New Living Translation

New King James Version

Elihu Responds to Job’s Friends

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

1

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

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

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.

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

3

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

4

Elihu had waited for the others to speak 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 they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily.

5

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

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.

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

7

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

8

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

8

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

9

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

9

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