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(A) you what I know.
I thought that age should speak
and maturity should teach wisdom.
But it is the spirit in a person—
the breath(B) from the Almighty—
that gives anyone understanding.
It is not only the old who are wise
or the elderly who understand how to judge.

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Elihu’s justification for speaking

Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite said:
I’m young and you’re old,
    so I held back, afraid to express my opinion to you.
I thought, Let days speak;
    let multiple years make wisdom known.
But the spirit in a person,
    the Almighty’s breath, gives understanding.
The advanced in days aren’t wise;
    the old don’t understand what’s right.

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