Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was (A)righteous in his own eyes. 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. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.

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.
I said, [b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
But there is a spirit in man,
And (E)the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
(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.

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:4 Vg. till Job had spoken
  2. Job 32:7 Lit. Days, i.e., years
  3. Job 32:9 Or Men of many years
  4. Job 32:14 ordered
  5. Job 32:19 bosom
  6. Job 32:19 opening

32 So these shloshet ha’anashim ceased to answer Iyov, because he was tzaddik in his eyes.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu ben Barachel the Buzi, of the mishpochah Ram; against Iyov was his wrath kindled, because Iyov justified his nefesh rather than Elohim.

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no ma’aneh (refutation, answer), and yet had condemned Iyov.

Now Elihu had waited till Iyov had spoken, because they were elder than he.

When Elihu saw that there was no ma’aneh in the mouth of these shloshet ha’anashim, then his wrath was kindled.

And Elihu ben Barachel the Buzi answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and dared not tell you of what I have da’as.

I said, Yamim should speak, and multitude of shanim should teach chochmah.

But there is a ruach in enosh, and the neshamat Shaddai giveth them binah.

Great men are not always wise, neither do the zekenim understand mishpat.

10 Therefore I said, Pay heed to me; I also will tell of what I have da’as.

11 Hen (behold), I waited for your dvarim; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, hinei, there was none of you that proved Iyov wrong, or that answered his words.

13 Yet do not say, We have found chochmah; El may vanquish him, lo ish (not man).

14 Now he hath not directed his millin (words) against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.

15 They were amazed; they answered no od (more); they left off speaking.

16 When I had waited, (for they spoke not, but stood still, and answered no od [more]);

17 I said, I will answer also my chelek (portion); I also will show of mine da’as.

18 For I am full of millim (words), the ruach within me compelleth me.

19 Hinei, my beten is like yayin which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like ovot chadashim (new wineskins).

20 I will speak that I may be relieved; I will open my sfatayim and answer.

21 Let me not, now, show any man partiality, neither let me flatter adam.

22 For I am not skilled in flattery; in so doing Oseini (my Maker) would soon take me away.