Job 32

Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job

1 Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was ^arighteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the ^bBuzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned ^cbecause he justified himself ^{▼▼ Or more than
,} ^ebefore God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited ^{▼▼ Lit for Job with words; or possibly while they were speaking with Job}to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite ^{▼▼ Lit answered}spoke out and said, “I am young in years and you are ^hold;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you ^{▼▼ Lit my knowledge}what I think.
7 “I ^{▼▼ Lit said}thought ^{▼▼ Lit days
,} ^lage should speak,
And ^{▼▼ Lit many}increased years should teach wisdom.
8 “But it is a spirit in man,
And the ⁿbreath of the Almighty gives them ^ounderstanding.
9 “The ^{▼▼ Or nobles}abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may ^qelders understand justice.
10 “So I ^{▼▼ Or said}say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell ^{▼▼ Lit my knowledge}what I think.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings,
While you ^{▼▼ Lit searched out words}pondered what to say.
12 “I even paid close attention to you;
^{▼▼ Lit Behold}Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 “Do not say,
‘ ^vWe have found wisdom;
God will ^{▼▼ Lit drive away}rout him, not man.’
14 “For he has not arranged his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your ^{▼▼ Lit words}arguments.

15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have ^{▼▼ Lit moved away from}failed them.
16 “Shall I wait, because they do not speak,
Because they ^{▼▼ Lit stand}stop and no longer answer?
17 “I too will answer my share,
I also will tell my opinion.
18 “For I am full of words;
The spirit within me constrains me.
19 “Behold, my belly is like unvented wine,
Like new wineskins it is about to burst.
20 “Let me speak that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 “Let me now ^aabe partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 “For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.