Job 32
Legacy Standard Bible
Elihu Answers in Anger
32 Then these three men ceased answering Job because he was (A)righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the (B)Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned; against Job his anger burned (C)because he was proving himself righteous [a](D)before God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited with his words for Job because they were years older than he. 5 Then Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, so his anger burned.
6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said,
“I am young in years and you are (E)old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you my knowledge.
7 I [b]thought [c](F)age should speak,
And [d]increased years should make wisdom known.
8 But it is a spirit in man,
And the (G)breath of the Almighty gives them (H)understanding.
9 The [e]abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may (I)elders understand justice.
10 So I [f]say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell my knowledge.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I gave ear to your reasonings,
While you searched out what to say.
12 I even carefully considered you;
And behold, there was no one who reproved Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 Lest you say,
‘(J)We have found wisdom;
God will drive him away, not man.’
14 Now he has not arranged his words against me,
Nor will I respond to him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed; they no longer answer;
Words have moved away from them.
16 Shall I wait, because they do not speak,
Because they stand still and no longer answer?
17 I myself will also answer my share;
I also will tell my knowledge.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within my belly presses me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, not opened;
Like new wineskins it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me now (K)be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon carry me away.
Job 32
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Elihu’s Angry Response
32 So these three men quit answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.(A) 2 Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite(B) from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified(C) himself rather than God. 3 He was also angry at Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him.[a]
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he. 5 But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry.
6 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(D) you what I know.
7 I thought that age should speak
and maturity should teach wisdom.
8 But it is a spirit in man[b]
and the breath(E) of the Almighty
that give him understanding.
9 It is not only the old who are wise
or the elderly who understand how to judge.
10 Therefore I say, “Listen to me.
I too will declare what I know.”
11 Look, I waited for your conclusions;
I listened to your insights
as you sought for words.
12 I paid close attention to you.
Yet no one proved Job wrong;
not one of you refuted his arguments.
13 So do not claim, “We have found wisdom;
let God deal with him, not man.”
14 But Job has not directed his argument to me,
and I will not respond to him with your arguments.
15 Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer;
words have left them.
16 Should I continue to wait now that they are silent,
now that they stand there and no longer answer?
17 I too will answer;[c]
yes, I will tell what I know.
18 For I am full of words,
and my spirit[d] compels me to speak.(F)
19 My heart[e] is like unvented wine;
it is about to burst like new wineskins.(G)
20 I must speak so that I can find relief;
I must open my lips and respond.
21 I will be partial to no one,(H)
and I will not give anyone an undeserved title.
22 For I do not know how to give such titles;
otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.
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