Job 32
English Standard Version
Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends
32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was (A)righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel (B)the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself (C)rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had (D)declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:
“I am young in years,
and you are (E)aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, ‘Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.’
8 But it is (F)the spirit in man,
(G)the breath of the Almighty, that makes him (H)understand.
9 (I)It is not the old[a] who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searched out what to say.
12 I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
or who answered his words.
13 Beware (J)lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
God may vanquish him, not a man.’
14 He has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your speeches.
15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more;
they have not a word to say.
16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
because they stand there, and answer no more?
17 I also will answer with my share;
I also will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
the spirit within me constrains me.
19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
like new (K)wineskins ready to burst.
20 (L)I must speak, that I may find (M)relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 I will not (N)show partiality to any man
or use flattery toward any person.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
else my Maker would soon take me away.
Footnotes
- Job 32:9 Hebrew many [in years]
Job 32
International Standard Version
Elihu Addresses Job and His Friends
32 These three men stopped responding to Job, because he was claiming to be righteous, in his own opinion.[a] 2 But then Barachel’s son Elihu from Buz, one of Ram’s descendants, got really angry. He was furious with Job because he had been declaring himself righteous instead of vindicating God. 3 Furthermore, he was furious with his three friends because they had not answered Job, but instead had condemned him. 4 Elihu waited to have a word with Job, since the others were older than he, 5 but when he saw that there had been no response[b] from those three, he got even more angry. 6 Barachel’s son Elihu from Buz responded and said:
“I’m younger than you are.
Because you’re older,[c] I was terrified
to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, experience[d] should speak;
abundance of years teaches wisdom.
8 However, a spirit exists in mankind,
and the Almighty’s breath gives him insight.”
There’s No Fool Like an Old Fool
9 “The aged aren’t always wise,
nor do the elderly always understand justice.
10 Therefore I’m saying, ‘Listen to me!’
Then I’ll declare what I know.
11 “Look! I have waited to hear your speech,
so I listened to your insights
while you searched for the right words to say.[e]
12 Indeed, I paid close attention to you all,
but none of you were able to refute[f] Job
or answer his arguments convincingly.
13 “So that you cannot claim, ‘We have found wisdom!’
let God do the rebuking, not man;
14 let him not direct a rebuke toward me.
I won’t be responding to him with your arguments.
15 “Job’s friends[g] won’t reason with him anymore;
discouraged, words escape them.
16 Shall I continue to wait, since they’re no longer talking?
After all, they’re only standing there;
they’re no longer responding.
17 “I will contribute my arguments[h] as an answer;
I’ll declare what I know,
18 because I’m filled with things to say,
and my spirit within me compels me to speak.[i]
19 My insides feel like unvented wine,
like it’s about to burst like a new wineskin.
20 “Let me speak! I need relief!
Let me open my lips and respond.
21 I won’t discriminate against anyone,
and I won’t flatter any person,
22 since I don’t know the first thing about how to flatter;
and the one who made me would sweep me away
as if I were nothing.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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