Job 32

Intervención de Eliú

1 Al ver los tres amigos de Job que este se consideraba un hombre recto, dejaron de responderle.

2 Pero Eliú hijo de Baraquel de Buz, de la familia de Ram, se enojó mucho con Job porque, en vez de justificar a Dios, se había justificado a sí mismo.

3 También se enojó con los tres amigos porque no habían logrado refutar a Job, y sin embargo lo habían condenado.

4 Ahora bien, Eliú había estado esperando antes de dirigirse a Job, porque ellos eran mayores de edad;

5 pero al ver que los tres amigos no tenían ya nada que decir, se encendió su enojo.

Y habló Eliú hijo de Baraquel de Buz:

Primer discurso de Eliú

6 «Yo soy muy joven, y ustedes ancianos;por eso me sentía muy temerosode expresarles mi opinión.

7 Y me dije: “Que hable la voz de la experiencia;que demuestren los ancianos su sabiduría”.

8 Pero lo que da entendimiento al hombrees el espíritu^[a] que en él habita;¡es el hálito del Todopoderoso!

9 No son los ancianos^[b] los únicos sabios,ni es la edad la que hace entender lo que es justo.

10 »Les ruego, por tanto, que me escuchen;yo también tengo algo que decirles.

11 Mientras hablaban, me propuse esperary escuchar sus razonamientos;mientras buscaban las palabras,

12 les presté toda mi atención.Pero no han podido probar que Job esté equivocado;ninguno ha respondido a sus argumentos.

13 No vayan a decirme: “Hemos hallado la sabiduría;que lo refute Dios, y no los hombres”.

14 Ni Job se ha dirigido a mí,ni yo he de responderle como ustedes.

15 »Job, tus amigos están desconcertados;no pueden responder, les faltan las palabras.

16 ¿Y voy a quedarme callado ante su silencio,ante su falta de respuesta?

17 Yo también tengo algo que decir,y voy a demostrar mis conocimientos.

18 Palabras no me faltan;el espíritu que hay en mí me obliga a hablar.

19 Estoy como vino embotelladoen odre nuevo a punto de estallar.

20 Tengo que hablar y desahogarme;tengo que abrir la boca y dar respuesta.

21 No favoreceré a nadieni halagaré a ninguno;

22 Yo no sé adular a nadie;si lo hiciera,^[c] mi Creador me castigaría.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "espíritu" . Alt. "Espíritu" ; también en v. 18.
• [b]. "ancianos" . Alt. "muchos" , o "grandes" .
• [c]. "si lo hiciera" . Lit. "en poco tiempo" .

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.