| New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
| 1Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence. | 1These three men stopped responding to Job, because he was claiming to be righteous, in his own opinion. |
| 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 then Barachel's son Elihu from Buz, one of Ram's descendants, got really angry. He was furious with Job because he had been declaring himself righteous instead of vindicating 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. | 3Furthermore, he was furious with his three friends because they had not answered Job, but instead had condemned him. |
| 4Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. | 4Elihu waited to have a word with Job, since the others were older than he, |
| 5But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. | 5but when he saw that there had been no response from those three, he got even more 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. | 6Barachel's son Elihu from Buz responded and said: I'm younger than you are. Because you're older, I was terrified to tell you what I know. |
| 7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’ | 7I thought, experience should speak; abundance of years teaches wisdom. |
| 8But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. | 8However, a spirit exists in mankind, and the Almighty's breath gives him insight. |
| 9Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice. | 9"The aged aren't always wise, nor do the elderly always understand justice. |
| 10So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think. | 10Therefore I'm saying, 'Listen to me!' Then I'll declare what I know. |
| 11“I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words. | 11"Look! I have waited to hear your speech, so I listened to your insights while you searched for the right words to say. |
| 12I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments. | 12Indeed, I paid close attention to you all, but none of you were able to refute Job or answer his arguments convincingly. |
| 13And don’t tell me, ‘He is too wise for us. Only God can convince him.’ | 13"So that you cannot claim, 'We have found wisdom!' let God do the rebuking, not man; |
| 14If Job had been arguing with me, I would not answer with your kind of logic! | 14let him not direct a rebuke toward me. I won't be responding to him with your arguments. |
| 15You sit there baffled, with nothing more to say. | 15"Job's friends won't reason with him anymore; discouraged, words escape them. |
| 16Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent? | 16Shall I continue to wait, since they're no longer talking? After all, they're only standing there; they're no longer responding. |
| 17No, I will say my piece. I will speak my mind. | 17"I will contribute my arguments as an answer; I'll declare what I know, |
| 18For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on. | 18because I'm filled with things to say, and my spirit within me compels me to speak. |
| 19I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst! | 19My insides feel like unvented wine, like it's about to burst like a new wineskin. |
| 20I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers. | 20"Let me speak! I need relief! Let me open my lips and respond. |
| 21I won’t play favorites or try to flatter anyone. | 21I won't discriminate against anyone, and I won't flatter any person, |
| 22For if I tried flattery, my Creator would soon destroy me. | 22since I don't know the first thing about how to flatter; and the one who made me would sweep me away as if I were nothing." |
| 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 Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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