1 T hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Entonces Elifaz, el Temanita respondió:

2 “ Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind?

“¿Debe responder un sabio con hueca sabiduría Y llenarse de viento del este ?

3 S hould he reason with unprofitable talk, or with speeches with which he can do no good?

¿Debe argumentar con razones inútiles O con palabras sin provecho?

4 Y es, you do away with fear, and hinder devotion before God.

Ciertamente, tú rechazas la reverencia, E impides la meditación delante de Dios.

5 F or your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.

Porque tu culpa enseña a tu boca, Y escoges el lenguaje de los astutos.

6 Y our own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.

Tu propia boca te condena, y no yo, Y tus propios labios testifican contra ti.

7 “ Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought out before the hills?

¿Fuiste tú el primer hombre en nacer, O fuiste dado a luz antes que las colinas ?

8 H ave you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

¿Oyes tú el secreto de Dios, Y retienes para ti la sabiduría?

9 W hat do you know, that we don’t know? What do you understand, which is not in us?

¿Qué sabes tú que nosotros no sepamos? ¿ Qué entiendes tú que nosotros no entendamos ?

10 W ith us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much elder than your father.

También entre nosotros hay canosos y ancianos De más edad que tu padre.

11 A re the consolations of God too small for you, even the word that is gentle toward you?

¿Te parecen poco los consuelos de Dios, Y la palabra hablada a ti con dulzura?

12 W hy does your heart carry you away? Why do your eyes flash,

¿Por qué te arrebata el corazón, Y por qué centellean tus ojos,

13 T hat you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?

Para volver tu espíritu contra Dios Y dejar salir de tu boca tales palabras?

14 W hat is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

¿Qué es el hombre para que sea puro, O el nacido de mujer para que sea justo ?

15 B ehold, he puts no trust in his holy ones. Yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight;

Si Dios no confía en Sus santos, Y ni los cielos son puros ante Sus ojos;

16 h ow much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!

¡cuánto menos el hombre, un ser abominable y corrompido, Que bebe la iniquidad como agua!

17 “ I will show you, listen to me; that which I have seen I will declare:

Yo te mostraré, escúchame, Y te contaré lo que he visto;

18 ( Which wise men have told by their fathers, and have not hidden it;

Lo que los sabios han dado a conocer, Sin ocultar nada de sus padres;

19 t o whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them):

A ellos solos se les dio la tierra, Y ningún extranjero pasó entre ellos.

20 t he wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

Todos sus días el impío se retuerce de dolor, Y contados están los años reservados para el tirano.

21 A sound of terrors is in his ears. In prosperity the destroyer shall come on him.

Ruidos de espanto hay en sus oídos, Mientras está en paz, el destructor viene sobre él.

22 H e doesn’t believe that he shall return out of darkness. He is waited for by the sword.

El no cree que volverá de las tinieblas, Y que está destinado para la espada.

23 H e wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Vaga en busca de pan, diciendo: ‘¿Dónde está?’ Sabe que es inminente el día de las tinieblas.

24 D istress and anguish make him afraid. They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

La ansiedad y la angustia lo aterran, Lo dominan como rey dispuesto para el ataque;

25 B ecause he has stretched out his hand against God, and behaves himself proudly against the Almighty;

Porque él ha extendido su mano contra Dios, Y se porta con soberbia contra el Todopoderoso (Shaddai).

26 h e runs at him with a stiff neck, with the thick shields of his bucklers;

Corre contra El con cuello erguido, Con su escudo macizo;

27 b ecause he has covered his face with his fatness, and gathered fat on his thighs.

Porque ha cubierto su rostro con su gordura, Se le han hecho pliegues de grasa sobre la cintura,

28 H e has lived in desolate cities, in houses which no one inhabited, which were ready to become heaps.

Y ha vivido en ciudades desoladas, En casas inhabitables, Destinadas a convertirse en ruinas.

29 H e shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.

No se enriquecerá, ni sus bienes perdurarán, Ni su espiga se inclinará a tierra.

30 H e shall not depart out of darkness. The flame shall dry up his branches. By the breath of God’s mouth shall he go away.

No escapará de las tinieblas, Secará la llama sus renuevos, Y por el soplo de Su boca desaparecerá.

31 L et him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; for emptiness shall be his reward.

Que no confíe en la vanidad, engañándose a sí mismo, Pues vanidad será su recompensa.

32 I t shall be accomplished before his time. His branch shall not be green.

Antes de su tiempo se cumplirá, Y la hoja de su palmera no reverdecerá.

33 H e shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive tree.

Dejará caer sus uvas verdes como la vid, Y como el olivo dejará caer su flor.

34 F or the company of the godless shall be barren, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

Porque estéril es la compañía de los impíos, Y el fuego consume las tiendas del corrupto.

35 T hey conceive mischief, and produce iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit.”

Conciben malicia, dan a luz iniquidad, Y en su mente traman engaño.”