Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. ² Then 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. ³ Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

⁴ Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.^{[a] 5} When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.

⁶ So 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.⁷ I said, ‘Age^[b] should speak,And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’⁸ But there is a spirit in man,And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.⁹ Great men^[c] are not always wise,Nor do the aged always understand justice.

¹⁰ “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,I also will declare my opinion.’¹¹ Indeed I waited for your words,I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.¹² I 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.¹⁴ Now 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.¹⁶ And I have waited, because they did not speak,Because they stood still and answered no more.¹⁷ I also will answer my part,I too will declare my opinion.¹⁸ For I am full of words;The spirit within me compels me.¹⁹ Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent;It is ready to burst like new wineskins.²⁰ I will speak, that I may find relief;I must open my lips and answer.²¹ Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;Nor let me flatter any man.²² For I do not know how to flatter,Else my Maker would soon take me away.