Job 32
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
VII. Elihu’s Speeches
Chapter 32
1 Then the three men ceased to answer Job, because in his own eyes he was in the right.(A) 2 (B)But the anger of Elihu,[a] son of Barachel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, was kindled. He was angry with Job for considering himself rather than God to be in the right. 3 (C)He was angry also with the three friends because they had not found a good answer and had not condemned Job. 4 But since these men were older than he, Elihu bided his time before addressing Job. 5 When, however, Elihu saw that there was no reply in the mouths of the three men, his wrath was inflamed. 6 So Elihu, son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
I am young and you are very old;
therefore I held back and was afraid
to declare to you my knowledge.
7 I thought, days should speak,
and many years teach wisdom!(D)
8 But there is a spirit in human beings,(E)
the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9 It is not those of many days who are wise,
nor the aged who understand the right.
10 Therefore I say, listen to me;
I also will declare my knowledge!
11 Behold, I have waited for your words,
have given ear to your arguments,
as you searched out what to say.
12 Yes, I followed you attentively:
And look, none of you has convicted Job,
not one could refute his statements.
13 So do not say, “We have met wisdom;[b]
God can vanquish him but no mortal!”
14 For had he addressed his words to me,
I would not then have answered him with your words.
15 They are dismayed, they make no more reply;
words fail them.
16 Must I wait? Now that they speak no more,
and have ceased to make reply,
17 I too will speak my part;
I also will declare my knowledge!
18 For I am full of words;
the spirit within me compels me.
19 My belly is like unopened wine,
like wineskins ready to burst.
20 Let me speak and obtain relief;
let me open my lips, and reply.
21 I would not be partial to anyone,
nor give flattering titles to any.
22 For I know nothing of flattery;
if I did, my Maker would soon take me away.
Footnotes
- 32:2 Elihu means “My God is he.” This speaker was from Buz, which, according to Jer 25:23, was near Tema and Dedan. A young man, he impetuously and impatiently upbraids Job for his boldness toward God, and the three friends for not successfully answering Job. He undertakes to defend God’s absolute justice and to explain more clearly why there is suffering. While fundamentally his position is the same as that of the three friends, he locates the place of suffering in the divine plan. Because Elihu’s four speeches (32:6–33:33; 34:2–37; 35:2–16; 36:2–37:24) repeat the substance of the earlier arguments of the three friends and also anticipate the content of the divine speeches (chaps. 39–41), many scholars consider them a later addition to the book.
- 32:13 Met wisdom: in Job’s arguments.
約伯記 32
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Traditional)
以利戶怒約伯自義並怒其三友
32 於是這三個人，因約伯自以為義就不再回答他。 2 那時有布西人蘭族巴拉迦的兒子以利戶向約伯發怒，因約伯自以為義，不以神為義。 3 他又向約伯的三個朋友發怒，因為他們想不出回答的話來，仍以約伯為有罪。 4 以利戶要與約伯說話，就等候他們，因為他們比自己年老。 5 以利戶見這三個人口中無話回答，就怒氣發作。
以利戶陳述己意
6 布西人巴拉迦的兒子以利戶回答說：「我年輕，你們老邁，因此我退讓，不敢向你們陳說我的意見。 7 我說，年老的當先說話，壽高的當以智慧教訓人。 8 但在人裡面有靈，全能者的氣使人有聰明。 9 尊貴的不都有智慧，壽高的不都能明白公平。 10 因此我說，你們要聽我言，我也要陳說我的意見。
11 「你們查究所要說的話，那時我等候你們的話，側耳聽你們的辯論， 12 留心聽你們。誰知你們中間無一人折服約伯，駁倒他的話。 13 你們切不可說：『我們尋得智慧，神能勝他，人卻不能。』 14 約伯沒有向我爭辯，我也不用你們的話回答他。
15 「他們驚奇，不再回答，一言不發。 16 我豈因他們不說話，站住不再回答，仍舊等候呢？ 17 我也要回答我的一份話，陳說我的意見。 18 因為我的言語滿懷，我裡面的靈激動我。 19 我的胸懷如盛酒之囊，沒有出氣之縫，又如新皮袋快要破裂。 20 我要說話，使我舒暢，我要開口回答。 21 我必不看人的情面，也不奉承人。 22 我不曉得奉承，若奉承，造我的主必快快除滅我。
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