| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence. | 1Then these three men ceased 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. | 2But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned because he justified himself before 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. | 3And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. |
| 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 years older than he. |
| 5But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. | 5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned. |
| 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 the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, "I am young in years and you are old; Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think. |
| 7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’ | 7"I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom. |
| 8But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. | 8"But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. |
| 9Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice. | 9"The abundant in years may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice. |
| 10So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think. | 10"So I say, 'Listen to me, I too will tell what I think.' |
| 11“I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words. | 11"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, While you pondered what to say. |
| 12I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments. | 12"I even paid close attention to you; Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job, Not one of you who answered his words. |
| 13And don’t tell me, ‘He is too wise for us. Only God can convince him.’ | 13"Do not say, 'We have found wisdom; God will rout him, not man.' |
| 14If Job had been arguing with me, I would not answer with your kind of logic! | 14"For he has not arranged his words against me, Nor will I reply to him with your arguments. |
| 15You sit there baffled, with nothing more to say. | 15"They are dismayed, they no longer answer; Words have failed them. |
| 16Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent? | 16"Shall I wait, because they do not speak, Because they stop and no longer answer? |
| 17No, I will say my piece. I will speak my mind. | 17"I too will answer my share, I also will tell my opinion. |
| 18For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on. | 18"For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me. |
| 19I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst! | 19"Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, Like new wineskins it is about to burst. |
| 20I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers. | 20"Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer. |
| 21I won’t play favorites or try to flatter anyone. | 21"Let me now be partial to no one, Nor flatter any man. |
| 22For if I tried flattery, my Creator would soon destroy me. | 22"For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away. |
| 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. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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