New King James Version

English Standard Version

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

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

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Three Friends

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

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.

2

Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God.

3

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

3

He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.

4

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

4

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

5

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

5

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.

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.

6

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:
“I am young in years,
and you are aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.

7

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

7

I said, ‘Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.’

8

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

8

But it is the spirit in man,
the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.

9

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

9

It is not the olda who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.

10

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

10

Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.’

11

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

11

“Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searched out what to say.

12

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

12

I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
or who answered his words.

13

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

13

Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
God may vanquish him, not a man.’

14

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

14

He has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your speeches.

15

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

15

“They are dismayed; they answer no more;
they have not a word to say.

16

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

16

And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
because they stand there, and answer no more?

17

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

17

I also will answer with my share;
I also will declare my opinion.

18

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

18

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

19

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

19

Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
like new wineskins ready to burst.

20

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

20

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

21

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

21

I will not show partiality to any man
or use flattery toward any person.

22

For I do not know how to flatter,
Else 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 King James Version

English Standard Version

Job 32

Job 32