Job 32

1 Eliú responde a los amigos de Job
Los tres amigos de Job no quisieron responderle más porque él insistía en su inocencia.

2 Entonces Eliú, hijo de Baraquel el buzita, del clan de Ram, se enojó, porque Job no quería admitir que había pecado y que Dios tenía razón cuando lo castigó.

3 También se enojó con los tres amigos de Job porque, al no lograr refutar los argumentos de Job, hacían parecer que Dios
estaba equivocado.

4 Eliú había esperado que los demás hablaran con Job porque eran mayores que él;

5 pero cuando vio que ellos ya no tenían respuesta, habló con enojo.

6 Eliú, hijo de Baraquel el buzita, dijo:
«Yo soy joven y ustedes ancianos,
por eso me contuve de decirles lo que pienso.

7 Me dije: “Los que tienen más edad deben hablar
porque la sabiduría viene con los años”.

8 Sin embargo, hay un espíritu
dentro de las personas,
el aliento del Todopoderoso en ellas,
que las hace inteligentes.

9 No siempre los ancianos son sabios;
a veces las personas de edad no comprenden la justicia.

10 Así que, escúchenme
y déjenme decirles lo que pienso.

11 »He esperado todo este tiempo
prestando mucha atención a sus argumentos,
observando cómo buscaban a tientas las palabras.

12 He escuchado,
pero ninguno de ustedes ha logrado refutar a Job
ni responder a sus argumentos.

13 Y no me digan: “Él es demasiado sabio para nosotros;
solo Dios podrá convencerlo”.

14 Si Job hubiera estado discutiendo conmigo,
¡yo no le respondería con la misma lógica que ustedes!

15 Ustedes se sientan ahí desconcertados
sin nada más que decir.

16 ¿Seguiré esperando ahora que se han quedado callados?
¿Permaneceré en silencio yo también?

17 No, sino que daré mi opinión
y expresaré lo que pienso.

18 Pues estoy lleno de palabras contenidas
y el espíritu que hay en mí me obliga a hablar.

19 Soy como un barril de vino sin respiradero;
¡como un cuero de vino a punto de estallar!

20 Tengo que hablar para encontrar alivio,
así que déjenme dar mis respuestas.

21 No haré favoritismos
ni intentaré adular a nadie.

22 Pues si intentara usar la adulación,
pronto mi Creador me destruiría.

Job 32 Commentary

Chapter 32

Elihu is displeased at the dispute between Job and his friends. (1-5) He reproves them. (6-14) He speaks without partiality. (15-22)

Verses 1-5 Job's friends were silenced, but not convinced. Others had been present. Elihu was justly displeased with Job, as more anxious to clear his own character than the justice and goodness of God. Elihu was displeased with Job's friends because they had not been candid to Job. Seldom is a quarrel begun, more seldom is a quarrel carried on, in which there are not faults on both sides. Those that seek for truth, must not reject what is true and good on either side, nor approve or defend what is wrong.

Verses 6-14 Elihu professes to speak by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and corrects both parties. He allowed that those who had the longest experience should speak first. But God gives wisdom as he pleases; this encouraged him to state his opinion. By attention to the word of God, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit, young men may become wiser than the aged; but this wisdom will render them swift to hear, slow to speak, and disposed to give others a patient hearing.

Verses 15-22 If we are sure that the Spirit of God suggested what we are about to say, still we ought to refrain, till it comes to our turn to speak. God is the God of order, not of confusion. It is great refreshment to a good man, to speak for the glory of the Lord, and to edify others. And the more we consider the majesty of God, as our Maker, and the more we dread his wrath and justice, the less shall we sinfully fear or flatter men. Could we set the wrath Lord always before us, in his mercies and his terrors, we should not be moved from doing our duty in whatever we are called to do.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 32

Job's three friends being silenced, and having no more to say in reply to him, Elihu, of whose descent some account is given, a bystander and hearer of the whole dispute between them, rises up as a moderator, and expresses some anger both against them and Job, Job 32:1-5; he makes an apology for engaging in this controversy, by reason of his youth, and they being advanced in years, Job 32:6,7; but since there is a spirit in man, that gives understanding to men of every age, and old men are not always wise, he desires they would hearken to him while he delivered his sentiments on the subject in debate, Job 32:8-10; and hopes to be heard patiently, since he had waited until they had said all they had to say, and had closely attended to it, and which fell short of convincing Job; and this he was obliged to say, lest they should be wise in their own conceit, and attribute that to men which belongs to God, Job 32:11-13; he proposes to take a new method with Job, different from theirs; and now they hearing all this from a young man, they were filled with amazement, and struck with silence; and after he had waited a while to observe whether they would say anything or not, he determined to take his turn, and show his opinion also, Job 32:14-17; and the rather because he was full of arguments, he was desirous to propose them, and was uneasy until he had brought them out; and which he was resolved to do with all impartiality and integrity, Job 32:18-22.