Job 32

Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends

1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.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 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 Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.

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, 'Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.'
8  But it is the spirit in man,
the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
9  It is not the oldt who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
10  Therefore I say, 'Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.'

11  "Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searched out what to say.
12  I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
or who answered his words.
13  Beware lest you say, 'We have found wisdom;
God may vanquish him, not a man.'
14  He has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your speeches.

15  "They are dismayed; they answer no more;
they have not a word to say.
16  And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
because they stand there, and answer no more?
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 constrains me.
19  Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
like new wineskins ready to burst.
20  I must speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
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.

Job 32

V. The Speeches of Elihu (32:1-37:24)

Elihu’s First Speech

1 So these three men refused to answert Job further, because he was righteous in hiss own eyes.2 Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry.t He was angryt with Job for justifyingt himself rather than God.s3 With Job’st three friends he was also angry, because they could not findt an answer, and so declared Job guilty.s4 Now Elihu had waited before speakings to Job, because the otherst were older than he was.

5 But when Elihu sawt that the three men had no further reply,t he became very angry.

Elihu Claims Wisdom

6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up:t
“I am young,t but you are elderly;
that is why I was fearful,t
and afraid to explaint to you what I know.

7 I said to myself, ‘Aget should speak,t
and length of yearst should make wisdom known.’

8 But it is a spirit in people,
the breatht of the Almighty,
that makes them understand.

9 It is not the agedt who are wise,
nor old men who understand what is right.

10 Therefore I say, ‘Listens to me.
I, even I, will explain what I know.’

11 Look, I waited for you to speak;t
I listened closely to your wise thoughts,twhile you were searching for words.

12 Now I was paying you close attention,t
yett there was no one proving Job wrong,t
not one of you was answering his statements!

13 So do not say,t ‘We have found wisdom!
God will refutet him, not man!’

14 Jobt has not directedt his words to me,
and so I will not reply to him with your arguments.t

Job’s Friends Failed to Answer

15 “They are dismayedt and cannot answer any more;
they have nothing left to say.s

16 And I have waited.t But because they do not speak,
because they stand there and answer no more,

17 I too will answer my part,
I too will explain what I know.

18 For I am full of words,
and the spirit within met constrains me.t

19 Inside I am like wine which has no outlet,t
like new wineskinss ready to burst!

20 I will speak,t so that I may find relief;
I will open my lips, so that I may answer.

21 I will not show partiality to anyone,t
nor will I confer a titlet on any man.

22 for I do not know how to give honorary titles,t
if I did,t my Creator would quickly do away with me.t