Elihu's speeches

Elihu is upset with Job's friends

1Finally, these three men stopped arguing with Job, because he refused to admit that he was guilty.

2Elihu from Buz32.2 Elihu from Buz: The Hebrew text has “Elihu son of Barachel from Buz of the family of Ram”. Buz may have been somewhere in the territory of Edom; in Jeremiah 25.23 it is mentioned along with Dedan and Tema (see 6.19). was there, and he had become upset with Job for blaming God instead of himself. 3He was also angry with Job's three friends for not being able to prove that Job was wrong. 4Elihu was younger than these three, and he let them speak first. 5But he became irritated when they could not answer Job, 6and he said to them:

I am much younger than you,

so I have shown respect

by keeping silent.

7I once believed age

was the source of wisdom;

8now I truly realize

wisdom comes from God.

9Age is no guarantee of wisdom

and understanding.

10That's why I ask you

to listen to me.

I eagerly listened

11-12I eagerly listened

to each of your arguments,

but not one of you proved

Job to be wrong.

13You shouldn't say,

“We know what's right!

Let God punish him.”

14Job hasn't spoken against me,

and so I won't answer him

with your arguments.

15All of you are shocked;

you don't know what to say.

16But am I to remain silent,

just because you

have stopped speaking?

17No! I will give my opinion,

18because I have so much to say,

that I can't keep quiet.

19I am like a swollen wineskin,

and I will burst32.19 swollen wineskin…burst: While the juice from grapes was becoming wine, it would swell and stretch the skins in which it had been stored; sometimes the swelling would burst the wineskins.

20if I don't speak.

21-22I don't know how to be unfair

or to flatter anyone—

if I did, my Creator

would quickly destroy me!