New American Standard Bible

New Living Translation

Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job

Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Elihu Responds to Job’s Friends

Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.

2

But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned because he justified himself before God.

2

Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him.

3

And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

3

He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made Goda appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments.

4

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

4

Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he.

5

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

5

But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily.

6

So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said,
“I am young in years and you are old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.

6

Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said,
“I am young and you are old,
so I held back from telling you what I think.

7

“I thought age should speak,
And increased years should teach wisdom.

7

I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak,
for wisdom comes with age.’

8

“But it is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

8

But there is a spiritb within people,
the breath of the Almighty within them,
that makes them intelligent.

9

“The abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may elders understand justice.

9

Sometimes the elders are not wise.
Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.

10

“So I say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell what I think.’

10

So listen to me,
and let me tell you what I think.

11

“Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings,
While you pondered what to say.

11

“I have waited all this time,
listening very carefully to your arguments,
listening to you grope for words.

12

“I even paid close attention to you;
Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.

12

I have listened,
but not one of you has refuted Job
or answered his arguments.

13

“Do not say,
‘We have found wisdom;
God will rout him, not man.’

13

And don’t tell me, ‘He is too wise for us.
Only God can convince him.’

14

“For he has not arranged his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your arguments.

14

If Job had been arguing with me,
I would not answer with your kind of logic!

15

“They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have failed them.

15

You sit there baffled,
with nothing more to say.

16

“Shall I wait, because they do not speak,
Because they stop and no longer answer?

16

Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent?
Must I also remain silent?

17

“I too will answer my share,
I also will tell my opinion.

17

No, I will say my piece.
I will speak my mind.

18

“For I am full of words;
The spirit within me constrains me.

18

For I am full of pent-up words,
and the spirit within me urges me on.

19

“Behold, my belly is like unvented wine,
Like new wineskins it is about to burst.

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I am like a cask of wine without a vent,
like a new wineskin ready to burst!

20

“Let me speak that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.

20

I must speak to find relief,
so let me give my answers.

21

“Let me now be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.

21

I won’t play favorites
or try to flatter anyone.

22

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

22

For if I tried flattery,
my Creator would soon destroy me.

Parallel

New American Standard Bible

New Living Translation

Job 32

Job 32