Job 23

1 Y respondió Job, y dijo:

And Job made answer and said,

2 Hoy también hablaré con amargura, y será más grave mi llaga que mi gemido.

Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

3 ¡Quién diese que le conociese, y le hallase! yo iría hasta su trono.

If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

4 Ordenaría juicio delante de él, y mi boca henchiría de argumentos.

I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

5 Yo sabría lo que él me respondería, y entendería lo que me dijese.

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

6 ¿Pleitearía conmigo con multitud de fuerza? No: antes él la pondría en mí.

Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

7 Allí el recto disputaría con él; y escaparía para siempre de él que me condena.

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

8 He aquí, yo iré al oriente, y no le hallaré, y al occidente, y no le entenderé.

See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

9 Si al norte él obrare, yo no le veré: al mediodía se esconderá, y no le veré.

I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

10 Mas él conoció mi camino: probóme, y salí como oro.

For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

11 Mis pies tomaron su rastro: guardé su camino, y no me aparté.

My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

12 Del mandamiento de sus labios nunca me quité: las palabras de su boca guardé más que mi comida.

I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

13 Y si él se determina en una cosa, ¿quién le apartará? Su alma deseó, e hizo.

But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

14 Por tanto él acabará lo que ha determinado de mí; y muchas cosas como estas hay en él.

For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

15 Por lo cual yo me espantaré delante de su rostro: consideraré, y temerle he.

For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

16 Dios ha enternecido mi corazón, y el Omnipotente me ha espantado.

For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

17 ¿Por qué yo no fui cortado delante de las tinieblas, y cubrió con oscuridad mi rostro?

For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.