Job 21

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Biblia Sagrada
1 Then Job responded by saying:	1 Job respondió así:
2 I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.	2 «Escuchad atentos mis palabras, | dadme siquiera ese consuelo.
3 Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.	3 Sed pacientes mientras hablo, | después os podréis burlar.
4 Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?	4 ¿Me quejo quizá de algún hombre | o pierdo la paciencia sin razón?
5 Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.	5 Escuchadme, quedaréis pasmados | y os llevaréis la mano a la boca.
6 As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.	6 Lo pienso y me horrorizo, | y el pavor atenaza mi carne.
7 Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?	7 ¿Por qué siguen vivos los malvados, | que envejecen y aumenta su poder?
8 They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.	8 Ven a sus hijos crecer seguros, | contemplan cómo medran sus retoños:
9 Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.	9 sus casas, en paz y sin temor, | la vara de Dios no los alcanza.
10 Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.	10 Sus toros engendran sin fallar, | sus vacas nunca malparen.
11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.	11 Sus hijos trotan como corderos, | sus niños juegan satisfechos.
12 They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.	12 Cantan con liras y tambores, | se alegran al son de la flauta;
13 Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell.	13 disfrutan dichosos de la vida | y bajan en paz al Abismo.
14 Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.	14 Y eso que decían a Dios: | “¡Déjanos en paz!, | no nos interesa para nada | conocer tus caminos.
15 Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”	15 ¿Por qué hemos de servir al Todopoderoso?, | ¿qué sacamos con invocarlo?”.
16 It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!	16 ¿No depende del impío su dicha, | aunque su plan esté lejos de Dios?
17 How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?	17 ¿Cuándo se apaga la lámpara del malvado?, | ¿cuándo se abate sobre él la desgracia, | o la ira divina lo colma de dolor?
18 They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.	18 ¿Son paja perseguida por el viento | o tamo que arrastra el huracán?
19 God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.	19 ¿Va a castigar Dios a sus hijos? | ¡Que lo pague él y escarmiente!
20 His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.	20 ¡Que él mismo contemple su ruina, | que beba la cólera del Todopoderoso!
21 For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?	21 ¿Qué le importa su casa una vez muerto, | cuando cese la cuenta de sus meses?
22 Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?	22 ¿Quién puede dar lecciones a Dios, | cuando gobierna también el cielo?
23 This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.	23 Hay quien muere en pleno vigor, | rebosante de dicha y de paz,
24 His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.	24 con sus lomos cubiertos de grasa | y jugosa la médula de sus huesos.
25 In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.	25 Y hay quien muere lleno de amargura, | sin haber probado cosa buena.
26 And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.	26 Pero ambos se acuestan en el polvo, | bajo una cubierta de gusanos.
27 Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.	27 De sobra sé lo que pensáis, | todo lo que opináis sobre mi caso.
28 For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”	28 Decís: “¿Dónde está la casa del prepotente, | la tienda que habitaban los impíos?”.
29 Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:	29 ¿Por qué no lo preguntáis a los viajeros?, | entonces sabríais lo que piensan:
30 that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.	30 El malvado se libra el día del desastre, | se encuentra a salvo el día del castigo.
31 Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?	31 ¿Quién le reprocha su conducta | o le hace pagar lo que ha hecho?
32 He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.	32 Muere y lo llevan al cementerio, | la gente vela junto a su tumba,
33 He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.	33 ni siquiera le pesa la tierra. | Tras él desfila todo el mundo, | por delante una turba innumerable.
34 Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?	34 Pues ¿a qué consolarme con vaciedades? | ¡Si tan solo respondéis con engaños!».