Job 32

 

Job 32

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

² But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying 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.

⁴ Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.

⁵ But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger 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.

⁷ I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’

⁸ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

⁹ It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.

¹⁰ “Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know.

¹¹ I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,

¹² I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments.

¹³ Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’

¹⁴ But Job has not marshaled his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your arguments.

¹⁵ “They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them.

¹⁶ Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply?

¹⁷ I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know.

¹⁸ For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;

¹⁹ inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.

²⁰ I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.

²¹ I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone;

²² for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.