Elihu Rebukes Job and His Three Friends

¹ Then these three men ceased from answering Job because he was righteous in his own eyes.

² So Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite, from the clan of Ram, ⌞became angry⌟.¹ ⌞He became angry⌟² at Job because he justified himself rather than God,

1. Literally “the nose of Elihu became hot”
2. Literally “His nose became hot”

³ and ⌞he became angry⌟¹ at his three friends because they had not found an answer, and they had declared Job guilty.

1. Literally “his nose became hot”

⁴ Thus Elihu had waited for Job ⌞to speak⌟¹ because ⌞they were older than he⌟.²

1. Literally “in words”
2. Literally “they were older than he as far as days”

⁵ When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, ⌞he became angry⌟.¹

1. Literally “his nose became hot”

⁶ Then Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite ⌞spoke up⌟¹ and said, “⌞I am young⌟,² but³ you⁴ are old; therefore I feared and became afraid of explaining my knowledge to you.⁵

1. Literally “answered”; see NET
2. Literally “Young I am as far as days”
3. Or “and”
4. Plural
5. Plural

⁷ I thought,¹ ‘Let days² speak, and let many years teach wisdom.’

1. Or “said”
2. Compare the idiom of “as far as days” in vv. 4 and 6

⁸ “Truly, it is a spirit in a human being, and the breath of Shaddai teaches them.

⁹ It is not ⌞the aged⌟¹ who are wise, or² it is not the elders who understand justice.

1. Literally “many in days”
2. Hebrew “and”

¹⁰ Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my knowledge myself.’

¹¹ “Look, I waited for your¹ words; I listened for your² insight, until you searched out ⌞what to say⌟.³

1. Plural
2. Plural
3. Literally “words,” or “sentences”

¹² And I directed my attention to you;¹ and, look, there is no one for Job who refuted, answering his words among you.

1. Plural

¹³ So do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God refute him, not a man.’

¹⁴ But¹ he did not direct his words² to me, and I will not answer him with your³ words.

1. Hebrew “And”
2. Or “sentences,” or “what he said”
3. Plural

¹⁵ “They are dismayed; they no longer answer; ⌞they have nothing to say⌟.¹

1. Literally “words fail from them,” or “sentences fail from them,” or “what to say fails from them”

¹⁶ And I have waited because they do not speak, because they stand there and no longer answer.

¹⁷ I myself will answer my share also; I myself will declare my knowledge also,

¹⁸ for I am full of words;¹ ⌞the spirit within me⌟² urges me.

1. Or “sentences,” or “what to say”
2. Literally “the spirit of my stomach”

¹⁹ “Look, my internal organs are like unopened wine, like new wineskins it¹ is ready to burst open.

1. Antecedent is “wine”

²⁰ Let me speak ⌞that I may find relief⌟;¹ let me open my lips, and let me answer.

1. Literally “and let it find relief for me”

²¹ ⌞Please let me not show partiality to anyone⌟,¹ and let me not show flattery to human beings,

1. Literally “Not please I will lift up face of a man”

²² for I do not know how ⌞to flatter⌟,¹ else my Maker would ⌞soon⌟² put an end to me.

1. Literally “I will flatter”
2. Literally “like little”