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Elihu Speaks

32 These three men stopped trying to answer Job, because he was ·so sure he was right [right/righteous in his own eyes]. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, from the family of Ram, became very angry with Job, because Job ·claimed he was right instead of [or he was more right/righteous than] God. Elihu was also angry with Job’s three friends who had no answer to show that Job was wrong, yet continued to ·blame him [treat him as wrong]. Elihu had waited before speaking to Job, because the three friends were older than he was. But when Elihu saw that the three men had nothing more to say, he became very angry.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said this:

“I am young,
    and you are ·old [aged].
That is why I was ·afraid [L timid and afraid]
    to tell you ·what I know [my opinion].
I thought, ‘·Older people should [L Let days] speak,
    and those who have lived many years should ·teach [make known; reveal] wisdom.’
But it is the spirit in a person,
    the breath of ·the Almighty [Shaddai], that gives understanding.
It is not just ·older people [L the many] who are wise;
    ·they [L the elders] are not the only ones who understand ·what is right [justice].
10 So I say, listen to me.
    I too will ·tell [show] you ·what I know [my opinion].
11 I waited ·while you three spoke [L for your words],
    and ·listened [bent an ear] to your ·explanations [or arguments].
While you ·looked for words to use,
12     I paid close attention to you.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
    none of you has answered his arguments.
13 Don’t say, ‘We have found wisdom;
    only God will show Job to be wrong, not people.’
14 Job has not spoken his words against me,
    so I will not use your arguments to answer Job.

15 “·These three friends [L They] are ·defeated [dismayed; discouraged] and ·have no more to say [cannot answer];
    words have failed them.
16 Now they are standing there with no answers for Job.
    ·Now that they are quiet [L If they don’t speak], must I wait to speak?
17 No, I too will speak
    and ·tell what I know [share my opinion].
18 I am full of words,
    and the spirit in me ·causes me to speak [compels me].
19 I am like wine that has ·been bottled up [no vent/opening];
    I am ready to burst like a new leather wine bag.
20 I must speak so I will feel relief;
    I must open my ·mouth [L lips] and answer.
21 I will ·be fair to everyone [L not favor anyone]
    and not flatter anyone.
22 I don’t know how to flatter,
    and if I did, my Maker would quickly take me away.

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

Presentación de Elihú

32 Cuando los tres amigos se dieron cuenta de que Job creía ser inocente, dejaron de responderle. Pero un joven llamado Elihú se enojó mucho con Job porque insistía en que era inocente, y que Dios era injusto con él. Elihú era hijo de Baraquel, y nieto de Buz, de la familia de Ram. También se enojó con los tres amigos porque habían condenado a Job sin demostrar que era culpable.

Elihú había querido tomar la palabra antes, pero no lo había hecho porque Job y sus amigos eran mayores que él. Sin embargo, cuando vio que los tres amigos ya no tenían nada que decir, se enojó mucho y comenzó a hablar.

Primera participación de Elihú

Elihú dijo:

«No me sentía muy seguro
de decir lo que pienso
porque soy muy joven
y ustedes son mayores de edad.
Me pareció que era mejor
dejar que hablara la experiencia,
y que la gente de más edad
se luciera con su sabiduría.
8-9 Sin embargo,
no depende de la edad
entender lo que es justo;
no son los muchos años
los que dan sabiduría.
Lo que nos hace sabios
es el espíritu del Dios todopoderoso,
¡y ese espíritu vive en nosotros!

10 »También tengo algo que decir,
así que les ruego que me escuchen.
11 Mientras ustedes hablaban
y buscaban las mejores palabras,
yo me propuse esperar
y escuchar lo que tenían que decir.
12 Les presté toda mi atención.
Pero ninguno de ustedes
ha sabido responder
a las explicaciones de Job.

13 »Si ustedes son los sabios
¡no me salgan ahora
con que es Dios
quien debe responderle!
14 Job no se ha dirigido a mí,
así que yo no voy a contestar
como ustedes lo han hecho.

15 »Job, tus amigos se han callado
porque les faltan las palabras.
16 ¡Pero no porque ellos callen
debo yo guardar silencio!
17 Tengo mucho que decir,
y ya no puedo callarme.
18 A mí no me faltan palabras;
y ya no me puedo aguantar.
19 Parezco botella de sidra;
¡estoy a punto de reventar!
20 Tengo que desahogarme;
¡tengo que responderte!
21-22 No voy a tomar partido
ni a favorecer a nadie,
pues no me gustan los halagos;
si así lo hiciera, Dios me castigaría.

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