Job 32:6-16

6 and began to speak. I am young, and you are old, so I was afraid to tell you what I think.
7 I told myself that you ought to speak, that you older men should share your wisdom.
8 But it is the spirit of Almighty God that comes to us and gives us wisdom.
9 It is not growing old that makes us wise or helps us to know what is right.
10 So now I want you to listen to me; let me tell you what I think.
11 I listened patiently while you were speaking and waited while you searched for wise phrases.
12 I paid close attention and heard you fail; you have not disproved what Job has said.
13 How can you claim you have discovered wisdom? God must answer Job, for you have failed.
14 Job was speaking to you, not to me, but I would never answer the way you did.
15 Words have failed them, Job; they have no answer for you.
16 Shall I go on waiting when they are silent? They stand there with nothing more to say.

Job 32:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 32

Job's three friends being silenced, and having no more to say in reply to him, Elihu, of whose descent some account is given, a bystander and hearer of the whole dispute between them, rises up as a moderator, and expresses some anger both against them and Job, Job 32:1-5; he makes an apology for engaging in this controversy, by reason of his youth, and they being advanced in years, Job 32:6,7; but since there is a spirit in man, that gives understanding to men of every age, and old men are not always wise, he desires they would hearken to him while he delivered his sentiments on the subject in debate, Job 32:8-10; and hopes to be heard patiently, since he had waited until they had said all they had to say, and had closely attended to it, and which fell short of convincing Job; and this he was obliged to say, lest they should be wise in their own conceit, and attribute that to men which belongs to God, Job 32:11-13; he proposes to take a new method with Job, different from theirs; and now they hearing all this from a young man, they were filled with amazement, and struck with silence; and after he had waited a while to observe whether they would say anything or not, he determined to take his turn, and show his opinion also, Job 32:14-17; and the rather because he was full of arguments, he was desirous to propose them, and was uneasy until he had brought them out; and which he was resolved to do with all impartiality and integrity, Job 32:18-22.

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.