1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

Respondió Elifaz temanita, y dijo:

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

¿Proferirá el sabio vana sabiduría, Y llenará su vientre de viento solano?

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

¿Disputará con palabras inútiles, Y con razones sin provecho?

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

Tú también disipas el temor, Y menoscabas la oración delante de Dios.

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

Porque tu boca declaró tu iniquidad, Pues has escogido el hablar de los astutos.

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

Tu boca te condenará, y no yo; Y tus labios testificarán contra ti.

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

¿Naciste tú primero que Adán? ¿O fuiste formado antes que los collados?

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

¿Oíste tú el secreto de Dios, Y está limitada a 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 no sepamos? ¿Qué entiendes tú que no se halle en nosotros?

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

Cabezas canas y hombres muy ancianos hay entre nosotros, Mucho más avanzados en días que tu padre.

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

¿En tan poco tienes las consolaciones de Dios, Y las palabras que con dulzura se te dicen?

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

¿Por qué tu corazón te aleja, Y por qué guiñan tus ojos,

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

Para que contra Dios vuelvas tu espíritu, Y saques tales palabras de tu boca?

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

¿Qué cosa es el hombre para que sea limpio, Y para que se justifique el nacido de mujer?

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

He aquí, en sus santos no confía, Y ni aun los cielos son limpios delante de 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 abominable y vil, Que bebe la iniquidad como agua?

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

Escúchame; yo te mostraré, 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 nos contaron De sus padres, y no lo encubrieron;

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

A quienes únicamente fue dada la tierra, Y no pasó extraño por en medio de 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 es atormentado de dolor, Y el número de sus años está escondido para el violento.

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

Estruendos espantosos hay en sus oídos; En la prosperidad el asolador vendrá 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 descubierto está para la espada.

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

Vaga alrededor tras el pan, diciendo: ¿En dónde está? Sabe que le está preparado día de tinieblas.

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

Tribulación y angustia le turbarán, Y se esforzarán contra él como un rey dispuesto para la batalla,

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

Por cuanto él extendió su mano contra Dios, Y se portó con soberbia contra el Todopoderoso.

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

Corrió contra él con cuello erguido, Con la espesa barrera de sus escudos.

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

Porque la gordura cubrió su rostro, E hizo pliegues sobre sus ijares;

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

Y habitó las ciudades asoladas, Las casas inhabitadas, Que estaban en ruinas.

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

No prosperará, ni durarán sus riquezas, Ni extenderá por la tierra su hermosura.

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; La llama secará sus ramas, Y con el aliento de su boca perecerá.

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

No confíe el iluso en la vanidad, Porque ella será su recompensa.

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

El será cortado antes de su tiempo, Y sus renuevos no reverdecerán.

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

Perderá su agraz como la vid, Y derramará su flor como el olivo.

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

Porque la congregación de los impíos será asolada, Y fuego consumirá las tiendas de soborno.

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

Concibieron dolor, dieron a luz iniquidad, Y en sus entrañas traman engaño.