Job 32 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

Job 32:1So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Job 32:2Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.

Job 32:3

Job 32:3Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Job 32:4

Job 32:4Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.[fn]

Job 32:5

Job 32:5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.

Job 32:6

Job 32:6So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:

“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.

Job 32:7

Job 32:7I said, ‘Age[fn] should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’

Job 32:8

Job 32:8But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.

Job 32:9

Job 32:9Great men[fn] are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.

Job 32:10

Job 32:10“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’

Job 32:11

Job 32:11Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.

Job 32:12

Job 32:12I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—

Job 32:13

Job 32:13Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.

Job 32:14

Job 32:14Now he has not directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.

Job 32:15

Job 32:15“They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.

Job 32:16

Job 32:16And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.

Job 32:17

Job 32:17I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.

Job 32:18

Job 32:18For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.

Job 32:19

Job 32:19Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.

Job 32:20

Job 32:20I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.

Job 32:21

Job 32:21Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.

Job 32:22

Job 32:22For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.

See the NKJV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NKJV Footnotes

(32:4)

Vulgate reads till Job had spoken.

(32:7)

Literally Days, that is, years

(32:9)

Or Men of many years

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