Job 29

BIBLIA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Job continuó pronunciando su discurso y dijo:	1 Job also added to this, using figures of speech, and he said:
2 ¡Quién me hiciera volver a los meses de antaño, aquellos días en que Dios me guardaba,	2 Who will grant to me that I might be as I was in former months, according to the days when God kept watch over me?
3 cuando su lámpara brillaba sobre mi cabeza, y yo a su luz por las tinieblas caminaba;	3 At that time, his lamp shined over my head, and by his light, I walked through the darkness.
4 como era yo en los días de mi otoño, cuando vallaba Dios mi tienda,	4 I was then just as in the days of my youth, when God was privately in my tabernacle.
5 cuando Sadday estaba aún conmigo, y en torno mío mis muchachos,	5 At that time, the Almighty was with me and my children surrounded me.
6 cuando mis pies se bañaban en manteca, y regatos de aceite destilaba la roca!	6 Then, I washed my feet with butter, and a boulder poured out rivers of oil for me.
7 Si yo salía a la puerta que domina la ciudad y mi asiento en la plaza colocaba,	7 When I went to the gate of the city, or to the main street, they prepared a chair for me.
8 se retiraban los jóvenes al verme, y los viejos se levantaban y quedaban en pie.	8 The youths saw me and hid themselves, and the elders, rising up, remained standing.
9 Los notables cortaban sus palabras y ponían la mano en su boca.	9 The leaders stopped talking, and they placed a finder over their mouth.
10 La voz de los jefes se ahogaba, su lengua se pegaba al paladar.	10 The commanders subdued their voice, and their tongue adhered to their throat.
11 Oído que lo oía me llamaba feliz, ojo que lo veía se hacía mi testigo.	11 The ear that heard me, blessed me, and the eye that saw me, gave testimony for me.
12 Pues yo libraba al pobre que clamaba, y al huérfano que no tenía valedor.	12 This was because I had freed the poor, who cried out, and the orphan, who had no helper.
13 La bendición del moribundo subía hacia mí, el corazón de la viuda yo alegraba.	13 The blessing of him who would have been destroyed came upon me, and I consoled the heart of the widow.
14 Me había puesto la justicia, y ella me revestía, como manto y turbante, mi derecho.	14 I put on justice, and I clothed myself with my judgment, like a robe and a diadem.
15 Era yo los ojos del ciego y del cojo los pies.	15 I was an eye for the blind and a foot for the lame.
16 Era el padre de los pobres, la causa del desconocido examinaba.	16 I was the father of the poor; and if I lacked knowledge about any case, I investigated very diligently.
17 Quebraba los colmillos del inicuo, de entre sus dientes arrancaba su presa.	17 I crushed the jaws of the impious, and I took away prey from his teeth.
18 Y me decía: «Anciano moriré, como la arena aumentaré mis días.	18 And I said, “I will die in my little nest, and like a palm tree, I will multiply my days.
19 Mi raíz está franca a las aguas, el rocío se posa de noche en mi ramaje.	19 My root has been spread beside the waters, and the dew will remain with my harvest.
20 Mi gloria será siempre nueva en mí, y en mi mano mi arco renovará su fuerza.	20 My glory will always be restored, and my bow will be restored to my hand.”
21 Me escuchaban ellos con expectación, callaban para oír mi consejo.	21 Those who heard me, expected vindication, and they listened closely in silence to my counsel.
22 Después de hablar yo, no replicaban, y sobre ellos mi palabra caía gota a gota.	22 To my words, they dared to add nothing, and my eloquence poured over them.
23 Me esperaban lo mismo que a la lluvia, abrían su boca como a lluvia tardía.	23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for belated rains.
24 Si yo les sonreía, no querían creerlo, y la luz de mi rostro no dejaban perderse.	24 If I had ever laughed at them, they would not have believed it, and the light of my face was not cast down towards the ground.
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 If I wished to go to them, I sat down first, and, though I sat like a king surrounded by an army, yet I was a comforter to whose who mourned.