Job 29

BIBLIA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Job continuó pronunciando su discurso y dijo:	1 And Job continued his solemn discourse. He said:
2 ¡Quién me hiciera volver a los meses de antaño, aquellos días en que Dios me guardaba,	2 Wil no one bring back to me the months that have gone, and the days when God was my guardian,
3 cuando su lámpara brillaba sobre mi cabeza, y yo a su luz por las tinieblas caminaba;	3 when his lamp shone over my head, and his light was my guide in the darkness?
4 como era yo en los días de mi otoño, cuando vallaba Dios mi tienda,	4 Shal I ever see my days of harvest again when God protected my tent;
5 cuando Sadday estaba aún conmigo, y en torno mío mis muchachos,	5 when Shaddai stil dwelt with me, and my children were around me;
6 cuando mis pies se bañaban en manteca, y regatos de aceite destilaba la roca!	6 when my feet were bathed in milk, and streams of oil poured from the rocks?
7 Si yo salía a la puerta que domina la ciudad y mi asiento en la plaza colocaba,	7 When I went out to the gate of the city, when I took my seat in the square,
8 se retiraban los jóvenes al verme, y los viejos se levantaban y quedaban en pie.	8 as soon as I appeared, the young men stepped aside, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 Los notables cortaban sus palabras y ponían la mano en su boca.	9 Men of note broke off their speeches, and put their hands over their mouths;
10 La voz de los jefes se ahogaba, su lengua se pegaba al paladar.	10 the voices of rulers were silenced, and their tongues stayed stil in their mouths.
11 Oído que lo oía me llamaba feliz, ojo que lo veía se hacía mi testigo.	11 On hearing me, people congratulated me, on seeing me, people deferred to me,
12 Pues yo libraba al pobre que clamaba, y al huérfano que no tenía valedor.	12 because I freed the poor in distress and the orphan who had no helper.
13 La bendición del moribundo subía hacia mí, el corazón de la viuda yo alegraba.	13 The dying man's blessing rested on me and I gave the widow's heart cause to rejoice.
14 Me había puesto la justicia, y ella me revestía, como manto y turbante, mi derecho.	14 Uprightness I wore as a garment, fair judgement was my cloak and my turban.
15 Era yo los ojos del ciego y del cojo los pies.	15 I was eyes for the blind, and feet for the lame.
16 Era el padre de los pobres, la causa del desconocido examinaba.	16 Who but me was father of the poor? The stranger's case had a hearing from me.
17 Quebraba los colmillos del inicuo, de entre sus dientes arrancaba su presa.	17 I used to break the fangs of the wicked, and snatch their prey from their jaws.
18 Y me decía: «Anciano moriré, como la arena aumentaré mis días.	18 And I used to say, 'I shall die in honour, after days as numerous as the sand.
19 Mi raíz está franca a las aguas, el rocío se posa de noche en mi ramaje.	19 My roots can reach the water, the dews of night settle on my leaves.
20 Mi gloria será siempre nueva en mí, y en mi mano mi arco renovará su fuerza.	20 My glory wil be for ever new and the bow in my hand for ever strong.'
21 Me escuchaban ellos con expectación, callaban para oír mi consejo.	21 They waited anxiously to hear me, and listened in silence to what I had to say.
22 Después de hablar yo, no replicaban, y sobre ellos mi palabra caía gota a gota.	22 When I had finished, no one contradicted, my words dropping on them, one by one.
23 Me esperaban lo mismo que a la lluvia, abrían su boca como a lluvia tardía.	23 They waited for me as though for rain, open-mouthed as though for a late shower.
24 Si yo les sonreía, no querían creerlo, y la luz de mi rostro no dejaban perderse.	24 If I smiled at them, it was too good to be true, they watched my face for the least sign of favour.
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 As their chief, I told them which course to take, like a king living among his troops, and I led themwherever I chose.