| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. | 1Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence. |
| 2Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. | 2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. |
| 3Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. | 3He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. |
| 4Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. | 4Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. |
| 5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. | 5But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. |
| 6So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are very old; Therefore I was afraid, And dared not declare my opinion to you. | 6Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, “I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think. |
| 7I said, ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’ | 7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’ |
| 8But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. | 8But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. |
| 9Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice. | 9Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice. |
| 10“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.’ | 10So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think. |
| 11Indeed I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say. | 11“I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words. |
| 12I paid close attention to you; And surely not one of you convinced Job, Or answered his words— | 12I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments. |
| 13Lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom’; God will vanquish him, not man. | 13And don’t tell me, ‘He is too wise for us. Only God can convince him.’ |
| 14Now he has not directed his words against me; So I will not answer him with your words. | 14If Job had been arguing with me, I would not answer with your kind of logic! |
| 15“They are dismayed and answer no more; Words escape them. | 15You sit there baffled, with nothing more to say. |
| 16And I have waited, because they did not speak, Because they stood still and answered no more. | 16Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent? |
| 17I also will answer my part, I too will declare my opinion. | 17No, I will say my piece. I will speak my mind. |
| 18For I am full of words; The spirit within me compels me. | 18For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on. |
| 19Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; It is ready to burst like new wineskins. | 19I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst! |
| 20I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer. | 20I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers. |
| 21Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; Nor let me flatter any man. | 21I won’t play favorites or try to flatter anyone. |
| 22For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away. | 22For if I tried flattery, my Creator would soon destroy me. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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