Job 23

1 Y respondió Job, y dijo:

Job replied,

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

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

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

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

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

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

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

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

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

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

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

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

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

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

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

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

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

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

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

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

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

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

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

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

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

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

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

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

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

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.