Job 32

Elihu Rebukes Job and His Three Friends

1 Then these three men ceased from answering Job because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 So Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite, from the clan of Ram, ⌞became angry⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “the nose of Elihu became hot”} ⌞He became angry⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “His nose became hot”} at Job because he justified himself rather than God, 3 and ⌞he became angry⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “his nose became hot”} at his three friends because they had not found an answer, and they had declared Job guilty. 4 Thus Elihu had waited for Job ⌞to speak⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “in words”} because ⌞they were older than he⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “they were older than he as far as days”} 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, ⌞he became angry⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “his nose became hot”} 6 Then Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite ⌞spoke up⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “answered”; see NET} and said,

“⌞I am young⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “Young I am as far as days”} but ^{▼▼Or “and”} you ^▼▼Plural are old;
therefore I feared and became afraid of explaining my knowledge to you. ^▼▼Plural
7 I thought, ^{▼▼Or “said”} ‘Let days ^{▼▼Compare the idiom of “as far as days” in vv. 4 and 6} speak,
and let many years teach wisdom.’
8 “Truly, it is a spirit in a human being,
and the breath of Shaddai teaches them.
9 It is not ⌞the aged⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “many in days”} who are wise,
or ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} it is not the elders who understand justice.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
let me also declare my knowledge myself.’
11 “Look, I waited for your ^▼▼Plural words;
I listened for your ^▼▼Plural insight,
until you searched out ⌞what to say⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “words,” or “sentences”}
12 And I directed my attention to you; ^▼▼Plural
and, look, there is no one for Job who refuted,
answering his words among you.
13 So do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;
let God refute him, not a man.’
14 But ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} he did not direct his words ^{▼▼Or “sentences,” or “what he said”} to me,
and I will not answer him with your ^▼▼Plural words.
15 “They are dismayed; they no longer answer;
⌞they have nothing to say⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “words fail from them,” or “sentences fail from them,” or “what to say fails from them”}
16 And I have waited because they do not speak,
because they stand there and no longer answer.
17 I myself will answer my share also;
I myself will declare my knowledge also,
18 for I am full of words; ^{▼▼Or “sentences,” or “what to say”}
⌞the spirit within me⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “the spirit of my stomach”} urges me.
19 “Look, my internal organs are like unopened wine,
like new wineskins it ^{▼▼Antecedent is “wine”} is ready to burst open.
20 Let me speak ⌞that I may find relief⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “and let it find relief for me”}
let me open my lips, and let me answer.
21 ⌞Please let me not show partiality to anyone⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “Not please I will lift up face of a man”}
and let me not show flattery to human beings,
22 for I do not know how ⌞to flatter⌟, ^{▼▼Literally “I will flatter”}
else my Maker would ⌞soon⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “like little”} put an end to me.