1 “ I have made an agreement with my eyes not to look with desire at a young woman.

»Hice un compromiso con mis ojos de no poner la mirada en ninguna doncella.

2 W hat would be my share from God above? What would my gift be from the All-powerful on high?

¿Cómo podría Dios premiarme por eso? ¿Qué me daría el Todopoderoso en las alturas?

3 D oes not trouble come to those who are not right and good? Do not hard times come to those who do wrong?

¿Acaso él no castiga a los malvados? ¿Acaso no hay dolor para los malhechores?

4 D oes He not see my ways and number all my steps?

¿Acaso Dios no vigila mis pasos y se fija en todo lo que hago?

5 “ If I have walked in ways that are false, and my foot has been quick to follow false ways,

»Si acaso me he conducido con mentira, o me he apresurado a engañar a todo el mundo,

6 l et Him weigh me with a true weight. Let God know that I am honest.

que Dios me pese en su balanza, para que compruebe que soy inocente.

7 I f my step has turned from the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, or if my hands have held on to sin,

Si acaso me he apartado del camino, y permití que mis ojos guiaran mis sentidos; o dejé que mis manos tomaran algo ajeno,

8 t hen let me plant and another eat. Let what grows be pulled out by the roots.

¡que otro coseche lo que yo siembre, y que mis siembras sean desarraigadas!

9 “ If my heart has been tempted by a woman, or I have waited at my neighbor’s door,

»Si me dejé seducir por la mujer ajena, y esperé a que mi prójimo saliera de su casa,

10 m ay my wife grind grain for another. And let others bow down upon her.

¡que mi esposa cocine para otro, y que otros hombres la posean!

11 F or that would be a very sinful thing to do. It would be a sin that would be punished by the judges.

Esos actos son malvados, son inicuos, y deben ser castigados por los jueces.

12 F or that would be a fire that burns at the Place That Destroys. It would dig out all I have planted.

Son un fuego que consume hasta el sepulcro, y que acabaría con todas mis posesiones.

13 “ If I did not listen to my men servants and women servants when they complained against me,

»Si no hubiera atendido a mi siervo y a mi sierva cuando me reclamaban que les hiciera justicia,

14 w hat will I do when God speaks to me? When He asks me why, what will I answer Him?

¿con qué cara podría presentarme ante Dios, y responderle cuando me preguntara por ellos?

15 D id not He Who made me inside my mother make him also? Did not the same One give us life from our mothers?

¡El mismo Dios nos dio vida en el vientre! ¡A ellos y a mí nos dio forma en la matriz!

16 “ If I have kept what the poor should have or have caused the eyes of the woman whose husband has died to be tired,

»¿Acaso impedí la felicidad del pobre, o dejé que las viudas desfallecieran de hambre?

17 i f I have eaten my food alone without sharing it with the child who has no parents,

¿Acaso me aparté para comer a solas, para no compartir mi pan con los huérfanos?

18 ( but from the time I was young, he grew up with me as a father, and I have helped the woman without a husband since I was born,)

¡Más bien, para los huérfanos fui un padre, y protegí a las viudas como a mi propia madre!

19 i f I have seen anyone die because he had no clothing, or left any poor person without clothes,

»¿Acaso vi a alguien totalmente desnudo, y dejé al pobre sin un abrigo con qué cubrirse?

20 i f he has not thanked me for the clothing on his body, and been made warm with the wool of my sheep,

¡Más bien, me bendijo de todo corazón cuando entró en calor con mis vestidos de lana!

21 i f I have not done these things, or if I have lifted up my hand against the child who has no parents, because I saw I had help in the gate,

»Jamás alcé mi mano contra el huérfano, cuando estuvo en mi mano impartir justicia.

22 l et my shoulder fall out of place, and let my arm be broken off at the joint.

¡Que se me zafen los brazos sin miento! ¡Que se me rompan los huesos del brazo!

23 F or trouble sent by God fills me with fear. Because of His great power I could not do these things.

¡Siempre he sido temeroso de Dios! ¡Ante su gran poder, nada puedo hacer!

24 “ If I have put my faith in gold and said fine gold is my trust,

»Jamás puse mi esperanza en las riquezas, ni deposité en el oro toda mi confianza.

25 i f I have had pride because of my many riches and have received much by my hand,

Jamás me alegré de que mis posesiones aumentaran por el buen trabajo de mis manos.

26 i f I have looked at the sun shining or the bright moon going on its way,

Jamás disfruté del sol radiante, ni de las bellas noches de luna,

27 a nd have in secret worshiped them in my heart, and have honored them by throwing them a kiss with my hand,

con la idea de adorarlos en secreto y de enviarles un beso con la mano.

28 t hese also would be sins to be judged. It would say I did not know the God above.

¡Eso hubiera sido un gran pecado, pues habría pecado contra el Dios Altísimo!

29 “ Have I been glad when a person who hated me was destroyed? Have I been filled with joy when trouble came to him?

Jamás me alegré al ver caer a mi enemigo, ni me regocijé cuando le sobrevino el mal.

30 N o, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life to be cursed.

Jamás le pedi a Dios maldecir a alguno; para no pecar, prefería quedarme callado.

31 H ave the men of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat’?

Jamás permití que mis siervos abusaran de alguno de mis huéspedes.

32 T he stranger has not stayed in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler.

Jamás un extranjero que llamó a mi puerta pasó la noche fuera de mi casa.

33 H ave I hidden my sins like Adam? Have I hidden my wrong-doing in my heart,

»Si acaso como humano encubrí mis faltas, si guardé el secreto de mi maldad,

34 b ecause I was afraid of all the people, and of families who hated me? Did I keep quiet and not go out of the door?

fue por temor al desprecio de los nobles y a lo que el pueblo pensara de mí; pero guardé silencio y no salí de mi casa.

35 I f only I had one to hear me! See, here my name is written. Let the All-powerful answer me! May what is against me be written down!

»¡Cómo quisiera que alguien me escuchara! Aunque mi enemigo me someta a juicio, confío en que el Todopoderoso hablará por mí.

36 F or sure I would carry it on my shoulder. I would tie it around my head like a crown.

Con mucho gusto aceptaré su juicio; con mucho gusto lo portaré como corona.

37 I would tell Him the number of my every step. I would come near Him like a prince.

Le daré cuenta de todas mis acciones, y me presentaré ante él, orgulloso como un príncipe.

38 “ If my land cries out against me and the ditches made by the plow cry together,

»Si mis tierras hablan contra mí, y lloran de dolor por lo que les hice;

39 i f I have eaten its fruit without paying for it, and caused its owners to die,

si saqué provecho de ellas, sin retribución, o me aproveché de la bondad de sus dueños,

40 l et thorns grow instead of grain. And let weeds with a bad smell grow instead of barley.” The words of Job are finished.

¡que en lugar de trigo me rindan abrojos! ¡Que me den espinos en lugar de cebada!» Aquí terminan los discursos de Job.