Job, 32

¹ So these three men ceased from answering Job, for he was righteous in his^*1 own eyes.

² But the anger of E·liʹhu^*1 the son of Barʹa·chel the Buzʹite of the family of Ram came to be hot. Against Job his anger blazed over his declaring his own soul righteous rather than God.^*2

³ Also, against his three companions his anger blazed over the fact that they had not found an answer but they proceeded to pronounce God^*1 wicked.

⁴ And E·liʹhu himself had waited for Job with words, because they were older than he was in days.

⁵ And E·liʹhu gradually saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, and his anger kept getting hotter.

⁶ And E·liʹhu the son of Barʹa·chel the Buzʹite proceeded to answer and say: “Young I am in days And YOU men are aged. That is why I drew back^*1 and was afraid To declare my knowledge to YOU men.

⁷ I said, ‘Days themselves should speak, And a multitude of years are what should make wisdom known.’

⁸ Surely it is the spirit in mortal men And the breath of the Almighty [that] gives them understanding.

⁹ It is not those merely abundant in days that prove wise, Nor those just old that understand judgment.

¹⁰ Therefore I said, ‘Do listen to me. I shall declare my knowledge, even I.’

¹¹ Look! I have waited for the words of YOU men, I kept giving ear to YOUR reasonings, Until YOU could search for words [to say].

¹² And to YOU I kept my attention turned, And here there is no one reproving Job, None of YOU answering his sayings,

¹³ That YOU may not say, ‘We have found wisdom; It is God^*1 that drives him away, not a man.’

¹⁴ As he has not arrayed words against me, So with the sayings of YOU men I shall not reply to him.

¹⁵ They have been terrified, they have answered no more; Words have moved away from them.

¹⁶ And I have waited, for they do not continue speaking; For they stood still, they answered no more.

¹⁷ I shall give in answer my part, even I; I shall declare my knowledge, even I;

¹⁸ For I have become full of words; Spirit has brought pressure upon me in my belly.

¹⁹ Look! My belly is like wine that has no vent; Like new skin bottles it wants to burst open.

²⁰ Let me speak that it may be a relief to me. I shall open my lips that I may answer.

²¹ Let me not, please, show partiality to a man;^*1 And on an earthling man^*2 I shall not bestow a title;

²² For I certainly do not know how I can bestow a title; Easily my Maker would carry me away.