Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job

¹ Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

² But 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.

³ And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

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

⁵ And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

⁶ So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, "I am young in years and you are old; Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.

⁷ "I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom.

⁸ "But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

⁹ "The abundant [in years] may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice.

¹⁰ "So I say, 'Listen to me, I too will tell what I think.'

¹¹ "Behold, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, While you pondered what to say.

¹² "I even paid close attention to you; Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job, Not one of you who answered his words.

¹³ "Do not say, We have found wisdom; God will rout him, not man.'

¹⁴ "For he has not arranged [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.

¹⁶ "Shall I wait, because they do not speak, Because they stop [and] no longer answer?

¹⁷ "I too will answer my share, I also will tell my opinion.

¹⁸ "For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me.

¹⁹ "Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, Like new wineskins it is about to burst.

²⁰ "Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer.

²¹ "Let me now be partial to no one, Nor flatter [any] man.

²² "For I do not know how to flatter, [Else] my Maker would soon take me away.