1 R espondió Job, y dijo:

Then Job answered and said:

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

“I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!

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

Shall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes 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 also could speak as you do, If your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up 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.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.

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

“Though I speak, my grief is not relieved; And if I remain silent, how am I eased?

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

But now He has worn me out; You have made desolate 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, And it is a witness against me; My leanness rises up against me And bears witness 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.

He tears me in His wrath, and hates me; He gnashes at me with His teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.

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

They gape at me with their mouth, They strike me reproachfully on the cheek, They gather together against me.

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

God has delivered me to the ungodly, And turned me over to 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 has shattered me; He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces; He has set me up for His target,

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

His archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours out my gall on the ground.

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

He breaks me with wound upon wound; He runs at me like a warrior.

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

“I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, And laid my head in the dust.

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

My face is flushed from weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

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

Although no violence is 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 my cry have no resting place!

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

Surely even now my witness is in heaven, And my evidence is on high.

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

My friends scorn me; My eyes pour out tears to God.

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

Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, As a man pleads for 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 finished, I shall go the way of no return.