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

Then was kindled the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his anger kindled, because he justified himself rather than God;

and against his three friends was his anger kindled, because they found no answer, and [yet] condemned Job.

But Elihu had waited till Job had finished speaking, because they were older than he.

And Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, and his anger was kindled.

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are aged; wherefore I was timid, and feared to shew you what I know.

I said, Let days speak, and multitude of years teach wisdom.

But there is a spirit which is in man; and the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

It is not the great that are wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.

10 Therefore I say, Hearken to me; I also will shew what I know.

11 Lo, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasonings, until ye searched out what to say.

12 Yea, I gave you mine attention, and behold, there was none of you that confuted Job, that answered his words;

13 That ye may not say, We have found out wisdom; God will make him yield, not man.

14 Now he hath not directed [his] words against me; and I will not answer him with your speeches. …

15 They were amazed, they answered no more; words failed them.

16 And I waited, for they spoke not, but stood still, and answered no more;—

17 I will answer, I also in my turn, I also will shew what I know:

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

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

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

21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither will I give flattery to man.

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

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job,(A) because he was righteous in his own eyes.(B) But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,(C) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself(D) rather than God.(E) He was also angry with the three friends,(F) because they had found no way to refute Job,(G) and yet had condemned him.[a](H) Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.(I) But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years,
    and you are old;(J)
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’(K)
But it is the spirit[b](L) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,(M) that gives them understanding.(N)
It is not only the old[c] who are wise,(O)
    not only the aged(P) who understand what is right.(Q)

10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me;(R)
    I too will tell you what I know.(S)
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.(T)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;(U)
    let God, not a man, refute(V) him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,(W)
    and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
    words have failed them.(X)
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.(Y)
18 For I am full of words,
    and the spirit(Z) within me compels me;(AA)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.(AB)
20 I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.(AC)
21 I will show no partiality,(AD)
    nor will I flatter anyone;(AE)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
    my Maker(AF) would soon take me away.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
  2. Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
  3. Job 32:9 Or many; or great