Job 6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 6
Job’s First Reply. 1 Then Job answered and said:
2 Ah, could my anguish but be measured
and my calamity laid with it in the scales,
3 They would now outweigh the sands of the sea!
Because of this I speak without restraint.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me,(A)
and my spirit drinks in their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass?[a]
Does the ox low over its fodder?
6 Can anything insipid be eaten without salt?
Is there flavor in the white of an egg?
7 I refuse to touch them;
they are like loathsome food to me.
8 Oh, that I might have my request,
and that God would grant what I long for:
9 Even that God would decide to crush me,
that he would put forth his hand and cut me off!
10 Then I should still have consolation
and could exult through unremitting pain,
because I have not transgressed the commands of the Holy One.
11 What strength have I that I should endure,
and what is my limit that I should be patient?
12 Have I the strength of stones,
or is my flesh of bronze?
13 Have I no helper,(B)
and has my good sense deserted me?
14 A friend owes kindness to one in despair,
though he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15 My companions are undependable as a wadi,
as watercourses that run dry in the wadies;
16 Though they may be black with ice,
and with snow heaped upon them,
17 Yet once they flow, they cease to be;
in the heat, they disappear from their place.
18 Caravans wander from their routes;
they go into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema[b] search,
the companies of Sheba have hopes;
20 They are disappointed, though they were confident;
they come there and are frustrated.
21 It is thus that you have now become for me;[c]
you see a terrifying thing and are afraid.
22 Have I said, “Give me something,
make a bribe on my behalf from your possessions”?
23 Or “Deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
redeem me from oppressors”?
24 Teach me, and I will be silent;
make me understand how I have erred.
25 How painful honest words can be;
yet how unconvincing is your argument!
26 Do you consider your words as proof,
but the sayings of a desperate man as wind?
27 You would even cast lots for the orphan,
and would barter over your friend!
28 Come, now, give me your attention;
surely I will not lie to your face.
29 Think it over; let there be no injustice.
Think it over; I still am right.
30 Is there insincerity on my tongue,
or cannot my taste discern falsehood?
Footnotes
- 6:5–6 Job would not complain if his life were as pleasant to him as fodder to a hungry animal; but his life is as disagreeable as insipid food. White of an egg: thus the obscure Hebrew has been understood in Jewish tradition; some render it “mallow juice.”
- 6:19 Tema: in northwest Arabia. Sheba: home of the Sabeans; see note on 1:15.
- 6:21 It is only at this point that the previous lines (vv. 1–20) are clearly directed to the three friends. The style of replying in these chapters (3–31) is often indirect. Job and the friends become mouthpieces through which the author presents current views on divine retribution in dramatic fashion. In chap. 7, Job will not even speak directly to the friends.
Job 6
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Respuesta de Job a Elifaz
6 Entonces Job respondió:
2 «¡Oh, si pudiera pesarse mi sufrimiento,
Y ponerse en la balanza junto con mi calamidad(A)!
3 -»Porque pesarían(B) ahora más que la arena de los mares;
Por eso mis palabras han sido precipitadas.
4 -»Porque las flechas del Todopoderoso[a] están clavadas en mí(C),
Cuyo veneno bebe mi espíritu(D);
Contra mí se juntan[b] los terrores de Dios(E).
5 -»¿Acaso rebuzna el asno montés junto a[c] su hierba(F),
O muge el buey junto a[d] su forraje?
6 -»¿Se come sin sal lo insípido,
O hay gusto en la clara del huevo[e]?
7 -»Mi alma se niega a tocar estas cosas;
Son alimento repugnante para mí(G).
8 ¶»¡Quién me diera que mi petición se cumpliera,
Que Dios me concediera mi anhelo,
9 Que Dios consintiera en aplastarme,
Que soltara Su mano y acabara conmigo(H)!
10 -»Pero aún tengo consuelo,
Y me regocijo en el dolor sin tregua,
Que no he negado[f] las palabras del Santo(I).
11 -»¿Cuál es mi fuerza, para que yo espere,
Y cuál es mi fin, para que yo resista[g](J)?
12 -»¿Es mi fuerza la fuerza de las piedras,
O es mi carne de bronce?
13 -»¿Es que mi ayuda(K) no está dentro de mí,
Y está alejado de mí todo auxilio[h](L)?
14 ¶»Para el abatido(M), debe haber compasión de parte de su amigo;
No sea que abandone el temor[i] del Todopoderoso(N).
15 -»Mis hermanos han obrado engañosamente como un torrente[j],
Como las corrientes de los arroyos que se desvanecen(O),
16 Que a causa del hielo están turbios
Y en los que la nieve se derrite[k].
17 -»Cuando se quedan sin agua, están silenciosos[l],
Cuando hace calor, desaparecen de su lugar(P).
18 -»Serpentean las sendas de su curso,
Se evaporan en la nada y perecen[m].
19 -»Las caravanas de Temán(Q) los buscaron[n],
Los viajeros de Sabá(R) contaban con ellos.
20 -»Quedaron frustrados[o] porque habían confiado,
Llegaron allí y fueron confundidos(S).
21 -»Ciertamente, así son ustedes ahora,
Ven algo aterrador y se espantan(T).
22 -»¿Acaso he dicho: “Denme algo,
De su riqueza ofrézcanme un soborno,
23 Líbrenme de la mano del adversario”,
O: “Rescátenme de la mano de los tiranos”?
24 ¶»Instrúyanme, y yo me callaré(U);
Muéstrenme en qué he errado.
25 -»¡Cuán dolorosas son las palabras sinceras!
Pero ¿qué prueba el argumento de ustedes?
26 -»¿Piensan censurar mis palabras,
Cuando las palabras del desesperado se las lleva el[p] viento(V)?
27 -»Aun echarían suerte(W) sobre los huérfanos(X),
Y especularían con su amigo(Y).
28 -»Y ahora, traten de mirarme,
Y vean si miento(Z) en sus propias caras.
29 -»Desistan, por favor; que no haya injusticia;
Sí, desistan; en ello está aún mi justicia(AA).
30 -»¿Acaso hay injusticia en mi lengua?
¿No puede mi paladar discernir calamidades(AB)?
Footnotes
- 6:4 Heb. Shaddai.
- 6:4 O se colocan en línea de batalla.
- 6:5 O sobre.
- 6:5 O sobre.
- 6:6 Heb. rir halamut, de significado incierto; quizá el jugo de una planta.
- 6:10 Lit. ocultado.
- 6:11 Lit. prolongue mi alma.
- 6:13 Así en algunas versiones antiguas; en el T.M., éxito o sabiduría.
- 6:14 O la reverencia.
- 6:15 O arroyo.
- 6:16 Lit. se esconde.
- 6:17 O cesan.
- 6:18 O Caravanas se desvían de su curso, suben a lo desolado y perecen.
- 6:19 Lit. miraron.
- 6:20 Lit. avergonzados.
- 6:26 Lit. al.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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