Jó 32

Eliú

1 Então esses três homens pararam de responder a Jó, pois este se julgava justo.

2 Mas Eliú, filho de Baraquel, de Buz, da família de Rão, indignou-se muito contra Jó, porque este se justificava diante de Deus.

3 Também se indignou contra os três amigos, pois não encontraram meios de refutar Jó, e mesmo assim o tinham condenado.^[a]

4 Eliú tinha ficado esperando para falar a Jó porque eles eram mais velhos que ele.

5 Mas, quando viu que os três não tinham mais nada a dizer, indignou-se.

6 Então Eliú, filho de Baraquel, de Buz, falou:“Eu sou jovem,vocês têm idade.Por isso tive receioe não ousei dizer a vocês o que sei.

7 Os que têm idade é que devem falar, pensava eu,os anos avançados é que devem ensinar sabedoria.

8 Mas é o espírito^[b] dentro do homemque lhe dá entendimento; o sopro do Todo-poderoso.

9 Não são só os mais velhos,^[c] os sábios,não são só os de idade que entendem o que é certo.

10 “Por isso digo: Escutem-me;também vou dizer o que sei.

11 Enquanto vocês estavam falando, esperei;fiquei ouvindo os seus arrazoados;enquanto vocês estavam procurando palavras,

12 escutei suas palavras com toda atenção.Mas nenhum de vocês demonstrou que Jó está errado.Nenhum de vocês respondeu aos seus argumentos.

13 Não digam: ‘Encontramos a sabedoria;que Deus o refute, não o homem’.

14 Só que não foi contra mim que Jó dirigiu as suas palavras,e não vou responder a ele com os argumentos de vocês.

15 “Vejam, eles estão consternados e não têm mais o que dizer;as palavras lhes fugiram.

16 Devo aguardar, agora que estão caladose sem resposta?

17 Também vou dar a minha opinião,também vou dizer o que sei,

18 pois não me faltam palavras,e dentro de mim o espírito me impulsiona.

19 Por dentro estou como vinho arrolhado,como odres novos prestes a romper.

20 Tenho que falar; isso me aliviará.Tenho que abrir os lábios e responder.

21 Não serei parcial com ninguéme a ninguém bajularei,

22 porque não sou bom em bajular;se fosse, o meu Criador em breve me levaria.

Jó 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Uma antiga tradução de escribas hebreus diz "Jó, e assim haviam condenado a Deus."
• [b]. Ou "Espírito; " também no versículo 18.
• [c]. Ou "muitos; " ou ainda "grandes"

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.