| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1So these three men refused to answer Job further, because he was righteous in his own eyes. | 1These three men stopped responding to Job, because he was claiming to be righteous, in his own opinion. |
| 2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. | 2But then Barachel's son Elihu from Buz, one of Ram's descendants, got really angry. He was furious with Job because he had been declaring himself righteous instead of vindicating God. |
| 3With Job's three friends he was also angry, because they could not find an answer, and so declared Job guilty. | 3Furthermore, he was furious with his three friends because they had not answered Job, but instead had condemned him. |
| 4Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job, because the others were older than he was. | 4Elihu waited to have a word with Job, since the others were older than he, |
| 5But when Elihu saw that the three men had no further reply, he became very angry. | 5but when he saw that there had been no response from those three, he got even more angry. |
| 6So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: "I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful, and afraid to explain to you what I know. | 6Barachel's son Elihu from Buz responded and said: I'm younger than you are. Because you're older, I was terrified to tell you what I know. |
| 7I said to myself, 'Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.' | 7I thought, experience should speak; abundance of years teaches wisdom. |
| 8But it is a spirit in people, the breath of the Almighty, that makes them understand. | 8However, a spirit exists in mankind, and the Almighty's breath gives him insight. |
| 9It is not the aged who are wise, nor old men who understand what is right. | 9"The aged aren't always wise, nor do the elderly always understand justice. |
| 10Therefore I say, 'Listen to me. I, even I, will explain what I know.' | 10Therefore I'm saying, 'Listen to me!' Then I'll declare what I know. |
| 11Look, I waited for you to speak; I listened closely to your wise thoughts,while you were searching for words. | 11"Look! I have waited to hear your speech, so I listened to your insights while you searched for the right words to say. |
| 12Now I was paying you close attention, yet there was no one proving Job wrong, not one of you was answering his statements! | 12Indeed, I paid close attention to you all, but none of you were able to refute Job or answer his arguments convincingly. |
| 13So do not say, 'We have found wisdom! God will refute him, not man!' | 13"So that you cannot claim, 'We have found wisdom!' let God do the rebuking, not man; |
| 14Job has not directed his words to me, and so I will not reply to him with your arguments. | 14let him not direct a rebuke toward me. I won't be responding to him with your arguments. |
| 15"They are dismayed and cannot answer any more; they have nothing left to say. | 15"Job's friends won't reason with him anymore; discouraged, words escape them. |
| 16And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more, | 16Shall I continue to wait, since they're no longer talking? After all, they're only standing there; they're no longer responding. |
| 17I too will answer my part, I too will explain what I know. | 17"I will contribute my arguments as an answer; I'll declare what I know, |
| 18For I am full of words, and the spirit within me constrains me. | 18because I'm filled with things to say, and my spirit within me compels me to speak. |
| 19Inside I am like wine which has no outlet, like new wineskins ready to burst! | 19My insides feel like unvented wine, like it's about to burst like a new wineskin. |
| 20I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer. | 20"Let me speak! I need relief! Let me open my lips and respond. |
| 21I will not show partiality to anyone, nor will I confer a title on any man. | 21I won't discriminate against anyone, and I won't flatter any person, |
| 22for I do not know how to give honorary titles, if I did, my Creator would quickly do away with me. | 22since I don't know the first thing about how to flatter; and the one who made me would sweep me away as if I were nothing." |
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