1 V olvió Job a reanudar su discurso, y dijo:

¶ Moreover, Job continued his parable and said,

2 Q uién me volviese como en los meses pasados, Como en los días en que Dios me guardaba,

Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

3 C uando hacía resplandecer sobre mi cabeza su lámpara, A cuya luz yo caminaba en la oscuridad;

when his lamp shone upon my head, and by its light I walked in the darkness;

4 C omo fui en los días de mi juventud, Cuando el favor de Dios velaba sobre mi tienda;

as I was in the days of my youth, when God was familiar in my tent;

5 C uando aún estaba conmigo el Omnipotente, Y mis hijos alrededor de mí;

when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

6 C uando lavaba yo mis pasos con leche, Y la piedra me derramaba ríos de aceite!

when I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!

7 C uando yo salía a la puerta a juicio, Y en la plaza hacía preparar mi asiento,

¶ When I went out to the gate to judgment, when I had my seat prepared in the plaza!

8 L os jóvenes me veían, y se escondían; Y los ancianos se levantaban, y estaban de pie.

The young men would see me and hide themselves, and the aged would arise and stand.

9 L os príncipes detenían sus palabras; Ponían la mano sobre su boca.

The princes would refrain from talking and lay their hand on their mouth;

10 L a voz de los principales se apagaba, Y su lengua se pegaba a su paladar.

the voice of the principals would not be noticed, and their tongue would cleave to the roof of their mouth.

11 L os oídos que me oían me llamaban bienaventurado, Y los ojos que me veían me daban testimonio,

When the ears that heard me, called me blessed; and when the eyes that saw me, gave witness to me:

12 P orque yo libraba al pobre que clamaba, Y al huérfano que carecía de ayudador.

because I delivered the poor that cried and the fatherless who had no one to help him.

13 L a bendición del que se iba a perder venía sobre mí, Y al corazón de la viuda yo daba alegría.

The blessing of the one that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 M e vestía de justicia, y ella me cubría; Como manto y diadema era mi rectitud.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me as a robe; and my diadem was judgment.

15 Y o era ojos al ciego, Y pies al cojo.

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

16 A los menesterosos era padre, Y de la causa que no entendía, me informaba con diligencia;

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

17 Y quebrantaba los colmillos del inicuo, Y de sus dientes hacía soltar la presa.

And I broke the fangs of the wicked and caused their teeth to release the prey.

18 D ecía yo: En mi nido moriré, Y como arena multiplicaré mis días.

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

19 M i raíz estaba abierta junto a las aguas, Y en mis ramas permanecía el rocío.

My root is spread out by the waters, and the dew shall remain upon my branches.

20 M i honra se renovaba en mí, Y mi arco se fortalecía en mi mano.

My glory is renewed with me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.

21 M e oían, y esperaban, Y callaban a mi consejo.

They would hear me and wait, and keep silent at my counsel.

22 T ras mi palabra no replicaban, Y mi razón destilaba sobre ellos.

After my words they would not reply, but my reason dropped upon them.

23 M e esperaban como a la lluvia, Y abrían su boca como a la lluvia tardía.

And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 S i me reía con ellos, no lo creían; Y no abatían la luz de mi rostro.

If I laughed at them, they did not believe it; and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.

25 C alificaba yo el camino de ellos, y me sentaba entre ellos como el jefe; Y moraba como rey en el ejército, Como el que consuela a los que lloran.

I approved their way and sat at the head and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.