola, y dijo:

Job spoke again,

2 ¡Quién me tornase como en los meses pasados, como en los días cuando Dios me guardaba!

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

3 Cuando hacía resplandecer su candela sobre mi cabeza, a la luz de la cual yo caminaba 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 Como fui en los días de mi mocedad, cuando Dios era familiar en mi tienda;

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

5 Cuando aun el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, y mis mozos al derredor de mí;

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

6 Cuando yo lavaba mis caminos con manteca, y la piedra me derramaba ríos de aceite;

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

7 Cuando salía a la puerta a juicio, y en la plaza hacía aparejar mi silla:

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

8 Los mozos me veían, y se escondían, y los viejos se levantaban, y estaban en pie.

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

9 Los príncipes detenían sus palabras, y ponían la mano sobre su boca.

The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],

10 La voz de los principales se ocultaba, y su lengua se pegaba a su paladar.

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

11 Cuando los oídos que me oían, me llamaban bienaventurado, y los ojos que me veían, me daban testimonio;

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 libraba al pobre que gritaba, y al huérfano que carecía de ayudador.

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 se iba a perder venía sobre mí, y al corazón de la viuda hacía cantar 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 Vestíame de justicia, y ella me vestía como un manto, y mí toca era juicio.

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 ojos al ciego, y pies al cojo.

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

16 A los menesterosos era padre, y de la causa que no entendía, me informaba con diligencia.

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

17 Y quebraba los colmillos del inicuo; y de sus dientes hacía soltar la presa.

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 Y decía: En mi nido moriré, y como arena multiplicaré días.

“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 está abierta junto a las aguas, y en mis ramas permanecerá rocío.

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

20 Mi honra se renueva conmigo, y mi arco se renueva en mi mano.

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

21 Oíanme y esperaban, y callaban a 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 Tras mi palabra no replicaban: mas mi razón destilaba 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 Y esperábanme como a la lluvia, y abrían su boca como a la lluvia tardía.

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 Si me reía a ellos, no lo creían; ni derribaban 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 Aprobaba el camino de ellos, y sentábame en cabecera; y moraba como el rey en el ejército, como el que consuela llorosos.

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.”