“I am young, and you are old.
    That’s why I refrained from speaking
    and was afraid to tell you what I know.
⁷ I thought, ‘Age should speak,
    and experience should teach wisdom.’
⁸ However, there is in humans a Ruach,
    the breath of Shadday, that gives them understanding.
⁹ People do not become wise merely because they live long.
    They don’t understand what justice is merely because they’re old.

¹⁰ “That is why I say, ‘Listen to me!
    Let me tell you what I know.’
¹¹ I waited for you to speak.
    I listened for you to share your understanding
        until you could find the right words.
¹² I’ve paid close attention to you,
    but none of you refuted Job.
        None of you has an answer to what he says.
¹³ So don’t say, ‘We’ve found wisdom.
    Let El, not humans, defeat him.’
¹⁴ Job did not choose his words to refute me,
    so I won’t answer him with your speeches.

¹⁵ “Job’s friends have been overwhelmed and don’t have any more answers.
    They don’t have another word to say.
¹⁶ Should I wait because they don’t speak,
    because they stand there and don’t have any more answers?

¹⁷ “I’ll give my answer.
    I’ll tell you what I know.
¹⁸ I’m full of words.
    The Ruach within me forces me to speak.
¹⁹ My belly is like a bottle of wine that has not been opened,
    like new wineskins that are ready to burst.
²⁰ I must speak to get relief.
    I must open my mouth and answer.
²¹ I won’t be partial toward anyone
    or flatter anyone.
²² I don’t know how to flatter.
    If I did, my maker would soon carry me away.