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Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

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So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. ²Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; ³he was angry also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, though they had declared Job to be in the wrong. ⁴Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he. ⁵But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he became angry.

⁶ Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered:

“I am young in years,

and you are aged;

therefore I was timid and afraid

to declare my opinion to you.

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I said, ‘Let days speak,

and many years teach wisdom.’

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But truly it is the spirit in a mortal,

the breath of the Almighty, that makes for understanding.

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It is not the old that are wise,

nor the aged that understand what is right.

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Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;

let me also declare my opinion.’

 

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“See, I waited for your words,

I listened for your wise sayings,

while you searched out what to say.

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I gave you my attention,

but there was in fact no one that confuted Job,

no one among you that answered his words.

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Yet do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;

God may vanquish him, not a human.’

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He has not directed his words against me,

and I will not answer him with your speeches.

 

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“They are dismayed, they answer no more;

they have not a word to say.

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And am I to wait, because they do not speak,

because they stand there, and answer no more?

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I also will give my answer;

I also will declare my opinion.

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For I am full of words;

the spirit within me constrains me.

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My heart is indeed like wine that has no vent;

like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.

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I must speak, so that I may find relief;

I must open my lips and answer.

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I will not show partiality to any person

or use flattery toward anyone.

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For I do not know how to flatter—

or my Maker would soon put an end to me!