以利戶的回答

32 三人見約伯自以為義,便不再回答他。 那時,蘭族的布西人巴拉迦的兒子以利戶對約伯很惱火,因為約伯自以為義,不承認上帝的公義。 他對約伯的三個朋友也很惱火,因為他們說約伯有罪,卻無法回答約伯的質問[a] 由於不及他們年長,以利戶便等他們說完才向約伯發言。 他見三人無法回答約伯,很惱火, 就說:

「我年紀輕,你們是長輩,
所以我畏懼,不敢陳明觀點。
我想,前輩當先發言,
長者當傳授智慧。
但只有人裡面的靈——
全能者的氣息賜人悟性。
長者不一定有智慧,
年老不一定明白是非。
10 因此,請聽我說,
我也要陳明觀點。
11 看啊,我一直等候你們發言,
傾聽你們的理論,
等你們斟詞酌句。
12 我仔細聆聽,
發現你們無人能駁倒約伯,
無人能答覆他。
13 你們不要說,『我們找到了智慧,
使他折服的是上帝而非人。』
14 約伯沒有與我辯論,
我也不會用你們的理論答覆他。

15 「他們驚慌失措,無言以對,
再也說不出話來。
16 難道他們不說話,站在那裡無言以對,
我就要等下去嗎?
17 我也要作出答覆,
陳明我的觀點。
18 因為我心裡積滿了話,
我裡面的靈催促我說出來。
19 我裡面像盛滿了酒,卻沒有出口,
又如將要破裂的新酒袋。
20 我要一吐為快,
我要開口答覆。
21 我不看人的情面,
也不奉承人。
22 我不善奉承,
否則,造物主會很快把我除掉。

Footnotes

  1. 32·3 因為他們說約伯有罪,卻無法回答約伯的質問」有古卷作「因為他們無法回答約伯的質問,因而置上帝於不公」。

32 So these shloshet ha’anashim ceased to answer Iyov, because he was tzaddik in his eyes.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu ben Barachel the Buzi, of the mishpochah Ram; against Iyov was his wrath kindled, because Iyov justified his nefesh rather than Elohim.

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no ma’aneh (refutation, answer), and yet had condemned Iyov.

Now Elihu had waited till Iyov had spoken, because they were elder than he.

When Elihu saw that there was no ma’aneh in the mouth of these shloshet ha’anashim, then his wrath was kindled.

And Elihu ben Barachel the Buzi answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and dared not tell you of what I have da’as.

I said, Yamim should speak, and multitude of shanim should teach chochmah.

But there is a ruach in enosh, and the neshamat Shaddai giveth them binah.

Great men are not always wise, neither do the zekenim understand mishpat.

10 Therefore I said, Pay heed to me; I also will tell of what I have da’as.

11 Hen (behold), I waited for your dvarim; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, hinei, there was none of you that proved Iyov wrong, or that answered his words.

13 Yet do not say, We have found chochmah; El may vanquish him, lo ish (not man).

14 Now he hath not directed his millin (words) against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.

15 They were amazed; they answered no od (more); they left off speaking.

16 When I had waited, (for they spoke not, but stood still, and answered no od [more]);

17 I said, I will answer also my chelek (portion); I also will show of mine da’as.

18 For I am full of millim (words), the ruach within me compelleth me.

19 Hinei, my beten is like yayin which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like ovot chadashim (new wineskins).

20 I will speak that I may be relieved; I will open my sfatayim and answer.

21 Let me not, now, show any man partiality, neither let me flatter adam.

22 For I am not skilled in flattery; in so doing Oseini (my Maker) would soon take me away.