Job 32

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¹So these three men stopped answering Job because he was righteous in his own eyes.

²Then was kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram; it was kindled against Job because he justified himself rather than God.

³Elihu's anger was also kindled against his three friends because they had found no answer to Job, and yet they had condemned Job.

⁴Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the other men were older than he.

⁵However, when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, his anger was kindled.

⁶Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up and said, “I am young, and you are very old. That is why I held back and did not dare to tell you my own opinion.

⁷I said, “Length of days should speak; a multitude of years should teach wisdom.

⁸But there is a spirit in a man; the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.

⁹It is not only the great people who are wise, nor the aged people alone who understand justice.

¹⁰Therefore I say to you, 'Listen to me; I will also tell you my knowledge.'

¹¹See, I waited for your words; I listened to your arguments while you were thinking about what to say.

¹²Indeed, I paid attention to you, but, see, there was not one of you who could convince Job or who could respond to his words.

¹³Be careful not to say, 'We have found wisdom!' God will have to defeat Job; mere man cannot do it.

¹⁴For Job has not directed his words against me, so I will not answer him with your words.

¹⁵These three men are dumbfounded; they can answer Job no longer; they have not a word more to say.

¹⁶Should I wait because they are not speaking, because they stand there silent and answer no more?

¹⁷No, I also will answer on my part; I will also tell them my knowledge.

¹⁸For I am full of words; the spirit in me compels me.

¹⁹See, my breast is like fermenting wine that has no vent; like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.

²⁰I will speak so that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.

²¹I will not show favoritism; neither will I give honorific titles to any man.

²²For I do not know how to give such titles; if I did so, my Maker would soon take me away.