The Speech of Elihu
1So the three men stopped answering Job, because he thought he was right. 2But Elihu the Buzite was very angry with Job. That’s because Job said he himself was right instead of God. Elihu was the son of Barakel. He was from the family of Ram. 3Elihu was also very angry with Job’s three friends. They hadn’t found any way to prove that Job was wrong. But they still said he was guilty. 4Elihu had waited before he spoke to Job. That’s because the others were older than he was. 5But he saw that the three men didn’t have anything more to say. So he was very angry.
6Elihu the Buzite, the son of Barakel, said,
“I’m young, and you are old.
So I was afraid to tell you what I know.
7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak first.
Those who have lived for many years
should teach people how to be wise.’
8But the spirit in people gives them understanding.
The breath of the Mighty One gives them wisdom.
9Older people aren’t the only ones who are wise.
They aren’t the only ones who understand what is right.
10“So I’m saying you should listen to me.
I’ll tell you what I know.
11I waited while you men spoke.
I listened to your reasoning.
While you were searching for words,
12I paid careful attention to you.
But not one of you has proved that Job is wrong.
None of you has answered his arguments.
13Don’t claim, ‘We have enough wisdom to answer Job.’
Let God, not a mere man, prove that he’s wrong.
14Job hasn’t directed his words against me.
I won’t answer him with your arguments.
15“Job, these men are afraid.
They don’t have anything else to say.
They’ve run out of words.
16Do I have to keep on waiting, now that they are silent?
They are just standing there with nothing to say.
17I too have something to say.
I too will tell what I know.
18I’m full of words.
My spirit inside me forces me to speak.
19Inside I’m like wine that is bottled up.
I’m like new wineskins ready to burst.
20I must speak so I can feel better.
I must open my mouth and reply.
21I’ll treat everyone the same.
I won’t praise anyone without meaning it.
22If I weren’t honest when I praised people,
my Maker would soon take me from this life.
Nagsalita si Elihu
1Kinalaunan, tumigil na sa pagsasalita ang tatlong kaibigan ni Job, dahil ipinipilit ni Job na wala siyang kasalanan.
2May isang tao roon na ang pangalan ay Elihu. Anak siya ni Barakel, na taga-Buz. Mula siya sa angkan ni Ram. Nagalit siya kay Job dahil sinisisi nito ang Dios, sa halip na ang kanyang sarili. 3Nagalit din siya sa tatlong kaibigan ni Job dahil hindi nila napatunayang nagkasala si Job at lumalabas pa na ang Dios ang may kasalanan. 4At dahil mas matanda sila kaysa kay Elihu, naghintay muna si Elihu na matapos silang magsalita bago siya nagsalita kay Job. 5Pero nang wala ng masabi ang tatlo, nagalit siya. 6Kaya sinabi niya, “Bata pa ako at kayoʼy matatanda na, kaya nag-aatubili akong magsalita. Hindi ako nangahas na magsalita sa inyo tungkol sa nalalaman ko. 7Ang akala ko ay kayo ang dapat magturo dahil matatanda na kayo at maraming nalalaman. 8Pero ang totoo, ang espiritu ng Dios na Makapangyarihan na nasa tao, ang siyang nagbibigay ng pang-unawa. 9Ang katandaan ay hindi garantiya ng karunungan at kaalaman kung ano ang tama. 10Kaya pakinggan ninyo ako. Sasabihin ko ang nalalaman ko. 11Naghintay ako habang iniisip ninyo kung ano ang nararapat ninyong sabihin. Pinakinggan ko ang inyong mga katuwiran. 12Pinakinggan kong mabuti ang mga sinabi ninyo, pero ni isa sa inyoʼy walang nakapagpatunay na nagkasala si Job; ni hindi ninyo nasagot ang mga pangangatwiran niya. 13Huwag ninyong sasabihing, ‘Napag-alaman naming mas marunong siya. Hayaan ninyong ang Dios ang sumagot sa kanya at hindi ang tao!’ 14Kung sa akin siya nakipagtalo, hindi ko siya sasagutin na katulad ng mga sinabi ninyo. 15Hindi na kayo makakibo ngayon at wala nang maisagot sa kanya. 16At ngayong wala na kayong maisagot, kailangan ko pa bang maghintay? 17Ako rin ay may sasabihin ayon sa nalalaman ko. 18Dahil marami akong gustong sabihin, at hindi ko na talaga ito mapigilan. 19Para akong bagong sisidlang-balat na punong-puno at malapit nang sumabog. 20Kinakailangan kong magsalita para gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. 21Wala akong kakampihan o pupurihin. 22Hindi ako marunong mambola. Kung gagawin ko ito, parusahan nawa ako ng aking Manlilikha.”
