1 J ob retomó la palabra y dijo:

Then Job spoke again and said,

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

“If only I could be now as I was in the months past 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,

His lamp shined over my head then 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The leaders stopped talking, and put 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 rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19 C reí ser como un árbol plantado junto al agua, con verdes ramas, bañadas de 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 C reí también que podría ser más rico, y que en mis manos mi poder iría en aumento.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.