Job 32

Elihu's speeches

Elihu is upset with Job's friends

₁Finally, these three men stopped arguing with Job, because he refused to admit that he was guilty.

₂Elihu from Buz was there, and he had become upset with Job for blaming God instead of himself. ₃He was also angry with Job's three friends for not being able to prove that Job was wrong. ₄Elihu was younger than these three, and he let them speak first. ₅But he became irritated when they could not answer Job, ₆and he said to them:

I am much younger than you,

so I have shown respect

by keeping silent.

₇I once believed age

was the source of wisdom;

₈now I truly realize

wisdom comes from God.

₉Age is no guarantee of wisdom

and understanding.

₁₀That's why I ask you

to listen to me.

I eagerly listened

_11-12I eagerly listened

to each of your arguments,

but not one of you proved

Job to be wrong.

₁₃You shouldn't say,

“We know what's right!

Let God punish him.”

₁₄Job hasn't spoken against me,

and so I won't answer him

with your arguments.

₁₅All of you are shocked;

you don't know what to say.

₁₆But am I to remain silent,

just because you

have stopped speaking?

₁₇No! I will give my opinion,

₁₈because I have so much to say,

that I can't keep quiet.

₁₉I am like a swollen wineskin,

and I will burst

₂₀if I don't speak.

_21-22I don't know how to be unfair

or to flatter anyone—

if I did, my Creator

would quickly destroy me!