Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends 1 UDB Then those three men stopped replying to Job because they could not convince Job that he had done anything wrong. BSB BSB: So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 UDB Then Elihu son of Barakel, a descendant of Buz, from the clan of Ram, became very angry at Job. He was angry because Job continued to claim that he was innocent, and that God had been wrong to punish him. 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 UDB He was also angry with Job's three friends because they had declared that Job must have done many things that were wrong, but they could not convince him. 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 UDB Now Elihu was younger than the others, so he waited until they had finished speaking before he replied to Job. BSB BSB: Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.
5 UDB But when Elihu realized that the three men had no more to say to Job, he became angry. BSB BSB: But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled.
6 UDB This is what he said: "I am young, and you all are much older than I am. So I was timid, and I was afraid to tell you what I was thinking. 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 UDB I said to myself, 'Let those who are much older speak because older people should be able to say things that are wise.' BSB BSB: I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.
8 UDB However, the Spirit of Almighty God is within people, and it is he who enables them to be wise. BSB BSB: But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
9 UDB Not all people become wise when they are old; not all old people understand what is right. BSB BSB: It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.
10 UDB That is why I say to you now, 'Listen to me, and allow me to declare what I know.' BSB BSB: Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’
11 UDB I waited for you all to speak; I wanted to hear the wise things that you would say. I waited while you thought carefully about what you should say. BSB BSB: Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,
12 UDB I paid attention carefully, but surprisingly, none of you was able to prove that what Job said was wrong. BSB BSB: I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments.
13 UDB So do not say to yourselves, 'We have discovered what is wise!' It is God who must refute Job because you three have not been able to do that. BSB BSB: So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’
14 UDB Job was replying to you, not to me, so I will not reply to him by saying what you three have said. BSB BSB: But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15 UDB I tell myself this: These three men are confused because they have nothing more to say to Job; they have nothing more to say to him. BSB BSB: Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them.
16 UDB But because you do not speak, I certainly will not wait any longer; you merely stand there and do not reply anymore. BSB BSB: Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand and no longer reply?
17 UDB So now I also will reply to Job and tell him what I know. BSB BSB: I too will answer; yes, I will declare what I know.
18 UDB I have plenty to say, and my spirit forces me to say it. BSB BSB: For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.
19 UDB My inner being is like a container of wine that is stretching more and more from the fermentation, and it will soon burst. BSB BSB: Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like a new wineskin.
20 UDB I must speak in order that I can rest from trying to hold in my words; I must say something to reply to you all. BSB BSB: I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and respond.
21 UDB I will speak fairly, not favoring any of you, and I will not try to flatter anyone. BSB BSB: I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man.
22 UDB I really do not know how to flatter people; if I did that, God would soon destroy 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.