1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Entonces respondió Elifaz temanita, y dijo:

2 “ Should a wise man answer with learning that is of no worth, and fill himself with the east wind?

¿Debe responder un sabio con hueca sabiduría y llenarse de viento solano ?

3 S hould he argue with talk that will not help, or with words that do no good?

¿Debe argumentar con razones inútiles o con palabras sin provecho?

4 F or sure you are doing away with the fear of the Lord. You are stopping the quiet worship of God.

Ciertamente, tú rechazas el temor, e impides la meditación delante de Dios.

5 Y ou show your sin by what you say. You are trying to hide behind your words.

Porque tu iniquidad enseña a tu boca, y escoges el lenguaje de los astutos.

6 Y our own mouth says you are guilty, and not I. Your own lips speak against you.

Tu propia boca, y no yo, te condena, y tus propios labios testifican contra ti.

7 “ Were you the first man to be born? Or were you made before the hills?

¿Fuiste tú el primer hombre en nacer, o fuiste dado a luz antes que las colinas ?

8 W ere you there to hear the secret plans of God? Are you the only one who has wisdom?

¿Oyes tú el secreto de Dios, y retienes para ti la sabiduría?

9 W hat do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

¿Qué sabes tú que nosotros no sepamos? ¿ Qué entiendes tú que nosotros no entendamos ?

10 M en whose hair has grown white and those who have lived many years are among us. They are older than your father.

También entre nosotros hay canosos y ancianos de más edad que tu padre.

11 A re the gentle words spoken to you, which give comfort from God, too little for you?

¿Te parecen poco los consuelos de Dios, y la palabra hablada a ti con dulzura?

12 W hy does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes shine,

¿Por qué te arrebata el corazón, y por qué centellean tus ojos,

13 t hat you turn your spirit against God and let such words go out of your mouth?

para volver tu espíritu contra Dios y dejar salir de tu boca tales palabras?

14 W hat is man, that he can be pure, or he who is born of a woman, that he can be right and good?

¿Qué es el hombre para que sea puro, o el nacido de mujer para que sea justo ?

15 S ee, God puts no trust in His holy ones. The heavens are not pure in His eyes.

He aquí, Dios no confía en sus santos, y ni los cielos son puros ante sus ojos;

16 H ow much less one who is hated and sinful, a man who drinks sin like water!

¡cuánto menos el hombre, un ser abominable y corrompido, que bebe como agua la iniquidad!

17 “ I will tell you, listen to me. I will make known what I have seen,

Yo te mostraré, escúchame, y te contaré lo que he visto;

18 w hat wise men have told that they learned from their fathers. They have not hidden anything.

lo que los sabios han dado a conocer, sin ocultar nada de sus padres;

19 T hese were the ones to whom the land was given, and no stranger passed among them.

a ellos solos se les dio la tierra, y ningún extranjero pasó entre ellos.

20 T he sinful man suffers in pain all his days. His years are numbered because of all his sin.

Todos sus días el impío se retuerce de dolor, y contados están los años reservados para el tirano.

21 S ounds of fear are in his ears. When all seems to be going well, the one who destroys will come upon him.

Ruidos de espanto hay en sus oídos, mientras está en paz, el destructor viene sobre él.

22 H e does not believe that he will be taken away from darkness, and the sword is meant for him.

El no cree que volverá de las tinieblas, y que está destinado para la espada.

23 H e goes to look for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is near.

Vaga en busca de pan, diciendo: “¿Dónde está?” Sabe que es inminente el día de las tinieblas.

24 T rouble and pain fill him with fear. They have power over him like a king ready for battle.

La ansiedad y la angustia lo aterran, lo dominan como rey dispuesto para el ataque;

25 H e has put out his hand against God, and is full of pride against the All-powerful.

porque él ha extendido su mano contra Dios, y se porta con soberbia contra el Todopoderoso.

26 H e rushes in pride against Him with his big battle-covering.

Corre contra El con cuello erguido, con su escudo macizo;

27 H is face is fat, and his thighs are heavy with fat.

porque ha cubierto su rostro de grosura, se le han hecho pliegues de grasa sobre sus lomos,

28 H e has lived in cities that have been laid waste, in houses where no one lives which will be destroyed.

y ha vivido en ciudades desoladas, en casas inhabitables, destinadas a convertirse en ruinas.

29 H e will no longer be rich, and what he has will not last. His grain will come to nothing.

No se enriquecerá, ni sus bienes perdurarán, ni su espiga se inclinará a tierra.

30 H e will not get away from darkness. The fire will dry up his branches, and the breath of God’s mouth will drive him away.

No escapará de las tinieblas, secará la llama sus renuevos, y por el soplo de su boca desaparecerá.

31 L et him not lie to himself and trust in what is empty. For what is empty will be his reward.

Que no confíe en la vanidad, engañándose a sí mismo, pues vanidad será su recompensa.

32 I t will be paid in full while he still lives, and his branch will not be green.

Antes de su tiempo se cumplirá, y la hoja de su palmera no reverdecerá.

33 H e will be like the vine that drops off its grapes before they are ready. And he will throw off his flower like the olive tree.

Dejará caer su agraz como la vid, y como el olivo arrojará su flor.

34 T hose who visit the sinful bring no fruit. And fire destroys the tents of those who do wrong.

Porque estéril es la compañía de los impíos, y el fuego consume las tiendas del corrupto.

35 T hey give birth to trouble and bring sin. Their minds plan lies.”

Conciben malicia, dan a luz iniquidad, y en su mente traman engaño.