1 Job continuó pronunciando su discurso y dijo: | 1 Job took up his theme anew 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 past! 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 While he kept his lamp shining above 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 flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent; |
5 cuando Sadday estaba aún conmigo, y en torno mío mis muchachos, | 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were round about me; |
6 cuando mis pies se bañaban en manteca, y regatos de aceite destilaba la roca! | 6 When my footsteps were bathed in milk, and the rock flowed with 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 forth to the gate of the city and set up my seat in the square- |
8 se retiraban los jóvenes al verme, y los viejos se levantaban y quedaban en pie. | 8 Then the young men saw me and withdrew, while the elders rose up and stood; |
9 Los notables cortaban sus palabras y ponían la mano en su boca. | 9 The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands; |
10 La voz de los jefes se ahogaba, su lengua se pegaba al paladar. | 10 The voice of the princes was silenced, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. |
11 Oído que lo oía me llamaba feliz, ojo que lo veía se hacía mi testigo. | 11 Whoever heard of me blessed me; those who saw me commended me. |
12 Pues yo libraba al pobre que clamaba, y al huérfano que no tenía valedor. | 12 For I rescued the poor who cried out for help, the orphans, and the unassisted; |
13 La bendición del moribundo subía hacia mí, el corazón de la viuda yo alegraba. | 13 The blessing of those in extremity came upon me, and the heart of the widow I made joyful. |
14 Me había puesto la justicia, y ella me revestía, como manto y turbante, mi derecho. | 14 I wore my honesty like a garment; justice was my robe and my 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 was I; |
16 Era el padre de los pobres, la causa del desconocido examinaba. | 16 I was a father to the needy; the rights of the stranger I studied, |
17 Quebraba los colmillos del inicuo, de entre sus dientes arrancaba su presa. | 17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked man; from his teeth I forced the prey. |
18 Y me decía: «Anciano moriré, como la arena aumentaré mis días. | 18 Then I said: "In my own nest I shall grow old; I shall multiply years like the phoenix. |
19 Mi raíz está franca a las aguas, el rocío se posa de noche en mi ramaje. | 19 My root is spread out to the waters; the dew rests by night on my branches. |
20 Mi gloria será siempre nueva en mí, y en mi mano mi arco renovará su fuerza. | 20 My glory is fresh within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand!" |
21 Me escuchaban ellos con expectación, callaban para oír mi consejo. | 21 For me they listened and waited; they were silent for my counsel. |
22 Después de hablar yo, no replicaban, y sobre ellos mi palabra caía gota a gota. | 22 Once I spoke, they said no more, but received my pronouncement drop by drop. |
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; they drank in my words like the spring rains. |
24 Si yo les sonreía, no querían creerlo, y la luz de mi rostro no dejaban perderse. | 24 When I smiled on them they were reassured; |
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 mourners took comfort from my cheerful glance. I chose out their way and presided; I took a king's place in the armed forces. |