Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.
3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, [b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 Great[c] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words —
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words —
13 Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not [d]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my [e]belly is like wine that has no [f]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.
Else my Maker would soon take me away.