1 Y RESPONDIO Eliphaz Temanita, y dijo:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 ¿ Traerá el hombre provecho á Dios, Porque el sabio sea provechoso á sí mismo?

“Can a man be of use to God? Can a wise man be of use to himself?

3 ¿ Tiene su contentamiento el Omnipotente en que tú seas justificado, O provecho de que tú hagas perfectos tus caminos?

Is the All-powerful pleased if you are right and good? Is it of any use to Him if your ways were perfect?

4 ¿ Castigaráte acaso, O vendrá contigo á juicio porque te teme?

Is it because of how you honor God that He speaks strong words to you and punishes you?

5 P or cierto tu malicia es grande, Y tus maldades no tienen fin.

Have you not done much wrong and your sins have no end?

6 P orque sacaste prenda á tus hermanos sin causa, E hiciste desnudar las ropas de los desnudos.

For you have taken things from your brothers when they did not owe you anything. You have taken all their clothing and they have had nothing to wear.

7 N o diste de beber agua al cansado, Y detuviste el pan al hambriento.

To those who were tired, you have given no water to drink. And you have kept bread from the hungry.

8 E mpero el hombre pudiente tuvo la tierra; Y habitó en ella el distinguido.

But you were a powerful and respected man owning land and living on it.

9 L as viudas enviaste vacías, Y los brazos de los huérfanos fueron quebrados.

You have sent women away with nothing, whose husbands have died. And you have crushed the strength of children who have no parents.

10 P or tanto hay lazos alrededor de ti, Y te turba espanto repentino;

So traps are all around you, and much fear comes upon you all at once.

11 O tinieblas, porque no veas; Y abundancia de agua te cubre.

This is why it is dark and you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

12 ¿ No está Dios en la altura de los cielos? Mira lo encumbrado de las estrellas, cuán elevadas están.

“Is not God high up in heaven? See the highest stars, how high they are!

13 ¿ Y dirás tú: Qué sabe Dios? ¿Cómo juzgará por medio de la oscuridad?

So you say, ‘What does God know? Can He judge through the darkness?

14 L as nubes son su escondedero, y no ve; Y por el circuito del cielo se pasea.

Clouds cover Him so that He cannot see. He walks on the roof of heaven.’

15 ¿ Quieres tú guardar la senda antigua, Que pisaron los hombres perversos?

Will you keep to the old way which sinful men have walked?

16 L os cuales fueron cortados antes de tiempo, Cuyo fundamento fué como un río derramado:

They were taken away before their time. The ground they stood on was washed away by a river.

17 Q ue decían á Dios: Apártate de nosotros. ¿Y qué les había hecho el Omnipotente?

They said to God, ‘Leave us!’ and ‘What can the All-powerful do to us?’

18 H abíales él henchido sus casas de bienes. Sea empero el consejo de ellos lejos de mí.

Yet He filled their houses with good things. But the wisdom of the sinful is far from me.

19 V erán los justos y se gozarán; Y el inocente los escarnecerá, diciendo:

Those who are right and good see it and are glad. Those who are without guilt make fun of them,

20 F ué cortada nuestra sustancia, Habiendo consumido el fuego el resto de ellos.

saying, ‘For sure those who hate us are destroyed, and fire has destroyed what they owned.’

21 A místate ahora con él, y tendrás paz; Y por ello te vendrá bien.

“Agree with God, and be at peace with Him. Then good will come to you.

22 T oma ahora la ley de su boca, Y pon sus palabras en tu corazón.

Receive the teaching from His mouth, and keep His words in your heart.

23 S i te tornares al Omnipotente, serás edificado; Alejarás de tu tienda la aflicción;

If you return to the All-powerful, things will be well with you again. Put sin far from your tent.

24 Y tendrás más oro que tierra, Y como piedras de arroyos oro de Ophir;

Put your gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the river.

25 Y el Todopoderoso será tu defensa, Y tendrás plata á montones.

Then the All-powerful will be your gold and silver of much worth.

26 P orque entonces te deleitarás en el Omnipotente, Y alzarás á Dios tu rostro.

Then you will have joy in the All-powerful, and lift up your face to God.

27 O rarás á él, y él te oirá; Y tú pagarás tus votos.

You will pray to Him, and He will hear you. And you will keep your promises to Him.

28 D eterminarás asimismo una cosa, y serte ha firme; Y sobre tus caminos resplandecerá luz.

You will decide something, and it will be done for you. Light will shine on your path.

29 C uando fueren abatidos, dirás tú: Ensalzamiento habrá: Y Dios salvará al humilde de ojos.

For God puts down the man who is filled with pride. But He saves the one who is not proud.

30 E l libertará la isla del inocente; Y por la limpieza de tus manos será librada.

He will save the man who is even guilty because he will be helped by your hands that are clean.”