Job 29

1 Y Job nuevamente tomó la palabra y dijo:

Job spoke again,

2 ¡Si pudiera volver a ser como estaba en los meses pasados, en los días en que Dios me estaba cuidando!

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

3 Cuando su luz brillaba sobre mi cabeza, y cuando por su luz podía andar 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 Cuando yo estaba en los días de mi juventud, cuando mi tienda fue cubierta por la mano de Dios;

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

5 Cuando él Todopoderoso estaba todavía conmigo, y mis hijos me rodeaban;

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

6 Cuando mis pies se lavaron con leche, y ríos de aceite fluían de la roca 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 salía a la puerta, para subir al pueblo y tomar asiento en el lugar público.

“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 escondían, y los ancianos se levantaron de sus asientos;

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

9 Los gobernantes se callaron, y se pusieron las manos en la boca;

The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],

10 Los jefes bajaron su voz, y sus lenguas se les pegaba al paladar de sus bocas.

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

11 Porque cuando llegó a sus oídos, los hombres dijeron que yo era verdaderamente feliz; Y cuando vieron sus ojos, me dieron 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 yo era un salvador de los pobres cuando él clamaba por ayuda, y por huérfano que no tenía ayuda.

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 de aquel que estaba cerca de la destrucción vino sobre mí, y puse una canción de alegría en el corazón de la viuda.

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 puse la justicia como mi ropa, y estaba llena de ella; Las decisiones correctas fueron para mí una bata y un tocado.

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 para los ciegos, y pies para el que no tenía poder para caminar.

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

16 Yo era un padre para los pobres, examinaba la causa que no conocía.

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

17 Por mí se rompieron los grandes dientes del malvado, y le hice renunciar a lo que había quitado violentamente.

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: Terminaré con mis hijos a mi alrededor, mis días serán como la arena en número;

“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 estará abierta a las aguas, y él rocío de la noche estará en mis ramas,

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 será siempre nueva, y mi arco se renueva fácilmente en mi mano.

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

21 Los hombres me escucharon, esperando y guardando silencio para mis sugerencias.

“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 haber dicho lo que tenía en mente, se quedaron callados y dejaron que mis palabras se adentren en sus corazones;

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 esperaban como a la lluvia, abriendo la boca como a las lluvias 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 Cuando yo les sonreía, cuando no tenían esperanza, y la luz de mi cara nunca fue nublada por su miedo.

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

25 Tomé mi lugar como jefe, guiándolos en su camino, y fui como rey entre su ejército cuando estaban tristes yo los consolaba.

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.”