the First Week of Advent
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Legacy Standard Bible
Job 32
Elihu Answers in Anger
1 Then these three men ceased answering Job because he was (C1)righteous in his own eyes.2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the (C1)Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned; against Job his anger burned (C2)because he was proving himself righteous (F1)(C3)before God.3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.4 Now Elihu had waited with his words for Job because they were years older than he.5 Then Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, so his anger burned.
6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said,
"I am young in years and you are (C1)old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you my knowledge.
7 "I (F1)thought (F2)(C1)age should speak,
And (F3)increased years should make wisdom known.
8 "But it is a spirit in man,
And the (C1)breath of the Almighty gives them (C2)understanding.
9 "The (F1)abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may (C1)elders understand justice.
10 "So I (F1)say, 'Listen to me,
I too will tell my knowledge.'
11 "Behold, I waited for your words,
I gave ear to your reasonings,
While you searched out what to say.
12 "I even carefully considered you;
And behold, there was no one who reproved Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 "Lest you say,
'(C1)We have found wisdom;
God will drive him away, not man.'
14 "Now he has not arranged his words against me,
Nor will I respond to him with your words.
15 "They are dismayed; they no longer answer;
Words have moved away from them.
16 "Shall I wait, because they do not speak,
Because they stand still and no longer answer?
17 "I myself will also answer my share;
I also will tell my knowledge.
18 "For I am full of words;
The spirit within my belly presses me.
19 "Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, not opened;
Like new wineskins it is about to burst.
20 "Let me speak that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 "Let me now (C1)be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 "For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon carry me away.
