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Elihu Decides to Speak to Job

32 These three men stopped answering Job because Job thought he was righteous. Then Elihu, son of Barachel, a descendant of Buz from the family of Ram, became very angry with Job because Job thought he was more righteous than Elohim. Elihu was also very angry with Job’s three friends because they had found no answer. They made it look as if Elohim[a] were wrong. Elihu waited as they spoke to Job because they were older than he was. When Elihu saw that the three men had no further responses, he became very angry.

Elihu Speaks: The Reason for Elihu’s Discourse

So Elihu, son of Barachel, the descendant of Buz, replied to Job,

“I am young, and you are old.
    That’s why I refrained from speaking
    and was afraid to tell you what I know.
I thought, ‘Age should speak,
    and experience should teach wisdom.’
However, there is in humans a Ruach,
    the breath of Shadday, that gives them understanding.
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.

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:3 Masoretic Text “Job.” At times some scribes would alter the text when they thought it was disrespectful to God.

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job,(A) because he was righteous in his own eyes.(B) But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,(C) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself(D) rather than God.(E) He was also angry with the three friends,(F) because they had found no way to refute Job,(G) and yet had condemned him.[a](H) Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.(I) But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years,
    and you are old;(J)
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’(K)
But it is the spirit[b](L) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,(M) that gives them understanding.(N)
It is not only the old[c] who are wise,(O)
    not only the aged(P) who understand what is right.(Q)

10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me;(R)
    I too will tell you what I know.(S)
11 I waited while you spoke,
    I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
12     I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
    none of you has answered his arguments.(T)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;(U)
    let God, not a man, refute(V) him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,(W)
    and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
    words have failed them.(X)
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent,
    now that they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will have my say;
    I too will tell what I know.(Y)
18 For I am full of words,
    and the spirit(Z) within me compels me;(AA)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.(AB)
20 I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.(AC)
21 I will show no partiality,(AD)
    nor will I flatter anyone;(AE)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
    my Maker(AF) would soon take me away.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
  2. Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
  3. Job 32:9 Or many; or great

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was (A)righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the (B)Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he (C)justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.

So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:

“I am (D)young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
I said, [b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
But there is a spirit in man,
And (E)the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
(F)Great[c] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.

10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 (G)Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not [d]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.

15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my [e]belly is like wine that has no [f]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me (H)away.

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:4 Vg. till Job had spoken
  2. Job 32:7 Lit. Days, i.e., years
  3. Job 32:9 Or Men of many years
  4. Job 32:14 ordered
  5. Job 32:19 bosom
  6. Job 32:19 opening

Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends

32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was (A)righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu the son of Barachel (B)the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself (C)rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had (D)declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:

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

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:9 Hebrew many [in years]

32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God. Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered,

“I am young, and you are very old.
    Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.
I said, ‘Days should speak,
    and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
But there is a spirit in man,
    and the Spirit[a] of the Almighty gives them understanding.
It is not the great who are wise,
    nor the aged who understand justice.
10 Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me;
    I also will show my opinion.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
    and I listened for your reasoning,
    while you searched out what to say.
12 Yes, I gave you my full attention,
    but there was no one who convinced Job,
    or who answered his words, among you.
13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom.
    God may refute him, not man;’
14 for he has not directed his words against me;
    neither will I answer him with your speeches.

15 “They are amazed. They answer no more.
    They don’t have a word to say.
16 Shall I wait, because they don’t speak,
    because they stand still, and answer no more?
17 I also will answer my part,
    and I also will show my opinion.
18 For I am full of words.
    The spirit within me constrains me.
19 Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent;
    like new wineskins it is ready to burst.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed.
    I will open my lips and answer.
21 Please don’t let me respect any man’s person,
    neither will I give flattering titles to any man.
22 For I don’t know how to give flattering titles,
    or else my Maker would soon take me away.

Footnotes

  1. 32:8 or, breath