Job 29

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Job continuó pronunciando su poema, y dijo:	1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:
2 ¡Si pudiera volver a los tiempos pasados, a los días en que Dios cuidaba de mí,	2 Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?
3 cuando hacía brillar su lámpara sobre mi cabeza y yo caminaba a su luz entre las tinieblas!	3 When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?
4 ¡Si estuviera como en el otoño de mi vida, cuando Dios protegía mi carpa,	4 As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?
5 cuando el Todopoderoso aún estaba conmigo y me rodeaban mis hijos;	5 When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?
6 cuando mis pies se bañaban en lecha cuajada y la roca derramaba para mí arroyos de aceite!	6 When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?
7 Si yo salía a la puerta principal de la ciudad y ocupaba mi puesto en la plaza,	7 When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?
8 los jóvenes se retiraban al verme, los ancianos se levantaban y permanecían de pie.	8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.
9 Los príncipes retenían sus palabras y se tapaban la boca con la mano;	9 The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.
10 a los jefes se les apagaba la voz, se les pegaba la lengua al paladar.	10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.
11 Sí, el que me oía me felicitaba y el que me veía daba testimonio a mi favor.	11 The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:
12 Porque yo salvaba al pobre que pedía auxilio y al huérfano privado de ayuda.	12 Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.
13 El desesperado me hacía llegar su bendición, y yo alegraba el corazón de la viuda.	13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.
14 Me había revestido de justicia, y ella me cubría, mi rectitud era como un manto y un turbante.	14 I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.
15 Yo era ojos para el ciego y pies para el lisiado,	15 I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.
16 era un padre para los indigentes y examinaba a fondo el caso del desconocido.	16 I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.
17 Rompía las mandíbulas del injusto y le hacía soltar la presa de sus dientes.	17 I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.
18 Entonces pensaba: «Moriré en mi nido, multiplicaré mis días como el ave fénix	18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.
19 Mi raíz se extenderá hacia el agua y el rocío se posará en mi ramaje.	19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.
20 Mi gloria será siempre nueva en mí y el arco rejuvenecerá en mi mano».	20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.
21 Ellos me escuchaban con expectación, callaban para oír mi consejo.	21 They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.
22 Después que yo hablaba, nadie replicaba, mi palabra caía sobre ellos gota a gota.	22 To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.
23 Me esperaban como a la lluvia, abrían su boca como a la lluvia de primavera.	23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.
24 Si les sonreía, les costaba creerlo y no querían perderse la luz de mi rostro.	24 If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.
25 Yo les elegía el camino y me ponía al frente; me instalaba como un rey con sus tropas y adonde yo los llevaba, se dejaban guiar.	25 If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.