1 Then Job answered,

2 "I have heard many such things.

You are all miserable comforters!

3 Shall vain words have an end?

Or what provokes you that you answer?

4 I also could speak as you do.

If your soul were in my soul’s place,

I could join words together against you,

and shake my head at you,

5 but I would strengthen you with my mouth.

The solace of my lips would relieve you.

6 "Though I speak, my grief is not subsided.

Though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out.

You have made all my company desolate.

8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me.

My leanness rises up against me.

It testifies to my face.

9 He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me.

He has gnashed on me with his teeth.

My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

10 They have gaped on me with their mouth.

They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully.

They gather themselves together against me.

11 God delivers me to the ungodly,

and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart.

Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces.

He has also set me up for his target.

13 His archers surround me.

He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare.

He pours out my bile on the ground.

14 He breaks me with breach on breach.

He runs at me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,

and have thrust my horn in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping.

Deep darkness is on my eyelids,

17 although there is no violence in my hands,

and my prayer is pure.

18 "Earth, don’t cover my blood.

Let my cry have no place to rest.

19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven.

He who vouches for me is on high.

20 My friends scoff at me.

My eyes pour out tears to God,

21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God,

of a son of man with his neighbor!

22 For when a few years have come,

I will go the way of no return.

1 Y RESPONDIÓ Job, y dijo:

2 Muchas veces he oído cosas ✝16.2 cp. 12.3.como estas:

Consoladores molestos sois todos vosotros.

3 ¿Tendrán fin las palabras ventosas?

O ¿qué te animará á responder?

4 También yo hablaría como vosotros.

Ojalá vuestra alma estuviera en lugar de la mía,

Que yo os tendría compañía en las palabras,

Y sobre vosotros movería mi cabeza.

5 Mas yo os alentaría con mis palabras,

Y la consolación de mis labios apaciguaría el dolor vuestro.

6 Si hablo, mi dolor no cesa;

Y si dejo de hablar, no se aparta de mí.

7 Empero ahora me ha fatigado:

Has tú asolado toda ✝16.7 cp. 1.15-19.mi compañía.

8 Tú me has arrugado; testigo es ✝16.8 Sal. 109.24.mi flacura,

Que se levanta contra mí para testificar en mi rostro.

9 Su furor me destrizó, y me ha sido contrario:

✝ 16.9 Sal. 35.16 y 37.12. Crujió sus dientes contra mí;

Contra mí ✝16.9 Sal. 7.12.aguzó sus ojos mi enemigo.

10 ✝ 16.10 Sal. 22.13. Abrieron contra mí su boca;

✝ 16.10 Lm. 3.30. Hirieron mis mejillas con afrenta;

Contra mí se juntaron todos.

11 Hame entregado Dios al mentiroso,

Y en las manos de los impíos me hizo estremecer.

12 Próspero estaba, y desmenuzóme:

Y arrebatóme por la cerviz, y despedazóme,

Y púsome por ✝16.12 Lm. 3.12.blanco suyo.

13 Cercáronme sus ✝16.13 cp. 6.4.flecheros,

Partió mis riñones, y no perdonó:

Mi hiel ✝16.13 Lm. 2.11.derramó por tierra.

14 Quebrantóme de ✝16.14 cp. 30.14.quebranto sobre quebranto;

Corrió contra mí como un gigante.

15 Yo cosí saco sobre mi piel,

Y cargué mi cabeza de polvo.

16 Mi rostro está enlodado con lloro,

Y mis párpados entenebrecidos:

17 A pesar de no haber iniquidad en mis manos,

Y de haber sido mi oración pura.

18 ¡Oh tierra! ✝16.18 Is. 26.21. Ez. 24.7.no cubras mi sangre,

Y no haya lugar ✝16.18 Gn. 4.10.a mi clamor.

19 Mas he aquí que en los cielos está mi testigo,

Y mi testimonio en las alturas.

20 Disputadores son mis amigos:

Mas á Dios destilarán mis ojos.

21 ¡Ojalá pudiese disputar el hombre con Dios,

Como con su prójimo!

22 Mas los años contados vendrán,

Y yo iré el camino por donde no volveré.