| 1 But now, those younger in years scorn me, whose fathers I would not have seen fit to place with the dogs of my flock, | 1 Pero ahora se ríe de mí hasta la gente más joven que yo., a cuyos padres yo no consideraba dignos de juntarlos con los perros de mis rebaños. |
| 2 the strength of whose hands was nothing to me, and they were considered unworthy of life itself. | 2 ¿De qué me hubiera servido la fuerza de sus manos? Ellos habían perdido todo su vigor: |
| 3 They were barren from poverty and hunger; they gnawed in solitude, layered with misfortune and misery. | 3 agotados por la penuria y el hambre, roían el suelo reseco, la tierra desierta y desolada. |
| 4 And they chewed grass and the bark from trees, and the root of junipers was their food. | 4 Arrancaban malezas de los matorrales y raíces de retama eran su alimento. |
| 5 They took these things from the steep valleys, and when they discovered one of these things, they rushed to the others with a cry. | 5 Se los expulsaba de en medio de los hombres; se los echaba a gritos, como a un ladrón. |
| 6 They lived in the parched desert and in caves underground or above the rocks. | 6 Habitaban en los barrancos de los torrentes, en las grietas del suelo y los peñascos. |
| 7 They rejoiced among these kinds of things, and they considered it delightful to be under thorns. | 7 Rebuznaban entre los matorrales, se apretujaban bajo los cardos |
| 8 These are the sons of foolish and base men, not even paying any attention to the land. | 8 ¡Gente envilecida, raza sin nombre, echados a golpes del país! |
| 9 Now I become their song, and I have been made into their proverb. | 9 ¡Y ahora, ellos me hacen burla con sus cantos, soy el tema de sus dichos jocosos! |
| 10 They loathe me, and so they flee far from me, and they are not reluctant to spit in my face. | 10 Abominan y se alejan de mí no les importa escupirme en la cara. |
| 11 For he has opened his quiver and has afflicted me, and he has placed a bridle in my mouth. | 11 Porque Dios aflojó mi cuerda y me humilló, ellos también pierden el freno ante mí. |
| 12 Immediately, upon rising, my calamities rise up to the right. They have overturned my feet and have pressed me down along their way like waves. | 12 A mi derecha se levanta una turba: se abren camino hasta mi para arruinarme. |
| 13 They have diverted my journeys; they have waited to ambush me, and they have prevailed, and there was no one who might bring help. | 13 destruyen mi sendero para perderme: atacan sin que nadie los detenga, |
| 14 They have rushed upon me, as when a wall is broken or a gate opened, and they have been pulled down into my miseries. | 14 irrumpen como por una ancha brecha, avanzan rodando como un torbellino. |
| 15 I have been reduced to nothing. You have taken away my desire like a wind, and my health has passed by like a cloud. | 15 Los terrores se han vuelto contra mí. mi dignidad es arrastrada como por el viento, mi esperanza de salvación ha pasado como una nube. |
| 16 But now my soul withers within myself, and the days of affliction take hold of me. | 16 Y ahora mi vida se diluye en mi interior, me han tocado días de aflicción. |
| 17 At night, my bone is pierced with sorrows, and those who feed on me, do not sleep. | 17 De noche, siento taladrar mis huesos, los que me roen no se dan descanso. |
| 18 By the sheer number of them my clothing is worn away, and they have closed in on me like the collar of my coat. | 18 El me toma de la ropa con gran fuerza, me ciñe como el cuello de mi túnica. |
| 19 I have been treated like dirt, and I have been turned into embers and ashes. | 19 El me ha arrojado en el fango, y me asemejó al polvo y la ceniza. |
| 20 I cry to you, and you do not heed me. I stand up, and you do not look back at me. | 20 Clamo a ti, y no me respondes; me presento, y no me haces caso. |
| 21 You have changed me into hardness, and, with the hardness of your hand, you oppose me. | 21 Te has vuelto despiadado conmigo, me atacas con todo el rigor de tu mano. |
| 22 You have lifted me up, and, placing me as if on the wind, you have thrown me down powerfully. | 22 Me levantas y me haces cabalgar en el viento, y me deshaces con la tempestad. |
| 23 I know that you will hand me over to death, where a home has been established for all the living. | 23 Sí, ya lo sé, me llevas a la muerte, al lugar de reunión de todos los vivientes. |
| 24 Truly, then, you do not extend your hand in order to consume them, and if they fall down, you will save them. | 24 ¿Acaso no tendí mi mano al pobre cuando en su desgracia me pedía auxilio? |
| 25 Once, I wept over him who was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor. | 25 ¿No lloré con el que vivía duramente y mi corazón no se afligió por el pobre? |
| 26 I expected good things, but evil things have come to me. I stood ready for light, yet darkness burst forth. | 26 Yo esperaba lo bueno y llegó lo malo, aguardaba la luz y llegó la oscuridad. |
| 27 My insides have seethed, without any rest, for the days of affliction have prevented it. | 27 Me hierven las entrañas incesantemente, me han sobrevenido días de aflicción. |
| 28 I went forth mourning, without anger, and rising up, I cried out in confusion. | 28 Ando ensombrecido y sin consuelo, me alzo en la asamblea y pido auxilio. |
| 29 I was the brother of snakes, and the companion of ostriches. | 29 Me he convertido en hermano de los chacales y en compañero de los avestruces. |
| 30 My skin has become blackened over me, and my bones have dried up because of the heat. | 30 Mi piel ennegrecida se me cae, mis huesos arden por la fiebre. |
| 31 My harp has been turned into mourning, and my pipes have been turned into a voice of weeping. | 31 Mi cítara sólo sirve para el duelo y mi flauta para acompañar a los que lloran. |