1 Y volvió Job a tomar su parábola, y dijo:

Then Job spoke again and said,

2 ¡ Quién me volviera como en los meses pasados, como en los días cuando Dios me guardaba,

“If only I could be now as I was in the months past when God watched over me!

3 c uando hacía resplandecer su candela sobre mi cabeza, a la luz de la cual yo caminaba en la oscuridad;

His lamp shined over my head then and by His light I walked through darkness.

4 c omo fue en los días de mi juventud, cuando Dios era familiar en mi tienda;

Those days were my best days when God was my friend watching over my tent.

5 c uando aún el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, y mis hijos alrededor de mí;

The All-powerful was still with me, and my children were around me.

6 c uando lavaba yo mis caminos con manteca, y la piedra me derramaba ríos de aceite!

My path was washed with milk, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me.

7 C uando salía a la puerta a juicio, y en la plaza hacía aparejar mi silla,

When I went to the city gate and took my place with the leaders of the city,

8 L os jóvenes me veían, y se escondían; y los viejos se levantaban, y estaban en pie.

the young men saw me and let me go by. The old men rose and stood.

9 L os príncipes detenían sus palabras; ponían la mano sobre su boca;

The leaders stopped talking, and put their hands on their mouths.

10 l a voz de los principales se ocultaba, y su lengua se pegaba a su paladar;

The voices of the rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths.

11 c uando los oídos que me oían, me llamaban bienaventurado, y los ojos que me veían, me daban testimonio.

Those who heard me, honored me. Those who saw me, respected me,

12 P orque libraba al pobre que gritaba, y al huérfano que carecía de ayudador.

because I helped the poor man when he cried for help and the child without parents who had no one to help him.

13 L a bendición del que se iba a perder venía sobre mí; y al corazón de la viuda daba alegría.

Good came to me from the man who was dying. And I made the heart of the woman whose husband had died sing for joy.

14 M e vestía de justicia, y ella me cubría como un manto; y mi diadema era juicio.

I put on what was right and good, and it clothed me. The right things done were my coat and head-covering.

15 Y o era ojos al ciego, y pies al cojo.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the man who could not walk.

16 A los menesterosos era padre; y de la causa que no entendía, me informaba con diligencia.

I was a father to those in need. And I helped those I did not know who had a need.

17 Y quebraba los colmillos del inicuo, y de sus dientes hacía soltar la presa.

I broke the jaws of the sinful, and took from their teeth what they had taken.

18 Y decía yo: En mi nido moriré, y como arena multiplicaré días.

Then I thought, ‘I will die in my nest. My days will be as many as the sand.

19 M i raíz está abierta junto a las aguas, y en mis ramas permanecerá rocío.

My roots go to the water. As the water is on the grass in the early morning, it will be all night on my branches.

20 M i gloria se renueva conmigo, y mi arco se renueva en mi mano.

My honor is always new to me, and my bow is new in my hand.’

21 M e oían, y esperaban; y callaban a mi consejo.

“Men listened to me and waited. They were quiet so they could hear my words of wisdom.

22 T ras mi palabra no replicaban, mas mi razón destilaba sobre ellos.

After I spoke, they did not speak again. My words stayed with them.

23 M e esperaban como a la lluvia, y abrían su boca como a la lluvia tardía.

They waited for me as for rain. And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 S i me reía a ellos, no lo creían; y no abatían la luz de mi rostro.

I looked at them with joy when they were not sure of themselves, and the light of my face gave them comfort.

25 A probaba el camino de ellos, y me sentaba en cabecera; y moraba como rey en el ejército, como el que consuela llorosos.

I decided the way for them and sat as their leader. I lived as a king among his army, and like one who gives comfort to those in sorrow.