1 Y VOLVIO Job á tomar su propósito, y dijo:

Then Job spoke again and said,

2 Q uién me tornase como en los meses pasados, Como en los días que Dios me guardaba,

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

3 C uando hacía resplandecer su candela sobre mi cabeza, A la luz de la cual yo caminaba en la oscuridad;

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

4 C omo fué en los días de mi mocedad, Cuando el secreto de Dios estaba en mi tienda;

Those days were my best days when God was my friend watching over my tent.

5 C uando aún el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, Y mis hijos alrededor de mi;

The All-powerful was still with me, and my children were around me.

6 C uando lavaba yo mis caminos con manteca, Y la piedra me derramaba ríos de aceite!

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

7 C uando salía á la puerta á juicio, Y en la plaza hacía preparar mi asiento,

When I went to the city gate and took my place with the leaders of the city,

8 L os mozos me veían, y se escondían; Y los viejos se levantaban, y estaban en pie;

the young men saw me and let me go by. The old men rose and stood.

9 L os príncipes detenían sus palabras, Ponían la mano sobre su boca;

The leaders stopped talking, and put their hands on their mouths.

10 L a voz de los principales se ocultaba, Y su lengua se pegaba á su paladar:

The voices of the rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths.

11 C uando los oídos que me oían, me llamaban bienaventurado, Y los ojos que me veían, me daban testimonio:

Those who heard me, honored me. Those who saw me, respected me,

12 P orque libraba al pobre que gritaba, Y al huérfano que carecía de ayudador.

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

13 L a bendición del que se iba á perder venía sobre mí; Y al corazón de la viuda daba alegría.

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

14 V estíame de justicia, y ella me vestía como un manto; Y mi toca era juicio.

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

15 Y o era ojos al ciego, Y pies al cojo.

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

16 A los menesterosos era padre; Y de la causa que no entendía, me informaba con diligencia:

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

17 Y quebraba los colmillos del inicuo, Y de sus dientes hacía soltar la presa.

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

18 Y decía yo: En mi nido moriré, Y como arena multiplicaré días.

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

19 M i raíz estaba abierta junto á las aguas, Y en mis ramas permanecía el rocío.

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

20 M i honra se renovaba en mí, Y mi arco se corroboraba en mi mano.

My honor is always new to me, and my bow is new in my hand.’

21 O íanme, y esperaban; Y callaban á mi consejo.

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

22 T ras mi palabra no replicaban, Y mi razón destilaba sobre ellos.

After I spoke, they did not speak again. My words stayed with them.

23 Y esperábanme como á la lluvia, Y abrían su boca como á la lluvia tardía.

They waited for me as for rain. And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 S i me reía con ellos, no lo creían: Y no abatían la luz de mi rostro.

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

25 C alificaba yo el camino de ellos, y sentábame en cabecera; Y moraba como rey en el ejército, Como el que consuela llorosos.

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.