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Elihu Rebukes Job in Anger

¹ Then these three men stopped 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 justified himself ^(F1)(C3)before God.³ And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job.⁴ Now Elihu had waited ^(F1)to speak to Job because they were years older than he.⁵ But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his anger burned.

⁶ So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite ^(F1)spoke out and said,

"I am young in years and you are ^(C1)old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you ^(F2)what I think.

⁷ "I ^(F1)thought ^(F2)(C1)age should speak,
And ^(F3)increased years should teach wisdom.

⁸ "But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
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 ^(F2)what I think.'

¹¹ "Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you ^(F1)pondered what to say.

¹² "I also paid close attention to you;
But ^(F1)indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.

¹³ "So do not say,
'^(C1)We have found wisdom:
God will ^(F1)defeat him, not man.'

¹⁴ "But he has not presented his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your ^(F1)arguments.

¹⁵ "They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have ^(F1)failed them.

¹⁶ "Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have ^(F1)stopped and no longer answer?

¹⁷ "I too will ^(F1)give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.

¹⁸ "For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.

¹⁹ "Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.

²⁰ "Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.

²¹ "Let me ^(C1)be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.

²² "For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.