1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

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?

¿Proferirá el sabio vana sabiduría, Y llenará su vientre de viento solano?

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

¿Disputará con palabras sin sentido, Y con razones inútiles?

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

Tú incluso disipas el temor, Y menoscabas la oración delante de Dios.

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

Porque tu boca declaró tu iniquidad, Pues has escogido el lenguaje de los astutos.

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

Tu boca te condena, y no yo; Y tus labios testifican contra ti.

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

¿Naciste tú primero que Adán? ¿O fuiste formado antes que los collados?

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

¿Oíste tú el secreto de Dios, Y acaparas tú 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 no sepamos? ¿Qué entiendes tú que a nosotros se nos escape?

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

Cabezas canas y hombres muy ancianos hay entre nosotros, Mucho más avanzados en días que tu padre.

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

¿En tan poco tienes las consolaciones de Dios, Y las palabras que con dulzura se te dicen?

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

¿Por qué te arrebata tu 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 que contra Dios vuelvas tu enojo, Y saques tales palabras de tu boca?

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 cosa es el hombre para que se crea limpio, Y para que se vea inocente el nacido de mujer?

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

He aquí, en sus santos no confía, Y ni aun los cielos son limpios delante de sus ojos;

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

¿Cuánto menos el hombre abominable y vil, Que se bebe la iniquidad como agua?

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

Escúchame; yo te declararé, 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 nos contaron De sus padres, y no lo encubrieron;

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

A ellos solos fue dada la tierra, Y no pasó ningún extranjero por en medio de 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 es atormentado de dolor, Y el número de sus años está ya almacenado para el violento.

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

Estruendos espantosos resuenan en sus oídos; En medio de su prosperidad, el asolador vendrá sobre él.

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

Él no cree que volverá de las tinieblas, Y está indefenso 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 alrededor tras el pan, diciendo: ¿En dónde está? Sabe que le está preparado día de tinieblas.

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

Tribulación y angustia le turbarán, E irrumpirán contra él como un rey dispuesto para la batalla,

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

Por cuanto él extendió su mano contra Dios, Y se portó con soberbia contra el Todopoderoso.

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

Embistió contra él con cuello erguido, Tras la barrera de su escudo macizo.

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

Porque la gordura cubrió su rostro, E hizo pliegues de grasa sobre sus ijares;

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

Y ahora habita en ciudades asoladas, En casas inhabitadas, Que amenazan ruina.

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

No prosperará, ni durarán sus riquezas, Ni se llevará a la tumba sus posesiones.

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; El ardor del bochorno secará sus ramas, Y el viento barrerá sus flores.

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

No confíe el iluso en la vanidad, Porque ella será su recompensa.

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

Él será cortado antes de tiempo, Y sus renuevos no reverdecerán.

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.

Perderá su agraz como la vid, Y derramará su flor como el olivo.

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

Porque la congregación de los impíos será asolada, Y fuego consumirá las tiendas de soborno.

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

Concibieron maldad, dieron a luz iniquidad, Y en sus entrañas madura el engaño.