Dual PanelSpeeches of Elihu
1THESE three men gave up answering Job, for he continued to think himself righteous.
2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry: angry because Job had made himself out to be more righteous than God,
3and angry with his three friends because they had found no answer to Job and so let God appear wrong.
4Now Elihu had hung back while they were talking with Job because they were older than he was;
5but, when he saw that the three had no answer to give, he could no longer contain his anger.
6So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite began to speak: I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I held back and shrank from expressing my opinion in front of you.
7I said to myself, “Let age speak, and length of years expound wisdom.”
8But it is a spirit in a human being, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding;
9it is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
10Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too want to express an opinion.
11Here I have been waiting for what you had to say, listening to your reasoning, while you picked your words;
12I have been giving thought to those conclusions, but not one of you convicts Job or refutes his arguments.
13See then that you do not claim to have found wisdom; or say “God will rebut him, not man.”
14I shall not string words together like you or answer him in the way you have done.
15If these men are confounded and are stuck for an answer, if words fail them,
16am I to wait because they do not speak, because they stand there, stuck for an answer?
17I, too, have a furrow to plough; I am going to express my opinion,
18for I am bursting with words, as if wind in my belly were griping me.
19My belly is distended as if with wine, about to burst open like a new wineskin;
20I must speak and find relief, I must open my lips and answer;
21I shall show no favour to anyone; I shall flatter no one,
22for I cannot use flattering titles, or my Maker would soon do away with me.