1 »Yo te ruego, amigo Job,
que prestes mucha atención
a cada una de mis palabras.
2 Ya estoy por abrir la boca;
la lengua me hace cosquillas.
3 Cada una de mis palabras
nace de un corazón sincero.
4 El Dios todopoderoso me hizo,
y con su espíritu me dio vida.
5 Si puedes responderme,
estoy listo para discutir.
6 A los ojos de Dios,
tú y yo somos iguales;
estamos hechos de barro.
7 Así que no te alarmes,
pues no soy mejor que tú.
8 »Tú has estado insistiendo,
y aún me parece escucharte:
9 “¡Soy inocente, soy inocente!
¡No tengo de qué avergonzarme!
10 Dios me encuentra culpable
y me ve como su enemigo.
11 Me tiene encadenado
y a todas horas me vigila”.
12-13 »¿Por qué te quejas
de que Dios no te responde?
Estás muy equivocado;
Dios es más grande que nosotros.
14 Tal vez no nos damos cuenta,
pero Dios no deja de hablarnos;
15 algunas veces nos habla en sueños,
mientras dormimos profundamente;
16 otras veces nos habla al oído;
claramente nos advierte
17 que ya no hagamos lo malo
ni sigamos siendo orgullosos;
18 así nos libra de la muerte.
19 »A veces Dios nos castiga
con agudos dolores de huesos.
20 Perdemos el apetito,
y no soportamos ningún alimento;
21 la carne se nos va secando,
y hasta se nos ven los huesos.
22 Así se nos acerca la muerte.
23-25 »Si un solo ángel
se compadece de ti
y le ruega a Dios
que te salve de la muerte,
volverás a ser como un niño.
Pero el ángel tendrá que demostrar
que tú eres inocente.
26 Entonces orarás a Dios,
y lo verás cara a cara;
Dios te brindará su favor
y te hará justicia.
27 Entonces dirás a todo el mundo:
“Aunque he pecado y he sido injusto,
Dios no me castigó como merecía.
28 ¡Estoy vivo, y puedo ver la luz
porque Dios me salvó de la muerte!”
29 »Todo esto lo hace Dios
cuantas veces sea necesario,
30 para salvarnos de la muerte
y dejarnos seguir con vida.
31 »Amigo Job,
no me interrumpas,
¡escúchame con atención!
32 Pero si tienes algo que decir,
no te quedes con las ganas;
me gustaría saber que eres inocente.
33 Si no tienes nada que decir,
escúchame en silencio;
yo te enseñaré a ser sabio».
1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. 2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. 4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. 6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying , 9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, 11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. 13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. 27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. 32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.