איוב 32

1 וישבתו שלשת האנשים האלה-- מענות את-איוב כי הוא צדיק בעיניו

Then those three men stopped answering Job, because [they could not convince Job that he was wrong in claiming that] he had not done anything that was wrong.

2 ויחר אף אליהוא בן-ברכאל הבוזי-- ממשפחת-רם באיוב חרה אפו-- על-צדקו נפשו מאלהים

Then Elihu, the son of Barachel, a descendant of Buz, from the clan of Ram, became very angry at Job. He was angry because Job continued to claim that he was righteous/innocent, and that God was wrong [to punish him].

3 ובשלשת רעיו חרה אפו על אשר לא-מצאו מענה-- וירשיעו את-איוב

He was also angry with Job’s three friends, because they had declared that Job must have done many things that were wrong, but they were unable to convince Job [that what they said was true]. As a result, [it seemed to Elihu that] God did what was wrong by punishing Job.

4 ואליהו--חכה את-איוב בדברים כי זקנים-המה ממנו לימים

Elihu was younger than the others, so he waited [until they had finished speaking] before he replied to Job.

5 וירא אליהוא--כי אין מענה בפי שלשת האנשים ויחר אפו

But when Elihu realized that the three men had no more to say [MTY] to Job, he became angry.

6 ויען אליהוא בן ברכאל הבוזי-- ויאמר צעיר אני לימים ואתם ישישים על-כן זחלתי ואירא מחות דעי אתכם

And this is what he said: “I am young, and you all are much older than I am. So, I was timid, and I was afraid to tell you what I was thinking.

7 אמרתי ימים ידברו ורב שנים ידיעו חכמה

I thought, ‘Let those [PRS] who are much older speak, because older people [should be able to] say things that are wise.’

8 אכן רוח-היא באנוש ונשמת שדי תבינם

But the Spirit of Almighty [God] is within people, and it is he who enables them to be wise.

9 לא-רבים יחכמו וזקנים יבינו משפט

It is not people becoming old that enables them to be wise; not [all] old people understand what is right.

10 לכן אמרתי שמעה-לי אחוה דעי אף-אני

“So, I say, ‘Listen to me, and allow me to say what I think.’

11 הן הוחלתי לדבריכם--אזין עד-תבונתיכם עד-תחקרון מלין

I waited for you all to speak; I wanted to hear the wise things that you would say. I waited while you thought carefully about what [would be the right things] to say.

12 ועדיכם אתבונן והנה אין לאיוב מוכיח--עונה אמריו מכם

I paid attention carefully, but surprisingly, none of you were able to prove that what Job said was wrong.

13 פן-תאמרו מצאנו חכמה אל ידפנו לא-איש

So, do not say [to yourselves], ‘We have discovered what is wise!’ It is God who must (refute Job/show that what Job said was wrong), because you three have not been able to do that.

14 ולא-ערך אלי מלין ובאמריכם לא אשיבנו

Job was replying to you, [not to me], but I will not reply to him by saying what you three said.

15 חתו לא-ענו עוד העתיקו מהם מלים

“You three are dismayed [because you have not been able to convince him that he was wrong], so you are not saying any more to him [DOU].

16 והוחלתי כי-לא ידברו כי עמדו לא-ענו עוד

But because you do not speak, I certainly will not wait any longer [RHQ]; you merely stand there and do not reply any more.

17 אענה אף-אני חלקי אחוה דעי אף-אני

So [now] I also will reply [to Job] and say what I think.

18 כי מלתי מלים הציקתני רוח בטני

I have plenty to say, and my spirit compels me to say it.

19 הנה-בטני--כיין לא-יפתח כאבות חדשים יבקע

My inner being is like [SIM] a (wineskin/bag that has (new/fermenting) wine in it), and it will soon burst.

20 אדברה וירוח-לי אפתח שפתי ואענה

I must speak [MTY], in order that I do not have to keep holding what I want to say; I must say something [MTY] to reply [to you all].

21 אל-נא אשא פני-איש ואל-אדם לא אכנה

I will speak [fairly], not favoring any of you, and I will not try to flatter anyone.

22 כי לא ידעתי אכנה כמעט ישאני עשני

I [really] do not know how to flatter people; and if I did that, God would soon get rid of me.”