Sí, estoy en Puerto Rico.
As this endless vapid discourse meanders on, I will just say that although the Book of Job is as far as we know the earliest work in the Judeo-Christian tradition to deal with the theodicy problem, it ultimately fails to do so. The three comforters and Elihu all basically say the same thing, in the end: Job must have done something to deserve this, either because all humans are sinners or he transgressed in some particular way. Job says he is righteous and that God appears to him arbitrary and inscrutable. Sometimes the other four characters more or less agree with that, but still, there has to be a reason. What I have just said is essentially all that gets said, over and over again in endless circles.
We, the readers, know the truth: that this is all because of a bet God made with Satan, so it pretty much is just happening on a whim. Once we get through more of this dreck, God will show up and say, what the hell do you know and I'm not going to explain myself. Then, for no particular reason, Job gets healed and he gets everything back, which of course does not often happen in reality. End of story.
Some scholars think that the prologue and epilogue were the original book, and that most of the stuff in between was added later. I don't know Hebrew, but apparently the style of the dialogues and monologues is affected, which is certainly how it comes across in translation. This is, in other words, a literary hack indulging himself with what he imagines to be deathless poetry but is actually just an interminable spewing of doggerel. In any event we have to put up with it for a few more days.
34 Then Eli′hu said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,
and give ear to me, you who know;
3 for the ear tests words
as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose what is right;
let us determine among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent,
and God has taken away my right;
6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
who drinks up scoffing like water,
8 who goes in company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should take delight in God.’10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding,
far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
11 For according to the work of a man he will requite him,
and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth
and who laid on him[a] the whole world?
14 If he should take back his spirit[b] to himself,
and gather to himself his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together,
and man would return to dust.16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
17 Shall one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
and to nobles, ‘Wicked man’;
19 who shows no partiality to princes,
nor regards the rich more than the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
20 In a moment they die;
at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.21 “For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,
and he sees all his steps.
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For he has not appointed a time[c] for any man
to go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation,
and sets others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
in the sight of men,
27 because they turned aside from following him,
and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn?
When he hides his face, who can behold him,
whether it be a nation or a man?—
30 that a godless man should not reign,
that he should not ensnare the people.31 “For has any one said to God,
‘I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more;
32 teach me what I do not see;
if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Will he then make requital to suit you,
because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
therefore declare what you know.[d]
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
and the wise man who hears me will say:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,
his words are without insight.’
36 Would that Job were tried to the end,
because he answers like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us,
and multiplies his words against God.”Footnotes
- Job 34:13 Heb lacks on him
- Job 34:14 Heb his heart his spirit
- Job 34:23 Cn: Heb yet
- Job 34:33 The Hebrew of verses 29–33 is obscure
35 And Eli′hu said:
2 “Do you think this to be just?
Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’
3 that you ask, ‘What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you
and your friends with you.
5 Look at the heavens, and see;
and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him;
or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
and your righteousness a son of man.9 “Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out;
they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,
11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’
12 There they cry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say that you do not see him,
that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!
15 And now, because his anger does not punish,
and he does not greatly heed transgression,[a]
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk,
he multiplies words without knowledge.”Footnotes
- Job 35:15 Theodotion Symmachus Compare Vg: The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
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