Job 29
1 Y tornó Job a tomar su parábola, y dijo:
Job went on speaking.
2 ¡Quién me tornase como en los meses pasados, como en los días cuando Dios me guardaba!
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 Cuando hacía resplandecer su candela sobre mi cabeza, a la luz de la cual yo caminaba en la oscuridad.
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 Como fui en los días de mi mocedad, cuando Dios era familiar en mi tienda;
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 Cuando aun el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, y mis mozos al derredor de mí;
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 Cuando yo lavaba mis caminos con manteca, y la piedra me derramaba ríos de aceite;
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 Cuando salía a la puerta a juicio, y en la plaza hacía aparejar mi silla:
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 Los mozos me veían, y se escondían, y los viejos se levantaban, y estaban en pie.
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 Los príncipes detenían sus palabras, y ponían la mano sobre su boca.
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 La voz de los principales se ocultaba, y su lengua se pegaba a su paladar.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 Cuando los oídos que me oían, me llamaban bienaventurado, y los ojos que me veían, me daban testimonio;
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 Porque libraba al pobre que gritaba, y al huérfano que carecía de ayudador.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 La bendición del que se iba a perder venía sobre mí, y al corazón de la viuda hacía cantar de alegría.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 Vestíame de justicia, y ella me vestía como un manto, y mí toca era juicio.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 Yo era ojos al ciego, y pies al cojo.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 A los menesterosos era padre, y de la causa que no entendía, me informaba con diligencia.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 Y quebraba los colmillos del inicuo; y de sus dientes hacía soltar la presa.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 Y decía: En mi nido moriré, y como arena multiplicaré días.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 Mi raíz está abierta junto a las aguas, y en mis ramas permanecerá rocío.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 Mi honra se renueva conmigo, y mi arco se renueva en mi mano.
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 Oíanme y esperaban, y callaban a mi consejo.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 Tras mi palabra no replicaban: mas mi razón destilaba sobre ellos.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 Y esperábanme como a la lluvia, y abrían su boca como a la lluvia tardía.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Si me reía a ellos, no lo creían; ni derribaban la luz de mi rostro.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 Aprobaba el camino de ellos, y sentábame en cabecera; y moraba como el rey en el ejército, como el que consuela llorosos.
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
