1 E ntonces prosiguió Eliú, y dijo:

Elihu answered (continued his discourse) and said,

2 “ Oigan, sabios, mis palabras, Y ustedes los que saben, préstenme atención.

Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3 P orque el oído distingue las palabras, Como el paladar prueba la comida.

For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.

4 E scojamos para nosotros lo que es justo; Conozcamos entre nosotros lo que es bueno.

Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 P orque Job ha dicho: ‘Yo soy justo, Pero Dios me ha quitado mi derecho.

For Job has said, I am righteous, but God has taken away my right;

6 ‘ ¿He de mentir respecto a mi derecho ? Mi herida es incurable, sin haber yo cometido transgresión.’

Would I lie against my right? Yet, notwithstanding my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

7 ¿ Qué hombre es como Job, Que bebe el escarnio como agua,

What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing and scorning like water,

8 Q ue va en compañía de los que hacen iniquidad, Y anda con hombres perversos ?

Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men?

9 P orque ha dicho: ‘Nada gana el hombre Cuando se complace en Dios.’

For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God and consent to Him.

10 P or tanto, escúchenme, hombres de entendimiento. Lejos esté de Dios la iniquidad, Y del Todopoderoso (Shaddai) la maldad.

Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity.

11 P orque El paga al hombre conforme a su trabajo, Y retribuye a cada uno conforme a su conducta.

For according to the deeds of a man God will proportion his pay, and He will cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 C iertamente, Dios no obrará perversamente, Y el Todopoderoso no pervertirá el juicio.

Truly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 ¿ Quién Le dio autoridad sobre la tierra ? ¿Y quién ha puesto a Su cargo el mundo entero ?

Who put in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world?

14 S i El determinara hacerlo así, Si hiciera volver a sí mismo Su espíritu y Su aliento,

If should set His heart upon him and withdraw His spirit and His breath to Himself,

15 T oda carne (toda la humanidad) a una perecería, Y el hombre volvería al polvo.

All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

16 P ero si tienes inteligencia, oye esto, Escucha la voz de mis palabras.

If now you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

17 ¿ Gobernará el que aborrece la justicia ? ¿Y condenarás al Justo poderoso,

Is it possible that an enemy of right should govern? And will you condemn Him Who is just and mighty?

18 Q ue dice a un rey: ‘Indigno,’ A los nobles: ‘Perversos’;

Who says to a king, You are worthless and vile, or to princes and nobles, You are ungodly and evil?

19 Q ue no hace acepción de príncipes, Ni considera al rico sobre el pobre, Ya que todos son obra de Sus manos ?

is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of His hands.

20 E n un momento mueren, y a medianoche Se estremecen los pueblos y pasan, Y los poderosos son quitados sin esfuerzo.

In a moment they die; even at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no hand.

21 P orque Sus ojos observan los caminos del hombre, Y El ve todos sus pasos.

For eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.

22 N o hay tinieblas ni densa oscuridad Donde puedan esconderse los que hacen iniquidad.

There is no darkness nor thick gloom where the evildoers may hide themselves.

23 P orque El no necesita considerar más al hombre, Para que vaya ante Dios en juicio.

sets before man no appointed time, that he should appear before in judgment.

24 E l quebranta a los poderosos sin indagar, Y pone a otros en su lugar.

He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry and in ways past finding out and sets others in their stead.

25 P ues El conoce sus obras, De noche los derriba Y son aplastados.

Therefore He takes knowledge of their works, and He overturns them in the night, so that they are crushed and destroyed.

26 C omo a malvados los azota En un lugar público,

God strikes them down as wicked men in the open sight of beholders,

27 P orque se apartaron de seguirle, Y no consideraron ninguno de Sus caminos,

Because they turned aside from Him and would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,

28 H aciendo que el clamor del pobre llegara a El, Y que oyera el clamor de los afligidos.

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted.

29 C uando está quieto, ¿quién puede condenar lo ?; Y cuando esconde Su rostro, ¿quién puede contemplarlo?; Esto es, tanto nación como hombre,

When He gives quietness (peace and security from oppression), who then can condemn? When He hides His face, who then can behold Him, whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—

30 P ara que no gobiernen hombres impíos, Ni sean trampas para el pueblo.

That the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

31 P orque ¿ha dicho alguien a Dios: ‘He sufrido castigo, Ya no ofenderé más;

For has anyone said to God, I have borne my chastisement; I will not offend any more;

32 E nséñame lo que no veo; Si he obrado mal, No lo volveré a hacer ?’

Teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

33 ¿ Ha de retribuir El según tus condiciones, porque tú has rehusado? Porque tú tienes que escoger y no yo, Por tanto, declara lo que sabes.

Should recompense be as you will it, when you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; therefore say what is your truthful conclusion.

34 L os hombres entendidos me dirán, Y también el sabio que me oiga:

Men of understanding will tell me, indeed, every wise man who hears me,

35 ‘ Job habla sin conocimiento, Y sus palabras no tienen sabiduría.

That Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom and insight.

36 J ob debe ser juzgado hasta el límite, Porque responde como los hombres perversos.

he be tried to the end because of his answering like wicked men!

37 P orque a su pecado añade rebelión; Bate palmas entre nosotros, Y multiplica sus palabras contra Dios.’”

For he adds rebellion to his unacknowledged sin; he claps his hands among us, and he multiplies his words of accusation against God.