| New Living Translation | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence. | 1So these three men quit answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 3He was also angry at Job's three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him. |
| 4Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. | 4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he. |
| 5But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. | 5But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry. |
| 6Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, “I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think. | 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. |
| 7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’ | 7I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom. |
| 8But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. | 8But it is the spirit in a person--the breath from the Almighty--that gives anyone understanding. |
| 9Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice. | 9It is not only the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge. |
| 10So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think. | 10Therefore I say, "Listen to me. I too will declare what I know." |
| 11“I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words. | 11Look, I waited for your conclusions; I listened to your insights as you sought for words. |
| 12I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments. | 12I paid close attention to you. Yet no one proved Job wrong; not one of you refuted his arguments. |
| 13And don’t tell me, ‘He is too wise for us. Only God can convince him.’ | 13So do not claim, "We have found wisdom; let God deal with him, not man." |
| 14If Job had been arguing with me, I would not answer with your kind of logic! | 14But Job has not directed his argument to me, and I will not respond to him with your arguments. |
| 15You sit there baffled, with nothing more to say. | 15Job's friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them. |
| 16Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent? | 16Should I continue to wait now that they are silent, now that they stand there and no longer answer? |
| 17No, I will say my piece. I will speak my mind. | 17I too will answer; yes, I will tell what I know. |
| 18For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on. | 18For I am full of words, and my spirit compels me to speak. |
| 19I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst! | 19My heart is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins. |
| 20I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers. | 20I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond. |
| 21I won’t play favorites or try to flatter anyone. | 21I will be partial to no one, and I will not give anyone an undeserved title. |
| 22For if I tried flattery, my Creator would soon destroy me. | 22For I do not know how to give such titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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