Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends 1 Brenton And his three friends also ceased any longer to answer Job: for Job was righteous before them. BSB BSB: So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Brenton Then Elius the son of Barachiel, the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, of the country of Ausis, was angered: and he was very angry with Job, because he justified himself before the Lord. BSB BSB: This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,
3 Brenton And he was also very angry with his three friends, because they were not able to return answers to Job, yet set him down for an ungodly man. BSB BSB: and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.
4 Brenton But Elius had forborne to give an answer to Job, because they were older than he. BSB BSB: Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.
5 Brenton And Elius saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men; and he was angered in his wrath. BSB BSB: But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled.
6 Brenton And Elius the Buzite the son of Barachiel answered and said, I am younger in age, and ye are elder; wherefore I kept silence, fearing to declare to you my own knowledge. BSB BSB: So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.
7 Brenton And I said, It is not time that speaks, though in many years men know wisdom: BSB BSB: I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.
8 Brenton but there is a spirit in mortals; and the inspiration of the Almighty is that which teaches. BSB BSB: But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
9 Brenton The long-lived are not wise as such ; neither do the aged know judgment. BSB BSB: It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.
10 Brenton Wherefore I said, Hear me, and I will tell you what I know. BSB BSB: Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’
11 Brenton Hearken to my words; for I will speak in your hearing, until ye shall have tried the matter with words: BSB BSB: Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,
12 Brenton and I shall understand as far as you; and, behold, there was no one of you that answered Job his words in argument, BSB BSB: I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments.
13 Brenton lest ye should say, We have found that we have added wisdom to the Lord. BSB BSB: So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’
14 Brenton And ye have commissioned a man to speak such words. BSB BSB: But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15 Brenton They were afraid, they answered no longer; they gave up their speaking. BSB BSB: Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them.
16 Brenton I waited, (for I had not spoken,) because they stood still, they answered not. BSB BSB: Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand and no longer reply?
17 Brenton And Elius continued, and said, I will again speak, BSB BSB: I too will answer; yes, I will declare what I know.
18 Brenton for I am full of words, for the spirit of my belly destroys me. BSB BSB: For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.
19 Brenton And my belly is as a skin of sweet wine bound up and ready to burst; or as a brazier's labouring bellows. BSB BSB: Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like a new wineskin.
20 Brenton I will speak, that I may open my lips and relieve myself. BSB BSB: I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and respond.
21 Brenton For truly I will not be awed because of man, nor indeed will I be confounded before a mortal. BSB BSB: I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man.
22 Brenton For I know not how to respect persons: and if otherwise, even the moths would eat me. BSB BSB: For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.