1 R espondió Job, y dijo:

Then Job answered,

2 M uchas veces he oído cosas como éstas; Consoladores importunos sois todos vosotros.

“I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.

3 ¿ No tendrán fin las palabras vacías? ¿O qué te anima a responder?

“Is there no limit to windy words? Or what plagues you that you answer?

4 T ambién yo podría hablar como vosotros, Si vuestra alma estuviera en lugar de la mía; Yo podría ensartar contra vosotros palabras, Y por vosotros menear mi cabeza.

“I too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you.

5 P ero yo os alentaría con mis palabras, Y la consolación de mis labios apaciguaría vuestro dolor.

“I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain. Job Says God Shattered Him

6 P ero aunque hable, mi dolor no cesa; Y si dejo de hablar, no se aparta de mí.

“If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me?

7 P ero ahora tú, oh Dios, me has extenuado; Has asolado toda mi familia.

“But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my company.

8 T ú me has llenado de arrugas; testigo es mi flacura, Que se levanta contra mí para testificar en mi rostro.

“You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.

9 S u furor me despedazó, y me ha aborrecido. Crujió sus dientes contra mí; Contra mí aguzó sus ojos mi enemigo.

“His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares at me.

10 A brieron contra mí su boca; Hirieron mis mejillas con afrenta; Contra mí se juntaron todos.

“They have gaped at me with their mouth, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves against me.

11 M e ha entregado Dios a los malvados, Y en las manos de los impíos me hizo caer.

“God hands me over to ruffians And tosses me into the hands of the wicked.

12 V ivía yo tranquilo, y me desmenuzó; Me agarró por la nuca y me despedazó, Y me puso por blanco suyo.

“I was at ease, but He shattered me, And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.

13 M e rodearon sus flecheros, Traspasó mis riñones sin piedad; Mi hiel derramó por tierra.

“His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on the ground.

14 M e quebrantó con quebranto sobre quebranto; Me asaltó como un guerrero.

“He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.

15 C osí un saco sobre mi piel, Y hundí mi cabeza en el polvo.

“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin And thrust my horn in the dust.

16 M i rostro está inflamado con el llanto, Y mis párpados ensombrecidos,

“My face is flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids,

17 A pesar de no haber iniquidad en mis manos, Y de haber sido pura mi oración.

Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

18 ¡ Oh tierra!, no cubras mi sangre, Y no haya lugar adonde no llegue mi clamor.

“O earth, do not cover my blood, And let there be no resting place for my cry.

19 M as he aquí que en los cielos está aún mi testigo, Y mi defensor en las alturas.

“Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.

20 M is amigos se burlan de mí; Mas ante Dios derramaré mis lágrimas.

“My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God.

21 ¡ Ojalá pudiese abogar un hombre ante Dios, Como lo hace con su prójimo!

“O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!

22 M as los años que me restan son contados, Y yo me iré por el camino de donde ya no volveré.

“For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.