1 E ntonces respondió Job, y dijo:

Then Job answered,

2 H e oído muchas cosas como éstas; consoladores gravosos sois todos vosotros.

“I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.

3 ¿ No hay fin a las palabras vacías ? ¿O qué te provoca para que así respondas?

“Is there no limit to windy words? Or what plagues you that you answer?

4 Y o también hablaría como vosotros, si vuestra alma estuviera en lugar de mi alma. Podría hilvanar palabras contra vosotros, y mover ante vosotros la cabeza.

“I too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you.

5 O s podría alentar con mi boca, y el consuelo de mis labios podría aliviar vuestro dolor.

“I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain. Job Says God Shattered Him

6 S i hablo, mi dolor no disminuye, y si callo, no se aparta de mí.

“If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me?

7 P ero ahora El me ha agobiado; tú has asolado toda mi compañía,

“But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my company.

8 y me has llenado de arrugas que en testigo se han convertido; mi flacura se levanta contra mí, testifica en mi cara.

“You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.

9 S u ira me ha despedazado y me ha perseguido, contra mí El ha rechinado los dientes; mi adversario aguza los ojos contra mí.

“His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares at me.

10 H an abierto contra mí su boca, con injurias me han abofeteado; a una se aglutinan contra mí.

“They have gaped at me with their mouth, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves against me.

11 D ios me entrega a los impíos, y me echa en manos de los malvados.

“God hands me over to ruffians And tosses me into the hands of the wicked.

12 E staba yo tranquilo, y El me sacudió, me agarró por la nuca y me hizo pedazos; también me hizo su blanco.

“I was at ease, but He shattered me, And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.

13 M e rodean sus flechas, parte mis riñones sin compasión, derrama por tierra mi hiel.

“His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on the ground.

14 A bre en mí brecha tras brecha; arremete contra mí como un guerrero.

“He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.

15 S obre mi piel he cosido cilicio, y he hundido en el polvo mi poder.

“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin And thrust my horn in the dust.

16 M i rostro está enrojecido por el llanto, y cubren mis párpados densa oscuridad,

“My face is flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids,

17 a unque no hay violencia en mis manos, y es pura mi oración.

Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

18 ¡ Oh tierra, no cubras mi sangre, y no haya lugar para mi clamor!

“O earth, do not cover my blood, And let there be no resting place for my cry.

19 H e aquí, aun ahora mi testigo está en el cielo, y mi defensor está en las alturas.

“Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.

20 M is amigos son mis escarnecedores; mis ojos lloran a Dios.

“My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God.

21 ¡ Ah, si un hombre pudiera argüir con Dios como un hombre con su vecino!

“O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!

22 P orque cuando hayan pasado unos pocos años, me iré por el camino sin retorno.

“For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.