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.
约伯记 32
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
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。 2 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。 3 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。 4 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。 5 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
6 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。
7 我心里想：‘年长的当先说话，
寿高的当以智慧教训人。’
8 但是在人心里面有灵，
全能者的气息使人有聪明。
9 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。”
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.