Job 23

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Job respondió diciendo:	1 Again Job answered and said:
2 También hoy, mi queja es un desafío, mientras gimo bajo el peso de su mano.	2 Though I know my complaint is bitter, his hand is heavy upon me in my groanings.
3 ¡Ah, si supiera cómo encontrarlo, si pudiera llegar hasta su tribunal!	3 Oh, that today I might find him, that I might come to his judgment seat!
4 Yo expondría mi causa ante él y llenaría mi boca de recriminaciones.	4 I would set out my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;
5 Sabría entonces cuál sería su respuesta, y estaría atento a lo que él me dijera.	5 I would learn the words with which he would answer, and understand what he would reply to me.
6 ¿Le haría falta mucha fuerza para disputar conmigo? No, sólo bastaría que me prestara atención.	6 Even should he contend against me with his great power, yet, would that he himself might heed me!
7 Allí, un hombre recto discutiría con él, y yo haría triunfar mi derecho para siempre.	7 There the upright man might reason with him, and I should once and for all preserve my rights.
8 Pero voy hacia adelante, y él no está, hacia atrás, y no lo percibo:	8 But if I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I cannot perceive him;
9 lo busco a la izquierda, y no lo diviso, vuelvo a la derecha, y no los veo.	9 Where the north enfolds him, I behold him not; by the south he is veiled, and I see him not.
10 Sin embargo, él sabe en qué camino estoy: si me prueba en mi crisol, saldré puro como el oro.	10 Yet he knows my way; if he proved me, I should come forth as gold.
11 Mis pies han seguido sus pasos, me mantuve en su camino y no me desvié.	11 My foot has always walked in his steps; his way I have kept and have not turned aside.
12 No me aparté del mandamiento de sus labios, guardé en mi pecho las palabras de su boca.	12 From the commands of his lips I have not departed; the words of his mouth I have treasured in my heart.
13 Pero él ya decidió: ¿quién lo hará volver atrás? Lo que él desea, lo hace.	13 But he had decided, and who can say him nay? What he desires, that he does.
14 El va a ejecutar mi sentencia, y hay en él muchos designios semejantes.	14 For he will carry out what is appointed for me; and many such things may yet be in his mind.
15 Por eso, le tengo temor, reflexiono, y tiemblo ante él.	15 Therefore am I dismayed before him; when I take thought, I fear him.
16 Dios me ha quitado el ánimo, el Todopoderoso me ha llenado de espanto:	16 Indeed God has made my courage fail; the Almighty has put me in dismay.
17 porque no son las tinieblas las que me aniquilan ni tampoco la oscuridad que cubre mi rostro.	17 Yes, would that I had vanished in darkness, and that thick gloom were before me to conceal me.