1 T hen Job spoke again and said,

Y reanudó Job su discurso, y dijo:

2 “ If only I could be now as I was in the months past when God watched over me!

“¡Quién me diera volver a ser como en meses pasados, Como en los días en que Dios velaba sobre mí;

3 H is lamp shined over my head then and by His light I walked through darkness.

Cuando Su lámpara resplandecía sobre mi cabeza, Y a Su luz caminaba yo en las tinieblas;

4 T hose days were my best days when God was my friend watching over my tent.

Como era yo en los días de mi juventud, Cuando el favor de Dios estaba sobre mi tienda;

5 T he All-powerful was still with me, and my children were around me.

Cuando el Todopoderoso (Shaddai) estaba aún conmigo, Y mis hijos en derredor mío;

6 M y path was washed with milk, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me.

Cuando en leche se bañaban mis pies, Y la roca me derramaba ríos de aceite!

7 W hen I went to the city gate and took my place with the leaders of the city,

Cuando yo salía a la puerta de la ciudad, Cuando en la plaza tomaba mi asiento,

8 t he young men saw me and let me go by. The old men rose and stood.

Me veían los jóvenes y se escondían, Y los ancianos se levantaban y permanecían en pie.

9 T he leaders stopped talking, and put their hands on their mouths.

Los príncipes dejaban de hablar Y ponían la mano sobre su boca;

10 T he voices of the rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths.

La voz de los nobles se apagaba, Y la lengua se les pegaba al paladar.

11 T hose who heard me, honored me. Those who saw me, respected me,

Porque el oído que oía me llamaba bienaventurado, Y el ojo que veía daba testimonio de mí;

12 b ecause I helped the poor man when he cried for help and the child without parents who had no one to help him.

Porque yo libraba al pobre que clamaba, Y al huérfano que no tenía quien lo ayudara.

13 G ood came to me from the man who was dying. And I made the heart of the woman whose husband had died sing for joy.

Venía sobre mí la bendición del que estaba a punto de perecer, Y el corazón de la viuda yo llenaba de gozo.

14 I put on what was right and good, and it clothed me. The right things done were my coat and head-covering.

De justicia me vestía, y ella me cubría; Como manto y turbante era mi derecho.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the man who could not walk.

Ojos era yo para el ciego, Y pies para el cojo.

16 I was a father to those in need. And I helped those I did not know who had a need.

Padre era para los necesitados, Y examinaba la causa que no conocía.

17 I broke the jaws of the sinful, and took from their teeth what they had taken.

Quebraba los colmillos del impío, Y de sus dientes arrancaba la presa.

18 T hen I thought, ‘I will die in my nest. My days will be as many as the sand.

Entonces pensaba: ‘En mi nido moriré, Y multiplicaré mis días como la arena.

19 M y roots go to the water. As the water is on the grass in the early morning, it will be all night on my branches.

Mi raíz se extiende hacia las aguas, Y el rocío se posa de noche en mi rama.

20 M y honor is always new to me, and my bow is new in my hand.’

Conmigo siempre es nueva mi gloria, Y mi arco en mi mano se renueva.’

21 “ Men listened to me and waited. They were quiet so they could hear my words of wisdom.

Me escuchaban y esperaban, Y guardaban silencio para oír mi consejo.

22 A fter I spoke, they did not speak again. My words stayed with them.

Después de mis palabras no hablaban de nuevo, Y sobre ellos caía gota a gota mi discurso.

23 T hey waited for me as for rain. And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

Me esperaban como a la lluvia, Y abrían su boca como a lluvia de primavera.

24 I looked at them with joy when they were not sure of themselves, and the light of my face gave them comfort.

Yo les sonreía cuando ellos no creían, Y no abatían la luz de mi rostro.

25 I decided the way for them and sat as their leader. I lived as a king among his army, and like one who gives comfort to those in sorrow.

Les escogía el camino y me sentaba como jefe, Y moraba como rey entre las tropas, Como el que consuela a los que lloran.