Job 29

1 And Job continued and said in his parable,

Y tornó Job a tomar su parábola, y dijo:

2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!

¡Quién me tornase como en los meses pasados, como en los días cuando Dios me guardaba!

3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.

Cuando hacía resplandecer su candela sobre mi cabeza, a la luz de la cual yo caminaba en la oscuridad.

4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.

Como fui en los días de mi mocedad, cuando Dios era familiar en mi tienda;

5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;

Cuando aun el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, y mis mozos al derredor de mí;

6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.

Cuando yo lavaba mis caminos con manteca, y la piedra me derramaba ríos de aceite;

7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.

Cuando salía a la puerta a juicio, y en la plaza hacía aparejar mi silla:

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.

Los mozos me veían, y se escondían, y los viejos se levantaban, y estaban en pie.

9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.

Los príncipes detenían sus palabras, y ponían la mano sobre su boca.

10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.

La voz de los principales se ocultaba, y su lengua se pegaba a su paladar.

11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.

Cuando los oídos que me oían, me llamaban bienaventurado, y los ojos que me veían, me daban testimonio;

12 For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.

Porque libraba al pobre que gritaba, y al huérfano que carecía de ayudador.

13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yes, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.

La bendición del que se iba a perder venía sobre mí, y al corazón de la viuda hacía cantar de alegría.

14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.

Vestíame de justicia, y ella me vestía como un manto, y mí toca era juicio.

15 I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.

Yo era ojos al ciego, y pies al cojo.

16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.

A los menesterosos era padre, y de la causa que no entendía, me informaba con diligencia.

17 And I broke the jaw teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.

Y quebraba los colmillos del inicuo; y de sus dientes hacía soltar la presa.

18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.

Y decía: En mi nido moriré, y como arena multiplicaré días.

19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.

Mi raíz está abierta junto a las aguas, y en mis ramas permanecerá rocío.

20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.

Mi honra se renueva conmigo, y mi arco se renueva en mi mano.

21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.

Oíanme y esperaban, y callaban a mi consejo.

22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.

Tras mi palabra no replicaban: mas mi razón destilaba sobre ellos.

23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.

Y esperábanme como a la lluvia, y abrían su boca como a la lluvia tardía.

24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.

Si me reía a ellos, no lo creían; ni derribaban la luz de mi rostro.

25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.

Aprobaba el camino de ellos, y sentábame en cabecera; y moraba como el rey en el ejército, como el que consuela llorosos.