Job 32

1 Job's three friends stopped responding to him because he kept on protesting his innocence.

Then those three men stopped answering Job, because [they could not convince Job that he was wrong in claiming that] he had not done anything that was wrong.

2 Then Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, grew angry. He was angry with Job for claiming he was right rather than God.

Then Elihu, the son of Barachel, a descendant of Buz, from the clan of Ram, became very angry at Job. He was angry because Job continued to claim that he was righteous/innocent, and that God was wrong [to punish him].

3 Elihu was also angry at Job's three friends because they made it seem that God was wrong, because they had not been able to answer Job.

He was also angry with Job’s three friends, because they had declared that Job must have done many things that were wrong, but they were unable to convince Job [that what they said was true]. As a result, [it seemed to Elihu that] God did what was wrong by punishing Job.

4 Elihu had waited to for the other three to speak with Job since they were older than he was.

Elihu was younger than the others, so he waited [until they had finished speaking] before he replied to Job.

5 But when he saw that they could not answer Job, he grew very angry.

But when Elihu realized that the three men had no more to say [MTY] to Job, he became angry.

6 Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, said, “I am young, and you are old, which is why I was reluctant to tell you what I know.

And this is what he said: “I am young, and you all are much older than I am. So, I was timid, and I was afraid to tell you what I was thinking.

7 I told myself, ‘Those who are older should speak—those who are elderly should teach wisdom.’

I thought, ‘Let those [PRS] who are much older speak, because older people [should be able to] say things that are wise.’

8 However, there is a spirit in human beings, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

But the Spirit of Almighty [God] is within people, and it is he who enables them to be wise.

9 It is not the old who are wise, or the elderly who know what is right.

It is not people becoming old that enables them to be wise; not [all] old people understand what is right.

10 That's why I'm telling you to listen to me now—let me tell you what I know.

“So, I say, ‘Listen to me, and allow me to say what I think.’

11 Well, I waited to hear what you had to say, listening for your insights as you looked for the right words to speak.

I waited for you all to speak; I wanted to hear the wise things that you would say. I waited while you thought carefully about what [would be the right things] to say.

12 I paid close attention to all of you, and none of you have proved Job wrong or answered his arguments.

I paid attention carefully, but surprisingly, none of you were able to prove that what Job said was wrong.

13 Don't say to yourselves, ‘We are so wise,’ for God will prove him wrong, not a human being.

So, do not say [to yourselves], ‘We have discovered what is wise!’ It is God who must (refute Job/show that what Job said was wrong), because you three have not been able to do that.

14 Job didn't line up his arguments against me, and I won't answer him the way you did.

Job was replying to you, [not to me], but I will not reply to him by saying what you three said.

15 You sit there speechless with nothing left to say.

“You three are dismayed [because you have not been able to convince him that he was wrong], so you are not saying any more to him [DOU].

16 Should I continue to wait since you're no longer talking, just standing there saying nothing?

But because you do not speak, I certainly will not wait any longer [RHQ]; you merely stand there and do not reply any more.

17 No—now I'll give my answer too. I'll tell you what I know.

So [now] I also will reply [to Job] and say what I think.

18 I have so much to say I can't hold the words back!

I have plenty to say, and my spirit compels me to say it.

19 Inside I'm like fermenting wine all bottled up; like new wineskins ready to explode!

My inner being is like [SIM] a (wineskin/bag that has (new/fermenting) wine in it), and it will soon burst.

20 I have to speak before I burst; I will open my lips to answer him.

I must speak [MTY], in order that I do not have to keep holding what I want to say; I must say something [MTY] to reply [to you all].

21 I will not take sides, and I'm not going to flatter anyone.

I will speak [fairly], not favoring any of you, and I will not try to flatter anyone.

22 I don't know how to flatter, and if I did my Creator would soon destroy me.

I [really] do not know how to flatter people; and if I did that, God would soon get rid of me.”