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

“I am young in years,
    and you are (A)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 (B)the spirit in man,
    (C)the breath of the Almighty, that makes him (D)understand.
(E)It is not the old[a] who are wise,
    nor the aged who understand what is right.

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Footnotes

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

Barachel’s son Elihu from Buz responded and said:

“I’m younger than you are.
    Because you’re older,[a] I was terrified
        to tell you what I know.
I thought, experience[b] should speak;
    abundance of years teaches wisdom.
However, a spirit exists in mankind,
    and the Almighty’s breath gives him insight.”

There’s No Fool Like an Old Fool

“The aged aren’t always wise,
    nor do the elderly always understand justice.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 32:6 Lit. aged
  2. Job 32:7 Lit. days