1 P OR tanto, Job, oye ahora mis razones, Y escucha todas mis palabras.

Be that as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

2 H e aquí yo abriré ahora mi boca, Y mi lengua hablará en mi garganta.

Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

3 M is razones declararán la rectitud de mi corazón, Y mis labios proferirán pura sabiduría.

My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

4 E l espíritu de Dios me hizo, Y la inspiración del Omnipotente me dió vida.

the Spirit of God that made me, and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life.

5 S i pudieres, respóndeme: Dispón tus palabras, está delante de mí.

Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6 H eme aquí á mí en lugar de Dios, conforme á tu dicho: De lodo soy yo también formado.

Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay.

7 H e aquí que mi terror no te espantará, Ni mi mano se agravará sobre ti.

See my terror; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

8 D e cierto tú dijiste á oídos míos, Y yo oí la voz de tus palabras que decían:

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

9 Y o soy limpio y sin defecto; Y soy inocente, y no hay maldad en mí.

I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

10 H e aquí que él buscó achaques contra mí, Y me tiene por su enemigo;

But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.

11 P uso mis pies en el cepo, Y guardó todas mis sendas.

He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.

12 H e aquí en esto no has hablado justamente: Yo te responderé que mayor es Dios que el hombre.

I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.

13 ¿ Por qué tomaste pleito contra él? Porque él no da cuenta de ninguna de sus razones.

Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions.

14 S in embargo, en una ó en dos maneras habla Dios; Mas el hombre no entiende.

For God speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it.

15 P or sueño de visión nocturna, Cuando el sueño cae sobre los hombres, Cuando se adormecen sobre el lecho;

in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,

16 E ntonces revela al oído de los hombres, Y les señala su consejo;

Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction,

17 P ara quitar al hombre de su obra, Y apartar del varón la soberbia.

That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him.

18 D etendrá su alma de corrupción, Y su vida de que pase á cuchillo.

He holds him back from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 T ambién sobre su cama es castigado Con dolor fuerte en todos sus huesos,

he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,

20 Q ue le hace que su vida aborrezca el pan, Y su alma la comida suave.

So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes.

21 S u carne desfallece sin verse, Y sus huesos, que antes no se veían, aparecen.

His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 Y su alma se acerca al sepulcro, Y su vida á los que causan la muerte.

Yes, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).

23 S i tuviera cerca de él Algún elocuente anunciador muy escogido, Que anuncie al hombre su deber;

if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

24 Q ue le diga que Dios tuvo de él misericordia, Que lo libró de descender al sepulcro, Que halló redención:

Then is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!

25 E nterneceráse su carne más que de niño, Volverá á los días de su mocedad.

flesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

26 O rará á Dios, y le amará, Y verá su faz con júbilo: Y él restituirá al hombre su justicia.

He prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God—with its joys).

27 E l mira sobre los hombres; y el que dijere: Pequé, y pervertí lo recto, Y no me ha aprovechado;

He looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me!

28 D ios redimirá su alma, que no pase al sepulcro, Y su vida se verá en luz.

has redeemed my life from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light!

29 H e aquí, todas estas cosas hace Dios Dos y tres veces con el hombre;

Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,

30 P ara apartar su alma del sepulcro, Y para iluminarlo con la luz de los vivientes.

To bring back his life from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 E scucha, Job, y óyeme; Calla, y yo hablaré.

Give heed, O Job, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will speak.

32 Q ue si tuvieres razones, respóndeme; Habla, porque yo te quiero justificar.

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 Y si no, óyeme tú á mí; Calla, y enseñarte he sabiduría.

If not, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.