Job 32

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

² Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God;

³ he was angry also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.

⁴ Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.

⁵ And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he became angry.

⁶ And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered: "I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.

⁷ I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'

⁸ But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.

⁹ It is not the old that are wise, nor the aged that understand what is right.

¹⁰ Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'

¹¹ "Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.

¹² I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none that confuted Job, or that answered his words, among you.

¹³ Beware lest you say, 'We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man.'

¹⁴ He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches.

¹⁵ "They are discomfited, they answer no more; they have not a word to say.

¹⁶ And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?

¹⁷ I also will give my answer; I also will declare my opinion.

¹⁸ For I am full of words, the spirit within me constrains me.

¹⁹ Behold, my heart is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.

²⁰ I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.

²¹ I will not show partiality to any person or use flattery toward any man.

²² For I do not know how to flatter, else would my Maker soon put an end to me.