Online Bible

Eliú justifica a Dios

Entonces prosiguió Eliú, y dijo:

2 Oíd, sabios, mis palabras,y vosotros los que sabéis, prestadme atención.3 Porque el oído distingue las palabras,como el paladar prueba la comida^a.4 Escojamos para nosotros lo que es justo;conozcamos entre nosotros lo que es bueno.5 Porque Job ha dicho: «Yo soy justo^a,pero Dios me ha quitado mi derecho^b.6 »¿He de mentir respecto a mi derecho¹?Mi herida²^a es incurable, sin haber yo cometido transgresión».7 ¿Qué hombre es como Job,que bebe el escarnio como agua^a,8 que va en compañía de los que hacen iniquidad,y anda con hombres perversos^a?9 Porque ha dicho: «Nada gana el hombrecuando se complace en¹ Dios^a».

10 Por tanto, escuchadme, hombres de entendimiento.Lejos esté de Dios la iniquidad,y del Todopoderoso¹ la maldad^a.11 Porque Él paga al hombre conforme a su trabajo,y retribuye a cada cual conforme a su conducta¹^a.12 Ciertamente, Dios no obrará perversamente,y el Todopoderoso¹ no pervertirá el juicio^a.13 ¿Quién le dio autoridad sobre la tierra^a?¿Y quién ha puesto a su cargo el mundo entero^b?14 Si Él determinara hacerlo así¹,si hiciera volver² a sí mismo su espíritu y su aliento^a,15 toda carne a una perecería^a,y el hombre volvería al polvo^b.

16 Pero si tienes inteligencia, oye esto,escucha la voz de mis palabras.17 ¿Gobernará el que aborrece la justicia^a?¿Y condenarás al Justo poderoso^b,18 que dice a un rey: «Indigno»,a los nobles: «Perversos»;19 que no hace acepción de príncipes,ni considera al rico sobre el pobre^a,ya que todos son obra de sus manos^b?20 En un momento mueren, y a medianochese estremecen los pueblos y pasan^a,y los poderosos son quitados^b sin esfuerzo¹.

21 Porque sus ojos observan¹ los caminos del hombre,y Él ve todos sus pasos^a.22 No hay tinieblas ni densa oscuridaddonde puedan esconderse los que hacen iniquidad^a.23 Porque Él no necesita considerar más al hombre^a,para que vaya ante Dios en juicio.24 Él quebranta a los poderosos^a sin indagar,y pone a otros en su lugar.25 Pues Él conoce sus obras^a,de noche los derriba^by son aplastados.26 Como a malvados los azota^aen un lugar público¹,27 porque se apartaron de seguirle^a,y no consideraron ninguno de sus caminos^b,28 haciendo que el clamor del pobre llegara a Él^a,y que oyera el clamor de los afligidos^b.29 Cuando está quieto, ¿quién puede condenarle?;y cuando esconde su rostro, ¿quién puede contemplarle?;esto es, tanto nación como hombre,30 para que no gobiernen hombres impíos^a,ni sean lazos para el pueblo.

31 Porque ¿ha dicho alguno a Dios:«He sufrido castigo,ya no ofenderé más;32 enséñame lo que no veo;si he obrado mal^a,no lo volveré a hacer»?33 ¿Ha de retribuir Él según tus condiciones^a, porque tú has rehusado?Porque tú tienes que escoger y no yo,por tanto, declara lo que sabes.34 Los hombres entendidos me dirán,y también el sabio que me oiga:35 «Job habla sin conocimiento,y sus palabras no tienen sabiduría^a.36 »Job debe ser¹ juzgado hasta el límite²,porque responde como los hombres perversos^a.37 »Porque a su pecado añade rebelión^a;bate palmas^b entre nosotros,y multiplica sus palabras contra Dios».

Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice

Then Elihu continued and said,

2 “Hear my words, you wise men,And listen to me, you who know.3 “For ^athe ear tests wordsAs the palate tastes food.4 “Let us choose for ourselves what is right;Let us know among ourselves what is good.5 “For Job has said, ‘^aI am righteous,But ^bGod has taken away my right;6 ¹Should I lie concerning my right?My ²^awound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’7 “What man is like Job,Who ^adrinks up derision like water,8 Who goes ^ain company with the workers of iniquity,And walks with wicked men?9 “For he has said, ‘^aIt profits a man nothingWhen he ¹is pleased with God.’

10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.Far be it from God to ^ado wickedness,And from the Almighty to do wrong.11 “For He pays a man according to ^ahis work,And makes ¹him find it according to his way.12 “Surely, ^aGod will not act wickedly,And the Almighty will not pervert justice.13 “Who ^agave Him authority over the earth?And who ^bhas laid on Him the whole world?14 “If He should ¹determine to do so,If He should ^agather to Himself His spirit and His breath,15 All ^aflesh would perish together,And man would ^breturn to dust.

16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;Listen to the sound of my words.17 “Shall ^aone who hates justice rule?And ^bwill you condemn the righteous mighty One,18 Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;19 Who shows no ^apartiality to princesNor regards the rich above the poor,For they all are the ^bwork of His hands?20 “In a moment they die, and ^aat midnightPeople are shaken and pass away,And ^bthe mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “For ^aHis eyes are upon the ways of a man,And He sees all his steps.22 “There is ^ano darkness or deep shadowWhere the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.23 “For He does not ^aneed to consider a man further,That he should go before God in judgment.24 “He breaks in pieces ^amighty men without inquiry,And sets others in their place.25 “Therefore He ^aknows their works,And ^bHe overthrows them in the night,And they are crushed.26 “He ^astrikes them like the wicked¹In a public place,27 Because they ^aturned aside from following Him,And ^bhad no regard for any of His ways;28 So that they caused ^athe cry of the poor to come to Him,And that He might ^bhear the cry of the afflicted—29 When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,That is, in regard to both nation and man?—30 “So that ^agodless men would not ruleNor be snares of the people.

31 “For has anyone said to God,‘I have borne chastisement;I will not offend anymore;32 Teach me what I do not see;If I have ^adone iniquity,I will not do it again’?33 “Shall He ^arecompense on your terms, because you have rejected it?For you must choose, and not I;Therefore declare what you know.34 “Men of understanding will say to me,And a wise man who hears me,35 ‘Job ^aspeaks without knowledge,And his words are without wisdom.36 ‘Job ought to be tried ¹to the limit,Because he answers ^alike wicked men.37 ‘For he adds ^arebellion to his sin;He ^bclaps his hands among us,And multiplies his words against God.’”

Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice

Then Elihu continued and said,

2 “Hear my words, you wise men,And listen to me, you who understand.3 “For ^athe ear tests wordsAs the palate tastes food.4 “Let us choose for ourselves what is right;Let us understand among ourselves what is good.5 “For Job has said, ‘^aI am righteous,But ^bGod has taken away my right;6 ¹Should I lie about my right?My ²^awound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.’7 “What man is like Job,Who ^adrinks up derision like water,8 Who goes ^ain company with the workers of injustice,And walks with wicked people?9 “For he has said, ‘^aIt is of no use to a manWhen he becomes friends with God.’

10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.Far be it from God to ^ado evil,And from the Almighty to do wrong.11 “For He repays a person for ^ahis work,And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s ¹behavior.12 “^aGod certainly will not act wickedly,And the Almighty will not pervert justice.13 “Who ^agave Him authority over the earth?And who ^bhas placed the whole world on Him?14 “If He were to ¹determine to do so,If He were to ^agather His ²spirit and His breath to Himself,15 ¹^aHumanity would perish together,And mankind would ^breturn to dust.

16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;Listen to the sound of my words.17 “Shall ^aone who hates justice rule?And ^bwill you condemn the righteous mighty One,18 Who says to a king, ‘You worthless one,’To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;19 Who shows no ^apartiality to the prominent,Nor regards the rich as above the poor,Since they are all the ^bwork of His hands?20 “In a moment they die, and ^aat midnightPeople are shaken and pass away,And ^bthe powerful are taken away without a hand.

21 “For ^aHis eyes are upon the ways of a person,And He sees all his steps.22 “There is ^ano darkness or deep shadowWhere the workers of injustice can hide themselves.23 “For He does not ^aneed to consider a person further,That he should go before God in judgment.24 “He breaks in pieces the ^amighty without investigation,And sets others in their place.25 “Therefore He ^aknows their deeds,And ^bHe overthrows them in the night,And they are crushed.26 “He ^astrikes them like the wicked¹In a public place,27 Because they ^aturned aside from following Him,And ^bhad no regard for any of His ways,28 So that they caused ^athe cry of the poor to come to Him,And that He would ^bhear the cry of the afflicted—29 When He keeps quiet, who can condemn?And when He hides His face, who then can look at Him,That is, regarding both nation and a person?—30 “So that ^agodless people would not rule,Nor be snares for the people.

31 “For has anyone said to God,‘I have endured punishment;I will not offend anymore;32 Teach me what I do not see;If I have ^adone wrong,I will not do it again’?33 “Shall God ^arepay on your terms, because you have rejected His?For you must choose, and not I;Therefore declare what you know.34 “Men of understanding will say to me,And a wise man who hears me,35 ‘Job ^aspeaks without knowledge,And his words are without wisdom.36 ‘Oh that Job were tested ¹to the limit,Because ²he answers ^alike sinners.37 ‘For he adds ^arebellion to his sin;He ^bclaps his hands among us,And multiplies his words against God.’”