Elihu, the young man who could not keep still
1So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, burned with anger. He was angry at Job for making himself out to be in the right rather than God, 3and he was angry at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer and had still condemned Job. 4Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he was. 5But when Elihu saw that the three men had no answer left in their mouths, he burned with anger. 6And Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite spoke up and said: I am young in days, and you are old; that is why I hung back, afraid to tell you what I know. 7I said to myself: let the days do the talking, let the years, and plenty of them, teach wisdom. 8But it is the spirit in a mortal, the breath of the Almighty, that makes anyone understand. 9It is not the great who are wise, not the old who know what is right. 10So I say: listen to me. I will tell what I know, I too.
Not one of you answered him
11Look, I waited through your speeches, I listened for your arguments while you cast about for words. 12I paid you close attention. And look: not one of you refuted Job, not one of you answered what he said. 13Do not tell me, “We have found wisdom; God will blow him away, not a person.” 14He has not lined up his words against me, and I will not answer him with speeches like yours. 15They are shattered, they answer no more; the words have walked away from them. 16And am I to wait, now that they do not speak, now that they stand there and answer no more? 17I will answer too, for my part. I will tell what I know, I too. 18For I am full of words; the wind inside me is pressing hard. 19Look, my belly is wine with no vent, new wineskins about to split. 20Let me speak, and I will get relief; let me open my lips and answer. 21I will take nobody’s side and give man no flattering titles. 22For I do not know how to flatter. If I did, my Maker would carry me off in a moment.
