Job 32
New International Reader's Version
The Speech of Elihu
32 So the three men stopped answering Job, because he thought he was right. 2 But Elihu the Buzite was very angry with Job. That’s because Job said he himself was right instead of God. Elihu was the son of Barakel. He was from the family of Ram. 3 Elihu was also very angry with Job’s three friends. They hadn’t found any way to prove that Job was wrong. But they still said he was guilty. 4 Elihu had waited before he spoke to Job. That’s because the others were older than he was. 5 But he saw that the three men didn’t have anything more to say. So he was very angry.
6 Elihu the Buzite, the son of Barakel, said,
“I’m young, and you are old.
So I was afraid to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak first.
Those who have lived for many years
should teach people how to be wise.’
8 But the spirit in people gives them understanding.
The breath of the Mighty One gives them wisdom.
9 Older people aren’t the only ones who are wise.
They aren’t the only ones who understand what is right.
10 “So I’m saying you should listen to me.
I’ll tell you what I know.
11 I waited while you men spoke.
I listened to your reasoning.
While you were searching for words,
12 I paid careful attention to you.
But not one of you has proved that Job is wrong.
None of you has answered his arguments.
13 Don’t claim, ‘We have enough wisdom to answer Job.’
Let God, not a mere man, prove that he’s wrong.
14 Job hasn’t directed his words against me.
I won’t answer him with your arguments.
15 “Job, these men are afraid.
They don’t have anything else to say.
They’ve run out of words.
16 Do I have to keep on waiting, now that they are silent?
They are just standing there with nothing to say.
17 I too have something to say.
I too will tell what I know.
18 I’m full of words.
My spirit inside me forces me to speak.
19 Inside I’m like wine that is bottled up.
I’m like new wineskins ready to burst.
20 I must speak so I can feel better.
I must open my mouth and reply.
21 I’ll treat everyone the same.
I won’t praise anyone without meaning it.
22 If I weren’t honest when I praised people,
my Maker would soon take me from this life.
Job 32
Wycliffe Bible
32 Forsooth these three men left off to answer Job, for he seemed a just man to them. (And then these three men gave up trying to answer Job, for he continued to see himself as a righteous, or an innocent, man.)
2 And Elihu, the son of Barachel (the) Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was wroth, and had indignation; and he was wroth against Job, for he said himself to be just before God (and he was angry against Job, for he had said himself to be righteous before God).
3 And also Elihu had indignation against the three friends of Job, for they had found no reasonable answer, but only had condemned Job (but had only condemned Job).
4 Therefore Elihu abode Job speaking, for they, that spake, were elder men. (And so Elihu waited for Job to finish speaking, for all those, who spoke, were older than he was.)
5 But when he had seen, that these three men might not answer Job, he was wroth greatly (he was very angry).
6 And Elihu, the son of Barachel (the) Buzite, answered, and said, I am younger in time, and ye be elder; therefore with head holden down, I dreaded to show to you my sentence. (And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered, and said, I am younger in age, and ye be older; and so with my face cast down, I feared to tell you my thinking.)
7 For I hoped that [the] longer age should speak, and that the multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But as I see now, a spirit is in men, and the inspiration, either revelation, of Almighty God giveth understanding.
9 Men of long life be not (always) wise, and eld men understand not doom. (Men of long life do not always be wise, nor do old men always have judgement, or know what is right.)
10 Therefore I shall say, Hear ye me, and I also shall show my knowing to you. (And so I say, Listen ye to me, and I shall show my knowledge to you.)
11 For I abode your words, I heard your prudence, as long as ye disputed in your words. (For I waited on your words, and I listened to your thinking, for as long as ye disputed with your words.)
12 And as long as I guessed you to say anything, I beheld; but as I perceive, there is none of you, that may reprove Job, and answer to his words; (And for as long as I thought, that any of you had something of value to say, I listened; but now I perceive, that none of you can rebuke Job, or make an answer to his words;)
13 lest peradventure ye say, We have found wisdom; God, and not man, hath cast him away. (lest perhaps ye say, We have found wisdom; but it is God who hath thrown him away, and not man.)
14 Job spake nothing to me, and I not by your words shall answer him. (Job spoke to you, and said nothing to me, but I shall not shall answer him with words like yours.)
15 They [much] dreaded, and answered no more, and took away speech from themselves. (For, Job, they be afraid, and have no more answers, and nothing left to say.)
16 Therefore since I abode, and they spake not, they stood, and answered no more; (And so, since I waited, and now they speak no more, but stand silent, and have no more answers,)
17 also I shall answer my part, and I shall show my knowing. (now I shall state my part, and I shall say what I think.)
18 For I am full of words, and the spirit of my womb, that is, (my) mind, constraineth me.
19 Lo! my womb is as must without (a) spigot/without (a) faucet, either a venting, that bursteth new vessels.
20 I shall speak, and (then) breathe again a little; I shall open my lips, and I shall answer (you).
21 I shall not take the person of a man, and I shall not make God even to man. (I shall not show favour to anyone, and I shall not make God equal to people.)
22 For I know not how long I shall abide alive, and if my Maker will take me away after a little time.
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2001 by Terence P. Noble