New King James Version

New Living Translation

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

So 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

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 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

Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, 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 because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job.

4

Elihu had waited for the others 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

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

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

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

7

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

8

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

8

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

9

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

9

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

10

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

10

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

11

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

11

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

12

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

12

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

13

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

13

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

14

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

14

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

15

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

15

You sit there baffled,
with nothing more to say.

16

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

16

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

17

I also will answer my part,
I too will declare 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 compels me.

18

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

19

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

19

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

20

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

20

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

21

Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me 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 King James Version

New Living Translation

Job 32

Job 32