1 B e that as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

POR tanto, Job, oye ahora mis razones, Y escucha todas mis palabras.

2 B ehold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

He aquí yo abriré ahora mi boca, Y mi lengua hablará en mi garganta.

3 M y words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

Mis razones declararán la rectitud de mi corazón, Y mis labios proferirán pura sabiduría.

4 t he Spirit of God that made me, and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life.

El espíritu de Dios me hizo, Y la inspiración del Omnipotente me dió vida.

5 A nswer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

Si pudieres, respóndeme: Dispón tus palabras, está delante de mí.

6 B ehold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay.

Heme aquí á mí en lugar de Dios, conforme á tu dicho: De lodo soy yo también formado.

7 S ee my terror; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

He aquí que mi terror no te espantará, Ni mi mano se agravará sobre ti.

8 S urely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

De cierto tú dijiste á oídos míos, Y yo oí la voz de tus palabras que decían:

9 I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

Yo soy limpio y sin defecto; Y soy inocente, y no hay maldad en mí.

10 B ut behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.

He aquí que él buscó achaques contra mí, Y me tiene por su enemigo;

11 H e puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.

Puso mis pies en el cepo, Y guardó todas mis sendas.

12 I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.

He aquí en esto no has hablado justamente: Yo te responderé que mayor es Dios que el hombre.

13 W hy do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions.

¿Por qué tomaste pleito contra él? Porque él no da cuenta de ninguna de sus razones.

14 F or God speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it.

Sin embargo, en una ó en dos maneras habla Dios; Mas el hombre no entiende.

15 i n a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,

Por sueño de visión nocturna, Cuando el sueño cae sobre los hombres, Cuando se adormecen sobre el lecho;

16 T hen He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction,

Entonces revela al oído de los hombres, Y les señala su consejo;

17 T hat He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him.

Para quitar al hombre de su obra, Y apartar del varón la soberbia.

18 H e holds him back from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

Detendrá su alma de corrupción, Y su vida de que pase á cuchillo.

19 h e is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,

También sobre su cama es castigado Con dolor fuerte en todos sus huesos,

20 S o that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes.

Que le hace que su vida aborrezca el pan, Y su alma la comida suave.

21 H is flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.

Su carne desfallece sin verse, Y sus huesos, que antes no se veían, aparecen.

22 Y es, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).

Y su alma se acerca al sepulcro, Y su vida á los que causan la muerte.

23 i f there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

Si tuviera cerca de él Algún elocuente anunciador muy escogido, Que anuncie al hombre su deber;

24 T hen is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!

Que le diga que Dios tuvo de él misericordia, Que lo libró de descender al sepulcro, Que halló redención:

25 f lesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

Enterneceráse su carne más que de niño, Volverá á los días de su mocedad.

26 H e prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God—with its joys).

Orará á Dios, y le amará, Y verá su faz con júbilo: Y él restituirá al hombre su justicia.

27 H e looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me!

El mira sobre los hombres; y el que dijere: Pequé, y pervertí lo recto, Y no me ha aprovechado;

28 h as redeemed my life from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light!

Dios redimirá su alma, que no pase al sepulcro, Y su vida se verá en luz.

29 B ehold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,

He aquí, todas estas cosas hace Dios Dos y tres veces con el hombre;

30 T o bring back his life from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

Para apartar su alma del sepulcro, Y para iluminarlo con la luz de los vivientes.

31 G ive heed, O Job, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will speak.

Escucha, Job, y óyeme; Calla, y yo hablaré.

32 I f you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

Que si tuvieres razones, respóndeme; Habla, porque yo te quiero justificar.

33 I f not, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.

Y si no, óyeme tú á mí; Calla, y enseñarte he sabiduría.