1 Job continuó pronunciando su poema, y dijo: | 1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, |
2 ¡Si pudiera volver a los tiempos pasados, a los días en que Dios cuidaba de mí, | 2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; |
3 cuando hacía brillar su lámpara sobre mi cabeza y yo caminaba a su luz entre las tinieblas! | 3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; |
4 ¡Si estuviera como en el otoño de mi vida, cuando Dios protegía mi carpa, | 4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; |
5 cuando el Todopoderoso aún estaba conmigo y me rodeaban mis hijos; | 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; |
6 cuando mis pies se bañaban en lecha cuajada y la roca derramaba para mí arroyos de aceite! | 6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; |
7 Si yo salía a la puerta principal de la ciudad y ocupaba mi puesto en la plaza, | 7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! |
8 los jóvenes se retiraban al verme, los ancianos se levantaban y permanecían de pie. | 8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. |
9 Los príncipes retenían sus palabras y se tapaban la boca con la mano; | 9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. |
10 a los jefes se les apagaba la voz, se les pegaba la lengua al paladar. | 10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. |
11 Sí, el que me oía me felicitaba y el que me veía daba testimonio a mi favor. | 11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: |
12 Porque yo salvaba al pobre que pedía auxilio y al huérfano privado de ayuda. | 12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. |
13 El desesperado me hacía llegar su bendición, y yo alegraba el corazón de la viuda. | 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. |
14 Me había revestido de justicia, y ella me cubría, mi rectitud era como un manto y un turbante. | 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. |
15 Yo era ojos para el ciego y pies para el lisiado, | 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. |
16 era un padre para los indigentes y examinaba a fondo el caso del desconocido. | 16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. |
17 Rompía las mandíbulas del injusto y le hacía soltar la presa de sus dientes. | 17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. |
18 Entonces pensaba: «Moriré en mi nido, multiplicaré mis días como el ave fénix | 18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. |
19 Mi raíz se extenderá hacia el agua y el rocío se posará en mi ramaje. | 19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. |
20 Mi gloria será siempre nueva en mí y el arco rejuvenecerá en mi mano». | 20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. |
21 Ellos me escuchaban con expectación, callaban para oír mi consejo. | 21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. |
22 Después que yo hablaba, nadie replicaba, mi palabra caía sobre ellos gota a gota. | 22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. |
23 Me esperaban como a la lluvia, abrían su boca como a la lluvia de primavera. | 23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. |
24 Si les sonreía, les costaba creerlo y no querían perderse la luz de mi rostro. | 24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. |
25 Yo les elegía el camino y me ponía al frente; me instalaba como un rey con sus tropas y adonde yo los llevaba, se dejaban guiar. | 25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners. |