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32 Y cesaron estos tres varones de responder a Job, por cuanto él era justo en sus ojos.

Entonces Eliú hijo de Baraquel, buzita, de la familia de Ram, se enojó con furor contra Job; se enojó con furor, por cuanto se justificaba a sí mismo más que a Dios.

Se enojó asimismo con furor contra sus tres amigos, por cuanto no hallaban qué responder, habiendo condenado a Job.

Y Eliú había esperado a Job en la disputa, porque todos eran más viejos de días que él.

Pero viendo Eliú que no había respuesta en la boca de aquellos tres varones, su furor se encendió.

Y respondió Eliú hijo de Baraquel, buzita, y dijo: Yo soy menor de días y vosotros viejos; por tanto he tenido miedo, y he temido de declararos mi opinión.

Yo decía: Los días hablarán, y la muchedumbre de años declarará sabiduría.

Ciertamente espíritu hay en el hombre, e inspiración del Omnipotente los hace que entiendan.

No siempre los grandes son los sabios, ni los viejos entienden el derecho.

10 Por tanto yo dije: Escuchadme; declararé yo también mi conocimiento.

11 He aquí yo he esperado a vuestras palabras, he escuchado vuestros argumentos, entre tanto que buscábais palabras.

12 Y aun os he considerado, y he aquí que no hay de vosotros quien redarguya a Job, y responda a sus razones.

13 Para que no digáis: Nosotros hemos hallado sabiduría; que conviene que Dios lo derribe, y no el hombre.

14 Ahora bien, él no dirigió a mí sus palabras, ni yo le responderé con vuestras razones.

15 Se espantaron, no respondieron más; se les fueron las palabras.

16 Y yo esperé, porque no hablaban, antes pararon, y no respondieron más.

17 Por eso yo también responderé mi parte, también yo declararé mi opinión.

18 Porque lleno estoy de palabras, y el espíritu de mi vientre me constriñe.

19 De cierto mi vientre está como el vino que no tiene respiradero, y está que se brote como licor. {Heb. espíritus}

20 Hablaré pues y respiraré; abriré mis labios, y responderé.

21 No haré ahora acepción de personas, ni usaré con títulos lisonjeros con el hombre.

22 Porque no sé hablar lisonjas; de otra manera en breve mi Hacedor me consuma.

VII. Elihu’s Speeches

Chapter 32

Then the three men ceased to answer Job, because in his own eyes he was in the right.(A) (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. (C)He was angry also with the three friends because they had not found a good answer and had not condemned Job. But since these men were older than he, Elihu bided his time before addressing Job. When, however, Elihu saw that there was no reply in the mouths of the three men, his wrath was inflamed. 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.
I thought, days should speak,
    and many years teach wisdom!(D)
But there is a spirit in human beings,(E)
    the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
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

  1. 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.
  2. 32:13 Met wisdom: in Job’s arguments.