1 “ Por tanto, Job, oye ahora mi discurso, Y presta atención a todas mis palabras.

Be that as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

2 A hora abro mi boca, En mi paladar habla mi lengua.

Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

3 M is palabras proceden de la rectitud de mi corazón, Y con sinceridad mis labios hablan lo que saben.

My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

4 E l Espíritu de Dios me ha hecho, Y el aliento del Todopoderoso (Shaddai) me da vida.

the Spirit of God that made me, and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life.

5 C ontradíceme si puedes; Colócate delante de mí, ponte en pie.

Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6 Y o, al igual que tú, pertenezco a Dios; Del barro yo también he sido formado.

Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay.

7 M i temor no te debe espantar, Ni mi mano agravarse sobre ti.

See my terror; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

8 C iertamente has hablado a oídos míos, Y el sonido de tus palabras he oído:

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

9 ‘ Yo soy limpio, sin transgresión; Soy inocente y en mí no hay culpa.

I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

10 D ios busca pretextos contra mí; Me tiene como Su enemigo.

But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.

11 P one mis pies en el cepo; Vigila todas mis sendas.’

He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.

12 P ero déjame decirte que no tienes razón en esto, Porque Dios es más grande que el hombre.

I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.

13 ¿ Por qué te quejas contra El, Diciendo que no da cuenta de todas Sus acciones ?

Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions.

14 C iertamente Dios habla una vez, Y otra vez, pero nadie se da cuenta de ello.

For God speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it.

15 E n un sueño, en una visión nocturna, Cuando un sueño profundo cae sobre los hombres, Mientras dormitan en sus lechos,

in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,

16 E ntonces El abre el oído de los hombres, Y sella su instrucción,

Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction,

17 P ara apartar al hombre de sus obras, Y del orgullo guardarlo;

That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him.

18 L ibra su alma de la fosa Y su vida de pasar al Seol (región de los muertos).

He holds him back from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 E l hombre es castigado también con dolor en su lecho, Y con queja continua en sus huesos,

he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,

20 P ara que su vida aborrezca el pan, Y su alma el alimento favorito.

So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes.

21 S u carne desaparece a la vista, Y sus huesos que no se veían, aparecen.

His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 E ntonces su alma se acerca a la fosa, Y su vida a los que causan la muerte.

Yes, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).

23 S i hay un ángel que sea su mediador, Uno entre mil, Para declarar al hombre lo que es bueno para él,

if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

24 Y que tenga piedad de él, y diga: ‘Líbralo de descender a la fosa, He hallado su rescate ’;

Then is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!

25 Q ue su carne se vuelva más tierna que en su juventud, Que regrese a los días de su vigor juvenil.

flesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

26 E ntonces orará a Dios, y El lo aceptará, Para que vea con gozo Su rostro, Y restaure Su justicia al hombre.

He prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God—with its joys).

27 C antará él a los hombres y dirá: ‘He pecado y pervertido lo que es justo, Y no es apropiado para mí.

He looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me!

28 E l ha redimido mi alma de descender a la fosa, Y mi vida verá la luz.’

has redeemed my life from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light!

29 D ios hace todo esto con frecuencia a los hombres,

Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,

30 P ara rescatar su alma de la fosa, Para que sea iluminado con la luz de la vida.

To bring back his life from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 P on atención, Job, escúchame; Guarda silencio y déjame hablar.

Give heed, O Job, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will speak.

32 S i algo tienes que decir, respóndeme; Habla, porque deseo justificarte.

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 S i no, escúchame; Pon atención y te enseñaré sabiduría.”

If not, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.