So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied:

I am young in years,
while you are old;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to tell(A) you what I know.
I thought that age should speak
and maturity should teach wisdom.
But it is the spirit in a person—
the breath(B) from the Almighty—
that gives anyone understanding.
It is not only the old who are wise
or the elderly who understand how to judge.

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So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied:

I am young in years,
while you are old;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to tell(A) you what I know.
I thought that age should speak
and maturity should teach wisdom.
But it is a spirit in man[a]
and the breath(B) of the Almighty
that give him understanding.
It is not only the old who are wise
or the elderly who understand how to judge.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:8 Or is the Spirit in a person

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years,
    and you are old;(A)
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’(B)
But it is the spirit[a](C) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,(D) that gives them understanding.(E)
It is not only the old[b] who are wise,(F)
    not only the aged(G) who understand what is right.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
  2. Job 32:9 Or many; or great