| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1So these three men quit answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. | 1These three men stopped responding to Job, because he was claiming to be righteous, in his own opinion. |
| 2Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified himself rather than God. | 2But then Barachel's son Elihu from Buz, one of Ram's descendants, got really angry. He was furious with Job because he had been declaring himself righteous instead of vindicating God. |
| 3He was also angry at Job's three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him. | 3Furthermore, he was furious with his three friends because they had not answered Job, but instead had condemned him. |
| 4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he. | 4Elihu waited to have a word with Job, since the others were older than he, |
| 5But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry. | 5but when he saw that there had been no response from those three, he got even more angry. |
| 6So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied: I am young in years, while you are old; therefore I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know. | 6Barachel's son Elihu from Buz responded and said: I'm younger than you are. Because you're older, I was terrified to tell you what I know. |
| 7I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom. | 7I thought, experience should speak; abundance of years teaches wisdom. |
| 8But it is a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty that give him understanding. | 8However, a spirit exists in mankind, and the Almighty's breath gives him insight. |
| 9It is not only the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge. | 9"The aged aren't always wise, nor do the elderly always understand justice. |
| 10Therefore I say, "Listen to me. I too will declare what I know." | 10Therefore I'm saying, 'Listen to me!' Then I'll declare what I know. |
| 11Look, I waited for your conclusions; I listened to your insights as you sought for words. | 11"Look! I have waited to hear your speech, so I listened to your insights while you searched for the right words to say. |
| 12I paid close attention to you. Yet no one proved Job wrong; not one of you refuted his arguments. | 12Indeed, I paid close attention to you all, but none of you were able to refute Job or answer his arguments convincingly. |
| 13So do not claim, "We have found wisdom; let God deal with him, not man." | 13"So that you cannot claim, 'We have found wisdom!' let God do the rebuking, not man; |
| 14But Job has not directed his argument to me, and I will not respond to him with your arguments. | 14let him not direct a rebuke toward me. I won't be responding to him with your arguments. |
| 15Job's friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them. | 15"Job's friends won't reason with him anymore; discouraged, words escape them. |
| 16Should I continue to wait now that they are silent, now that they stand there and no longer answer? | 16Shall I continue to wait, since they're no longer talking? After all, they're only standing there; they're no longer responding. |
| 17I too will answer; yes, I will tell what I know. | 17"I will contribute my arguments as an answer; I'll declare what I know, |
| 18For I am full of words, and my spirit compels me to speak. | 18because I'm filled with things to say, and my spirit within me compels me to speak. |
| 19My heart is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins. | 19My insides feel like unvented wine, like it's about to burst like a new wineskin. |
| 20I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond. | 20"Let me speak! I need relief! Let me open my lips and respond. |
| 21I will be partial to no one, and I will not give anyone an undeserved title. | 21I won't discriminate against anyone, and I won't flatter any person, |
| 22For I do not know how to give such titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant. | 22since I don't know the first thing about how to flatter; and the one who made me would sweep me away as if I were nothing." |
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