1 “ Pero ahora se burlan de mí Los que son más jóvenes que yo, A cuyos padres no consideraba yo dignos De poner con los perros de mi ganado.

But now they who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

2 E n verdad, la fuerza de sus manos ¿de qué me servía? Había desaparecido de ellos el vigor.

Yes, how could the strength of their hands profit me? They were men whose ripe age and vigor had perished.

3 D e miseria y hambre estaban extenuados; Roían la tierra seca de noche en desierto y desolación;

They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the dry and barren ground or flee into the wilderness, into the gloom of wasteness and desolation.

4 A rrancaban malvas junto a los matorrales, Y raíz de retama era su alimento.

They pluck saltwort or mallows among the bushes, and roots of the broom for their food or to warm them.

5 D e la comunidad fueron expulsados, Gritaban contra ellos como contra un ladrón.

They are driven from among men, who shout after them as after a thief.

6 M oraban en valles de terror, En las cuevas de la tierra y de las peñas.

They must dwell in the clefts of frightful valleys (gullies made by torrents) and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.

7 E ntre los matorrales clamaban; Bajo las ortigas se reunían.

Among the bushes they bray and howl; beneath the prickly scrub they fling themselves and huddle together.

8 N ecios, sí, hijos sin nombre, Echados a latigazos de la tierra.

Sons of the worthless and nameless, they have been scourged and crushed out of the land.

9 Y ahora he venido a ser su escarnio, Y soy para ellos motivo de burla.

And now I have become their song; yes, I am a byword to them.

10 M e aborrecen y se alejan de mí, Y no se retraen de escupirme a la cara.

They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and do not refrain from spitting in my face or at the sight of me.

11 P or cuanto El ha aflojado la cuerda de Su arco y me ha afligido, Se han quitado el freno delante de mí.

For God has loosed my bowstring and afflicted and humbled me; they have cast off the bridle before me.

12 A mi derecha se levanta el populacho, Arrojan lazos a mis pies Y preparan contra mí sus caminos de destrucción.

On my right hand rises the rabble brood; they jostle me and push away my feet, and they cast up against me their ways of destruction.

13 A rruinan mi senda, A causa de mi destrucción se benefician, Nadie los detiene.

They break up and clutter my path; they urge on my calamity, even though they have no helper.

14 C omo por ancha brecha vienen, En medio de la tempestad siguen rodando.

As through a wide breach they come in; amid the crash they roll themselves upon me.

15 C ontra mí se vuelven los terrores, Como el viento persiguen mi honor, Y como nube se ha disipado mi prosperidad.

Terrors are turned upon me; my honor and reputation they chase away like the wind, and my welfare has passed away as a cloud.

16 Y ahora en mí se derrama mi alma; Días de aflicción se han apoderado de mí.

And now my life is poured out within me; the days of affliction have gripped me.

17 D e noche El traspasa mis huesos dentro de mí, Y los dolores que me corroen no descansan.

My bones are pierced in the night season, and the pains that gnaw me take no rest.

18 U na gran fuerza deforma mi vestidura, Me aprieta como el cuello de mi túnica.

By the great force my garment is disguised and disfigured; it binds me about like the collar of my coat.

19 E l me ha arrojado al lodo, Y soy como el polvo y la ceniza.

has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.

20 C lamo a Ti, y no me respondes; Me pongo en pie, y no me prestas atención.

I cry to You, and You do not answer me; I stand up, but You gaze at me.

21 T e has vuelto cruel conmigo, Con el poder de Tu mano me persigues.

You have become harsh and cruel to me; with the might of Your hand You persecute me.

22 M e alzas al viento, me haces cabalgar en él, Y me deshaces en la tempestad.

You lift me up on the wind; You cause me to ride upon it, and You toss me about in the tempest.

23 P ues sé que a la muerte me llevarás, A la casa de reunión de todos los vivientes.

For I know that You will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all the living.

24 S in embargo ¿no extiende la mano el que está en un montón de ruinas, Cuando clama en su calamidad ?

However, does not one falling in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand? Or in his calamity will he not therefore cry for help?

25 ¿ No he llorado por aquél cuya vida es difícil ? ¿No se angustió mi alma por el necesitado ?

Did not I weep for him who was in trouble? Was not my heart grieved for the poor and needy?

26 C uando esperaba yo el bien, vino el mal, Cuando esperaba la luz, vino la oscuridad.

But when I looked for good, then evil came to me; and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

27 P or dentro me hierven las entrañas, y no puedo descansar; Me vienen al encuentro días de aflicción.

My heart is troubled and does not rest; days of affliction come to meet me.

28 A ndo enlutado, sin consuelo; Me levanto en la asamblea y clamo.

I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the congregation and cry for help.

29 H e venido a ser hermano de chacales Y compañero de avestruces.

I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.

30 M i piel se ennegrece sobre mí, Y mis huesos se queman por la fiebre.

My skin falls from me in blackened flakes, and my bones are burned with heat.

31 S e ha convertido en duelo mi arpa, Y mi flauta en voz de los que lloran.

Therefore my lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.