The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 32
CHAP. XXXII.
ARGUMENT.
It appears, by the 15. verſe of this Chapter, that there were ſeveral other perſons preſent, beſides thoſe that are named, when this Diſpute was held between Job and his three Friends. Among whom there was a young man named Elihu; who was either a Syrian, (in which language this Book was firſt written, and tranſlated by Moſes into Hebrew, ſays the Authour of the Commentaries under Origen's name,) deſcended from the ſecond Son of Nahor, Abraham's Brother, XXII. Gen. 21. or an Idumaean, of the ſame Country with Eliphaz the Temanite, XXV. Jer. 23. I have made him a Syrian in my Paraphraſe, becauſe he is ſaid to be of the kindred of Ram: by whom we are to underſtand either Aram, or, as the Hebrews think, Abraham; by whom ſuch Wiſedom and Piety might be promoted in his Brother's Family, as is apparent in Elihu. Who, though much inferiour to the reſt in years, (for which reaſon he had beld his peace thus long,) yet was much ſuperiour to them in Knowledge. Which he diſcovers in the judicious Cenſures he here paſſes, not onelyonly upon the three Friends, but upon Job himſelf: whom he hath nothing to charge withall, relating to any Crime committed before this Affliction befell him; but thinks he had not managed the Diſpute about it with ſo much Calmneſs and Submiſſion to God as became his Piety. In this he differs from thoſe that ſpake before him: For I do not find that he blames him for any Miſcarriages, but thoſe onelyonly which he obſerved in the heat of his Diſputation; and he ſpends his time, rather in juſtifying God, then in carping at Job, as the other had done.
1. SO theſe three men ceaſed to anſwer Job, becauſe he was righteous in his own eyes.1. AND his three Friends alſo left off diſputing with him; becauſe they ſaw him immovably fixed in the opinion of his Innocence.
2. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the ſon of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: againſt Job was his wrath kindled, becauſe he juſtified himſelf rather then God.2. Which very much diſpleaſed a young man, who had ſtood by all this time, and heard what both ſides ſaid for themſelves. His name was Elihu, deſcended from a Brother of Abraham: who was exceeding angry with Job, becauſe he ſpent more time in juſtifying himſelf, then in juſtifying God;
3. Alſo againſt his three friends was his wrath kindled, becauſe they had found no anſwer, and yet had condemned Job.3. And with his three Friends alſo, becauſe they were not able to maintain their Charge againſt Job, and yet had condemned him to be a wicked Hypocrite.
4. Now Elihu had waited till Job had ſpoken, becauſe they were elder then he.4. Yet he moderated his paſſion ſo diſcreetly, that he ſaid not a word, till he had waited, as well as Job, to ſee whether they would reſume the Debate: becauſe it was not fit he thought, for him to meddle, as long as his Elders had any thing to ſay.
5. When Elihu ſaw that there was no anſwer in the mouth of theſe three men, then his wrath was kindled.5. But when he ſaw that none of the three offered to reply, but ſate as men that knew not what to ſay, he was not able to hold his peace any longer:
6. And Elihu the ſon of Barachel the Buzite, anſwered, and ſaid, I am young, and ye are very old, wherefore I was afraid, and durſt not ſhew you mine opinion.6. But in this manner addreſſed himſelf unto them; ſaying, I have conſidered all this while mine own Youth and your aged Experience; which hath deterred me ſo much, that I have hitherto been afraid to interpoſe my Opinion.
7. I ſaid, Days ſhould ſpeak, and multitude of years ſhould teach wiſedom.7. I thought with my ſelf, that it was becoming one of my ſmall ſtanding, to hear rather then to ſpeak; and to learn Wiſedom in ſuch grave company as yours, rather then pretend to teach it.
8. But there is a ſpirit in man: and the inſpiration of the Almighty giveth them underſtanding.8. But I ſee I was miſtaken: Man is a very wretched thing, though he live never ſo long, if God do not illuminate him. It is the Divine Inſpiration which gives Underſtanding.
9. Great men are not always wiſe: neither do the aged underſtand judgment.9. They are not always the wiſeſt, who are in Authority, and the Teachers of others: nor do old men always ſo well imploy their years, as to underſtand the difference of things.
10. Therefore I ſaid, Hearken to me, I alſo will ſhew mine opinion.10. Therefore let me intreat you to lend your ears a little to me: I alſo will tell you what I think about this matter.
11. Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reaſons, whileſt you ſearched out what to ſay.11. Do not think me too forward; for I have with great patience heard all your Diſcourſes, and obſerved your Arguments; and let you proceed till you have ſearched as far as you could into the buiſineſs:
12. Yea, I attended unto you: and behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that anſwered his words:12. And having duly conſidered and comprehended every word, I muſt needs pronounce that there is none of you hath confuted Job; nor ſaid any thing to the purpoſe, in anſwer to his Defence of himſelf.
13. Leſt ye ſhould ſay, we have found out wiſedom: God thruſteth him down, not man.13. For it is not ſufficient for you to ſay, he is Obſtinate; and therefore it is wiſely done of us to leave him to God: He ſhall confound him, by continuing his Affliction; not We, by our Arguments.
14. Now he hath not directed his words againſt me: neither will I anſwer him with your ſpeeches.14. Which truly are ſo weak, that I ſhall make no uſe of them: But as Job hath directed none of his words againſt me, ſo I ſhall trouble him with none of your Replies.
15. They were amazed, they anſwered no more: they left off ſpeaking.15. See, I beſeech you, all you that hear us, how theſe Diſputants are amazed; how ſilent they are, as if their ſpeech had forſaken them.
16. When I had waited, (for they ſpake not, but ſtood ſtill, and anſwered no more)16. You are my Witneſſes, that I have waited for ſatisfaction: but after long expectation they bring forth nothing; they are at a ſtand, and furniſhed with no further Anſwer.
17. I ſaid, I will anſwer alſo my part, I alſo will ſhew mine opinion.17. Which made me reſolve within my ſelf, that I would have a ſhare in this Diſpute; and ſhew, as I have often told you, what my Opinion is concerning it.
18. For I am full of matter, the ſpirit within me conſtraineth me.18. And indeed it is high time; for I am ſo full, by long thinking of what I have to ſay, that I am in pain till I have uttered my mind.
19. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burſt like new bottles.19. My thoughts work within me, like new Wine in a Veſſel: and we are both alike in danger to burſt, unleſs there be a vent.
20. I will ſpeak, that I may be refreſhed: I will open my lips and anſwer.20. I muſt ſpeak therefore, if it be but to eaſe my ſelf: I will open my lips, as they do ſuch Veſſels, and make an Anſwer, becauſe I cannot with ſafety hold my peace any longer.
21. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's perſon, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.21. And, I beſeech you, let me ſpeak with all freedom; with regard onelyonly to the Cauſe, and not to the Perſon: and do not expect that I ſhould complement, and give to man any glorious titles.
22. For I know not to give flattering titles, in ſo doing my maker will ſoon take me away.22. For I do not underſtand that art of ſoothing men into a great opinion of themſelves: or if I did, I ſhould not venture to uſe it; leſt He that made me ſhould preſently ſtop my mouth, for not dealing plainly.