the Fifth Week after Easter
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Job 32
Elihu
1 So these three men stopped answering Job,(a) because he was righteous in his own eyes.(b) 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,(c) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself(d) rather than God.(e) 3 He was also angry with the three friends,(f) because they had found no way to refute Job,(g) and yet had condemned him.[a](h) 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.(i) 5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
"I am young in years,
and you are old;(j)
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.'(k)
8 But it is the spirit[b](l) in a person,
the breath of the Almighty,(m) that gives them understanding.(n)
9 It is not only the old[c] who are wise,(o)
not only the aged(p) who understand what is right.(q)
10 "Therefore I say: Listen to me;(r)
I too will tell you what I know.(s)
11 I waited while you spoke,
I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
12 I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.(t)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;(u)
let God, not a man, refute(v) him.'
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,(w)
and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15 "They are dismayed and have no more to say;
words have failed them.(x)
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will have my say;
I too will tell what I know.(y)
18 For I am full of words,
and the spirit(z) within me compels me;(aa)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst.(ab)
20 I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply.(ac)
21 I will show no partiality,(ad)
nor will I flatter anyone;(ae)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
my Maker(af) would soon take me away.(ag)
New International Version
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