1 Y RESPONDIO Job, y dijo:

2 Oid atentamente mi palabra, Y sea esto vuestros consuelos.

3 Soportadme, y yo hablaré; Y después que hubiere hablado, escarneced.

4 ¿Hablo yo á algún hombre? Y ¿por qué no se ha de angustiar mi espíritu?

5 Miradme, y espantaos, Y poned la mano sobre la boca.

6 Aun yo mismo, cuando me acuerdo, me asombro, Y toma temblor mi carne.

7 ¿Por qué viven los impíos, Y se envejecen, y aun crecen en riquezas?

8 Su simiente con ellos, compuesta delante de ellos; Y sus renuevos delante de sus ojos.

9 Sus casas seguras de temor, Ni hay azote de Dios sobre ellos.

10 Sus vacas conciben, no abortan; Paren sus vacas, y no malogran su cría.

11 Salen sus chiquitos como manada, Y sus hijos andan saltando.

12 Al son de tamboril y cítara saltan, Y se huelgan al son del órgano.

13 Gastan sus días en bien, Y en un momento descienden á la sepultura.

14 Dicen pues á Dios: Apártate de nosotros, Que no queremos el conocimiento de tus caminos.

15 ¿Quién es el Todopoderoso, para que le sirvamos? ¿Y de qué nos aprovechará que oremos á él?

16 He aquí que su bien no está en manos de ellos: El consejo de los impíos lejos esté de mí.

17 Oh cuántas veces la lámpara de los impíos es apagada, Y viene sobre ellos su quebranto, Y Dios en su ira les reparte dolores!

18 Serán como la paja delante del viento, Y como el tamo que arrebata el torbellino.

19 Dios guardará para sus hijos su violencia; Y le dará su pago, para que conozca.

20 Verán sus ojos su quebranto, Y beberá de la ira del Todopoderoso.

21 Porque ¿qué deleite tendrá él de su casa después de sí, Siendo cortado el número de sus meses?

22 ¿Enseñará alguien á Dios sabiduría, Juzgando él á los que están elevados?

23 Este morirá en el vigor de su hermosura, todo quieto y pacífico.

24 Sus colodras están llenas de leche, Y sus huesos serán regados de tuétano.

25 Y estotro morirá en amargura de ánimo, Y no habiendo comido jamás con gusto.

26 Igualmente yacerán ellos en el polvo, Y gusanos los cubrirán.

27 He aquí, yo conozco vuestros pensamientos, Y las imaginaciones que contra mí forjáis.

28 Porque decís: ¿Qué es de la casa del príncipe, Y qué de la tienda de las moradas de los impíos?

29 ¿No habéis preguntado á los que pasan por los caminos, Por cuyas señas no negaréis,

30 Que el malo es reservado para el día de la destrucción? Presentados serán en el día de las iras.

31 ¿Quién le denunciará en su cara su camino? Y de lo que él hizo, ¿quién le dará el pago?

32 Porque llevado será él á los sepulcros, Y en el montón permanecerá.

33 Los terrones del valle le serán dulces; Y tras de él será llevado todo hombre, Y antes de él han ido innumerables.

34 ¿Cómo pues me consoláis en vano, Viniendo á parar vuestras respuestas en falacia?

1 Then Job made answer and said,

2 Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.

3 Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.

4 As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?

5 Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.

6 At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.

7 Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?

8 Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.

10 Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.

11 They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,

12 They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.

13 Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld.

14 Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.

15 What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?

16 Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)

17 How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?

18 How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?

19 You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!

20 Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!

21 For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?

22 Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.

23 One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:

24 His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.

25 And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.

26 Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.

27 See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;

28 For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?

29 Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?

30 How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?

31 Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?

32 He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.

33 The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.

34 Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?