1 T hen Job spoke again and said,

Job retomó la palabra y dijo:

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

«¡Cómo quisiera volver a los tiempos pasados, a los días en que Dios me brindaba protección;

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

días en que su lámpara brillaba sobre mí, días en que a su luz andaba yo en la oscuridad,

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

cuando estaba yo en la flor de mi vida y el favor de Dios reposaba en mi hogar.

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

En aquel tiempo, el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, y mis hijos estaban en derredor mío;

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

me daba entonces el lujo de chapotear en leche, y de extraer de las piedras torrentes de aceite;

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

cuando salía yo a las puertas de la ciudad, me cedían un lugar para impartir justicia.

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

Los jóvenes, al verme, me cedían el paso, y los ancianos me recibían de pie.

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

La gente importante se quedaba callada, y con respeto se tapaban la boca.

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

A pesar de ser poderosos, guardaban silencio, como si la lengua se les quedara pegada.

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

“Bienaventurado”, me decían al escucharme, y los que me veían lo confirmaban.

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.

»Y es que yo atendía el clamor de los pobres, y ayudaba a los huérfanos sin protección.

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.

Los que estaban por morir me bendecían; a las viudas les alegraba el corazón.

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

La justicia caracterizaba mis actos; la justicia me cubría: era mi atuendo.

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

Para los ciegos, yo era sus ojos; para los cojos, yo era sus pies;

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

para los pobres, yo era su padre; para los extranjeros, yo era su defensor.

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

Yo aplacaba la furia de los malvados, y a sus víctimas las libraba de su poder.

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

Creía yo que moriría en mi lecho, y que tendría muchos años de vida.

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.

Creí ser como un árbol plantado junto al agua, con verdes ramas, bañadas de rocío;

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

Creí también que podría ser más rico, y que en mis manos mi poder iría en aumento.

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

»Cuando yo hablaba, todo el mundo callaba y esperaba a escuchar mis consejos.

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

Nadie contradecía mis advertencias, sino que aceptaban con gusto mis razones.

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

Se quedaban a la espera de mis palabras, como tierra seca en espera de las lluvias tardías.

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

Apenas podían creer que yo les sonriera; y no se perdían una sola de mis sonrisas.

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.

Yo decidía lo que tenían que hacer, y en la mesa yo ocupaba la cabecera; era como un rey al frente de su ejército, ¡como alguien que consuela a los que lloran!