1 P ero Elifaz el temanita le respondió a Job:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 « ¿En qué se beneficia Dios con el hombre, aun cuando éste sea un hombre inteligente?

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

3 ¿ Se complace el Todopoderoso en tu inocencia, o gana algo con que vayas por el buen camino?

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

4 ¿ Acaso te castiga por tu piedad, y por eso te somete a juicio?

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

5 ¡ Demasiado grande es tu maldad! ¡Tu pecado no tiene límites!

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

6 S in razón tomaste prenda de tus hermanos, y a los pobres los despojaste de sus ropas.

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 le diste de beber al sediento, y al hambriento no le diste de comer.

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

8 E n cambio, a los poderosos les diste tierras, y a los magnates les permitiste habitarlas.

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

9 A las viudas las despediste con las manos vacías, y a los huérfanos los despojaste de todo.

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 eso te ves enredado en esas trampas, y te asaltan temores repentinos.

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

11 L as tinieblas no te dejan ver, y las aguas profundas te abruman.

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

12 » Pero Dios está en las alturas de los cielos; ¡mira cuán altas se hallan las refulgentes estrellas!

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

13 ¿ Y tú dices que Dios no sabe lo que haces, y que la densa oscuridad le impide juzgar?

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

14 ¿ Que no te puede ver porque las nubes lo rodean, y porque va y viene por la bóveda celeste?

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

15 ¿ Acaso quieres seguir por la antigua senda que han recorrido los malvados?

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

16 E llos fueron arrebatados antes de tiempo, porque sus fundamentos no eran firmes.

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

17 L e pidieron a Dios que se apartara de ellos, sin que el Omnipotente les hubiera hecho daño.

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

18 M ás bien, Dios colmó sus casas de bienes. ¡Lejos sea de mí el juntarme con ellos!

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

19 A l verlos destruidos, los justos se alegrarán, y los inocentes se burlarán de ellos y dirán:

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

20 “ Nuestros enemigos han sido destruidos; el fuego ha consumido lo que de ellos quedaba.”

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

21 » Reconcíliate con Dios, y recupera la paz; así él te devolverá la prosperidad.

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

22 P ermítele que él mismo te instruya, y pon sus palabras en tu corazón.

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

23 S i te vuelves a Dios, él te levantará; así alejarás de tu casa la aflicción.

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

24 S i arrojas por el suelo tus riquezas, tendrás tanto oro de Ofir como piedras en el río.

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

25 E l Todopoderoso será tu defensor, y en tu casa abundará la plata.

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

26 H allarás tu deleite en el Todopoderoso, y ante Dios podrás levantar la cara.

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

27 C uando lo llames, él te escuchará, y tú podrás cumplirle tus promesas.

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

28 L levarás a buen término todos tus planes, y en tus caminos brillará la luz.

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

29 A los humildes, Dios los exalta; a los abatidos, Dios les da su salvación.

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

30 D ios libera al que es inocente, y si eres inocente, también serás liberado.»

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