32:1 Because Job was convinced of his own innocence, the three men gave up trying to answer him.
32:2 But a bystander named Elihu could not control his anger any longer, because Job was justifying himself and blaming God. (Elihu was the son of Barakel, a descendant of Buz, and belonged to the clan of Ram.)
32:3 He was also angry with Job's three friends. They could not find any way to answer Job, and this made it appear that God was in the wrong.
32:4 Because Elihu was the youngest one there, he had waited until everyone finished speaking.
32:5 When he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he was angry
32:6 and began to speak. I am young, and you are old, so I was afraid to tell you what I think.
32:7 I told myself that you ought to speak, that you older men should share your wisdom.
32:8 But it is the spirit of Almighty God that comes to us and gives us wisdom.
32:9 It is not growing old that makes us wise or helps us to know what is right.
32:10 So now I want you to listen to me; let me tell you what I think.
32:11 I listened patiently while you were speaking and waited while you searched for wise phrases.
32:12 I paid close attention and heard you fail; you have not disproved what Job has said.
32:13 How can you claim you have discovered wisdom? God must answer Job, for you have failed.
32:14 Job was speaking to you, not to me, but I would never answer the way you did.
32:15 Words have failed them, Job; they have no answer for you.
32:16 Shall I go on waiting when they are silent? They stand there with nothing more to say.
32:17 No, I will give my own answer now and tell you what I think.
32:18 I can hardly wait to speak. I can't hold back the words.
32:19 If I don't get a chance to speak, I will burst like a wineskin full of new wine.
32:21 I will not take sides in this debate; I am not going to flatter anyone.
32:22 I don't know how to flatter, and God would quickly punish me if I did.
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