Job 32:1–22
32 So these three men stopped answering Job,k because he was righteous in his own eyes.l 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,m of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himselfn rather than God.o 3 He was also angry with the three friends,p because they had found no way to refute Job,q and yet had condemned him.a r 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.s 5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
“I am young in years,
and you are old;t
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’u
8 But it is the spiritb v in a person,
the breath of the Almighty,w that gives them understanding.x
9 It is not only the oldc who are wise,y
not only the agedz who understand what is right.a
10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me;b
I too will tell you what I know.c
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.d
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;e
let God, not a man, refutef him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,g
and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
words have failed them.h
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand there with no reply?
I too will tell what I know.i
and the spiritj within me compels me;k
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst.l
20 I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply.m
21 I will show no partiality,n
nor will I flatter anyone;o