Online Bible

Elihu Answers in Anger

Then these three men ceased answering Job because he was ^arighteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the ^aBuzite, of the family of Ram, burned; against Job his anger burned ^bbecause he was proving himself righteous ¹^cbefore 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 with his words for Job because they were years older than he. 5 Then Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, so his anger burned.

6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said,“I am young in years and you are ^aold;Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you my knowledge.

7 “I ¹thought ²^aage should speak,And ³increased years should make wisdom known.8 “But it is a spirit in man,And the ^abreath of the Almighty gives them ^bunderstanding.9 “The ¹abundant in years may not be wise,Nor may ^aelders understand justice.10 “So I ¹say, ‘Listen to me,I too will tell my knowledge.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,I gave ear to your reasonings,While you searched out what to say.12 “I even carefully considered you;And behold, there was no one who reproved Job,Not one of you who answered his words.13 “Lest you say,‘^aWe have found wisdom;God will drive him away, not man.’14 “Now he has not arranged his words against me,Nor will I respond to him with your words.

15 “They are dismayed; they no longer answer;Words have moved away from them.16 “Shall I wait, because they do not speak,Because they stand still and no longer answer?17 “I myself will also answer my share;I also will tell my knowledge.18 “For I am full of words;The spirit within my belly presses me.19 “Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, not opened;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 ^abe partial to no one,Nor flatter any man.22 “For I do not know how to flatter,Else my Maker would soon carry me away.

Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job

Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was ^arighteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the ^aBuzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned ^bbecause he justified himself ¹^cbefore 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 ¹to 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 ¹spoke out and said,“I am young in years and you are ^aold;Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you ²what I think.

7 “I ¹thought ²^aage should speak,And ³increased years should teach wisdom.8 “But it is a spirit in man,And the ^abreath of the Almighty gives them ^bunderstanding.9 “The ¹abundant in years may not be wise,Nor may ^aelders understand justice.10 “So I ¹say, ‘Listen to me,I too will tell ²what I think.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,I listened to your reasonings,While you ¹pondered what to say.12 “I even paid close attention to you;¹Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,Not one of you who answered his words.13 “Do not say,‘^aWe have found wisdom;God will ¹rout him, not man.’14 “For he has not arranged his words against me,Nor will I reply to him with your ¹arguments.

15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;Words have ¹failed them.16 “Shall I wait, because they do not speak,Because they ¹stop 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 ^abe 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.