New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
1 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
1
Because Job was convinced of his own innocence, the three men gave up trying to answer him.
2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God.
2
But a bystander named Elihu could not control his anger any longer, because Job was justifying himself and blaming God. (Elihu was the son of Barakel, a descendant of Buz, and belonged to the clan of Ram.)
3 He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.
3
He was also angry with Job's three friends. They could not find any way to answer Job, and this made it appear that God was in the wrong.
4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.
4
Because Elihu was the youngest one there, he had waited until everyone finished speaking.
5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
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When he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he was angry
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.
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and began to speak. I am young, and you are old, so I was afraid to tell you what I think.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’
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I told myself that you ought to speak, that you older men should share your wisdom.
8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
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But it is the spirit of Almighty God that comes to us and gives us wisdom.
9 It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
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It is not growing old that makes us wise or helps us to know what is right.
10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know.
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So now I want you to listen to me; let me tell you what I think.
11 I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words,
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I listened patiently while you were speaking and waited while you searched for wise phrases.
12 I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments.
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I paid close attention and heard you fail; you have not disproved what Job has said.
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’
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How can you claim you have discovered wisdom? God must answer Job, for you have failed.
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.
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Job was speaking to you, not to me, but I would never answer the way you did.
15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them.
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Words have failed them, Job; they have no answer for you.
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply?
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Shall I go on waiting when they are silent? They stand there with nothing more to say.
17 I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know.
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No, I will give my own answer now and tell you what I think.
18 For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;
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I can hardly wait to speak. I can't hold back the words.
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.
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If I don't get a chance to speak, I will burst like a wineskin full of new wine.
20 I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.
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I can't stand it; I have to speak.
21 I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone;
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I will not take sides in this debate; I am not going to flatter anyone.
22 for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.
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I don't know how to flatter, and God would quickly punish me if I did.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.