V. The Speeches of Elihu (32:1-37:24)
Elihu’s First Speech 132:1 So these three men refused to answer 2 Job further, because he was righteous in his 3 own eyes. 32:2 Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. 4 He was angry 5 with Job for justifying 6 himself rather than God. 7 32:3 With Job’s 8 three friends he was also angry, because they could not find 9 an answer, and so declared Job guilty. 10 32:4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking 11 to Job, because the others 12 were older than he was. 32:5 But when Elihu saw 13 that the three men had no further reply, 14 he became very angry.
32:6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: 15
“I am young, 16 but you are elderly;
that is why I was fearful, 17
and afraid to explain 18 to you what I know.
32:7 I said to myself, ‘Age 19 should speak, 20
and length of years 21 should make wisdom known.’
32:8 But it is a spirit in people,
the breath 22 of the Almighty,
that makes them understand.
32:9 It is not the aged 23 who are wise,
nor old men who understand what is right.
32:10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen 24 to me.
I, even I, will explain what I know.’
32:11 Look, I waited for you to speak; 25
I listened closely to your wise thoughts, 26 while you were searching for words.
32:12 Now I was paying you close attention, 27
yet 28 there was no one proving Job wrong, 29
not one of you was answering his statements!
32:13 So do not say, 30 ‘We have found wisdom!
God will refute 31 him, not man!’
32:14 Job 32 has not directed 33 his words to me,
and so I will not reply to him with your arguments. 34
32:15 “They are dismayed 36 and cannot answer any more;
they have nothing left to say. 37
32:16 And I have waited. 38 But because they do not speak,
because they stand there and answer no more,
32:17 I too will answer my part,
I too will explain what I know.
32:18 For I am full of words,
and the spirit within me 39 constrains me. 40
32:19 Inside I am like wine which has no outlet, 41
like new wineskins 42 ready to burst!