1 R espondió Elifaz temanita, y dijo:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 ¿ Traerá el hombre provecho a Dios? Al contrario, para sí mismo es provechoso el hombre sabio.

Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he that is wise is profitable to himself.

3 ¿ Tiene algún interés el Omnipotente en que tú seas justificado, O gana algo conque tú seas intachable?

Is it any pleasure or advantage to the Almighty that you are righteous (upright and in right standing with Him)? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways perfect?

4 ¿ Acaso te castiga, O viene a juicio contigo, a causa de tu piedad?

Is it for your fear of Him that He reproves you, that He enters with you into judgment?

5 ¿ No será más bien porque tu malicia es grande, Y tus maldades no tienen fin?

Is not your wickedness great? There is no end to your iniquities.

6 P orque exigías prenda a tus hermanos sin razón, Y despojaste de sus ropas a los desnudos.

For you have taken pledges of your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 N o dabas de beber al sediento, Y le negabas el pan al hambriento.

You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 P ero al hombre pudiente dabas la tierra, Y habitó en ella el distinguido.

But the man with power possessed the land, and the favored and accepted man dwelt in it.

9 A las viudas las despedías con las manos vacías, Y los brazos de los huérfanos quebrantabas.

You have sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 P or eso, hay lazos alrededor de ti, Y te turban terrores repentinos;

Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles and overwhelms you;

11 O tinieblas, para que no veas, Y abundancia de agua que te anega.

Your light is darkened, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

12 ¿ No está Dios en lo alto de los cielos? Mira lo encumbrado de las estrellas, cuán elevadas están.

Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 ¿ Y dirás tú: Qué sabe Dios? ¿Cómo distinguirá a través de los densos nubarrones?

Therefore you say, How and what does God know ? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

14 L as nubes le rodean, y no ve; Y por el contorno del cielo se pasea.

Thick clouds are a covering to Him, so that He does not see, and He walks on the vault of the heavens.

15 ¿ Quieres tú seguir la senda antigua Que pisaron los hombres perversos,

Will you pay attention and keep to the old way that wicked men trod,

16 L os cuales fueron cortados antes de tiempo, Cuando una riada arrasó sus cimientos?

Men who were snatched away before their time, whose foundations were poured out like a stream ?

17 D ecían a Dios: Apártate de nosotros. ¿Y qué puede hacernos el Omnipotente?

They said to God, Depart from us, and, What can the Almighty do for or to us?

18 ¡ Les había colmado de bienes sus casas; Pero los pensamientos de ellos estaban lejos de él!

Yet He filled their houses with good. But the counsel of the ungodly is far from me.

19 V erán los justos y se gozarán; Y el inocente los escarnecerá, diciendo:

The righteous see it and are glad; and the innocent laugh them to scorn,

20 F ueron destruidos nuestros adversarios, Y el fuego consumió lo que de ellos quedó.

Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, and that which remained to them the fire has consumed.

21 R econcíliate ahora con él, y tendrás paz; Y por ello te vendrá bien.

Acquaint now yourself with Him and be at peace; by that good shall come to you.

22 R ecibe la instrucción de su boca, Y pon sus palabras en tu corazón.

Receive, I pray you, the law and instruction from His mouth and lay up His words in your heart.

23 S i te vuelves al Omnipotente, serás restablecido; Y si alejas de tu tienda la iniquidad

If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents,

24 Y tienes el oro por tierra, Y como piedras de arroyos el oro de Ofir,

If you lay gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brook,

25 E l Todopoderoso será tu tesoro, Y tendrás la plata en abundancia.

And make the Almighty your gold and your precious silver treasure,

26 P orque entonces te deleitarás en el Omnipotente, Y alzarás a Dios tu rostro.

Then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.

27 O rarás a él, y él te oirá; Y tú cumplirás tus votos.

You will make your prayer to Him, and He will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

28 T odo lo que emprendas te saldrá bien, Y sobre tus caminos resplandecerá la luz.

You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light shall shine upon your ways.

29 C uando sean abatidos los arrogantes, dirás tú: Enaltecimiento habrá, Porque Dios salvará al humilde de ojos.

When they make low, you will say, a lifting up; and the humble person He lifts up and saves.

30 É l libertará incluso al que no es inocente; Sí, por la pureza de tus manos será librado.

He will even deliver the one who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.