1 E ntonces respondió Job, y dijo:

¶ Then Job answered and said,

2 H e oído muchas cosas como éstas; consoladores gravosos sois todos vosotros.

Many times I have heard such things; miserable comforters are ye all.

3 ¿ No hay fin a las palabras vacías ? ¿O qué te provoca para que así respondas?

Shall vain words have an end? Or what is it that emboldens thee to answer?

4 Y o también hablaría como vosotros, si vuestra alma estuviera en lugar de mi alma. Podría hilvanar palabras contra vosotros, y mover ante vosotros la cabeza.

I also could speak as ye do. I wish your soul were in my soul’s stead, that I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

5 O s podría alentar con mi boca, y el consuelo de mis labios podría aliviar vuestro dolor.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would assuage the pain.

6 S i hablo, mi dolor no disminuye, y si callo, no se aparta de mí.

¶ Though if I speak, my pain does not cease; and if I forbear to speak, it does not depart from me.

7 P ero ahora El me ha agobiado; tú has asolado toda mi compañía,

But now he has made me weary; thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 y me has llenado de arrugas que en testigo se han convertido; mi flacura se levanta contra mí, testifica en mi cara.

And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.

9 S u ira me ha despedazado y me ha perseguido, contra mí El ha rechinado los dientes; mi adversario aguza los ojos contra mí.

His wrath has torn me and has been against me; he gnashed upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpened his eyes upon me.

10 H an abierto contra mí su boca, con injurias me han abofeteado; a una se aglutinan contra mí.

They have opened their mouth against me; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 D ios me entrega a los impíos, y me echa en manos de los malvados.

God has delivered me unto the liar, and in the hands of the wicked he has caused me to tremble.

12 E staba yo tranquilo, y El me sacudió, me agarró por la nuca y me hizo pedazos; también me hizo su blanco.

I was prosperous, but he has broken me asunder; he has taken me by my neck and shaken me to pieces and set me up for his mark.

13 M e rodean sus flechas, parte mis riñones sin compasión, derrama por tierra mi hiel.

His archers compassed me round about; he cleaved my kidneys asunder and did not spare; he poured out my gall upon the ground.

14 A bre en mí brecha tras brecha; arremete contra mí como un guerrero.

He broke me with breach upon breach; he ran upon me like a giant.

15 S obre mi piel he cosido cilicio, y he hundido en el polvo mi poder.

I have sewn sackcloth upon my skin and put dust over my head.

16 M i rostro está enrojecido por el llanto, y cubren mis párpados densa oscuridad,

My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death,

17 a unque no hay violencia en mis manos, y es pura mi oración.

¶ even though there is no injustice in my hands, and my prayer has been pure.

18 ¡ Oh tierra, no cubras mi sangre, y no haya lugar para mi clamor!

O earth, do not cover my blood; and let there be no place where my cry is hidden.

19 H e aquí, aun ahora mi testigo está en el cielo, y mi defensor está en las alturas.

Certainly my witness is even now in the heavens, and my record is on high.

20 M is amigos son mis escarnecedores; mis ojos lloran a Dios.

Those who dispute with me are my friends, but my eyes shall pour out tears unto God.

21 ¡ Ah, si un hombre pudiera argüir con Dios como un hombre con su vecino!

O that a man might dispute with God, as he can with his neighbour!

22 P orque cuando hayan pasado unos pocos años, me iré por el camino sin retorno.

When the counted years are come, then I shall go the way from which I shall not return.