Job 29
1 Y volvió Job a tomar su propósito, y dijo:
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 ¡Quién me volviese como en los meses pasados, como en los días cuando Dios me guardaba,
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 cuando hacía resplandecer su candela sobre mi cabeza, a la luz de la cual yo caminaba en la oscuridad;
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 como fue en los días de mi juventud, cuando Dios era familiar 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 aún el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, y mis hijos alrededor de mí;
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 cuando lavaba yo mis caminos con manteca, y la piedra me derramaba ríos de aceite!
when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 Cuando salía a la puerta a juicio, y en la plaza hacía aparejar mi silla,
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 escondían; y los viejos se levantaban, y estaban en 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 detenían sus palabras; ponían la mano sobre su boca;
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 la voz de los principales se ocultaba, y su lengua se pegaba a su paladar;
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 cuando los oídos que me oían, me llamaban bienaventurado, y los ojos que me veían, me daban testimonio.
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 libraba al pobre que gritaba, y al huérfano que carecía de ayudador.
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 se iba a perder venía sobre mí; y al corazón de la viuda daba 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 vestía de justicia, y ella me cubría como un manto; y mi diadema era juicio.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 Yo era ojos al ciego, y pies al cojo.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 A los menesterosos era padre; y de la causa que no entendía, me informaba con diligencia.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Y quebraba los colmillos del inicuo, y de sus dientes hacía soltar la presa.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 Y decía yo: En mi nido moriré, y como arena multiplicaré días.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Mi raíz está abierta junto a las aguas, y en mis ramas permanecerá rocío.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Mi honra se renueva conmigo, y 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 Me oían, y esperaban; y callaban a mi consejo.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Tras mi palabra no replicaban, mas mi razón destilaba sobre ellos.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 Me esperaban como a la lluvia, y abrían su boca como a la lluvia tardía.
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 Si me reía a ellos, no lo creían; y no abatían 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 Aprobaba el camino de ellos, y me sentaba en cabecera; y moraba como rey en el ejército, como el que consuela llorosos.
I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
