Job 32

Elihu Responds to Job’s Friends

¹Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.

²Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. ³He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God^a appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. ⁴Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. ⁵But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. ⁶Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said,

“I am young and you are old,

so I held back from telling you what I think.

⁷I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak,

for wisdom comes with age.’

⁸But there is a spirit^b within people,

the breath of the Almighty within them,

that makes them intelligent.

⁹Sometimes the elders are not wise.

Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.

¹⁰So listen to me,

and let me tell you what I think.

¹¹“I have waited all this time,

listening very carefully to your arguments,

listening to you grope for words.

¹²I have listened,

but not one of you has refuted Job

or answered his arguments.

¹³And don’t tell me, ‘He is too wise for us.

Only God can convince him.’

¹⁴If Job had been arguing with me,

I would not answer with your kind of logic!

¹⁵You sit there baffled,

with nothing more to say.

¹⁶Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent?

Must I also remain silent?

¹⁷No, I will say my piece.

I will speak my mind.

¹⁸For I am full of pent-up words,

and the spirit within me urges me on.

¹⁹I am like a cask of wine without a vent,

like a new wineskin ready to burst!

²⁰I must speak to find relief,

so let me give my answers.

²¹I won’t play favorites

or try to flatter anyone.

²²For if I tried flattery,

my Creator would soon destroy me.