Job, 29
1. Job continuó pronunciando su discurso y dijo:
1. And Job again took up his discourse, and said:
2. ¡Quién me hiciera volver a los meses de antaño, aquellos días en que Dios me guardaba,
2. "Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
3. cuando su lámpara brillaba sobre mi cabeza, y yo a su luz por las tinieblas caminaba;
3. when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;
4. como era yo en los días de mi otoño, cuando vallaba Dios mi tienda,
4. as I was in my autumn days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent;
5. cuando Sadday estaba aún conmigo, y en torno mío mis muchachos,
5. when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6. cuando mis pies se bañaban en manteca, y regatos de aceite destilaba la roca!
6. when my steps were washed with milk, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7. Si yo salía a la puerta que domina la ciudad y mi asiento en la plaza colocaba,
7. When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square,
8. se retiraban los jóvenes al verme, y los viejos se levantaban y quedaban en pie.
8. the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood;
9. Los notables cortaban sus palabras y ponían la mano en su boca.
9. the princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
10. La voz de los jefes se ahogaba, su lengua se pegaba al paladar.
10. the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11. Oído que lo oía me llamaba feliz, ojo que lo veía se hacía mi testigo.
11. When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved;
12. Pues yo libraba al pobre que clamaba, y al huérfano que no tenía valedor.
12. because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless who had none to help him.
13. La bendición del moribundo subía hacia mí, el corazón de la viuda yo alegraba.
13. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14. Me había puesto la justicia, y ella me revestía, como manto y turbante, mi derecho.
14. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15. Era yo los ojos del ciego y del cojo los pies.
15. I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16. Era el padre de los pobres, la causa del desconocido examinaba.
16. I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.
17. Quebraba los colmillos del inicuo, de entre sus dientes arrancaba su presa.
17. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made him drop his prey from his teeth.
18. Y me decía: «Anciano moriré, como la arena aumentaré mis días.
18. Then I thought, `I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand,
19. Mi raíz está franca a las aguas, el rocío se posa de noche en mi ramaje.
19. my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches,
20. Mi gloria será siempre nueva en mí, y en mi mano mi arco renovará su fuerza.
20. my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.'
21. Me escuchaban ellos con expectación, callaban para oír mi consejo.
21. "Men listened to me, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22. Después de hablar yo, no replicaban, y sobre ellos mi palabra caía gota a gota.
22. After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them.
23. Me esperaban lo mismo que a la lluvia, abrían su boca como a lluvia tardía.
23. They waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
24. Si yo les sonreía, no querían creerlo, y la luz de mi rostro no dejaban perderse.
24. I smiled on them when they had no confidence; and the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25. Les indicaba el camino y me ponía al frente, me asentaba como un rey en medio de su tropa, y por doquier les guiaba a mi gusto.
25. I chose their way, and sat as chief, and I dwelt like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.
