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Elihu

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

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

But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God.

2

Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.

3

He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.a

3

Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

4

Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.

4

Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job.

5

But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

5

When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.

6

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
“I am young in years,
and you are old;
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.

6

So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.

7

I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’

7

I said, [b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’

8

But it is the spiritb in a person,
the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

8

But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.

9

It is not only the oldc who are wise,
not only the aged who understand what is right.

9

Great[c] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.

10

“Therefore I say: Listen to me;
I too will tell you what I know.

10

“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’

11

I waited while you spoke,
I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,

11

Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.

12

I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.

12

I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words —

13

Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;
let God, not a man, refute him.’

13

Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.

14

But Job has not marshaled his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your arguments.

14

Now he has not [d]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.

15

“They are dismayed and have no more to say;
words have failed them.

15

“They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.

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Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand there with no reply?

16

And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.

17

I too will have my say;
I too will tell what I know.

17

I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.

18

For I am full of words,
and the spirit within me compels me;

18

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

19

inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst.

19

Indeed my [e]belly is like wine that has no [f]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.

20

I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply.

20

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

21

I will show no partiality,
nor will I flatter anyone;

21

Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.

22

for if I were skilled in flattery,
my Maker would soon take me away.

22

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

Parallel

New International Version

New King James Version

Job 32

Job 32