1 J ob retomó la palabra y dijo:

And Job again took up his discussion and said,

2 « ¡Cómo quisiera volver a los tiempos pasados, a los días en que Dios me brindaba protección;

Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,

3 d ías en que su lámpara brillaba sobre mí, días en que a su luz andaba yo en la oscuridad,

When His lamp shone above and upon my head and by His light I walked through darkness;

4 c uando estaba yo en la flor de mi vida y el favor de Dios reposaba en mi hogar.

As I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent,

5 E n aquel tiempo, el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, y mis hijos estaban en derredor mío;

When the Almighty was yet with me and my children were about me,

6 m e daba entonces el lujo de chapotear en leche, y de extraer de las piedras torrentes de aceite;

When my steps were washed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7 c uando salía yo a las puertas de la ciudad, me cedían un lugar para impartir justicia.

When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the street,

8 L os jóvenes, al verme, me cedían el paso, y los ancianos me recibían de pie.

The young men saw me and hid themselves; the aged rose up and stood;

9 L a gente importante se quedaba callada, y con respeto se tapaban la boca.

The princes refrained from talking and laid their hands on their mouths;

10 A pesar de ser poderosos, guardaban silencio, como si la lengua se les quedara pegada.

The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues cleaved to the roof of their mouths.

11 “ Bienaventurado”, me decían al escucharme, y los que me veían lo confirmaban.

For when the ear heard, it called me happy and blessed me; and when the eye saw, it testified for me,

12 » Y es que yo atendía el clamor de los pobres, y ayudaba a los huérfanos sin protección.

Because I delivered the poor who cried, the fatherless and him who had none to help him.

13 L os que estaban por morir me bendecían; a las viudas les alegraba el corazón.

The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 L a justicia caracterizaba mis actos; la justicia me cubría: era mi atuendo.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me or clothed itself with me; my justice was like a robe and a turban or a diadem or a crown!

15 P ara los ciegos, yo era sus ojos; para los cojos, yo era sus pies;

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

16 p ara los pobres, yo era su padre; para los extranjeros, yo era su defensor.

I was a father to the poor and needy; the cause of him I did not know I searched out.

17 Y o aplacaba la furia de los malvados, y a sus víctimas las libraba de su poder.

And I broke the jaws or the big teeth of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

18 C reía yo que moriría en mi lecho, y que tendría muchos años de vida.

Then I said, I shall die in or beside my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

19 C reí ser como un árbol plantado junto al agua, con verdes ramas, bañadas de rocío;

My root is spread out and open to the waters, and the dew lies all night upon my branch.

20 C reí también que podría ser más rico, y que en mis manos mi poder iría en aumento.

My glory and honor are fresh in me, and my bow gains new strength in my hand.

21 » Cuando yo hablaba, todo el mundo callaba y esperaba a escuchar mis consejos.

Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel.

22 N adie contradecía mis advertencias, sino que aceptaban con gusto mis razones.

After I spoke, they did not speak again, and my speech dropped upon them.

23 S e quedaban a la espera de mis palabras, como tierra seca en espera de las lluvias tardías.

And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths wide as for the spring rain.

24 A penas podían creer que yo les sonriera; y no se perdían una sola de mis sonrisas.

I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and their depression did not cast down the light of my countenance.

25 Y o decidía lo que tenían que hacer, y en la mesa yo ocupaba la cabecera; era como un rey al frente de su ejército, ¡como alguien que consuela a los que lloran!

I chose their way and sat as chief, and dwelt like a king among his soldiers, like one who comforts mourners.