Job 32:1-9

New International Version

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job,^(A) because he was righteous in his own eyes.^(B) ²But 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) ³He 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) ⁴Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.^(I) ⁵But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

⁶So 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.
⁷I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’^(K)
⁸But it is the spirit^[b]^(L) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,^(M) that gives them understanding.^(N)
⁹It is not only the old^[c] who are wise,^(O)
    not only the aged^(P) who understand what is right.^(Q)

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Footnotes

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