1 » Por tanto, Job, oye ahora mis razones, escucha todas mis palabras.

Be that as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

2 Y o abriré ahora mi boca y mi lengua hablará en mi garganta.

Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

3 M is razones declararán la rectitud de mi corazón, y lo que saben mis labios, lo dirán con sinceridad.

My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

4 E l espíritu de Dios me hizo y el soplo del Omnipotente me dio vida.

the Spirit of God that made me, and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life.

5 R espóndeme, si puedes; ordena tus palabras, ponte en pie.

Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6 H eme aquí a mí, en presencia de Dios, lo mismo que tú: del barro fui yo también formado.

Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay.

7 P or eso, mi terror no te espantará ni mi mano pesará sobre ti.

See my terror; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

8 » De cierto tú has dicho a oídos míos y yo oí la voz de tus palabras que decían:

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

9 “ Yo soy puro y sin defecto; soy inocente y no hay maldad en mí.

I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

10 D ios ha buscado reproches contra mí y me tiene por su enemigo.

But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.

11 H a puesto mis pies en el cepo y vigila todas mis sendas.”

He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.

12 » Pues bien, en esto no has hablado con razón, y yo te respondo que Dios es mayor que el hombre.

I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.

13 ¿ Por qué contiendes contra él, si él no da cuenta de ninguna de sus razones?

Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions.

14 A unque lo cierto es que Dios habla de una u otra manera, pero el hombre no lo entiende.

For God speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it.

15 P or sueños, en visión nocturna, cuando el sueño cae sobre los hombres, cuando se duermen en el lecho,

in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,

16 e ntonces se revela él al oído del hombre y le confirma su instrucción,

Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction,

17 p ara separar al hombre de su obra y apartar del varón la soberbia,

That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him.

18 p ara librar su alma del sepulcro y su vida de perecer a espada.

He holds him back from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 » También en su cama es castigado el hombre con fuerte dolor en sus huesos.

he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,

20 E ntonces su vida aborrece el pan y su alma la comida suave.

So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes.

21 S u carne desfallece y desaparece a la vista, y aparecen sus huesos, que antes no se veían.

His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 S u alma se acerca al sepulcro y su vida a los que causan la muerte.

Yes, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).

23 » Pero si el hombre tiene a su lado algún elocuente mediador, muy escogido, para anunciarle su deber

if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

24 y decirle que Dios tiene de él misericordia, que lo libra de descender al sepulcro, que hay redención para él,

Then is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!

25 e ntonces será su carne más tierna que la de un niño y volverá a los días de su juventud.

flesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

26 E ntonces orará a Dios y obtendrá su favor. Verá su faz con júbilo, y él restaurará al hombre su justicia.

He prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God—with its joys).

27 P orque él mira sobre los hombres, y si uno dice: “He pecado y he pervertido lo recto, pero de nada me ha aprovechado”,

He looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me!

28 D ios redimirá su alma para que no pase al sepulcro, y su vida se verá en luz.

has redeemed my life from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light!

29 » Todas estas cosas hace Dios dos y tres veces con el hombre,

Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,

30 p ara apartar su alma del sepulcro y para iluminarlo con la luz de los vivientes.

To bring back his life from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 E scucha, Job, óyeme; calla, y yo hablaré.

Give heed, O Job, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will speak.

32 S i tienes razones, respóndeme; habla, porque yo te quiero justificar.

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 Y si no, escúchame tú a mí; calla, y te enseñaré sabiduría.»

If not, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.