Job 32:4-9

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Job 32:1-10 The Message (MSG)

Job’s three friends now fell silent. They were talked out, stymied because Job wouldn’t budge an inch—wouldn’t admit to an ounce of guilt. Then Elihu lost his temper. (Elihu was the son of Barakel the Buzite from the clan of Ram.) He blazed out in anger against Job for pitting his righteousness against God’s. He was also angry with the three friends because they had neither come up with an answer nor proved Job wrong. Elihu had waited with Job while they spoke because they were all older than he. But when he saw that the three other men had exhausted their arguments, he exploded with pent-up anger. This is what Elihu, son of Barakel the Buzite, said

Job 32:4-9 King James Version (KJV)

Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; Wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: And the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: Neither do the aged understand judgment.

Job 32:4-9 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned. So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, “I am young in years and you are old; Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think. I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom. But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. The abundant in years may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice.

Job 32:4-9 New Century Version (NCV)

Elihu had waited before speaking to Job, because the three friends were older than he was. But when Elihu saw that the three men had nothing more to say, he became very angry. So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said this: “I am young, and you are old. That is why I was afraid to tell you what I know. I thought, ‘Older people should speak, and those who have lived many years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding. It is not just older people who are wise; they are not the only ones who understand what is right.

Job 32:4-9 American Standard Version (ASV)

Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; Wherefore I held back, and durst not show you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding. It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.

Job 32:4-9 New International Version (NIV)

Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused. So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.

Job 32:4-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. So 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. I said, ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’ But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.

Job 32:4-9 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were years older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he burned with anger. Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite said, “I am young, and you are aged; For that reason I was anxious and dared not tell you what I think. “I thought age should speak, And a multitude of years should teach wisdom. “But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. [Prov 2:6] “Those [who are] abundant in years may not [always] be wise, Nor may the elders [always] understand justice.

Job 32:4-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, “I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think. I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’ But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.

Job 32:4-9 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.