Old Testament, Job, ed. Michael Paul Johnson, 32

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So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were elder than he.

When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.

I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.

But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

It is not the great who are wise, Nor the aged who understand justice.

Therefore I said, Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.

Behold, I waited for your words, And I listened for your reasoning, While you searched out what to say.

Yes, I gave you my full attention, But there was no one who convinced Job, Or who answered his words, among you.

Beware lest you say, We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man:

For he has not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches.

They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say.

Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, Because they stand still, and answer no more?

I also will answer my part, And I also will show my opinion.

For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.

Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; Like new wineskins it is ready to burst.

I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.

Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, Neither will I give flattering titles to any man.

For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; Or else my Maker would soon take me away.

Job. Old Testament. ed. Michael Paul Johnson. . 2000-2024.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

Current edition Perseus

Job (English) (World English Bible. Revision of the American Standard Version of 1901. Rainbow Missions, Inc., 2000-2024.)

Editions (2)

Ἰώβ First1KGreek (Septuaginta. The Old Testament in Greek According to the Septuagint. Volume 2: I Chronicles-Tobit. Swete, Henry Barclay, editor. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1896.) — 32 focus

Καὶ ἐπαύσατο Ἰὼβ ῥήμασιν·

(¹)ἡσύχασαν δὲ καὶ οἱ τρεῖς φίλοι αὐτοῦ ἔτι ἀντειπεῖν Ἰὼβ,

ἦν γὰρ Ἰὼβ δίκαιος ἐναντίον αὐτῶν.

ὠργίσθη δὲ Ἐλιοῦς ὁ τοῦ Βαραχιὴλ ὁ Βουζείτης ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας

Ῥάμ, τῆς Αὐσείτιδος χώρας·

ὠργίσθη δὲ τῷ Ἰὼβ σφόδρα, διότι ἀπέφηνεν ἑαυτὸν δίκαιον

ἐναντίον Κυρίου.

καὶ κατὰ τῶν τριῶν δὲ φίῦλων ὠργίσθη σφόδρα, διότι οὐκ ἠδυνή-

θησαν ἀποκριθῆναι ἀντίθετα Ἰὼβ,

¹²

καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτὸν εἶναι ἀσεβῆ.

Ἐλους δὲ ὑπέμεινεν δοῦναι ἀπόκρισιν Ἰώβ, ὅτι πρεσβύτεροι

αὐτοῦ εἰσιν ἡμέραις.

καὶ εἶδεν Ἐλους ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀπόκρισις ἐν στόματι τῶν τριῶν

ἀνδρῶν,

καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ αὐτοῦ.

ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Ἐλιοῦς ὁ τοῦ Βαραχιὴλ ὁ Βουζείτης εἶπεν

Νεώτερος μέν εὶμι τῷ χρόνῳ, ὑμεῖς δέ ἐστε πρεσβύτεροι·

διὸ ἡσύχασα, φοβηθεὶς τοῦ ὑμῖν ἀναγγεῖλαι τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ

ἐπιστήμην.

εἶπα δὲ ὅτι Οὐχ ὁ χρόνος ἐστὶν ὁ λαλῶν,

ἐν πολλοῖς δὲ ἔτεσιν οὐκ οἴδασιν σοφίαν·

ἀλλὰ πνεῦμά ἐστιν ἐν βροτοῖς,

πνοὴ δὲ Μαντοκράτορός ἐστιν ἡ διδάσκουσα·

οὐχ οἱ πολυχρόνιοί εἰσιν σοφοί, οὐδʼ οἱ γέροντες οἴδασιν κρίμα.

διὸ εἶπα Ἀκούσατέ μου, καὶ ἀναγγελῶ ὑμῖν ἃ οἶδα·

ἐνωτίζεσθέ μου τὰ ῥήματα ὑμῶν ἀκουόντων,

ἄχρι οὗ ἐτάσητε λόγους.

καὶ μέχρι ὑμῶν συνήσω·

καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἦν τῷ Ἰὼβ ἐλέγχων,

ἀνταποκρινόμενος ῥήματα αὐτοῦ ἐξ ὑμῶν.

ἵνα μὴ εἶπητε Εὕρομεν σοφίαν Κυρίῳ προσθέμενοι·

ἀνθρώπῳ δὲ ἐπετρέψατε λαλῆσαι τοιαῦτα ῥήματα.

ἐπτοήθησαν, οὐκ ἀπεκρίθησαν ἔτι,

ἐπαλαίωσαν ἐξ αὐτῶν λόγους.

ὑπέμεινα, οὐ γὰρ ἐλάλησα·

ὅτι ἔστησαν, οὐκ ἀπεκρίθησαν.

⁴⁶

῾Υπολαβὼν δὲ Ἐλιοῦς λέγει

Πάλιν λαλήσω· πλήρης γάρ εἰμι ῥημάτων,

ὀλέκει γάρ με τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς γαστρός·

ἡ δὲ γαστὴρ μου ὥσπερ ἀσκὸς γλεύκους ζέων δεδεμένος,

ἤ ὥσπερ φυσητὴρ χαλκέως ἐρρηγώς.

λαλήσω, ἳνα ἀναπαύσωμαι, ἀνοίξας τὰ χείλη·

ἄνθρωπον γὰρ οὐ μὴ αἰσχυνθῶ·

ἀλλὰ μὴν οὐδὲ βροτὸν οὐ μὴ ἐντραπῶ·

οὐ γὰρ ἐπίσταμαι θαυμάσαι πρόσωπα·

εἰ δὲ μή, καὶ ἐμὲ σῆτες ἔδονται.

Homeric Greek (James Duport, 1676) (OCR draft) Experimental (James Duport, Threnothriambos: a Homeric Greek verse paraphrase of Job (1676).) — 32.1 focus

Οἳ δ' ἄρα τρεῖς σύμπαντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,

Μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι, μάλα γὰρ κρατερῶς ἀπέειπεν,

"Οὕνεκά τε φρεσὶν ᾗσι δόασσατο πάγχυ δίκαιος

"Ἔμμεναι, εὐσεβίῃ τε κεκασμένος, οὐδ' ἀλιτήμων.

Βεζαῖος δ' Ἥλιος Βαραχήλου υἱὸς ἀμύμων,

Ῥαμιάδης γενεῆφιν, ἐνὶ φρεσὶ χώσατο λίην,

Ἦ ῥα μάλισ' ἐπέων κεχολωμένος, ὧν φάτ' Ἴωβος·

"Εὔχετο γὰρ καθαρός τε καὶ ἀναίτιος ἔμμεναι ἄντην,

"Οἷα δικαιότερός περ ὀϊόμενος Θεοῦ εἶναι.

Τρισσὶ δ' ὁμῶς ἑτάροισιν ἐπιζαφελῶς χαλέπαινον,

Ὡς ἄνεῳ ἔστησαν, ἀτὰρ κατέκριναν Ἴωβον,

Οὐδέ τι μιν νίκησαν ἐναντίοις ἐρέεσσιν.

Ἧστο δὲ δὴν ἀκέων ποτιδέγμενος εἰσόκ' Ἴωβος

Σιγήσῃ, καὶ ἑταῖροι, ὅτι προγενέστεροι ἦσαν.

Ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ ἓν ἐνόησ' ἅμα τρεῖς ἀκέοντας ἑταίρους,

Οὐ γάρ σφιν πάρα μῦθος, ἰδ' ἔπος ἀμείβετ' Ἴωβον,

Ἀσπερχὲς μενέαινε, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ἥρει.

Καὶ τότε δὴ θάρσησεν, ἀμειβόμενός τ' ἔπος ἤυδα,

Κλῦτε φίλοι, καὶ μή τι κότῳ ἀγάσησθε ἕκαστος,

"Οὕνεκα δὴ γενεῆφι νεώτατός εἰμι μεθ' ὑμῖν·

Ὁπλότερος γενεῇ μὲν ἐγὼ, ὑμεῖς δὲ γέροντες,

Τῷ αἰνῶς δείδοικα, καὶ οὐ τόλμησ' ἀγορεύειν·

"Αἰδὼς γὰρ νέον ἄνδρα γεραιτέρῳ ἀντίον εἰπεῖν.

Ἦ ῥ' ἐφάμην, Πολιοκρόταφοι πεπνυμένοι εἰσί·

Πολυετεῖς φθέγγοιντο καὶ ἤματα πολλὰ διδάσκοι,

"Ὅππως κέρδος ἔῃ, ὅτι γήραϊ μῆτις ὀπηδεῖ,

"Ὅστις ἄρα πρότερος γέγονεν, ὅγε πλείονα ἤδη.

Ψυχὴ δ' ἐν βροτῷ ἐστι, καὶ ἔνθεος ἐν φρεσὶ δαίμων,

Θέσπις ἐπιπνοίῃ, νόον ἐν στήθεσσι διδᾶσα.

Οὐκ αἰεί γε πολυχρόνιοι πολυΐδριες ἄνδρες·

Πρεσβύτερος γεγεὼς τάχ' ἂν φρεσὶ νήπιος εἴη·

Πολλάκι δ' ὁπλότερός κεν ἀνὴρ πεπνυμένα βάζοι.

Τἕνεκ' ἔφην, Καὶ ἐμεῦ νῦν κέκλυτε πρεστέρου ἆρω,

Ὄφρ' εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει·

Ἦ ῥ' ἐγὼ καὶ ἐμὸν δείξω νόον, οὐδ' ἐπικεύσω.

Νωλεμέως ὑμέων μύθους ποτιδέγμενος ἡμέων,

Ὑμετέροισι λόγοις ἀειήκοον οὖας ἔκλινα,

Ὡς ἀπεειπῇ ῥίζεσθε μετὰ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντες

Τί πρῶτον, τί δ' ἔπειτα, τί δ' ὑστάτιον καταλέξω·

Ὑμέων δ' ξυνέηκα, καὶ εὖ μάλα πάντ' ἐνόησα,

Οὐδέ τις ἔσκεν ἐν ὔμμιν ὃς εὖ νείκεσσεν Ἴωβον

Ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι, καὶ αὐτοῦ μῦθον ἔλεγξε.

Οὐκ ἔστ', οὐδ' ἐπέοιχ' ὑμέας τάδε μυθήσασθαι,

Ἡμεῖς μὲν σάφα ἴδμεν ὅπως τάδε ἔργα γένηται·

Ἄλλοις ἱδρείῃ οὐχ εὑρετὸς, ἄμμι δ' μούνοις.

Κεῖνος γάρ τε Θεοῦ πληγῇ καὶ χειρὶ δαμασθεὶς

Ἤειπεν, οὐδέ τι μιν δειλὸς βροτὸς ἐσυφέλιξεν.

Οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδ' ἐμέθεν κατεναντίον εἶπεν Ἴωβος,

Οὐδέ τι μιν μύθοισιν ἀμείψομαι ὑμετέροισιν,

Ἀλλ' ἐρέω, ὅ, τι ἔμοιγε δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι.

Διὸ δ' ἄνεῳ ἔστασαν τεθηπότες, ἦ μάλα ἕκαστον

Εἷλε τάφος, σιγή τε τάφου κρυόεντος ἐτύχθη.

Αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ μίμνεσκον, ἰδ' οὔτις ἀμείβετ' Ἴωβον

Ἀλλ' ἀκέων διὸ ἧστο, καὶ οὐ προσπτύξατο μύθῳ·

Ἦ ῥ' ἐφάμην, Καὶ ἐγὼν ἀπαμείψομαι, ᾗ θέμις ἐστίν·

Οὐδ' ἀκέων ἔσσομ', ἀλλ' ἐρέω, κέλεται δέ με θυμὸς,

Ἐξείπω, καὶ πάντα διΐξομαι, ὥσπερ ὀΐω.

Μύθων ἔμπλεός εἰμι, φέρω δ' ἐγκύμονα θυμὸν,

Ὠδίνω μεμαὼς ἔπεα προφόρωσδε τεκέσθαι.

Ὡς δ' ἀσκοὶ σφιγγῶσι βεβυσμένοι ἡδέος οἴνου,

Ὅς δ' ἔνδον παφλάζει ἐμβριθύος ὄμματι λυγρῷ,

Στεινόμενος δ' ἀφεῖται, ἐελδόμενός περ ὁδοῖο,

Ὕψι δ' ἀναβλύζων θορέει, τάχα δ' ἔρραγεν αὐτοῦ

Βριθοσύνῃ, ὁ δέ τ' ὦκα κατειβόμενος κελαρύζει·

Ὡς τέ μοι οἰδάνεται κραδίη φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντι,

Ζεῖ νόος ἐν στήθεσσι, περιπνείεται δέ τε, χειλέων

Πῶμα διαρρήξαι μεμαὼς, καὶ ἕρκος ὀδόντων.

Τούνεκά τ' ἐξερέω, ἵν' ἀναπνεύσω ὀλίγον περ,

Νημερτὲς στόμ' ἀνοίξω, ἀπηλεγέως τ' ἀγορεύσω.

Μή νύ τις ἀζοίμην ἀνδρῶν χαρίεντα πρόσωπα,

Μηδέ τινι ψεύδεσσι χαριζοίμην μαλακοῖσιν·

Ἐχθρὸς γάρ μοι κεῖνος ὁμῶς Ἀΐδαο πύλῃσιν,

Ὅς χ' ἕτερον μὲν κεύθει ἐνὶ φρεσὶν, ἄλλο δὲ βάζει.

Εἰ δὲ πολυπλανέων ἐδάην μειλίγματα μύθων,

Αἱμυλίοισι λόγοις φρένας ἀμφὶ καὶ ἧταρ θέλγων,

Τῷ, ὃς πρίν μοι ἔδωκε, τάχ' ἂν καὶ θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.

Οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ ψεύδεσσι πατὴρ Θεὸς ἔσσετ' ἀρωγός.

Translations (2)

English (DeepSeek, 2026) (OCR draft) Experimental (Machine-assisted English translation of James Duport's Homeric Greek verse paraphrase of Job.) — 32.1 focus

[1] And so those three all together fell silent, marveling at his speech, for he had spoken very strongly, because in his own mind it seemed to him that he was altogether righteous, and adorned with piety, and not a sinner.

[2] And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was very angry; indeed he was especially angered at the words which Job had spoken. For he used to pray that he was pure and blameless in his sight, seeing that he thought himself more righteous than God.

[3] And the three alike were fiercely angry at their companions, because they stood speechless, and they condemned Job, and did not defeat him with opposing words.

[4] And he sat for a long time in silence, waiting until Job should fall silent, and his companions too, because they were older.

[5] But when he perceived one thing at once—three friends listening—for no speech was at hand for them, and he answered a word to Job—he raged relentlessly, and savage anger seized him.

[6] And then indeed he took courage, and answering he spoke a word: 'Hear, friends, and let not each of you be indignant with anger, because I am the youngest in birth among you.' I am younger in age, but you are elders; therefore I greatly fear, and I did not dare to speak out. For it is a shame for a young man to speak face to face with an elder.

[7] Truly I said, 'The grey-templed are wise.' Let the aged speak, and let many days teach, 'How there may be profit, since understanding attends old age,' 'Whoever then was born earlier, he has more already.'

[8] But there is a soul in a mortal, and a divine spirit in his breast, a Thespian breath, giving understanding in his chest.

[9] Not always are men of many years also of much knowledge. An elder who has grown old might then be a fool in his mind. And often a younger man might speak with understanding.

[10] Therefore I said, 'And now listen to me, your elder, so that I may say what the spirit in my breast commands.' Truly I too will show my mind, and I will not conceal it.

[11] Unceasingly awaiting your words, I inclined an ever-listening ear to your speeches, so that you might not speak out, pondering in your minds what I should set forth first, what next, and what last.

[12] But I understood you, and I perceived all things very well, and there was no one among you who refuted Job well with hostile words, and disproved his speech.

[13] It is not so, nor is it fitting for you to speak these things; we know clearly how these deeds come to pass. To others it is not discoverable by knowledge, but to us alone. For that man, subdued by the stroke and hand of God, spoke, nor did any cowardly mortal slander him.

[14] For neither did Job speak against me, nor will I answer him with your words, but I will say whatever seemed to me to be better.

[15] Therefore they stood speechless, struck with amazement; truly a great stupor seized each one, and a silence of chilling stupor came to pass.

[16] But when they kept waiting, behold, no one answered Job, but for that reason he sat silent, and did not address him with a word.

[17] Truly I said, 'And I too will answer, as is right.' Nor shall I be silent, but I will speak, for my spirit urges me to declare it, and I shall go through it all, just as I think.

[18] I am full of words; I bear a pregnant spirit, and I groan, eager to give birth to my words in your presence.

[19] As wineskins are squeezed when stuffed with sweet wine, and it seethes within under a grievous eye, and being pressed it is let out, though longing for a way, and bursting upward it leaps, and soon it has burst from its fullness, and it flows down swiftly and murmurs. How my heart swells within me as I ponder, my mind boils in my breast, and it breathes all around, eager to break the lid of my lips and the fence of my teeth.

[20] Therefore I will speak out, so that I may breathe a little, open my truthful mouth, and speak plainly.

[21] Let me not now respect the gracious faces of men, nor flatter anyone with soft lies. For that man is hateful to me, just like the gates of Hades, who hides one thing in his mind but speaks another.

[22] But if I had learned the soothing charms of much-wandering words, bewitching the mind and heart with wily speeches, then he who gave to me before would swiftly have taken away even my life. For God the Father will not be a helper in support of lies.

Latin (James Duport, 1676) (OCR draft) Experimental (Duport's facing Latin translation of his Homeric Greek verse paraphrase of Job (1676).) — 32.1 focus

HI autem tres ad-unum-omnes muti erant ſilentio,

Sermonem mirati, admodum enim ſtrenuè prolocutus

Quòd & animo in ſuo ſibi videbatur omnino juſtus (fuerat,

Eſſe, pietatéfq; pietatéfque inſtructus, neque pravus.

Buzæus verò Elius Baracheli filius inſignis

Ramaides genere, in animo ſuccenſuit valde,

Sanè maximè ob verba iratus, quæ dixerat Jobus:

Gloriabatur enim ſe purum & innocentem eſſe apertè,

Quaſi juſtiorem ſe exiſtimans vel Deo eſſe.

Tribus verò pariter ſociis vehementer indignatus eſt

Quòd taciti ſteterunt, veruntamen condemnârant Jobum,

Nec eum vicerant ex-adverſo contendentes.

Sederat autem diu ſilens, expecſtans donec Jobus

Tacuerit, & amici; quoniam grandiores-natu eo erant.

Verùm poſtquam ſenſit ſimul tres tacentes ſocios,

Non enim ipſis ſuppetebat ſermo, & nemo reſpondebat Jobo,

Acriter incaluit, ira autem eum gravis tenebat.

Tum verò cepit animum, reſpondénſq; reſpondénſque ſermonem dixit,

Attendite amici, & nihil irâ reprehendatis unuſquiſque,

Quoniam natu minimus ſum inter vos.

Junior quidem natu ego, vos verò ſenes,

Quamobrem graviter metui, & non auſus ſum loqui:

Pudori enim eſt juveni viro ſeniori ex-adverſo dicere.

Certè dixi, Cani cati ſunt:

Annoſi loquantur, & dies multi doceant

Quomodo utile ſit, quia ſenectutem conſilium comitatur,

Qui utique major natu eſt, is plura novit.

Anima autem in homine eſt, & entheus in præcordiis ge nius,

Divinus afflatus, mentem in pectoribus dans.

Non ſemper longævi multiſcii ſunt viri,

Grandior ætate fortean mente infans fuerit:

Sæpe etiam junior vir prudentia loquatur.

Ideo dixi, Etiam me nunc audite juniorem licèt,

Ut dicam quæ me animus in pectoribus jubet;

Certè enim ego etiã etiam meam oſtendam ſententiam, neq; neque celabo.

Indefinenter veſtros ſermones expectans ſedebam,

Veſtris dictis attentam aurem admovi,

Dum diligenter quærebatis, & in mente deliberantes

Quid primum, quid deinde, quid poſtremum dicere:

Vobis autem attendi, & bene admodum omnia obſervavi,

Nec quis erat inter vos, qui bene redarguit Jobum,

Adverſariis dictis, ejúſque ſermonem refutavit.

Non licet; neque decet vos hæc fari,

Nos certò ſcimus quomodo hæc opera ſe-habeant,

Ab aliis ſcientia nequit inveniri, à nobis autem ſolis.

Ille enim Dei plagâ & manu domitus

Cecidit, nequaquam illum miſer mortalis dejecit.

Neque enim adverſús me locutus eſt Jobus,

Neque ei ſermonibus reſpondebo veſtris,

Sed dicam, quod mihi viſum eſt ſatius eſſe.

Diu autem taciti ſteterunt attoniti, ſanè admodum unum quemq, quemque

Cepit ſtupor, ſilenti ũ umque ſtuporis frigidi comes.

At poſtquam expectavi, & nemo reſpondebat Jobo,

Sed tacitus diu ſedit, nec compellavit eum dicto:

Sanè dixi,Etiam ego reſpondebo quatenus fas eſt;

Neque taciturnus ero, ſed dicam, jubet autem me animus,

Eloquar, & omnia percurram, quemadmodum ſentio.

Sermonibus plenus ſum, fero autem gravidum animum,

Parturio geſtiens verba in-lucem edere.

Sicut autem utres turgeſcunt repleti ſuavi vino.

Id autem intus æſtuat cohibitum vinculo ſævo,

Arctatum autem ſpumat, cupiens alicubi viam,

Surſum verò ebulliens ruit, mox autem rupti ſunt ipſi

Præplenitudine, id autem celeriter defluens immurmurat:

Sic mihi tumeſcit cor in animo cogitanti,

Fervet animus in pectore, diſtenditúrque, labiorum

Operculum perfringere cupiens, & ſeptum dentium.

Idcirco eloquar, ut reſpirem vel pauxillùm,

Verax os aperiam, audactér q; que dicam.

Non reverear hominum gratioſos vultus,

Nec cuiquam mendaciis gratificer blandis :

Inimicus enim mihi ille æquè-ac inferni portæ,

Qui aliud quidem occultat animo, aliud verò loquitur.

Quòd ſi fallacium didiciſſem lenimenta ſermonum,

Blandis verbis animos circa & aures mulcens,

Ideò qui priùs mihi dedit, ſtatim etiam vitam auferret:

Non enim in mendaciis pater Deus erit auxiliator.

Old Testament Job 32

ed. Michael Paul Johnson

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