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Young Elihu Speaks

32 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite of the clan of Ram became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with his three friends because they had not found an answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his anger was aroused.

Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite responded and said:

“I am young in days and you are old;
    that is why I was timid
    and dared not to tell what I know.
I thought, ‘Let days speak,
    and many years teach wisdom.’[a]
But there is a spirit in people,
    the breath of Shaddai that gives them understanding.
It is not only the aged who are wise
    or old men who understand justice.

10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me!
    I, even I, will explain what I know.’
11 Look, I waited for your words,
    I listened to your reasoning;
    while you were searching for words
12 I gave you my full attention.
But behold, no one proved Job wrong;
    none among you, answered his statements.
13 Lest you should say, ‘We have found wisdom;
    let God refute him, not man!’
14 Job has not directed his words to me
    and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed and no longer reply;
    words have failed them.
16 Must I wait, since they no longer speak
    since they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will answer my part;
    I too will declare what I know.
18 For I am full of words,
    and the spirit within me compels me;
19 inside I am like wine that has no opening,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.
20 I must speak that I may find relief;
    I will open my lips that I may answer.
21 I will show partiality to no one,
    nor will I flatter anyone;
22 for I do not know how to flatter
    else my Maker would quickly carry me away!

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:7 cf. Luke 2:47.