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32So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. ²Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; ³he was angry also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, though they had declared Job to be in the wrong. ⁴Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he. ⁵But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he became angry.

⁶Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. ⁷I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ ⁸But truly it is the spirit in a mortal, the breath of the Almighty, that makes for understanding. ⁹It is not the old that are wise, nor the aged that understand what is right. ¹⁰Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.’ ¹¹“See, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say. ¹²I gave you my attention, but there was in fact no one that confuted Job, no one among you that answered his words. ¹³Yet do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a human.’ ¹⁴He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches.

¹⁵“They are dismayed, they answer no more; they have not a word to say. ¹⁶And am I to wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more? ¹⁷I also will give my answer; I also will declare my opinion. ¹⁸For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me. ¹⁹My heart is indeed like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins, it is ready to burst. ²⁰I must speak, so that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer. ²¹I will not show partiality to any person or use flattery toward anyone. ²²For I do not know how to flatter— or my Maker would soon put an end to me!