1 Y respondió Elifaz temanita, y dijo:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 ¿ Por ventura el sabio responderá sabiduría ventosa, y llenará su vientre de viento solano?

“Should a wise man answer with learning that is of no worth, and fill himself with the east wind?

3 ¿ Disputará con palabras inútiles, y con razones sin provecho?

Should he argue with talk that will not help, or with words that do no good?

4 T ú también disipas el temor, y menoscabas la oración delante de Dios.

For sure you are doing away with the fear of the Lord. You are stopping the quiet worship of God.

5 P orque tu boca declaró tu iniquidad, pues has escogido el hablar de los astutos.

You show your sin by what you say. You are trying to hide behind your words.

6 T u misma boca te condenará, y no yo; y tus mismos labios testificarán contra ti.

Your own mouth says you are guilty, and not I. Your own lips speak against you.

7 ¿ Naciste tú primero que Adán? ¿O fuiste formado antes que los collados?

“Were you the first man to be born? Or were you made before the hills?

8 ¿ Oíste tú por ventura el secreto de Dios, que detienes en ti solo la sabiduría?

Were you there to hear the secret plans of God? Are you the only one who has wisdom?

9 ¿ Qué sabes tú que no sepamos? ¿Qué entiendes que no se halle en nosotros?

What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

10 E ntre nosotros también hay cano, también hay viejo, mayor en días que tu padre.

Men whose hair has grown white and those who have lived many years are among us. They are older than your father.

11 ¿ En tan poco tienes las consolaciones de Dios? ¿Tienes acaso alguna cosa oculta cerca de ti?

Are the gentle words spoken to you, which give comfort from God, too little for you?

12 ¿ Por qué te enajena tu corazón, y por qué guiñan tus ojos,

Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes shine,

13 q ue respondas a Dios con tu espíritu, y sacas tales palabras de tu boca?

that you turn your spirit against God and let such words go out of your mouth?

14 ¿ Qué cosa es el hombre para que sea limpio, y que se justifique el nacido de mujer?

What is man, that he can be pure, or he who is born of a woman, that he can be right and good?

15 H e aquí que en sus santos no confía, y ni los cielos son limpios delante de sus ojos,

See, God puts no trust in His holy ones. The heavens are not pure in His eyes.

16 ¿ cuánto menos el hombre abominable y vil, que bebe la iniquidad como agua?

How much less one who is hated and sinful, a man who drinks sin like water!

17 ¶ Escúchame; yo te mostraré, y te contaré lo que he visto;

“I will tell you, listen to me. I will make known what I have seen,

18 l o que los sabios nos contaron de sus padres, y no lo encubrieron;

what wise men have told that they learned from their fathers. They have not hidden anything.

19 a los cuales fue dada la tierra a ellos sólos, y no pasó extraño por medio de ellos.

These were the ones to whom the land was given, and no stranger passed among them.

20 T odos los días del impío, él es atormentado de dolor, y el número de años es escondido al violento.

The sinful man suffers in pain all his days. His years are numbered because of all his sin.

21 E struendos espantosos hay en sus oídos; en la paz le vendrá quién lo asuele.

Sounds of fear are in his ears. When all seems to be going well, the one who destroys will come upon him.

22 E l no creerá que ha de volver de las tinieblas, y siempre está mirando a la espada.

He does not believe that he will be taken away from darkness, and the sword is meant for him.

23 D esasosegado viene a comer siempre, porque sabe que le está aparejado día de tinieblas.

He goes to look for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is near.

24 T ribulación y angustia le asombrarán, y se esforzarán contra él como un rey apercibido para la batalla.

Trouble and pain fill him with fear. They have power over him like a king ready for battle.

25 P or cuanto él extendió su mano contra Dios, y se esforzó contra el Todopoderoso,

He has put out his hand against God, and is full of pride against the All-powerful.

26 é l le acometerá en la cerviz, en lo grueso de las hombreras de sus escudos;

He rushes in pride against Him with his big battle-covering.

27 p orque cubrió su rostro con su gordura, e hizo pliegues sobre los ijares;

His face is fat, and his thighs are heavy with fat.

28 y habitó las ciudades asoladas, las casas inhabitadas, que estaban puestas en montones.

He has lived in cities that have been laid waste, in houses where no one lives which will be destroyed.

29 N o enriquecerá, ni será firme su potencia, ni extenderá por la tierra su hermosura.

He will no longer be rich, and what he has will not last. His grain will come to nothing.

30 N o se escapará de las tinieblas; la llama secará sus ramas, y con el aliento de su boca perecerá.

He will not get away from darkness. The fire will dry up his branches, and the breath of God’s mouth will drive him away.

31 N o será afirmado; en vanidad yerra; por lo cual en vanidad será trocado.

Let him not lie to himself and trust in what is empty. For what is empty will be his reward.

32 E l será cortado antes de su tiempo, y sus renuevos no reverdecerán.

It will be paid in full while he still lives, and his branch will not be green.

33 E l perderá su agraz como la vid, y derramará su flor como la oliva.

He will be like the vine that drops off its grapes before they are ready. And he will throw off his flower like the olive tree.

34 P orque la congregación de los hipócritas será asolada, y fuego consumirá las tiendas de soborno.

Those who visit the sinful bring no fruit. And fire destroys the tents of those who do wrong.

35 C oncibieron dolor, y dieron a luz iniquidad; y las entrañas de ellos meditan engaño.

They give birth to trouble and bring sin. Their minds plan lies.”