1 » Grita cuanto puedas; a ver quién te responde. ¿A qué dioses puedes apelar?

“Call now. Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

2 E s un hecho que al necio lo mata la ira, y a los que todo codician los mata la envidia.

To be bitter kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the child-like.

3 H e visto cómo prospera el malvado, pero al mismo tiempo he deseado su desgracia;

I have seen the fool taking root, but right away his house was cursed.

4 h e deseado que sus hijos vivan inseguros, y que en el tribunal no se les haga justicia, que no haya quién los defienda;

His sons are far from being safe. They are destroyed in the gate, and there is no one to help them.

5 q ue los hambrientos se coman su cosecha, y que ellos la rebusquen entre los espinos; que los sedientos los dejen en la ruina.

The hungry eat the food of his field. They take it even out of the thorns. And the thirsty want his riches.

6 N i la aflicción ni los sufrimientos brotan de la tierra sin razón alguna;

For suffering does not come from the dust. Trouble does not grow out of the ground.

7 e n cambio nosotros somos como las chispas: saltamos por el aire tan sólo para morir.

But man is born to trouble, as fire goes up.

8 » Yo, en tu lugar, recurriría a Dios y me pondría en sus manos.

“But as for me, I would look to God. I would put my troubles before God.

9 D ios hace cosas grandes e incomprensibles; ¡imposible contar las maravillas que realiza!

He does great things, too great for us to understand. He does too many wonderful things for us to number.

10 C on su lluvia cubre toda la tierra; con el agua empapa los campos.

He gives rain on the earth and sends water on the fields.

11 A los humildes los enaltece, y a los afligidos los consuela;

He puts those who are in low places up to high places. Those who are filled with sorrow are lifted to where they are safe.

12 D esbarata los planes de los astutos, y hace que sus proyectos fracasen;

He troubles the plans of those who try to fool people, so that their hands cannot do what they plan.

13 a trapa a los malvados con sus propias artimañas y desbarata sus planes perversos.

God gets them into a trap when they use their own wisdom. And the plans of the wise are brought to a quick end.

14 E n pleno día caminan como ciegos; a pleno sol andan a tientas, como de noche.

They meet with darkness during the day, and feel their way at noon as in the night.

15 D ios libra a los pobres del poder de los impíos; los libra del poder de los violentos y de sus lacerantes ofensas.

But He saves from the sword those in need. He saves the poor from the power of the strong.

16 D ios es la esperanza de los débiles; Dios les tapa la boca a los malvados.

So those who have no hope, have hope, and what is not right and good must shut its mouth.

17 » ¡Dichoso aquél a quien Dios corrige! Así que agradece la corrección del Todopoderoso.

“See, happy is the man to whom God speaks strong words. So do not hate the strong teaching of the All-powerful.

18 D ios abre heridas, pero también las sana; hiere tu cuerpo, pero te devuelve la salud.

He punishes, but He gives comfort. He hurts, but His hands heal.

19 C uando te vengan seis desgracias, en la séptima te librará del mal.

He will take you out of six troubles. Yes, in seven, nothing will hurt you.

20 A unque haya hambre, él te dará vida; aunque haya guerra, te librará de la espada.

He will keep you from death in times of no food, and from the power of the sword in war.

21 T e librará de la gente de lengua mordaz, y ante un desastre no tendrás nada que temer.

You will be hidden from the punishment of the tongue. You will not be afraid of being destroyed when danger comes.

22 P odrás reírte de la destrucción y del hambre; no temerás que te ataquen las fieras salvajes.

You will laugh at danger and times of no food. And you will not be afraid of wild animals.

23 E starás en paz con las piedras del campo, y los animales salvajes serán tus amigos.

For you will be in agreement with the stones of the field. And the animals of the field will be at peace with you.

24 S abrás lo que es vivir en paz, tendrás tu propio ganado, y nada te faltará.

You will know that your tent is safe. You will look over what you have and see that nothing is gone.

25 D isfrutarás de una vasta descendencia, que crecerá como la hierba del campo.

You will know also that your children and children’s children will be many. They will be as the grass of the earth.

26 M orirás tras haber vivido una larga vida; en plena madurez, como las espigas de trigo.

You will come to the grave in full strength, like the grain gathered in when it is time.

27 E sto lo hemos indagado, y sabemos que es verdad; óyelo bien, pues tú mismo puedes comprobarlo.»

See, this is what we have found, and it is true. Hear it, and know for yourself.”