Job 32

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

² Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified himself rather than God.

³ He was also angry at Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him.

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

⁵ But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry.

⁶ 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 you what I know.

⁷ I thought that age should speak
and maturity should teach wisdom.

⁸ But it is the spirit in a person—
the breath from the Almighty—
that gives anyone understanding.

⁹ It is not only the old who are wise
or the elderly who understand how to judge.

¹⁰ Therefore I say, “Listen to me.
I too will declare what I know.”

¹¹ Look, I waited for your conclusions;
I listened to your insights
as you sought for words.

¹² I paid close attention to you.
Yet no one proved Job wrong;
not one of you refuted his arguments.

¹³ So do not claim, “We have found wisdom;
let God deal with him, not man.”

¹⁴ But Job has not directed his argument to me,
and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

¹⁵ Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer;
words have left them.

¹⁶ Should I continue to wait now that they are silent,
now that they stand there and no longer answer?

¹⁷ I too will answer;
yes, I will tell what I know.

¹⁸ For I am full of words,
and my spirit compels me to speak.

¹⁹ My heart is like unvented wine;
it is about to burst like new wineskins.

²⁰ I must speak so that I can find relief;
I must open my lips and respond.

²¹ I will be partial to no one,
and I will not give anyone an undeserved title.

²² For I do not know how to give such titles;
otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.