“I am young in years,
    and you are old;^(J)
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
⁷ I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’^(K)
8 But it is the spirit^[b](L) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,^(M) that gives them understanding.^(N)
9 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)