Elihu Rebukes Job in Anger
6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite [c]spoke out and said,
“I am young in years and you are old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you [d]what I think.
7 I [e]thought [f]age should speak,
And [g]increased years should teach wisdom.
8 But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
9 The [h]abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may elders understand justice.
10 So I [i]say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell [j]what I think.’
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you [k]pondered what to say.
12 I also paid close attention to you;
But [l]indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 So do not say,
‘We have found wisdom:
God will [m]defeat him, not man.’
14 But he has not presented his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your [n]arguments.
Words have [o]failed them.
16 Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have [p]stopped and no longer answer?
17 I too will [q]give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.
Footnotes
- Job 32:2 Or more than
- Job 32:4 Lit for Job with words; or possibly while they were speaking with Job
- Job 32:6 Lit answered
- Job 32:6 Lit my knowledge
- Job 32:7 Lit said
- Job 32:7 Lit days
- Job 32:7 Lit many
- Job 32:9 Lit great (i.e., in years); or nobles
- Job 32:10 Or said
- Job 32:10 Lit my knowledge
- Job 32:11 Lit searched out words
- Job 32:12 Lit Behold
- Job 32:13 Lit scatter
- Job 32:14 Lit words
- Job 32:15 Lit moved away from
- Job 32:16 Lit stand
- Job 32:17 Lit answer my share