| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1So these three men refused to answer Job further, because he was righteous in his own eyes. | 1Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence. |
| 2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. | 2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. |
| 3With Job's three friends he was also angry, because they could not find an answer, and so declared Job guilty. | 3He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. |
| 4Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job, because the others were older than he was. | 4Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. |
| 5But when Elihu saw that the three men had no further reply, he became very angry. | 5But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. |
| 6So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: "I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful, and afraid to explain to you what I know. | 6Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, “I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think. |
| 7I said to myself, 'Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.' | 7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’ |
| 8But it is a spirit in people, the breath of the Almighty, that makes them understand. | 8But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. |
| 9It is not the aged who are wise, nor old men who understand what is right. | 9Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice. |
| 10Therefore I say, 'Listen to me. I, even I, will explain what I know.' | 10So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think. |
| 11Look, I waited for you to speak; I listened closely to your wise thoughts,while you were searching for words. | 11“I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words. |
| 12Now I was paying you close attention, yet there was no one proving Job wrong, not one of you was answering his statements! | 12I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments. |
| 13So do not say, 'We have found wisdom! God will refute him, not man!' | 13And don’t tell me, ‘He is too wise for us. Only God can convince him.’ |
| 14Job has not directed his words to me, and so I will not reply to him with your arguments. | 14If Job had been arguing with me, I would not answer with your kind of logic! |
| 15"They are dismayed and cannot answer any more; they have nothing left to say. | 15You sit there baffled, with nothing more to say. |
| 16And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more, | 16Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent? |
| 17I too will answer my part, I too will explain what I know. | 17No, I will say my piece. I will speak my mind. |
| 18For I am full of words, and the spirit within me constrains me. | 18For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on. |
| 19Inside I am like wine which has no outlet, like new wineskins ready to burst! | 19I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst! |
| 20I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer. | 20I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers. |
| 21I will not show partiality to anyone, nor will I confer a title on any man. | 21I won’t play favorites or try to flatter anyone. |
| 22for I do not know how to give honorary titles, if I did, my Creator would quickly do away with me. | 22For if I tried flattery, my Creator would soon destroy me. |
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