Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job

      1Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned because he justified himself before God. 3And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

      6So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said,
            “I am young in years and you are old;
            Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.

      7“I thought age should speak,
            And increased years should teach wisdom.

      8“But it is a spirit in man,
            And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

      9“The abundant in years may not be wise,
            Nor may elders understand justice.

      10“So I say, ‘Listen to me,
            I too will tell what I think.’

      11“Behold, I waited for your words,
            I listened to your reasonings,
            While you pondered what to say.

      12“I even paid close attention to you;
            Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
            Not one of you who answered his words.

      13“Do not say,
            ‘We have found wisdom;
            God will rout him, not man.’

      14“For he has not arranged his words against me,
            Nor will I reply to him with your arguments.

      15“They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
            Words have failed them.

      16“Shall I wait, because they do not speak,
            Because they stop 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 be 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.