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Young Elihu Speaks

32 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite of the clan of Ram became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with his three friends because they had not found an answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his anger was aroused.

Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite responded and said:

“I am young in days and you are old;
    that is why I was timid
    and dared not to tell what I know.
I thought, ‘Let days speak,
    and many years teach wisdom.’[a]
But there is a spirit in people,
    the breath of Shaddai that gives them understanding.
It is not only the aged who are wise
    or old men who understand justice.

10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me!
    I, even I, will explain what I know.’
11 Look, I waited for your words,
    I listened to your reasoning;
    while you were searching for words
12 I gave you my full attention.
But behold, no one proved Job wrong;
    none among you, answered his statements.
13 Lest you should say, ‘We have found wisdom;
    let God refute him, not man!’
14 Job has not directed his words to me
    and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed and no longer reply;
    words have failed them.
16 Must I wait, since they no longer speak
    since they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will answer my part;
    I too will declare what I know.
18 For I am full of words,
    and the spirit within me compels me;
19 inside I am like wine that has no opening,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.
20 I must speak that I may find relief;
    I will open my lips that I may answer.
21 I will show partiality to no one,
    nor will I flatter anyone;
22 for I do not know how to flatter
    else my Maker would quickly carry me away!

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:7 cf. Luke 2:47.

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job,(A) because he was righteous in his own eyes.(B) But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,(C) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself(D) rather than God.(E) He was also angry with the three friends,(F) because they had found no way to refute Job,(G) and yet had condemned him.[a](H) Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.(I) But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years,
    and you are old;(J)
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’(K)
But it is the spirit[b](L) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,(M) that gives them understanding.(N)
It is not only the old[c] who are wise,(O)
    not only the aged(P) who understand what is right.(Q)

10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me;(R)
    I too will tell you what I know.(S)
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.(T)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;(U)
    let God, not a man, refute(V) him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,(W)
    and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
    words have failed them.(X)
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.(Y)
18 For I am full of words,
    and the spirit(Z) within me compels me;(AA)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.(AB)
20 I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.(AC)
21 I will show no partiality,(AD)
    nor will I flatter anyone;(AE)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
    my Maker(AF) would soon take me away.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
  2. Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
  3. Job 32:9 Or many; or great