1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

Entonces respondió Elifaz temanita, y dijo:

2 “ Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind?

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

3 “ Should he argue with useless talk, Or with words which are not profitable?

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

4 “ Indeed, you do away with reverence And hinder meditation before God.

Ciertamente, tú rechazas el temor, e impides la meditación delante de Dios.

5 “ For your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of the crafty.

Porque tu iniquidad enseña a tu boca, y escoges el lenguaje de los astutos.

6 “ Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you.

Tu propia boca, y no yo, te condena, y tus propios labios testifican contra ti.

7 “ Were you the first man to be born, Or were you brought forth before the hills?

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

8 “ Do you hear the secret counsel of God, And limit wisdom to yourself?

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

9 “ What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that we do not?

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

10 “ Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older than your father.

También entre nosotros hay canosos y ancianos de más edad que tu padre.

11 “ Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even the word spoken gently with you?

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

12 “ Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,

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

13 T hat you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth?

para volver tu espíritu contra Dios y dejar salir de tu boca tales palabras?

14 “ What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

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

15 “ Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight;

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

16 H ow much less one who is detestable and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like water! What Eliphaz Has Seen of Life

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

17 “ I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare;

Yo te mostraré, escúchame, y te contaré lo que he visto;

18 W hat wise men have told, And have not concealed from their fathers,

lo que los sabios han dado a conocer, sin ocultar nada de sus padres;

19 T o whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them.

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

20 “ The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless.

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

21 “ Sounds of terror are in his ears; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him.

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

22 “ He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.

El no cree que volverá de las tinieblas, y que está destinado para la espada.

23 “ He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is at hand.

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

24 “ Distress and anguish terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for the attack,

La ansiedad y la angustia lo aterran, lo dominan como rey dispuesto para el ataque;

25 B ecause he has stretched out his hand against God And conducts himself arrogantly against the Almighty.

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

26 “ He rushes headlong at Him With his massive shield.

Corre contra El con cuello erguido, con su escudo macizo;

27 “ For he has covered his face with his fat And made his thighs heavy with flesh.

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

28 “ He has lived in desolate cities, In houses no one would inhabit, Which are destined to become ruins.

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

29 “ He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend down to the ground.

No se enriquecerá, ni sus bienes perdurarán, ni su espiga se inclinará a tierra.

30 “ He will not escape from darkness; The flame will wither his shoots, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.

No escapará de las tinieblas, secará la llama sus renuevos, y por el soplo de su boca desaparecerá.

31 “ Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward.

Que no confíe en la vanidad, engañándose a sí mismo, pues vanidad será su recompensa.

32 “ It will be accomplished before his time, And his palm branch will not be green.

Antes de su tiempo se cumplirá, y la hoja de su palmera no reverdecerá.

33 “ He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine, And will cast off his flower like the olive tree.

Dejará caer su agraz como la vid, y como el olivo arrojará su flor.

34 “ For the company of the godless is barren, And fire consumes the tents of the corrupt.

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

35 “ They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, And their mind prepares deception.”

Conciben malicia, dan a luz iniquidad, y en su mente traman engaño.