Job 32 · Clearspring

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

¹So these three men gave no more answers to Job, because he seemed to himself to be right.+ ²And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was angry, burning with wrath against Job, because he seemed to himself more right than God;+ ³And he was angry with his three friends, because they had been unable to give him an answer, and had not made Job's sin clear.+ ⁴Now Elihu had kept quiet while Job was talking, because they were older than he;+ ⁵And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, he was very angry.+ ⁶And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, made answer and said, I am young, and you are very old, so I was in fear, and kept myself from putting my knowledge before you.+ ⁷I said to myself, It is right for the old to say what is in their minds, and for those who are far on in years to give out wisdom.+ ⁸But truly it is the spirit in man, even the breath of the Ruler of all, which gives them knowledge.+ ⁹It is not the old who are wise, and those who are full of years have not the knowledge of what is right.+ ¹⁰So I say, Give ear to me, and I will put forward my knowledge.+ ¹¹I was waiting for your words, I was giving ear to your wise sayings; while you were searching out what to say,+ ¹²I was taking note; and truly not one of you was able to make clear Job's error, or to give an answer to his words.+ ¹³Take care that you do not say, Wisdom is here; God may overcome him, but not man.+ ¹⁴I will not put forward words like these, or make use of your sayings in answer to him.+ ¹⁵Fear has overcome them, they have no more answers to give; they have come to an end of words.+ ¹⁶And am I to go on waiting while they have nothing to say? while they keep quiet and give no more answers?+ ¹⁷I will give my answer; I will put forward my knowledge:+ ¹⁸For I am full of words, I am unable to keep in my breath any longer:+ ¹⁹My stomach is like wine which is unable to get out; like skins full of new wine, it is almost burst.+ ²⁰Let me say what is in my mind, so that I may get comfort; let me give answer with open mouth.+ ²¹Let me not give respect to any man, or give names of honour to any living.+ ²²For I am not able to give names of honour to any man; and if I did, my Maker would quickly take me away.+

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

Study Job 32