Elihu Rebukes Job in Anger

32 Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was (A)righteous in his own eyes. But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the (B)Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned (C)because he justified himself [a](D)before God. And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited [b]to speak to Job because they were years older than he. But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his anger burned.

So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite [c]spoke out and said,

“I am young in years and you are (E)old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you [d]what I think.
I [e]thought [f](F)age should speak,
And [g]increased years should teach wisdom.
But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
And the (G)breath of the Almighty gives them (H)understanding.
The [h]abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may (I)elders understand justice.
10 So I [i]say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell [j]what I think.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you [k]pondered what to say.
12 I also paid close attention to you;
But [l]indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 So do not say,
(J)We have found wisdom:
God will [m]defeat him, not man.’
14 But he has not presented his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your [n]arguments.

15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have [o]failed them.
16 Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have [p]stopped and no longer answer?
17 I too will [q]give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me (K)be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:2 Or more than
  2. Job 32:4 Lit for Job with words; or possibly while they were speaking with Job
  3. Job 32:6 Lit answered
  4. Job 32:6 Lit my knowledge
  5. Job 32:7 Lit said
  6. Job 32:7 Lit days
  7. Job 32:7 Lit many
  8. Job 32:9 Lit great (i.e., in years); or nobles
  9. Job 32:10 Or said
  10. Job 32:10 Lit my knowledge
  11. Job 32:11 Lit searched out words
  12. Job 32:12 Lit Behold
  13. Job 32:13 Lit scatter
  14. Job 32:14 Lit words
  15. Job 32:15 Lit moved away from
  16. Job 32:16 Lit stand
  17. Job 32:17 Lit answer my share

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

Elihus tal (Kap 32-37)

32 De tre männen slutade nu svara Job, eftersom han var rättfärdig i sina egna ögon.

(A) Men Elihu,[a] Barakels son från Bus[b], av Rams släkt, blev upprörd. Han blev upprörd mot Job för att denne menade sig ha rätt mot Gud, och han blev upprörd mot Jobs tre vänner för att de inte fann något svar och ändå dömde Job skyldig.

Elihu hade väntat med att tala till Job eftersom de andra var äldre än han. Men när Elihu insåg att de tre männen inte hade något mer att säga blev han upprörd. Då tog Elihu, Barakels son, från Bus till orda. Han sade:

Jag är ung till åldern,
        och ni är gamla.
    Därför var jag rädd och vågade inte
        lägga fram min mening för er.
(B) Jag tänkte: ”Åldern ska tala
    och de många åren
        förkunna vishet.”
(C) Men det beror på anden
        i människan,
    den Allsmäktiges livsfläkt
        ger henne förstånd.
(D) Det är inte åldern som ger vishet
    eller bara gamla som förstår
        vad som är rätt.

10 Därför säger jag: Lyssna på mig!
    Också jag vill lägga fram
        min mening.
11 Se, jag väntade på era ord,
        jag lyssnade efter era insikter
    när ni sökte finna de rätta orden.
12 Jag lyssnade uppmärksamt på er,
        men se,
    ingen kunde motbevisa Job,
        ingen kunde ge honom
            svar på tal.
13 Svara nu inte: ”Vi möttes av vishet.
    Gud kan besegra honom,
        inte människor.”
14 Hans ord var inte riktade mot mig,
    och jag ska inte bemöta honom
        med era argument.

15 De är bestörta och svarar inte mer,
    de har tappat talförmågan.
16 Skulle jag vänta
        när de inget säger,
    när de står där utan svar?
17 Också jag vill ta till orda,
    också jag vill säga min mening,
18 (E) för jag är uppfylld av ord,
    anden inom mig tvingar mig.
19 Se, mitt inre är som instängt vin[c],
    som en ny vinlägel nära att brista.
20 Därför måste jag tala och få lättnad,
    jag vill öppna mina läppar
        och svara.
21 Jag ska inte vara partisk mot någon
    och inte smickra någon människa.
22 Smicker vill jag inte veta av,
    annars kunde min skapare
        strax rycka bort mig.

Footnotes

  1. 32:2 Elihu   Betyder ”han är min Gud”.
  2. 32:2 Bus   Arabiskt stamområde (jfr 1 Mos 22:21, Jer 25:23).
  3. 32:19 instängt vin   Jäsande vin expanderar och kan spränga sitt kärl (jfr Matt 9:17 med not).

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was (A)righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the (B)Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he (C)justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.

So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:

“I am (D)young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
I said, [b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
But there is a spirit in man,
And (E)the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
(F)Great[c] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.

10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 (G)Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not [d]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.

15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my [e]belly is like wine that has no [f]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me (H)away.

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:4 Vg. till Job had spoken
  2. Job 32:7 Lit. Days, i.e., years
  3. Job 32:9 Or Men of many years
  4. Job 32:14 ordered
  5. Job 32:19 bosom
  6. Job 32:19 opening