Job 32New King James Version
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because hewas(A)righteous in his own eyes.2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the(B)Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he(C)justified himself rather than God.3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, andyethad condemned Job.
4 Now because theywereyears older than he, Elihu had waited[a]to speak to Job.5 When Elihu saw thatthere wasno answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“Iam(D)young in years, and youarevery old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said,[b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 Butthere isa spirit in man,
And(E)the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 (F)Great[c]men are notalwayswise,
Nor do the agedalwaysunderstand 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,
Oranswered his words—
13 (G)Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not[d]directedhiswords 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 stillandanswered 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[e]bellyislike winethathas no[f]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,
Elsemy Maker would soon take me(H)away.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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