Job Chapter 32

Job’s words end here.                                                     Job 31:38-40

¹ The three men stopped replying to Job, because he was certain he was innocent. ² Then Elihu Ben-Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram, was mad at Job because he’d justified himself to God. ³ He was mad at his three friends because they couldn’t answer Job but still condemned him. ⁴ Elihu had waited to speak because they were years older than he was. ⁵ When he saw they didn’t provide an answer, his anger burned inside him. ⁶ So he spoke up.

“I’m young and you’re old;

so I’ve been reluctant to tell you what I believed.

⁷ I thought age should speak

because wisdom should come with age.              

⁸ But it’s the spirit in a person

and the breath of the Almighty that give insight.

⁹ Abundant years may not bring wisdom;

elders may not understand what’s just.

¹⁰ So listen and I’ll say what I think too.              

Job 32:1-10

¹¹ “I waited for your words;

I listened to your reasoning

while you thought about what to say.

¹² I paid careful attention;

none of you refuted Job

or answered his arguments.

¹³ Don’t say, ‘We’ve found him too wise for us;

God alone will have to refute him, not mortals.’

¹⁴ Job hasn’t been arguing with me;

but I wouldn’t have answered him with your arguments.

Job 32:11-14

¹⁵ “You’re discredited;

you don’t have anything else to say.

¹⁶ Should I keep waiting

when you’re not speaking anymore?

¹⁷ I’ll give my answer too

and express my opinion.

¹⁸ I have so many things I want to say;

my spirit constrains me to speak.

¹⁹ My stomach is like an unvented wine cask;

it’s about to burst like a new wineskin.

²⁰ I have to say something so I can get relief;

let me answer.

²¹ I won’t show partiality to anybody

or flatter anyone.

²² I don’t know how to flatter;

otherwise, my Maker would put an end to me.”  

Job 32:15-22