1 Elifaz de Temán replicó, diciendo: | 1 But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said: |
2 ¿Acaso un sabio da respuestas en el aire y llena de viento su interior? | 2 Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking wind, and will he fill his stomach with fire? |
3 ¿Arguye con palabras inútiles y con discursos que no sirven de nada? | 3 You rebuke with words he who is not equal to you, and you speak what is not expedient for you, |
4 ¡Más aún, tú destruyes la piedad, y anulas la reflexión delante de Dios! | 4 to such an extent that, within yourself, you have expelled reverence and have taken away prayers from the presence of God. |
5 Porque es tu culpa la que inspira tus palabras y eliges el lenguaje de la gente astuta. | 5 For your iniquity has mislead your mouth, and you imitate the tongue of blasphemers. |
6 Tu misma boca te condena, no yo; tus propios labios atestiguan contra ti. | 6 Your own mouth will condemn you, not I; and your own lips will answer you. |
7 ¿Eres tú el primer hombre que nació? ¿Fuiste dado a luz antes que las colinas? | 7 Are you the first man who was born, or were you formed before the hills? |
8 ¿Has tenido acceso al consejo divino y has acaparado la sabiduría? | 8 Have you heard the intentions of God, and will his wisdom be inferior to you? |
9 ¿Qué sabes tú que nosotros no sepamos? ¿Qué entiendes tú más que nosotros? | 9 What do you know, about which we are ignorant? What do you understand that we do not know? |
10 Aquí también hay ancianos de cabellos blancos, gente de más edad que tu mismo padre. | 10 There are with us both aged and ancient men, even more senior than your fathers. |
11 ¿No te basta el consuelo que Dios te da y una palabra pronunciada con dulzura? | 11 Is it so important that God should console you? But your own depraved words prevent this. |
12 ¿Por qué te dejas arrastrar por tus impulsos? ¿Qué significan esos ojos huraños, | 12 Why does your heart exalt you, and why do you gaze with your eyes, as if thinking great things? |
13 cuando vuelves tu saña contra Dios y lanzas denuestos por la boca? | 13 Why does your spirit stir against God, so as to utter such speeches from your mouth? |
14 ¿Qué es el hombre para que sea puro y el nacido de mujer para que sea justo? | 14 What is man that he should be immaculate, and that he should appear just, having been born of woman? |
15 Si Dios no se fía ni siquiera de sus santos y el cielo no es puro a sus ojos. | 15 Behold, among his holy ones not one is immutable, and even the heavens are not pure in his sight. |
16 ¡cuánto menos ese ser abominable y corrompido, el hombre, que bebe como agua la iniquidad! | 16 How much more abominable and useless is the man who drinks as if from the water of iniquity? |
17 Yo te voy a explicar, escúchame; déjame contarte algo que vi. | 17 I will reveal to you, so listen to me; and I will explain to you what I have seen. |
18 Es lo que refieren los sabios, lo que no les ocultaron sus padres: | 18 The wise acknowledge, and they do not leave behind, their fathers, |
19 a ellos solos les fue dada la tierra y ningún extraño pasaba en medio de ellos. | 19 to whom alone the earth has been given, and no stranger passed among them. |
20 El malvado se atormenta todos los días de su vida, muy pocos años están reservados al hombre cruel; | 20 The impious is arrogant for all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain. |
21 voces horribles resuenan en sus oídos, en plena paz, lo asalta el devastador. | 21 The sound of terror is always in his ears; and when there is peace, he always suspects treason. |
22 El no espera evadirse de las tinieblas y está destinado a la espada. | 22 He does not believe that it is possible for him to be turned from darkness into the light, for he sees around him the sword on every side. |
23 Anda errante como pasto de los buitres y sabe que su ruina es segura. El día tenebroso | 23 When he moves himself to seek bread, he knows that the day of darkness has been prepared for his hand. |
24 lo aterra, la angustia y la opresión lo acometen, como un rey preparado para el ataque. | 24 Tribulation will terrify him, and anguish will prevail over him, like a king who is being prepared to go to battle. |
25 Porque extendía su mano contra Dios y se envalentonaba contra el Todopoderoso: | 25 For he has extended his hand against God, and he has strengthened himself against the Almighty. |
26 arremetía contra él con el cuello tendido, con todo el espesor de sus escudos blindados, | 26 He has rushed against him with his throat exposed, and he has been armed with a fat neck. |
27 porque había untado su rostro con grasa y había robustecido sus lomos. | 27 Thickness has covered his face, and lard hangs down from his sides. |
28 Ahora habita en ciudades destruidas, en casas donde ya nadie vive, que amenazan convertirse en escombros. | 28 He has lived in desolate cities and deserted houses, which have been turned into tombs. |
29 El no se enriquecerá, no durará su fortuna, ni sus posesiones se extenderán por el país. | 29 He will not be enriched, nor will his basic necessities endure, nor will he establish his root in the earth. |
30 No escapará de las tinieblas, una llama secará sus retoños, su flor será arrastrada por el viento. | 30 He will not withdraw from the darkness; the flame will burn up his branches, and he will be defeated by the breath of his own mouth. |
31 Que no confíe en la mentira, porque se equivoca, y su recompensa será la decepción. | 31 He will not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he could be redeemed at any price. |
32 Su follaje se marchitará antes de tiempo y su ramaje no mantendrá su verdor. | 32 Before his time is completed, he will pass into ruin and his hands will wither away. |
33 Como una vid, perderá sus uvas todavía agrias, como un olivo dejará caer sus flores. | 33 He will be wounded like a grapevine, when its cluster is in first flower, and like an olive tree that casts off its flower. |
34 Sí, la raza del impío es estéril, el fuego devora la carpa del hombre venal. | 34 For the congregation of the hypocrites is fruitless, and fire will devour the tabernacles of those who love to accept money. |
35 El que concibe malicia, engendra maldad, y su vientre está grávido de mentira. | 35 He has conceived sorrow, and he has brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepares deceit. |