Job 32

Elihu’s anger

¹So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.^a

²Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry with Job because Job made himself out to be in the right rather than God. ³He was also angry with his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet they had declared Job guilty.^{b 4}Elihu had waited before speaking to Job, because the others were older than he was. ⁵When Elihu saw that the three men had no answer left, he became angry.

I am young in years

⁶Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered: \q I am young in years, and you are old; \q so I held back and was afraid \q to tell you what I know. ⁷I thought, Let age speak, \q and let those with many years teach wisdom. ⁸But it is the spirit in a person, \q the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding.^{c 9}It is not the aged who are wise, \q nor the old who understand what is right. ¹⁰So I say, Listen to me; \q let me also tell you what I know. ¹¹Look, I waited while you spoke; \q I listened to your arguments \q while you searched for what to say. ¹²I paid close attention to you, \q but not one of you refuted Job \q or answered his words. ¹³Do not say, We have found wisdom: \q let God refute him, not a human being.^{d 14}Job has not directed his words against me, \q and I will not answer him with your arguments. ¹⁵They are dismayed and answer no more; \q they have run out of words. ¹⁶Must I wait because they do not speak, \q because they stand there and answer no more? ¹⁷I too will give my answer; \q I too will tell what I know. ¹⁸For I am full of words; \q the spirit within me drives me on. ¹⁹Look, inside I am like wine with no vent; \q like new wineskins, I am ready to burst. ²⁰I must speak and find relief; \q I must open my lips and answer. ²¹I will not take anyone’s side, \q nor flatter any human being. ²²For I do not know how to flatter; \q if I did, my Maker would soon carry me away.