Job 32

¹But these three men ceased to answer Job, because he considered himself justified.

²And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was angry and indignant. But he was angry against Job because he described himself to be just in the presence of God.

³Moreover, he was indignant with his friends because they had not found a reasonable response, except in so far as they condemned Job.

⁴Therefore, Eliu waited while Job was talking, for these were his elders that were speaking.

⁵But when he saw that these three were not able to respond, he was extremely angry.

⁶And so Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite responded by saying: I am younger in years, and you are more ancient; therefore, I kept my head low, for I was afraid to reveal to you my opinion.

⁷For I had hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.

⁸But I see now that there is only breath in men, and that it is the inspiration of the Almighty that gives understanding.

⁹The wise are not the aged, nor do the elders understand judgment.

¹⁰Therefore, I will speak. Listen to me, and so I will show you my wisdom.

¹¹For I have endured your words; I have paid attention to your deliberations, while you were being argumentative with words.

¹²And as long as I supposed that you were saying something, I considered; but now I see that there is none of you that is able to argue with Job and to respond to his words.

¹³So that you will not say, “We have found wisdom,” God has thrown him down, not man.

¹⁴He has said nothing to me, and I will not respond to him according to your words.

¹⁵Then they were filled with dread, and so they no longer responded, and they withdrew from their speechmaking.

¹⁶Therefore, because I have waited and they have not been speaking, for they stood firm and did not respond at all,

¹⁷I also will answer in my turn, and I will reveal my knowledge.

¹⁸For I am full of words, and the feeling in my gut inspires me.

¹⁹Yes, my stomach is like fermenting wine without a vent, which bursts the new containers.

²⁰I should speak, but I will also breathe a little; I will open my lips, and I will answer.

²¹I will not esteem the reputation of a man, and I will not equate God with man.

²²For I do not know how long I will continue, and whether, after a while, my Maker might take me away.

Job 32

¹So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

²Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

³Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

⁴Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.

⁵When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.

⁶And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

⁷I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

⁸But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

⁹Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

¹⁰Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.

¹¹Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

¹²Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:

¹³Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.

¹⁴Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.

¹⁵They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.

¹⁶When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)

¹⁷I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.

¹⁸For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.

¹⁹Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

²⁰I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

²¹Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

²²For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.