Job 32

Elihu Rebukes Job in Anger

1 Then these three men stopped 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, yet they 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 But 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 that is in mankind,
And the ⁿbreath of the Almighty gives them ^ounderstanding.
9 “The ^{▼▼Lit great (i.e., in years); 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 skillful speech,
While you ^{▼▼Lit searched out words}pondered what to say.
12 “I also paid close attention to you;
But ^{▼▼Lit Behold}indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 “So do not say,
‘ ^vWe have found wisdom:
God will ^{▼▼Lit scatter}defeat him, not man.’
14 “But he has not presented 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 “Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have ^{▼▼Lit stand}stopped and no longer answer?
17 “I too will ^{▼▼Lit answer my share}give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
18 “For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 “Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 “Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 “Let me ^abbe partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 “For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.