1 ¿ Por qué no señala plazos el Todopoderoso? ¿Por qué los que le conocen no ven sus visitaciones?

“Why are times for judging not set up by the All-powerful? And why do those who know Him not see these days?

2 L os malvados traspasan los linderos, Roban los ganados, y los apacientan.

Some take away the land-marks and take fields and animals.

3 S e llevan el asno de los huérfanos, Y toman en prenda el buey de la viuda.

They drive away the donkeys that belong to those who have no parents. They take the bull that belongs to a woman whose husband has died, as a promise that she will pay what she owes.

4 H acen apartar del camino a los menesterosos, Y todos los pobres de la tierra se esconden.

They push poor people off the road. All the poor of the land are made to hide themselves.

5 H e aquí, éstos como asnos monteses en el desierto, Salen a su obra madrugando para hacer presa; El desierto es mantenimiento de sus hijos.

See, they go out like wild donkeys in the desert to look for food for their children.

6 E n el campo siegan su pasto, Y vendimian la viña del rico.

They gather food in the fields, and gather what they can that is left from the grape-fields owned by the sinful.

7 P asan la noche desnudos, Sin tener cobertura contra el frío.

They lie all night without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.

8 C on las lluvias de los montes se mojan, Y se abrazan a las peñas por falta de abrigo.

They are wet with the mountain rains and stay close to the rocks for cover.

9 A rrancan del pecho a los huérfanos, Y del hijo del pobre toman en prenda.

Others take from the breast the child who has no father. They take the child from the poor as a promise that they will pay what they owe.

10 D esnudos andan y sin vestido, Y hambrientos arrebatan las gavillas.

They make the poor go about without clothing, making them carry loads of cut grain while they are hungry.

11 D entro de sus paredes exprimen el aceite, Pisan los lagares, y mueren de sed.

Among the olive trees they make oil. They crush grapes but they are thirsty.

12 E n la ciudad gimen los moribundos, Y claman las almas de los heridos de muerte, Pero Dios no atiende su oración.

Men from the city cry inside themselves. The souls of those who are hurt cry out. Yet God does not listen to their prayer.

13 O tros hay que, rebeldes a la luz, Nunca conocieron sus caminos, Ni estuvieron en sus veredas.

“Then there are those who turn against the light. They do not want to know its ways or stay in its paths.

14 A l alba se levanta el asesino; mata al pobre y al necesitado, Y de noche ronda como ladrón.

The one who kills people gets up early in the morning. He kills the poor and those in need. And during the night he is like a robber.

15 E l ojo del adúltero está aguardando la noche, Diciendo: No me verá nadie; Y esconde su rostro con un velo.

The eye of the one who is not faithful in marriage waits for the evening, saying, ‘No one will see me.’ And he covers his face.

16 E n las tinieblas minan las casas Que de día para sí señalaron; No conocen la luz.

In the dark they dig into houses. They shut themselves up during the day and do not know the light.

17 P orque la mañana es para todos ellos como sombra de muerte; Ya que están acostumbrados a la oscuridad.

For midnight is morning to them. They are not afraid of the fears of darkness.

18 H uyen ligeros sobre la corriente de aguas; Su finca es maldita en la tierra; No andará nadie por el camino de sus viñas.

“They are taken away on the top of the waters. Their part of the earth is cursed. They do not go to their grape-fields.

19 C omo la sequía y el calor arrebatan las aguas de la nieve; Así también el Seol a los pecadores.

Dry weather and heat take away the water from the snow, just as the place of the dead takes away those who have sinned.

20 L os olvidará el seno materno; de ellos sentirán los gusanos dulzura; Nunca más habrá de ellos memoria, Y como se tala un árbol, los impíos serán quebrantados.

A mother will forget him. The worm is pleased to eat him until he is remembered no more. Sin will be broken like a tree.

21 A la mujer estéril, que no concebía, afligieron, Y a la viuda nunca socorrieron.

He does wrong to the woman who cannot give birth. And he does no good for the woman whose husband has died.

22 N o obstante, Dios les prolonga la vida con su poder, Y se levantan, incluso cuando creen que no van a sobrevivir.

But God by His power gives long life to the strong. They rise again, even when they had no hope of life.

23 É l les da seguridad y confianza; Pero sus ojos están sobre los caminos de ellos.

He makes them safe and gives them strength, and His eyes are on their ways.

24 F ueron exaltados por un poco, mas desaparecen, Y son abatidos como todos los demás; Se marchitarán y serán cortados como cabezas de espigas.

They are given honor for a little while, and then they are gone. They are brought low and gathered up as all others are. They are cut off like the heads of grain.

25 Y si no, ¿quién me desmentirá ahora, O reducirá a nada mis palabras?

If it is not so, who can prove me a liar, and show that what I say means nothing?”