Chapter 32

Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job

1 Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was arighteous in his own eyes.

2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the aBuzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned bbecause he justified himself 1cbefore God.

3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

4 Now Elihu had waited 1to speak to Job because they were years older than he.

5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite 1spoke out and said,

“I am young in years and you are aold;

Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you 2what I think.

7 “I 1thought 2aage should speak,

And 3increased years should teach wisdom.

8 “But it is a spirit in man,

And the abreath of the Almighty gives them bunderstanding.

9 “The 1abundant in years may not be wise,

Nor may aelders understand justice.

10 “So I 1say, ‘Listen to me,

I too will tell 2what I think.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,

I listened to your reasonings,

While you 1pondered what to say.

12 “I even paid close attention to you;

1Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,

Not one of you who answered his words.

13 “Do not say,

‘aWe have found wisdom;

God will 1rout him, not man.’

14 “For he has not arranged his words against me,

Nor will I reply to him with your 1arguments.

15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;

Words have 1failed them.

16 “Shall I wait, because they do not speak,

Because they 1stop and no longer answer?

17 “I too will answer my share,

I also will tell my opinion.

18 “For I am full of words;

The spirit within me constrains me.

19 “Behold, my belly is like unvented wine,

Like new wineskins it is about to burst.

20 “Let me speak that I may get relief;

Let me open my lips and answer.

21 “Let me now abe partial to no one,

Nor flatter any man.

22 “For I do not know how to flatter,

Else my Maker would soon take me away.