1 E ntonces respondió Elifaz temanita, y dijo:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 ¿ Debe responder un sabio con hueca sabiduría y llenarse de viento solano ?

“Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind?

3 ¿ Debe argumentar con razones inútiles o con palabras sin provecho?

Should he reason with unprofitable talk, or with speeches with which he can do no good?

4 C iertamente, tú rechazas el temor, e impides la meditación delante de Dios.

Yes, you do away with fear, and hinder devotion before God.

5 P orque tu iniquidad enseña a tu boca, y escoges el lenguaje de los astutos.

For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.

6 T u propia boca, y no yo, te condena, y tus propios labios testifican contra ti.

Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.

7 ¿ Fuiste tú el primer hombre en nacer, o fuiste dado a luz antes que las colinas ?

“Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought out before the hills?

8 ¿ Oyes tú el secreto de Dios, y retienes para ti la sabiduría?

Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

9 ¿ Qué sabes tú que nosotros no sepamos? ¿ Qué entiendes tú que nosotros no entendamos ?

What do you know, that we don’t know? What do you understand, which is not in us?

10 T ambién entre nosotros hay canosos y ancianos de más edad que tu padre.

With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much elder than your father.

11 ¿ Te parecen poco los consuelos de Dios, y la palabra hablada a ti con dulzura?

Are the consolations of God too small for you, even the word that is gentle toward you?

12 ¿ Por qué te arrebata el corazón, y por qué centellean tus ojos,

Why does your heart carry you away? Why do your eyes flash,

13 p ara volver tu espíritu contra Dios y dejar salir de tu boca tales palabras?

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

14 ¿ Qué es el hombre para que sea puro, o el nacido de mujer para que sea justo ?

What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15 H e aquí, Dios no confía en sus santos, y ni los cielos son puros ante sus ojos;

Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones. Yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight;

16 ¡ cuánto menos el hombre, un ser abominable y corrompido, que bebe como agua la iniquidad!

how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!

17 Y o te mostraré, escúchame, y te contaré lo que he visto;

“I will show you, listen to me; that which I have seen I will declare:

18 l o que los sabios han dado a conocer, sin ocultar nada de sus padres;

(Which wise men have told by their fathers, and have not hidden it;

19 a ellos solos se les dio la tierra, y ningún extranjero pasó entre ellos.

to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them):

20 T odos sus días el impío se retuerce de dolor, y contados están los años reservados para el tirano.

the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

21 R uidos de espanto hay en sus oídos, mientras está en paz, el destructor viene sobre él.

A sound of terrors is in his ears. In prosperity the destroyer shall come on him.

22 E l no cree que volverá de las tinieblas, y que está destinado para la espada.

He doesn’t believe that he shall return out of darkness. He is waited for by the sword.

23 V aga en busca de pan, diciendo: “¿Dónde está?” Sabe que es inminente el día de las tinieblas.

He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24 L a ansiedad y la angustia lo aterran, lo dominan como rey dispuesto para el ataque;

Distress and anguish make him afraid. They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

25 p orque él ha extendido su mano contra Dios, y se porta con soberbia contra el Todopoderoso.

Because he has stretched out his hand against God, and behaves himself proudly against the Almighty;

26 C orre contra El con cuello erguido, con su escudo macizo;

he runs at him with a stiff neck, with the thick shields of his bucklers;

27 p orque ha cubierto su rostro de grosura, se le han hecho pliegues de grasa sobre sus lomos,

because he has covered his face with his fatness, and gathered fat on his thighs.

28 y ha vivido en ciudades desoladas, en casas inhabitables, destinadas a convertirse en ruinas.

He has lived in desolate cities, in houses which no one inhabited, which were ready to become heaps.

29 N o se enriquecerá, ni sus bienes perdurarán, ni su espiga se inclinará a tierra.

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.

30 N o escapará de las tinieblas, secará la llama sus renuevos, y por el soplo de su boca desaparecerá.

He shall not depart out of darkness. The flame shall dry up his branches. By the breath of God’s mouth shall he go away.

31 Q ue no confíe en la vanidad, engañándose a sí mismo, pues vanidad será su recompensa.

Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; for emptiness shall be his reward.

32 A ntes de su tiempo se cumplirá, y la hoja de su palmera no reverdecerá.

It shall be accomplished before his time. His branch shall not be green.

33 D ejará caer su agraz como la vid, y como el olivo arrojará su flor.

He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive tree.

34 P orque estéril es la compañía de los impíos, y el fuego consume las tiendas del corrupto.

For the company of the godless shall be barren, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

35 C onciben malicia, dan a luz iniquidad, y en su mente traman engaño.

They conceive mischief, and produce iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit.”