1 Y respondió Job, y dijo:

Then Job answered,

2 C iertamente yo conozco que es así; ¿y cómo se justificará el hombre con Dios?

“Yes, I know this is true. But how can a man be right and good before God?

3 S i quisiere contender con él, no le podrá responder a una cosa de mil.

If one wished to argue with Him, he would not be able to answer one out of a thousand of His questions.

4 E l es sabio de corazón, y fuerte en fuerza, ¿quién se endureció contra él, y quedó en paz?

He is wise in heart and powerful in strength. Who has ever stood against Him without being hurt?

5 Q uien arranca los montes con su furor, y no conocen quién los trastornó;

It is He Who takes away the mountains without their knowing it, when He destroys them in His anger.

6 q uien remueve la tierra de su lugar, y hace temblar sus columnas;

He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars shake.

7 q uien manda al sol, y no sale; y sella las estrellas.

He tells the sun not to shine, and He keeps the stars from shining.

8 E l solo extiende los cielos, y anda sobre las alturas del mar.

He alone spreads out the heavens and walks upon the waves of the sea.

9 E l que hizo la Osa, y el Orión, y las Pléyades, y los lugares secretos del mediodía;

He makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades and the stars of the south.

10 e l que hace cosas grandes e incomprensibles, y maravillosas, sin número.

He does things too great for us to understand, and more wonderful works than we can number.

11 H e aquí que él pasará delante de mí, y yo no lo veré; y pasará, y no lo entenderé.

When He passes by me, I do not see Him. When He goes by me, I do not know Him.

12 H e aquí, arrebatará; ¿quién le hará restituir? ¿Quién le dirá: Qué haces?

If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

13 D ios no tornará atrás su ira, y debajo de él se encorvan los que ayudan a la soberbia.

“God will not stop His anger. The helpers of Rahab bow under Him.

14 ¿ Cuánto menos le responderé yo, y eligiré mis palabras con él?

How then can I answer Him, and choose the right words to speak with Him?

15 Q ue aunque yo sea justo, no responderé; antes habré de rogar a mi juez.

Even if I am right, I cannot answer Him. I must beg Him who is against me to have pity.

16 Q ue si yo le invocare, y él me respondiera, aún no creeré que haya escuchado mi voz.

If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.

17 P orque me ha quebrado con tempestad, y ha aumentado mis heridas sin causa.

For He crushes me with a storm, and hurts me more and more without a reason.

18 Q ue aún no me ha concedido que tome mi aliento; mas me ha llenado de amarguras.

He will not let me get my breath, but fills me with much that is bitter.

19 S i habláramos de su potencia, fuerte por cierto es; si de su juicio, ¿quién me emplazará?

If it is a question of power, see, He is the strong one! If it is a question of what is right and fair, who can call Him to a trial?

20 S i yo me justificare, me condenará mi boca; si me predicare perfecto, él me hará inicuo.

Even if I were right, my mouth would say that I am guilty. Even if I were without blame, He would say I am guilty.

21 S i yo me predicare imperfecto, no conozco mi alma; condenaré mi vida.

Even though I am without blame, I do not care about myself. I hate my life.

22 U na cosa resta es a saber que yo diga: Al perfecto y al impío él los consume.

It is all the same, so I say, ‘He destroys both those who are without blame and the sinful.’

23 S i es azote, mate de repente, y no se ría de la prueba de los inocentes.

If death comes fast by disease, He makes fun of the trouble of those who have done no wrong.

24 L a tierra es entregada en manos de los impíos, y él cubre el rostro de sus jueces. Si no es él el que lo hace, ¿quién es? ¿Dónde está?

The earth is given into the hand of the sinful. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

25 M is días han sido más ligeros que un correo; huyeron, y nunca vieron bien.

“My days go faster than a runner. They fly away, and see no good.

26 P asaron con los navíos de Ebeh; o como el águila que se arroja a la presa.

They go by like fast boats, like an eagle coming down to catch its food.

27 S i digo: Quiero olvidar mi queja, dejaré mi aburrimiento, y me esforzaré.

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaining. I will put off my sad face and be happy,’

28 T emo todos mis trabajos; sé que no me tendrás sin culpa.

I am still afraid of all my pains for I know You will not take away my guilt.

29 S i yo soy impío, ¿para qué trabajaré en vano?

Because I am already guilty, why should I try for nothing?

30 A unque me lave con aguas de nieve, y aunque limpie mis manos con la misma limpieza,

If I wash myself with snow and clean my hands using the best soap,

31 a ún me hundirás en el hoyo; y mis propios vestidos me abominarán.

You would still throw me down into a deep hole. And my own clothes would hate me.

32 P orque no es hombre como yo, para que yo le responda, y vengamos juntamente a juicio.

For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, that we might go to trial together.

33 N o hay entre nosotros árbitro que ponga su mano sobre ambos.

There is no one to decide between us, who might lay his hand upon us both.

34 Q uite de sobre mí su verdugo, y su terror no me perturbe.

Let Him stop punishing me. And do not let fear of Him make me so afraid.

35 Y hablaré, y no le temeré; porque en este estado no estoy en mí.

Then I would speak and not be afraid of Him. But I am not like that in myself.