Job chapter 32
English Standard Version
1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3He burned with anger also at Job 's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.
7I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ 8But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. 9 It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. 10Therefore 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. 12I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words. 13Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.’ 14He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15"They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say. 16And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more? 17I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion. 18For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me. 19Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst. 20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer. 21I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person. 22For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away.
New International Version
1So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. 3He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. 4Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. 5But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: "I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. 7I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ 8But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right. 10"Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know. 11I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words, 12I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments. 13Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’
14But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments. 15"They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them. 16Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply? 17I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know. 18For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; 19inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst. 20I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply. 21I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone; 22for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.
New American Standard Bible
1Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned because he justified himself before God. 3And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. 4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his anger burned.
7I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom. 8But it is a spirit that is in mankind, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. 9The abundant in years may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice. 10So I say, ‘Listen to me, I too will tell what I think.’ 11'Behold, I waited for your words, I listened to your skillful speech, While you pondered what to say. 12I also paid close attention to you; But indeed, there was no one who refuted Job, Not one of you who answered his words. 13So do not say, ‘We have found wisdom: God will defeat him, not man.’ 14But he has not presented his words against me, Nor will I reply to him with your arguments. 15'They are dismayed, they no longer answer; Words have failed them. 16Should I wait, because they are not speaking, Because they have stopped and no longer answer? 17I too will give my share of answers; I also will tell my opinion. 18For I am full of words; The spirit within me compels me. 19Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; Like new wineskins, it is about to burst. 20Let me speak so that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer. 21Let me be partial to no one, Nor flatter any man. 22For I do not know how to flatter, Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.
Christian Standard Bible
1So these three men quit answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified himself rather than God. 3He was also angry at Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him.
4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he. 5But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry.
6So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied: I am young in years, while you are old; therefore I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know. 7I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom. 8But it is the spirit in a person— the breath from the Almighty— that gives anyone understanding. 9It is not only the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge. 10Therefore I say, "Listen to me. I too will declare what I know." 11Look, I waited for your conclusions; I listened to your insights as you sought for words. 12I paid close attention to you. Yet no one proved Job wrong; not one of you refuted his arguments. 13So do not claim, "We have found wisdom; let God deal with him, not man."
14But Job has not directed his argument to me, and I will not respond to him with your arguments. 15Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them. 16Should I continue to wait now that they are silent, now that they stand there and no longer answer? 17I too will answer; yes, I will tell what I know. 18For I am full of words, and my spirit compels me to speak. 19My heart is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins. 20I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond. 21I will be partial to no one, and I will not give anyone an undeserved title. 22For I do not know how to give such titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.
New Living Translation
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 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 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.
King James Version
1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. 5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. 6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
New King James Version
1So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2Then 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. 3Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. 5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6So 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. 7I said, ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’ 8But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. 9 Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice. 10“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.’ 11Indeed I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say. 12I paid close attention to you; 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. 14Now he has not directed his words against me; So I will not answer him with your words. 15“They are dismayed and answer no more; Words escape them. 16And I have waited, because they did not speak, Because they stood still and answered no more. 17I also will answer my part, I too will declare my opinion. 18For I am full of words; The spirit within me compels me. 19Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; It is ready to burst like new wineskins. 20I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer. 21Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; Nor let me flatter any man. 22For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away.