Job 32

¹ These three men stopped arguing with Job, because he was convinced of his uprightness.

² But Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became very angry. He fumed with rageagainst Job for thinking that he was right and God was wrong;

³ and he was equal y angry with the three friends for giving up the argument and thus putting God in thewrong.

⁴ While they and Job were talking, Elihu had waited, because they were older than he was;

⁵ but when he saw that the three men had not another word to say in answer, his anger burst out.

⁶ And Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite began to speak. He said: I am stil young, and you are old, so Iwas shy and hesitant to tel you what I know.

⁷ I thought, 'Age ought to speak, advancing years wil convey wisdom.'

⁸ There is, you see, a spirit residing in humanity, the breath of God conferring intelligence.

⁹ Great age does not give wisdom, nor seniority fair judgement.

¹⁰ And so I ask you for a hearing; now it is my turn to tel what I know.

¹¹ Up to now, I was hanging on your words, I paid attention to your arguments as each of you chose hiswords.

¹² I paid very close attention; and I see that none of you has confounded Job, not one of you has refutedwhat he says.

¹³ So do not say, 'We have found wisdom; our teaching is divine and not human.'

¹⁴ I am not going to follow the same line of argument; my reply to Job wil be couched in different terms.

¹⁵ They are nonplussed for an answer, words have failed them.

¹⁶ I have been waiting. Since they do not speak, since they have given up the argument,

¹⁷ now I shal have my say, my turn has come to say what I know.

¹⁸ For I am ful of words and forced to speak by a spirit within me;

¹⁹ within me, it feels like new wine seeking a vent, bursting out of new wine-skins.

²⁰ To gain relief, I must speak, I must open my lips and reply.

²¹ I shall not take anyone's side, I shall not flatter anyone.

²² I do not know how to flatter -- or my Creator would make short work of me.