Job 32

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

1 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. ‡ Job 10:7Job 33:9Job 10:2Job 13:15Job 27:4-6Job 23:7Job 29:11-17Job 31:1-40 +1

2 This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God, ‡ Gen 22:21Eph 4:26Job 27:2Job 27:5Job 35:2Job 40:8Job 10:3Job 30:21 +53 and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. ‡ Job 8:6Job 22:5-30Job 24:25Act 24:13Act 24:5Job 15:34Job 25:2-6Job 26:2-4 +1

4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he. ‡ Job 32:11-12Pro 18:13 5 But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled. ‡ Exo 32:19Job 32:2 6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: ‡ Job 15:101Ti 5:11Pe 5:5Tit 2:61Sa 17:28-30Job 15:7Lev 19:32Rom 13:7

“I am young in years,

while you are old;

that is why I was timid and afraid

to tell you what I know.

7 I thought that age should speak, ‡ Pro 16:31Job 12:12Heb 5:121Ki 12:6-8Job 8:8-10Pro 1:1-4Psa 34:11-12

and many years should teach wisdom.

8 But there is a spirit ¹in a man, ‡ Job 33:4Job 38:362Ti 3:16Jas 1:5Pro 2:6Ecc 2:261Co 2:10-121Ki 3:12 +9

the breath of the Almighty,

that gives him understanding.

9 It is not only the old ²who are wise, ‡ Mat 11:251Co 1:26-27Ecc 4:13Job 12:201Co 2:7-8Jas 2:6-7Jhn 7:48Jer 5:5

or the elderly who understand justice.

10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; ‡ 1Co 7:251Co 7:40

I too will declare what I know.’

11 Indeed, I waited while you spoke; ‡ Ecc 12:9-10Job 29:21Job 29:23Job 32:4Job 5:27Pro 18:17Pro 28:11

I listened to your reasoning;

as you searched for words,

12 I paid you full attention. ‡ Job 32:31Ti 1:7

But no one proved Job wrong;

not one of you rebutted his arguments.

13 So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; ‡ Jer 9:231Co 1:27-291Co 3:18Isa 5:211Co 1:19-21Ezk 28:3Gen 14:23Isa 48:5 +12

let God, not man, refute him.’

14 But Job has not directed his words against me,

and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15 Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; ‡ Job 29:22Job 6:24-25Mat 22:22Mat 22:26Mat 22:34Mat 22:46Mat 7:23

words have escaped them.

16 Must I wait, now that they are silent, ‡ Amo 5:13Jas 1:19Job 13:5Pro 17:28

now that they stand and no longer reply?

17 I too will answer; ‡ Job 32:10Job 33:12Job 35:3-4

yes, I will declare what I know.

18 For I am full of words, ‡ Psa 39:3Act 4:20Ezk 3:14-27Jer 20:92Co 5:13-14

and my spirit within me compels me.

19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; ‡ Mat 9:17

it is about to burst like a new wineskin.

20 I must speak and find relief; ‡ Job 21:3Job 13:13Job 13:19Job 20:2Pro 8:6-7

I must open my lips and respond.

21 I will be partial to no one, ‡ Lev 19:15Job 13:82Sa 14:172Sa 14:20Act 12:22-23Act 24:2-3Deu 1:17Deu 16:19 +4

nor will I flatter any man.

22 For I do not know how to flatter, ‡ Psa 12:2-31Th 2:5Pro 29:5Gal 1:10Job 17:5

or my Maker would remove me in an instant.