1 E ntonces Elifaz, el Temanita respondió:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 “ ¿Puede un hombre ser útil a Dios, O un sabio útil para sí mismo?

Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he that is wise is profitable to himself.

3 ¿ Es de algún beneficio al Todopoderoso (Shaddai) que tú seas justo, O gana algo si haces perfectos tus caminos?

Is it any pleasure or advantage to the Almighty that you are righteous (upright and in right standing with Him)? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways perfect?

4 ¿ Es a causa de tu piedad que El te reprende, Que entra en juicio contigo ?

Is it for your fear of Him that He reproves you, that He enters with you into judgment?

5 ¿ No es grande tu maldad, Y sin fin tus iniquidades ?

Is not your wickedness great? There is no end to your iniquities.

6 P orque sin razón tomabas prendas de tus hermanos, Y has despojado de sus ropas a los desnudos.

For you have taken pledges of your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 N o dabas a beber agua al cansado, Y le negabas pan al hambriento.

You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 P ero la tierra es del poderoso, Y el privilegiado mora en ella.

But the man with power possessed the land, and the favored and accepted man dwelt in it.

9 D espedías a las viudas con las manos vacías Y quebrabas los brazos de los huérfanos.

You have sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 P or eso te rodean lazos, Y te aterra temor repentino,

Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles and overwhelms you;

11 O tinieblas, y no puedes ver, Y abundancia de agua te cubre.

Your light is darkened, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

12 ¿ No está Dios en lo alto de los cielos ? Mira también las más lejanas estrellas, ¡cuán altas están!

Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 Y tú dices: ‘¿Qué sabe Dios ? ¿Puede El juzgar a través de las densas tinieblas?

Therefore you say, How and what does God know ? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

14 L as nubes Lo ocultan, y no puede ver, Y se pasea por la bóveda del cielo.’

Thick clouds are a covering to Him, so that He does not see, and He walks on the vault of the heavens.

15 ¿ Seguirás en la senda antigua En que anduvieron los hombres malvados,

Will you pay attention and keep to the old way that wicked men trod,

16 Q ue fueron arrebatados antes de su tiempo, Y cuyos cimientos fueron arrasados por un río ?

Men who were snatched away before their time, whose foundations were poured out like a stream ?

17 E llos dijeron a Dios: ‘Apártate de nosotros’ Y: ‘¿Qué puede hacernos el Todopoderoso ?’

They said to God, Depart from us, and, What can the Almighty do for or to us?

18 E l había llenado de bienes sus casas, Pero el consejo de los malos está lejos de mí.

Yet He filled their houses with good. But the counsel of the ungodly is far from me.

19 L os justos ven y se alegran, Y el inocente se burla de ellos,

The righteous see it and are glad; and the innocent laugh them to scorn,

20 D iciendo: ‘Ciertamente nuestros adversarios han sido destruidos, Y el fuego ha consumido su abundancia.’

Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, and that which remained to them the fire has consumed.

21 C ede ahora y haz la paz con El, Así te vendrá el bien.

Acquaint now yourself with Him and be at peace; by that good shall come to you.

22 R ecibe, te ruego, la instrucción (la ley) de Su boca, Y pon Sus palabras en tu corazón.

Receive, I pray you, the law and instruction from His mouth and lay up His words in your heart.

23 S i vuelves al Todopoderoso, serás restaurado (edificado). Si alejas de tu tienda la injusticia,

If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents,

24 Y pones tu oro en el polvo, Y el oro de Ofir entre las piedras de los arroyos,

If you lay gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brook,

25 E l Todopoderoso será para ti tu oro Y tu plata escogida.

And make the Almighty your gold and your precious silver treasure,

26 P orque entonces te deleitarás en el Todopoderoso, Y alzarás a Dios tu rostro.

Then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.

27 O rarás a El y te escuchará, Y cumplirás tus votos.

You will make your prayer to Him, and He will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

28 D ecidirás una cosa, y se te cumplirá, Y en tus caminos resplandecerá la luz.

You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light shall shine upon your ways.

29 C uando estés abatido, hablarás con confianza Y El salvará al humilde.

When they make low, you will say, a lifting up; and the humble person He lifts up and saves.

30 E l librará aun al que no es inocente, Que será librado por la pureza de tus manos.”

He will even deliver the one who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.