איוב 32

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

But these three men ceased to answer Job, because he considered himself justified.

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

And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was angry and indignant. But he was angry against Job because he described himself to be just in the presence of God.

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

Moreover, he was indignant with his friends because they had not found a reasonable response, except in so far as they condemned Job.

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

Therefore, Eliu waited while Job was talking, for these were his elders that were speaking.

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

But when he saw that these three were not able to respond, he was extremely angry.

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

And so Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite responded by saying: I am younger in years, and you are more ancient; therefore, I kept my head low, for I was afraid to reveal to you my opinion.

7 אמרתי ימים ידברו ורב שנים ידיעו חכמה׃

For I had hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.

8 אכן רוח היא באנוש ונשמת שדי תבינם׃

But I see now that there is only breath in men, and that it is the inspiration of the Almighty that gives understanding.

9 לא רבים יחכמו וזקנים יבינו משפט׃

The wise are not the aged, nor do the elders understand judgment.

10 לכן אמרתי שמעה לי אחוה דעי אף אני׃

Therefore, I will speak. Listen to me, and so I will show you my wisdom.

11 הן הוחלתי לדבריכם אזין עד תבונתיכם עד תחקרון מלין׃

For I have endured your words; I have paid attention to your deliberations, while you were being argumentative with words.

12 ועדיכם אתבונן והנה אין לאיוב מוכיח עונה אמריו מכם׃

And as long as I supposed that you were saying something, I considered; but now I see that there is none of you that is able to argue with Job and to respond to his words.

13 פן תאמרו מצאנו חכמה אל ידפנו לא איש׃

So that you will not say, “We have found wisdom,” God has thrown him down, not man.

14 ולא ערך אלי מלין ובאמריכם לא אשיבנו׃

He has said nothing to me, and I will not respond to him according to your words.

15 חתו לא ענו עוד העתיקו מהם מלים׃

Then they were filled with dread, and so they no longer responded, and they withdrew from their speechmaking.

16 והוחלתי כי לא ידברו כי עמדו לא ענו עוד׃

Therefore, because I have waited and they have not been speaking, for they stood firm and did not respond at all,

17 אענה אף אני חלקי אחוה דעי אף אני׃

I also will answer in my turn, and I will reveal my knowledge.

18 כי מלתי מלים הציקתני רוח בטני׃

For I am full of words, and the feeling in my gut inspires me.

19 הנה בטני כיין לא יפתח כאבות חדשים יבקע׃

Yes, my stomach is like fermenting wine without a vent, which bursts the new containers.

20 אדברה וירוח לי אפתח שפתי ואענה׃

I should speak, but I will also breathe a little; I will open my lips, and I will answer.

21 אל נא אשא פני איש ואל אדם לא אכנה׃

I will not esteem the reputation of a man, and I will not equate God with man.

22 כי לא ידעתי אכנה כמעט ישאני עשני׃

For I do not know how long I will continue, and whether, after a while, my Maker might take me away.