1 M AS ahora los más mozos de días que yo, se ríen de mí; Cuyos padres yo desdeñara ponerlos con los perros de mi ganado.

“But now those who are younger than I make fun of me. I thought so little of their fathers that I did not want them with my sheep dogs.

2 P orque ¿para qué yo habría menester la fuerza de sus manos, En los cuales había perecido con el tiempo?

Yes, what good could I get from the strength of their hands? Their strength was gone.

3 P or causa de la pobreza y del hambre andaban solos; Huían á la soledad, á lugar tenebroso, asolado y desierto.

Their bodies are thin and in need of food. At night they bite the dry ground in the waste land.

4 Q ue cogían malvas entre los arbustos, Y raíces de enebro para calentarse.

They pick plants that taste of salt among the bushes. And they eat the root of the broom bush.

5 E ran echados de entre las gentes, Y todos les daban grita como al ladrón.

They are driven away from people. Men call out against them as if they were robbers.

6 H abitaban en las barrancas de los arroyos, En las cavernas de la tierra, y en las rocas.

So they live in valleys made by floods, in caves of the earth and of the rocks.

7 B ramaban entre las matas, Y se reunían debajo de las espinas.

Among the bushes they cry out. They gather together under the thistles.

8 H ijos de viles, y hombres sin nombre, Más bajos que la misma tierra.

They are fools and they have no name. They have been driven out of the land.

9 Y ahora yo soy su canción, Y he sido hecho su refrán.

“Now they make fun of me in song. They laugh at me.

10 A bomínanme, aléjanse de mí, Y aun de mi rostro no detuvieron su saliva.

They hate me and keep away from me, but they spit in my face.

11 P orque Dios desató mi cuerda, y me afligió, Por eso se desenfrenaron delante de mi rostro.

Because God has made the string of my bow loose and has troubled me, they have thrown off their respect for me.

12 A la mano derecha se levantaron los jóvenes; Empujaron mis pies, Y sentaron contra mí las vías de su ruina.

Their bad group comes to my right. They push me away and trip my feet, and make ways to destroy me.

13 M i senda desbarataron, Aprovecháronse de mi quebrantamiento, Contra los cuales no hubo ayudador.

They break up my path. They make trouble for me, and no one stops them.

14 V inieron como por portillo ancho, Revolviéronse á mi calamidad.

They come as if through a wide hole in the wall, and roll on with much noise.

15 H anse revuelto turbaciones sobre mí; Combatieron como viento mi alma, Y mi salud pasó como nube

Fears come upon me. They go after my honor like the wind. And my well-being has passed away like a cloud.

16 Y ahora mi alma está derramada en mí; Días de aflicción me han aprehendido.

“Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of trouble have taken hold of me.

17 D e noche taladra sobre mí mis huesos, Y mis pulsos no reposan.

Night cuts into my bones with pain. The pain keeps on and takes no rest.

18 C on la grande copia de materia mi vestidura está demudada; Cíñeme como el cuello de mi túnica.

My clothing is torn by a strong power. It pulls against me like the top of my coat.

19 D erribóme en el lodo, Y soy semejante al polvo y á la ceniza.

God has thrown me into the mud, and I have become like dust and ashes.

20 C lamo á ti, y no me oyes; Preséntome, y no me atiendes.

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me. I stand up, and You turn away from me.

21 H aste tornado cruel para mí: Con la fortaleza de tu mano me amenazas.

You work against me. With the power of Your hand you make it hard for me.

22 L evantásteme, é hicísteme cabalgar sobre el viento, Y disolviste mi sustancia.

You lift me up to the wind and make it carry me. You throw me around in the storm.

23 P orque yo conozco que me reduces á la muerte; Y á la casa determinada á todo viviente.

For I know that You will bring me to death, to the place for all the living.

24 M as él no extenderá la mano contra el sepulcro; ¿Clamarán los sepultados cuando él los quebrantare?

“Yet does not one in a destroyed place put out his hand, and in his trouble cry out for help?

25 ¿ No lloré yo al afligido? Y mi alma ¿no se entristeció sobre el menesteroso?

Have I not cried for the one whose life is hard? Was not my soul filled with sorrow for the poor?

26 C uando esperaba yo el bien, entonces vino el mal; Y cuando esperaba luz, la oscuridad vino.

When I expected good, then trouble came. When I waited for light, darkness came.

27 M is entrañas hierven, y no reposan; Días de aflicción me han sobrecogido.

My heart is troubled and does not rest. Days of trouble are before me.

28 D enegrido ando, y no por el sol: Levantádome he en la congregación, y clamado.

I go about full of sorrow without comfort. I stand up where the people are gathered and cry out for help.

29 H e venido á ser hermano de los dragones, Y compañero de los buhos.

I have become a brother to wild dogs, and a friend of ostriches.

30 M i piel está denegrida sobre mí, Y mis huesos se secaron con ardentía.

My skin becomes black and falls from me. My bones burn because I am sick.

31 Y hase tornado mi arpa en luto, Y mi órgano en voz de lamentadores.

So my harp is turned to sorrow, and my horn to the sound of crying.