Common English Bible CEB
New King James Version NKJV
1 These three men stopped answering Job because he thought he was righteous.
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So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the clan of Ram was angry, angry with Job because he considered himself more righteous than God.
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Then 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.
3 He was also angry with his three friends because they hadn't found an answer but nevertheless thought Job wicked.
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Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Elihu had waited while Job spoke, for they were older than he.
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Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.
5 When Elihu saw that there had been no response in the speeches of the three men, he became very angry.
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When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite said: I'm young and you're old, so I held back, afraid to express my opinion to you.
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So 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.
7 I thought, Let days speak; let multiple years make wisdom known.
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I said, 'Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.'
8 But the spirit in a person, the Almighty's breath, gives understanding.
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But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 The advanced in days aren't wise; the old don't understand what's right.
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Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 Therefore, I say: "Listen to me; I'll state my view, even I."
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"Therefore I say, 'Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.'
11 Look, I waited while you spoke, listened while you reasoned, while you searched for words.
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Indeed I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I was attentive to you, but you offered no rebuke to Job, no answer from you for his words.
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I paid close attention to you; And surely not one of you convinced Job, Or answered his words--
13 Be careful you don't say, "We've found wisdom; God, not a person, will defeat him."
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Lest you say, 'We have found wisdom'; God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now Job hasn't addressed me, and I won't quote you to him.
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Now he has not directed his words against me; So I will not answer him with your words.
15 They are troubled, no longer answer; words now escape them.
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"They are dismayed and answer no more; Words escape them.
16 I waited, but they didn't speak, for they stood but answered no more.
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And I have waited, because they did not speak, Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I will answer. Indeed, I will state my piece; I too will declare my view,
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I also will answer my part, I too will declare my opinion.
18 for I'm full of words. The spirit in my belly compels me.
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For I am full of words; The spirit within me compels me.
19 Look, my belly is like unopened wine; like new wineskins it will burst.
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Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak and get relief; I will open my lips and respond.
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I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.
21 I won't be partial to anyone, won't flatter a person;
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Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; Nor let me flatter any man.
22 for I don't know flattery; otherwise my maker would quickly whisk me away.
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For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.