Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

1  וַֽיִּשְׁבְּת֡וּ (And ceased) שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת (the three) הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים (men) הָ֭אֵלֶּה (these) מֵעֲנ֣וֹת (from answering) אֶת־ (-) אִיּ֑וֹב (Job), כִּ֤י (because) ה֖וּא (he was) צַדִּ֣יק (righteous) בְּעֵינָֽיו׃פ (in his own eyes).

2  וַיִּ֤חַר (And was kindled) אַ֨ף׀ (the anger) אֱלִיה֣וּא (of Elihu) בֶן־ (son) בַּרַכְאֵ֣ל (of Barachel) הַבּוּזִי֮ (the Buzite) מִמִּשְׁפַּ֪חַ֫ת (from the family) רָ֥ם (of Ram); בְּ֭אִיּוֹב (against Job) חָרָ֣ה (was kindled) אַפּ֑וֹ (his anger) עַֽל־ (upon) צַדְּק֥וֹ (his justifying) נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ (himself) מֵאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (rather than God). 3  וּבִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (And against the three) רֵעָיו֮ (friends of him) חָרָ֪ה (was kindled) אַ֫פּ֥וֹ (his anger), עַ֤ל (upon) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לֹא־ (not) מָצְא֣וּ (they had found) מַעֲנֶ֑ה (an answer), וַ֝יַּרְשִׁ֗יעוּ (and they had declared wrong) אֶת־ (-) אִיּֽוֹב׃ (Job).

4  וֶֽאֱלִיה֗וּ (And Elihu) חִכָּ֣ה (had waited) אֶת־ (-) אִ֭יּוֹב (to Job) בִּדְבָרִ֑ים (with words), כִּ֤י (because) זְֽקֵנִים־ (older) הֵ֖מָּה (they were) מִמֶּ֣נּוּ (than he) לְיָמִֽים׃ (in days). 5  וַיַּ֤רְא (And saw) אֱלִיה֗וּא (Elihu) כִּ֘י (that) אֵ֤ין (there was no) מַעֲנֶ֗ה (answer) בְּ֭פִי (in the mouth) שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (of the three) הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (men), וַיִּ֥חַר (and was kindled) אַפּֽוֹ׃פ (his anger). 6  וַיַּ֤עַן׀ (And answered) אֱלִיה֖וּא (Elihu) בֶן־ (son) בַּֽרַכְאֵ֥ל (of Barachel) הַבּוּזִ֗י (the Buzite) וַיֹּ֫אמַ֥ר (and said),

צָ֘עִ֤יר (Young) אֲנִ֣י (I am) לְ֭יָמִים (in days),

וְאַתֶּ֣ם (and you⁺ are) יְשִׁישִׁ֑ים (aged);

עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֖ן (thus) זָחַ֥לְתִּי (I shrank back),

וָֽאִירָ֓א׀ (and I was afraid) מֵחַוֺּ֖ת (of declaring) דֵּעִ֣י (my knowledge) אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺).

7  אָ֭מַרְתִּי (I said), יָמִ֣ים (Days) יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ (shall speak),

וְרֹ֥ב (and a multitude) שָׁ֝נִ֗ים (of years) יֹדִ֥יעוּ (shall make known) חָכְמָֽה׃ (wisdom).

8  אָ֭כֵן (Surely) רֽוּחַ־ (a spirit) הִ֣יא (it is) בֶאֱנ֑וֹשׁ (in a man),

וְנִשְׁמַ֖ת (and the breath) שַׁדַּ֣י (of Shaddai) תְּבִינֵֽם׃ (gives them understanding).

9  לֹֽא־ (Not only) רַבִּ֥ים (the great in years) יֶחְכָּ֑מוּ (are wise),

וּ֝זְקֵנִ֗ים (nor do only the aged) יָבִ֥ינוּ (do understand) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (justice).

10  לָכֵ֣ן (Therefore) אָ֭מַרְתִּי (I say), שִׁמְעָה־ (Listen) לִּ֑י (to me);

אֲחַוֶּ֖ה (I will declare) דֵּעִ֣י (my knowledge) אַף־ (also) אָֽנִי׃ (I).

11  הֵ֤ן (Behold), הוֹחַ֨לְתִּי (I have waited) לְֽדִבְרֵיכֶ֗ם (for your⁺ words);

אָ֭זִין (I gave my ear) עַד־ (to) תְּב֥וּנֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ reasonings),

עַֽד־ (while) תַּחְקְר֥וּן (you⁺ searched) מִלִּֽין׃ (for the words).

12  וְעָֽדֵיכֶ֗ם (And to you⁺) אֶתְבּ֫וֹנָ֥ן (I attended) וְהִנֵּ֤ה (and behold),

אֵ֣ין (there was no one) לְאִיּ֣וֹב (Job) מוֹכִ֑יחַ (proving wrong)

עוֹנֶ֖ה (or anyone answering) אֲמָרָ֣יו (his words) מִכֶּֽם׃ (among you⁺).

13  פֶּן־ (Lest) תֹּ֣֭אמְרוּ (you⁺ say), מָצָ֣אנוּ (We have found) חָכְמָ֑ה (wisdom),

אֵ֖ל (God) יִדְּפֶ֣נּוּ (let drive him away), לֹא־ (not) אִֽישׁ׃ (man).

14  וְלֹא־ (And not) עָרַ֣ךְ (he has arrayed) אֵלַ֣י (toward me) מִלִּ֑ין (his words),

וּ֝בְאִמְרֵיכֶ֗ם (and with your⁺ words) לֹ֣א (not) אֲשִׁיבֶֽנּוּ׃ (I will answer him).

15  חַ֭תּוּ (They are dismayed), לֹא־ (and not) עָ֣נוּ (do they answer) ע֑וֹד (anymore);

הֶעְתִּ֖יקוּ (have gone away) מֵהֶ֣ם (from them) מִלִּֽים׃ (the words).

16  וְ֭הוֹחַלְתִּי (And I have waited), כִּי־ (because) לֹ֣א (not) יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ (they do speak),

כִּ֥י (because) עָ֝מְד֗וּ (they stand there); לֹא־ (and not) עָ֥נוּ (do they answer) עֽוֹד׃ (anymore).

17  אַעֲנֶ֣ה (I will answer) אַף־ (even) אֲנִ֣י (I) חֶלְקִ֑י (my portion);

אֲחַוֶּ֖ה (I will show) דֵעִ֣י (my knowledge) אַף־ (even) אָֽנִי׃ (I).

18  כִּ֭י (For) מָלֵ֣תִי (I am full) מִלִּ֑ים (of words);

הֱ֝צִיקַ֗תְנִי (presses me) ר֣וּחַ (the spirit) בִּטְנִֽי׃ (in my belly).

19  הִנֵּֽה־ (Behold), בִטְנִ֗י (my belly is) כְּיַ֥יִן (like wine) לֹא־ (not) יִפָּתֵ֑חַ (opened);

כְּאֹב֥וֹת (like wineskins) חֲ֝דָשִׁ֗ים (new) יִבָּקֵֽעַ׃ (it is bursting open).

20  אֲדַבְּרָ֥ה (I will speak), וְיִֽרְוַֽח־ (and there is refreshment) לִ֑י (for me);

אֶפְתַּ֖ח (I will open) שְׂפָתַ֣י (my lips) וְאֶֽעֱנֶֽה׃ (and answer).

21  אַל־ (Not), נָ֭א (please), אֶשָּׂ֣א (let me lift up) פְנֵי־ (the face) אִ֑ישׁ (of a man); וְאֶל־ (and to)

אָ֝דָ֗ם (man) לֹ֣א (not) אֲכַנֶּֽה׃ (let me give a title).

22  כִּ֤י (For) לֹ֣א (not) יָדַ֣עְתִּי (I do know how) אֲכַנֶּ֑ה (to give a title);

כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט (soon) יִשָּׂאֵ֥נִי (would take me away) עֹשֵֽׂנִי׃ (my Maker).