Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends
1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. 5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends
1 So these three men ceased to answer 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 kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also his wrath was kindled 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 elder than he. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
6 Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.
7 I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
9 It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.
10 Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say.
12 Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.
13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man;’
14 for he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 “They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say.
16 Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, because they stand still, and answer no more?
17 I also will answer my part, and I also will show my opinion.
18 For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.
19 Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.
21 Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.
22 For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.
Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends
1 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God, 3 and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he. 5 But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled. 6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared:
“I am young in years,
while you are old;
that is why I was timid and afraid
to tell you what I know.
7 I thought that age should speak,
and many years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit a in a man,
the breath of the Almighty,
that gives him understanding.
9 It is not only the old b who are wise,
or the elderly who understand justice.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
I too will declare what I know.’
11 Indeed, I waited while you spoke;
I listened to your reasoning;
as you searched for words,
12 I paid you full attention.
But no one proved Job wrong;
not one of you rebutted his arguments.
13 So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom;
let God, not man, refute him.’
14 But Job has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15 Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say;
words have escaped them.
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand and no longer reply?
17 I too will answer;
yes, I will declare what I know.
18 For I am full of words,
and my spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
it is about to burst like a new wineskin.
20 I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and respond.
21 I will be partial to no one,
nor will I flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
or my Maker would remove me in an instant.
Footnotes:
8 a Or the Spirit ; also in verse 18
9 b Or many or great
Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends
1And these three men cease from answering Job, for he is righteous in his own eyes, 2and burn doth the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram; against Job hath his anger burned, because of his justifying himself more than God; 3and against his three friends hath his anger burned, because that they have not found an answer, and condemn Job. 4And Elihu hath waited earnestly beside Job with words, for they are older than he in days. 5And Elihu seeth that there is no answer in the mouth of the three men, and his anger burneth.
6And Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answereth and saith: -- Young I am in days, and ye are age Therefore I have feared, And am afraid of shewing you my opinion.
7I said: Days do speak, And multitude of years teach wisdom.
8Surely a spirit is in man, And the breath of the Mighty One Doth cause them to understand.
9The multitude are not wise, Nor do the aged understand judgment.
10Therefore I have said: Hearken to me, I do shew my opinion -- even I.
11Lo, I have waited for your words, I give ear unto your reasons, Till ye search out sayings.
12And unto you I attend, And lo, there is no reasoner for Job, Or answerer of his sayings among you.
13Lest ye say, We have found wisdom, God doth thrust him away, not man.
14And he hath not set in array words for me, And with your sayings I do not answer him.
15(They have broken down, They have not answered again, They removed from themselves words.
16And I have waited, but they do not speak, For they have stood still, They have not answered any more.)
17I answer, even I -- my share, I shew my opinion -- even I.
18For I have been full of words, Distressed me hath the spirit of my breast,
19Lo, my breast is as wine not opened, Like new bottles it is broken up.
20I speak, and there is refreshment to me, I open my lips and answer.
21Let me not, I pray you, accept the face of any, Nor unto man give flattering titles,
22For I have not known to give flattering titles, In a little doth my Maker take me away.
