Job’s Reply
1Job replied,
2“I wish my great pain could be weighed!
I wish all my suffering could be weighed on scales!
3I’m sure it would weigh more than the grains of sand on the seashore.
No wonder I’ve been so quick to speak!
4The Mighty One has shot me with his arrows.
I have to drink their poison.
God’s terrors are aimed at me.
5Does a wild donkey cry out when it has enough grass?
Does an ox call out when it has plenty of food?
6Is food that doesn’t have any taste eaten without salt?
Is there any flavor in the sap of a mallow plant?
7I refuse to touch that kind of food.
It makes me sick.
8“I wish I could have what I’m asking for!
I wish God would give me what I’m hoping for!
9I wish he would crush me!
I wish he would just cut off my life!
10Then I’d still have one thing to comfort me.
It would be that I haven’t said no to the Holy One’s commands.
That would give me joy in spite of my pain that never ends.
11“I’m so weak that I no longer have any hope.
Things have gotten so bad that I can’t wait for help anymore.
12Am I as strong as stone?
Is my body made out of bronze?
13I don’t have the power to help myself.
All hope of success has been taken away from me.
14“A person shouldn’t stop being kind to a friend.
Anyone who does that stops showing respect for the Mighty One.
15But my friends have stopped being kind to me.
They are like streams that only flow for part of the year.
They are like rivers that flow over their banks
16when the ice begins to break up.
The streams rise when the snow starts to melt.
17But they stop flowing when the dry season comes.
They disappear from their stream beds when the weather warms up.
18Groups of traders turn away from their usual paths.
They go off into the dry and empty land.
And they die there.
19Traders from Tema look for water.
Traveling merchants from Sheba also hope to find it.
20They become troubled because they had expected to find some.
But when they arrive at the stream beds,
they don’t find any water at all.
21And now, my friends, you haven’t helped me either.
You see the horrible condition I’m in.
And that makes you afraid.
22I’ve never said, ‘Give me something to help me.
Use your wealth to set me free.
23Save me from the power of my enemy.
Rescue me from the power of mean people.’
24“Teach me. Then I’ll be quiet.
Show me what I’ve done wrong.
25Honest words are so painful!
But your reasoning doesn’t prove anything.
26Are you trying to correct what I’m saying?
Are you treating my hopeless words like nothing but wind?
27You would even cast lots for those whose fathers have died.
You would even trade away your closest friend.
28“But now please look at me.
Would I tell you a lie right here in front of you?
29Stop what you are saying. Don’t be so unfair.
Think it over again.
You are trying to take my honesty away from me.
30Has my mouth spoken anything that is evil?
Do my lips say things that are hateful?”
Segundo discurso de Job
1A esto Job respondió:
2«¡Cómo quisiera que mi angustia se pesara
y se pusiera en la balanza, junto con mi desgracia!
3¡De seguro pesarían más que la arena de los mares!
¡Por algo mis palabras son tan impetuosas!
4Las saetas del Todopoderoso me han herido,
y mi espíritu absorbe su veneno.
¡Dios ha enviado sus terrores contra mí!
5¿Rebuzna el asno salvaje si tiene hierba?
¿Muge el buey si tiene forraje?
6¿Puede comerse sin sal la comida desabrida?
¿Tiene algún sabor la clara de huevo?6:6 la clara de huevo. Alt. el suero del queso, o el jugo de malva.
7Mi paladar se niega a probarla;
¡esa comida me enferma!
8»¡Ah, si Dios me concediera lo que pido!
¡Si Dios me otorgara lo que anhelo!
9¡Ah, si Dios se decidiera a destrozarme por completo,
a descargar su mano sobre mí y aniquilarme!
10Aun así me quedaría este consuelo,
esta alegría en medio de mi implacable dolor:
¡el no haber negado las palabras del Dios Santo!
11»¿Qué fuerzas me quedan para seguir esperando?
¿Qué fin me espera para querer vivir?
12¿Tengo acaso la fuerza de la roca?
¿Acaso tengo piel de bronce?
13¿Cómo puedo valerme por mí mismo,
si me han quitado todos mis recursos?
14»Al amigo que sufre no se le niega la lealtad,6:14 Al amigo … lealtad (lectura probable); para el desahuciado hay lealtad de su amigo (TM).
aunque se haya apartado del temor al Todopoderoso.
15Pero mis hermanos me traicionan como un torrente;
como corrientes de arroyos que desaparecen:
16se enturbian cuando el hielo se derrite;
se ensanchan al derretirse la nieve,
17pero dejan de fluir durante las sequías;
en pleno calor desaparecen de sus lechos.
18Las caravanas se apartan de sus rutas;
se encaminan al desierto y allí mueren.
19Las caravanas de Temá van en busca de agua,
los mercaderes de Sabá abrigan esperanzas.
20Se desaniman, a pesar de su confianza;
llegan allí y se quedan frustrados.
21Lo mismo pasa con ustedes:
¡ven algo espantoso y se asustan!
22¿Acaso les he pedido que me den algo
o que paguen con su dinero mi rescate?
23¿Acaso les he pedido que me libren de mi enemigo
o que me rescaten de las garras de los opresores?
24»Instrúyanme y me quedaré callado;
muéstrenme en qué estoy equivocado.
25¡Qué dolorosas son las palabras justas!
¡Pero los argumentos de ustedes, qué pretenden probar!
26¿Pretenden ustedes corregir lo que digo
y tratar mis palabras desesperadas como si fueran viento?
27¡Ustedes echarían suertes hasta por un huérfano
y venderían a su amigo por cualquier cosa!
28»Tengan la bondad de mirarme a los ojos.
¿Creen que les mentiría en su propia cara?
29Reflexionen, no sean injustos;
reflexionen, que en esto radica mi integridad.
30¿Acaso hay malicia en mi lengua?
¿No puede mi paladar discernir la maldad?
