Job 32
Elihu: The Young Man Who Could Wait No Longer
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The Three Friends Cease
32:1His three friends also ceased contradicting Job any further, for Job was righteous before them.
32:2Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram in the land of Ausitis, became angry. He was very angry with Job because Job declared himself righteous before the Lord.
32:3He was also very angry with the three friends, because they could not give Job a contrary answer and declared him ungodly.
32:4Elihu waited to give Job an answer, because they were older than he in days.
32:5Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, and his anger blazed.
Elihu Son of Barachel Speaks
32:6Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied:
“I am younger in time, and you are older;
therefore I kept quiet, afraid to announce my own knowledge to you.
32:7I said, ‘Time is what speaks,
and in many years people know wisdom.’
32:8But there is a spirit in mortals,
and the Almighty’s breath is what teaches.
32:9The long-lived are not wise,
nor do elders know judgment.
32:10Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me,
and I will announce to you what I know.’
32:11Give ear to my words;
for I will speak while you listen,
until you examine words.
32:12I will also direct my understanding toward you;
and look, there was no one among you refuting Job,
answering his words,
32:13so that you may not say,
‘We found wisdom by attaching ourselves to the Lord.’
32:14But you allowed a human to speak such words.
32:15They were terrified and answered no more;
they wore out their words.
32:16I waited, for they did not speak;
because they stood still, they did not answer.”
32:17Then Elihu replied:
32:18“I will speak again, for I am full of words;
the spirit of my belly is destroying me.
32:19My belly is like a tied wineskin of fermenting new wine,
or like a smith’s bellows that has burst.
32:20I will speak so that I may rest,
opening my lips.
32:21For I will certainly not be ashamed before a human,
nor indeed will I be overawed by a mortal.
32:22For I do not know how to show partiality;
otherwise moths will eat me too.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.