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」。

以利户向约伯与三友发怒

32 因为约伯自以为义,于是这三个人就不再回答他。 那时,布西人兰族巴拉迦的儿子以利户发怒了;他向约伯发怒,因为他在 神面前自以为义。 他又向约伯的三个朋友发怒,因为他们虽然仍以约伯为有罪,却找不到回答的话来。 以利户等待着要向约伯说话,因为他们的年纪都比以利户大。 以利户一见这三个人的口里无话回答,他就发怒了。

以利户发言陈述己见

布西人巴拉迦的儿子以利户回答说:

“我年纪轻,你们年纪大,

因此我拘束畏惧,不敢向你们表达我的意见。

我心里想:‘年长的当先说话,

寿高的当以智慧教训人。’

但是在人心里面有灵,

全能者的气息使人有聪明。

年纪大的不都有智慧,

年老的不都能明白是非,

10 因此我说:‘你们要听我说话,

我也要说出我的意见。’

11 你们砌词说话的时候,

我等待着你们的话,

留心听你们的理论。

12 我留意听你们,

不料,你们中间没有人能驳倒约伯,

驳回他所说的话。

13 你们不要说:‘我们寻得了智慧;

能胜过他的,是 神,不是人。’

14 约伯没有用他的话攻击我,

我也不用你们的话回答他。

15 他们惊惶失措,不再回应,

他们没有甚么可说的话了。

16 因为他们不说话,因为他们站着不再回应,

我就等待吗?

17 我也要回答我的一份话,

我也要表达我的意见,

18 因为我充满了要说的话,

我里面的灵催逼我说出来。

19 我里面如盛酒的囊,没有出气的地方,

又如新酒袋,快要破裂。

20 我要说话,使我可以舒畅,

我要开口回答。

21 我必不徇人的情面,

也不奉承人,

22 因为我不晓得怎样奉承。

不然,我的创造主很快就把我除去。”

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job,(A) because he was righteous in his own eyes.(B) But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,(C) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself(D) rather than God.(E) He was also angry with the three friends,(F) because they had found no way to refute Job,(G) and yet had condemned him.[a](H) Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.(I) But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years,
    and you are old;(J)
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’(K)
But it is the spirit[b](L) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,(M) that gives them understanding.(N)
It is not only the old[c] who are wise,(O)
    not only the aged(P) who understand what is right.(Q)

10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me;(R)
    I too will tell you what I know.(S)
11 I waited while you spoke,
    I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
12     I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
    none of you has answered his arguments.(T)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;(U)
    let God, not a man, refute(V) him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,(W)
    and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
    words have failed them.(X)
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent,
    now that they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will have my say;
    I too will tell what I know.(Y)
18 For I am full of words,
    and the spirit(Z) within me compels me;(AA)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.(AB)
20 I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.(AC)
21 I will show no partiality,(AD)
    nor will I flatter anyone;(AE)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
    my Maker(AF) would soon take me away.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
  2. Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
  3. Job 32:9 Or many; or great