Elihu
1So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. 3He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God 4Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. 5But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
“I am young in years,
and you are old;
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
7I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’
8But it is the spirit32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18 in a person,
the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9It is not only the old32:9 Or many; or great who are wise,
not only the aged who understand what is right.
10“Therefore I say: Listen to me;
I too will tell you what I know.
11I waited while you spoke,
I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
12I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.
13Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;
let God, not a man, refute him.’
14But Job has not marshaled his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15“They are dismayed and have no more to say;
words have failed them.
16Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand there with no reply?
17I too will have my say;
I too will tell what I know.
18For I am full of words,
and the spirit within me compels me;
19inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst.
20I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply.
21I will show no partiality,
nor will I flatter anyone;
22for if I were skilled in flattery,
my Maker would soon take me away.
以利戶的回答
1三人見約伯自以為義，便不再回答他。 2那時，蘭族的布西人巴拉迦的兒子以利戶對約伯很惱火，因為約伯自以為義，不承認上帝的公義。 3他對約伯的三個朋友也很惱火，因為他們說約伯有罪，卻無法回答約伯的質問32·3 「因為他們說約伯有罪，卻無法回答約伯的質問」有古卷作「因為他們無法回答約伯的質問，因而置上帝於不公」。。 4由於不及他們年長，以利戶便等他們說完才向約伯發言。 5他見三人無法回答約伯，很惱火。 6於是，布西人巴拉迦的兒子以利戶說：
「我年紀輕，你們是長輩，
所以我畏懼，不敢向你們陳明觀點。
7我想，前輩當先發言，
長者當傳授智慧。
8但只有人裡面的靈——
全能者的氣息賜人悟性。
9長者不一定有智慧，
年老不一定明白是非。
10因此，請聽我說，
我也要陳明觀點。
11看啊，我一直等候你們發言，
傾聽你們的高見，
等你們斟詞酌句。
12我仔細聆聽，
發現你們無人能駁倒約伯，
無人能答覆他。
13你們不要說，『我們找到了智慧，
使他折服的是上帝而非人。』
14約伯沒有與我辯論，
我也不會用你們的理論答覆他。
15「他們驚慌失措，無言以對，
再也說不出話來。
16難道他們不說話，站在那裡無言以對，
我就要等下去嗎？
17我也要作出答覆，
陳明我的觀點。
18因為我心裡積滿了話，
我裡面的靈催促我說出來。
19我裡面像盛滿了酒，卻沒有出口，
又如將要破裂的新酒袋。
20我要一吐為快，
我要開口答覆。
21我不看人的情面，
也不奉承人。
22我不懂奉承，
否則，造物主會很快把我除掉。
