Job 32
New King James Version
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was (A)righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the (B)Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he (C)justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am (D)young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, [b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And (E)the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 (F)Great[c] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 (G)Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not [d]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my [e]belly is like wine that has no [f]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me (H)away.
Job 32
International Children’s Bible
Elihu Speaks
32 These three men stopped answering Job. This is because Job was so sure he was right. 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite became very angry with Job. (Elihu was from the family of Ram.) He was angry because Job claimed he was right instead of God. 3 Elihu was also angry with Job’s three friends. They had no answer to show that Job was wrong. And yet they continued to blame him. 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job. This is because the three friends were older than he was. 5 But when Elihu saw that the three men had nothing more to say, he became very angry.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said this:
“I am young,
and you are old.
That is why I was afraid
to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Older people should speak.
Those who have lived many years should teach wisdom.’
8 But it is the spirit in a person that gives him understanding.
It is the breath of God All-Powerful in him.
9 It is not just older people who are wise.
Older people are not the only ones who understand what is right.
10 So I say, listen to me!
I will also tell you what I know.
11 I waited while you spoke.
I listened to your explanations.
I waited while you looked for words to use.
12 I paid close attention to you.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong.
Not one of you has answered his arguments.
13 Don’t you say, ‘We have found wisdom.
Only God will show Job to be wrong, not people.’
14 Job has not spoken his words against me.
So I will not use your arguments to answer Job.
15 “These three friends are defeated and have no more to say.
Words have failed them.
16 Now they are standing there with no answer for Job.
Now that they are quiet, must I wait to speak?
17 No, I also will speak.
I will also tell what I know.
18 I am full of words.
And the spirit in me causes me to speak.
19 I am like wine that has been bottled up.
I am ready to burst like a new leather bag for holding wine.
20 I must speak. Then I will feel relief.
I must open my mouth and answer.
21 I will be fair to everyone.
I will not flatter anyone.
22 I don’t know how to flatter.
If I did, God, my Maker, would quickly take me away.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.