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Job 32

Elihu now speaks to Job [ a ]

32 Job would not agree that he had done anything that was wrong. So his three friends refused to argue with him any more. 2 Another man was also there. His name was Elihu, Barakel's son. Barakel was a descendant of Buz. He belonged to Ram's clan.

Elihu became very angry with Job. He was angry because Job continued to say that he was not guilty. Job said that God was wrong to punish him. 3 Elihu was also angry with Job's three friends. They had not been able to find an answer to Job's problem. But they still said that Job was guilty. 4 Elihu had waited for Job's three friends to speak before he spoke to Job himself. He waited because he was younger than them. 5 But he became angry when Job's three friends had nothing more to say. So he finally decided to speak.

6 Barakel's son, Elihu, said this:

‘I am young and you are old.
So I was afraid to tell you what I was thinking.
7 I thought, “Older men should speak.
They have lived for many years and they should share their wisdom.”
8 But it is a person's spirit that helps them to understand things.
Almighty God has to put his breath into them.
9 Not all old people are wise.
Old people do not always understand what is right.
10 So I say, “Listen to me.
I too will explain what I know.”
11 Yes, I waited for you all to speak.
I listened to your wise thoughts,
as you tried to find the right words to say.
12 I listened carefully to you,
as you argued with Job.
But none of you could show Job that he was wrong.
None of you was able to answer his problems.
13 So do not say, “We are wise.”
Do not say, “God must show Job that he is wrong.
People cannot do that.”
14 Job was not speaking to me about his problems.
So I will not answer him in the way that you did.

15 Now they are upset!
They have no more answers to give.
There is nothing more that they can say.
16 I have waited for them,
and now they say nothing.
They stand there and they have no more answers.
17 So now I will say what I think.
I, too, will tell you what I know.
18 There are many things that I want to say.
The spirit inside me causes me to speak.
19 I cannot keep quiet any longer!
I am like a bag that is full of new wine.
I am ready to break so that everything pours out!
20 So I have to speak or I will become ill.
I must open my mouth and reply to you.
21 I will be fair in what I say.
I will not give honour to anyone to get their help.
22 I am too honest to do that.
If I am not fair,
God, my Maker, would quickly remove me.’

Footnotes

  1. 32:1 In the next six chapters, we read the words of a man called Elihu. In chapters 32 and 33, he tries to help Job to understand several things. First, Job had said that God had not answered his questions. Elihu tells Job that God does speak to people. He speaks if people will listen (chapter 33, verses 14 to 17). Second, Job thinks that God has not been fair. This is how Elihu answers that: Sometimes God sends an illness to teach people the right way to live (chapter 33, verses 19 to 28).

Elihu Adds to the Argument

32 Then Job’s three friends gave up trying to answer him, because he was so sure that he was innocent. 2 But there was a young man there named Elihu son of Barakel. He was a descendant of a man named Buz. Elihu was from the family of Ram. He became very angry because Job kept saying he was innocent—that he was right and God was wrong. 3 Elihu was also angry with Job’s three friends because they could not answer him, and yet they still considered him guilty of doing wrong. 4 Elihu was the youngest one there, so he had waited until everyone finished talking. 5 But when he saw that Job’s three friends had nothing more to say, his anger forced him to speak. 6 So here’s what Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am only a young man, and you are all older.
That is why I was afraid to tell you what I think.
7 I thought to myself, ‘Older people should speak first.
They have lived many years, so they have learned many things.’
8 But it is the spirit in people, the breath from God All-Powerful,
that makes them understand.
9 Old men are not the only wise people.
They are not the only ones who understand what is right.

10 “So please listen to me,
and I will tell you what I think.
11 I waited patiently while you men talked.
I listened to the answers you gave as you searched for the right words.
12 I listened carefully to what you said.
Not one of you proved Job wrong.
Not one of you answered his arguments.
13 You men cannot say that you have found wisdom.
The answer to Job’s arguments must come from God, not people.
14 Job was arguing with you, not me,
so I will not use your arguments to answer him.

15 “Job, these men lost the argument.
They don’t have anything more to say.
They don’t have any more answers.
16 I waited for them to answer you.
But now they are quiet.
They stand there with nothing more to say.
17 So now I will give you my answer.
Yes, I will tell you what I think.
18 I have so much to say
that I cannot hold it in.
19 I feel like a jar of wine that has never been opened.
I am like a new wineskin ready to burst.
20 I must speak so that I will feel better.
I must answer your arguments.
21 I will treat you the same as I would treat anyone else.
I will not praise you to win your favor.
22 I cannot treat one person better than another.
If I did, God my Maker would punish me!

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

2 Then 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.

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

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

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

6 And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elihu Rebukes Job in Anger

32 Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was ( A ) righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the ( B ) Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned ( C ) because he justified himself [ a ] ( D ) before God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited [ b ] to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 But 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 [ c ] spoke out and said,

“I am young in years and you are ( E ) old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you [ d ] what I think.
7 I [ e ] thought [ f ] ( F ) age should speak,
And [ g ] increased years should teach wisdom.
8 But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
And the ( G ) breath of the Almighty gives them ( H ) understanding.
9 The [ h ] abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may ( I ) elders understand justice.
10 So I [ i ] say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell [ j ] what I think.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you [ k ] pondered what to say.
12 I also paid close attention to you;
But [ l ] indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 So do not say,
‘ ( J ) We have found wisdom:
God will [ m ] defeat him, not man.’
14 But he has not presented his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your [ n ] arguments.

15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have [ o ] failed them.
16 Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have [ p ] stopped and no longer answer?
17 I too will [ q ] give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me ( K ) be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:2 Or more than
  2. Job 32:4 Lit for Job with words ; or possibly while they were speaking with Job
  3. Job 32:6 Lit answered
  4. Job 32:6 Lit my knowledge
  5. Job 32:7 Lit said
  6. Job 32:7 Lit days
  7. Job 32:7 Lit many
  8. Job 32:9 Lit great (i.e., in years); or nobles
  9. Job 32:10 Or said
  10. Job 32:10 Lit my knowledge
  11. Job 32:11 Lit searched out words
  12. Job 32:12 Lit Behold
  13. Job 32:13 Lit scatter
  14. Job 32:14 Lit words
  15. Job 32:15 Lit moved away from
  16. Job 32:16 Lit stand
  17. Job 32:17 Lit answer my share

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job, ( A ) because he was righteous in his own eyes. ( B ) 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, ( C ) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself ( D ) rather than God. ( E ) 3 He was also angry with the three friends, ( F ) because they had found no way to refute Job, ( G ) and yet had condemned him. [ a ] ( H ) 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. ( I ) 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; ( J )
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.’ ( K )
8 But it is the spirit [ b ] ( L ) in a person,
the breath of the Almighty, ( M ) that gives them understanding. ( N )
9 It is not only the old [ c ] who are wise, ( O )
not only the aged ( P ) who understand what is right. ( Q )

10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me; ( R )
I too will tell you what I know. ( S )
11 I waited while you spoke,
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. ( T )
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; ( U )
let God, not a man, refute ( V ) him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me, ( W )
and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
words have failed them. ( X )
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will have my say;
I too will tell what I know. ( Y )
18 For I am full of words,
and the spirit ( Z ) within me compels me; ( AA )
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst. ( AB )
20 I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply. ( AC )
21 I will show no partiality, ( AD )
nor will I flatter anyone; ( AE )
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
my Maker ( AF ) would soon take me away. ( AG )

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
  2. Job 32:8 Or Spirit ; also in verse 18
  3. Job 32:9 Or many ; or great
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