Job 32
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 the spirit in a person—
the breath(E) from the Almighty—
that gives anyone 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;[b]
yes, I will tell what I know.
18 For I am full of words,
and my spirit[c] compels me to speak.(F)
19 My heart[d] 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.
Job 32
1599 Geneva Bible
32 2 Elihu reproveth them of folly. 8 Age maketh not a man wise, but the spirit of God.
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he [a]esteemed himself just.
2 Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the [b]Buzite, of the family of [c]Ram, was kindled: his wrath, I say, was kindled against Job, because he justified himself [d]more than God.
3 Also his anger was kindled against his three friends, because they could not find an answer, and yet condemned Job.
4 (Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken: for [e]they were more ancient in years than he.)
5 So when Elihu saw, that there was none answer in the mouth of the three men, his wrath was kindled.
6 Therefore Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite answered and said, I am young in years, and ye are ancient: therefore I doubted, and was afraid to show you mine opinion.
7 For I said, The days [f]shall speak, and the multitude of years shall teach wisdom.
8 Surely there is a spirit in man, [g]but the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise, neither do the aged always understand judgment.
10 Therefore I say, Hear me and I will show also mine opinion.
11 Behold, I did wait upon your words, and hearkened unto your knowledge, while you sought out [h]reasons.
12 Yea, when I had considered you, lo, there was none of you that reproved Job, nor answered his words:
13 Lest ye should say, We have [i]found wisdom: for God hath cast him down, and no man.
14 Yet hath [j]he not directed his words to me, neither will I answer [k]him by your words.
15 Then they fearing, answered no more, but left off their talk.
16 When I had waited (for they spake not, but stood still and answered no more)
17 Then answered I in my turn, and I showed mine opinion.
18 For I am full of [l]matter, and the spirit within me compelleth me.
19 Behold, my belly is as the wine, which hath no vent, and like the new bottles that burst.
20 Therefore will I speak, that I may take breath: I will open my lips, and will answer.
21 I will not now accept the person of man, [m]neither will I give titles to man.
22 For I may not give [n]titles, lest my Maker should take me away suddenly.
Footnotes
- Job 32:1 Hebrew, was just in his own eyes.
- Job 32:2 Which came of Buz, the son of Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
- Job 32:2 Or, as the Chaldean paraphrase readeth, Abram.
- Job 32:2 By making himself innocent, and by charging God of rigor.
- Job 32:4 That is, the three mentioned before.
- Job 32:7 Meaning, the ancient, which have experience.
- Job 32:8 It is a special gift of God that man hath understanding, and cometh neither of nature nor by age.
- Job 32:11 To prove that Job’s affliction came for his sins.
- Job 32:13 And flatter yourselves, as though you had overcome him.
- Job 32:14 To wit, Job.
- Job 32:14 He useth almost the like arguments, but without taunting and reproaches.
- Job 32:18 I have conceived in my mind great store of reasons.
- Job 32:21 I will neither have regard to riches, credit, nor authority, but will speak the very truth.
- Job 32:22 The Hebrew word signifieth, to change the name, as to call a fool a wise man: meaning, that he would not cloak the truth to flatter men.
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Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
