Job 29

1 Y VOLVIÓ Job á tomar su propósito, y dijo:

And Job again took up his discourse, and said,

2 ¡Quién me tornase como en los meses pasados, como en los días que Dios me guardaba,

O that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,

3 Cuando hacía resplandecer su candela sobre mi cabeza, á la luz de la cual yo caminaba en la oscuridad;

when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,

4 Como fué en los días de mi mocedad, cuando el secreto de Dios estaba en mi tienda;

as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,

5 Cuando aun el Omnipotente estaba conmigo, y mis hijos alrededor de mí;

when the Almighty was yet with me, and my sons were about me,

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

when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil to me,

7 Cuando salía á la puerta á juicio, y en la plaza hacía preparar mi asiento,

when I went forth to the gate to the city, when I prepared my seat in the street.

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

The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood.

9 Los príncipes detenían sus palabras, ponían la mano sobre su boca;

The rulers refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 La voz de los principales se ocultaba, y su lengua se pegaba á su paladar:

The voice of the ranking men was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

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

For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.

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

Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none to help him.

13 La bendición del que se iba á perder venía sobre mí; y al corazón de la viuda daba alegría.

The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 Vestíame de justicia, y ella me vestía como un manto; y mi toca era juicio.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

15 Yo era ojos al ciego, y pies al cojo.

I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame.

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

I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of him whom I did not know.

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

And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

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

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

19 Mi raíz estaba abierta junto á las aguas, y en mis ramas permanecía el rocío.

My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lays all night upon my branch.

20 Mi honra se renovaba en mí, y mi arco se corroboraba en mi mano.

My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.

21 Oíanme, y esperaban; y callaban á mi consejo.

To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

22 Tras mi palabra no replicaban, y mi razón destilaba sobre ellos.

After my words they spoke not again, and my speech distilled upon them.

23 Y esperábanme como á la lluvia, y abrían su boca [como] á la lluvia tardía.

And they waited for me as for the rain. And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 Si me reía con ellos, no lo creían: y no abatían la luz de mi rostro.

I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.

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

I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.