Job 32

¹ So these three men ceased to answer Job , because he was righteous in his own eyes .

² Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite , of the family of Ram , burned with anger . He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God .

³ He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer , although they had declared Job to be in the wrong .

⁴ Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.

⁵ And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men , he burned with anger .

⁶ And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said : I am young in years , and you are aged ; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.

⁷ I said , Let days speak , and many years teach wisdom .

⁸ But it is the spirit in man , the breath of the Almighty , that makes him understand .

⁹ It is not the old who are wise , nor the aged who understand what is right .

¹⁰ Therefore I say , Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion .

¹¹ Behold , I waited for your words , I listened for your wise sayings , while you searched out what to say .

¹² I gave you my attention , and, behold , there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words .

¹³ Beware lest you say , We have found wisdom ; God may vanquish him, not a man .

¹⁴ He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches .

¹⁵ They are dismayed ; they answer no more ; they have not a word to say .

¹⁶ And shall I wait , because they do not speak , because they stand there, and answer no more ?

¹⁷ I also will answer with my share ; I also will declare my opinion .

¹⁸ For I am full of words ; the spirit within me constrains me.

¹⁹ Behold , my belly is like wine that has no vent ; like new wineskins ready to burst .

²⁰ I must speak , that I may find relief ; I must open my lips and answer .

²¹ I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person .

²² For I do not know how to flatter , else my Maker would soon take me away .

¹ So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

² But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God.

³ He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

⁴ Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.

⁵ But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

⁶ So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.

⁷ I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.`

⁸ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

⁹ It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.

¹⁰ “Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know.

¹¹ I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words,

¹² I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments.

¹³ Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.`

¹⁴ But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.

¹⁵ “They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them.

¹⁶ Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply?

¹⁷ I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know.

¹⁸ For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;

¹⁹ inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.

²⁰ I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.

²¹ I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone;

²² for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.

¹ So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

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 than God.

³ Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

⁴ Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.

⁵ When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.

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.

⁷ I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

⁸ But there is a spirit in man : and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

⁹ Great men are not always wise : neither do the aged understand judgment.

¹⁰ Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.

¹¹ Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

¹² Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words :

¹³ Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom : God thrusteth him down, not man.

¹⁴ Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.

¹⁵ They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.

¹⁶ When I had waited, ( for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)

¹⁷ I said , I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.

¹⁸ For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.

¹⁹ Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

²⁰ I will speak, that I may be refreshed : I will open my lips and answer.

²¹ Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

²² For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away. Job 31 Books Job 33