Job 32:8-33:12

English Standard Version

⁸But it is ^(A)the spirit in man,
    ^(B)the breath of the Almighty, that makes him ^(C)understand.
⁹^(D)It is not the old^[a] who are wise,
    nor the aged who understand what is right.
¹⁰Therefore 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.
¹²I gave you my attention,
    and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
    or who answered his words.
¹³Beware ^(E)lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
    God may vanquish him, not a man.’
¹⁴He 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.
¹⁶And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
    because they stand there, and answer no more?
¹⁷I also will answer with my share;
    I also will declare my opinion.
¹⁸For I am full of words;
    the spirit within me constrains me.
¹⁹Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
    like new ^(F)wineskins ready to burst.
²⁰^(G)I must speak, that I may find ^(H)relief;
    I must open my lips and answer.
²¹I will not ^(I)show partiality to any man
    or use flattery toward any person.
²²For I do not know how to flatter,
    else my Maker would soon take me away.

Elihu Rebukes Job

33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job,
    and listen to all my words.
²Behold, I ^(J)open my mouth;
    the tongue in my mouth speaks.
³My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
    and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
⁴^(K)The Spirit of God has made me,
    and ^(L)the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
⁵^(M)Answer me, if you can;
    ^(N)set your words in order before me; take your stand.
⁶Behold, I am toward God as you are;
    I too was pinched off from a piece of ^(O)clay.
⁷Behold, no ^(P)fear of me need terrify you;
    my ^(Q)pressure will not be heavy upon you.

⁸“Surely you have spoken in my ears,
    and I have heard the sound of your words.
⁹You say, ‘I am ^(R)pure, without ^(S)transgression;
    I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
¹⁰Behold, he finds occasions against me,
    he ^(T)counts me as his enemy,
¹¹he ^(U)puts my feet in the stocks
    and ^(V)watches all my paths.’