1Job's three friends stopped responding to him because he kept on protesting his innocence.

2Then Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, grew angry. He was angry with Job for claiming he was right rather than God.

3Elihu was also angry at Job's three friends because they made it seem that God was wrong, because they had not been able to answer Job. ²¹¹

4Elihu had waited for the other three to speak with Job since they were older than he was.

5But when he saw that they could not answer Job, he grew very angry.

6Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, said, “I am young, and you are old, which is why I was reluctant to tell you what I know.

7I told myself, ‘Those who are older should speak—those who are elderly should teach wisdom.’

8However, there is a spirit ²¹²in human beings, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

9It is not the old who are wise, or the elderly who know what is right.

10That's why I'm telling you to listen to me now—let me tell you what I know.

11Well, I waited to hear what you had to say, listening for your insights as you looked for the right words to speak.

12I paid close attention to all of you, and none of you have proved Job wrong or answered his arguments.

13Don't say to yourselves, ‘We are so wise,’ ²¹³for God will prove him wrong, not a human being.

14Job didn't line up his arguments against me, and I won't answer him the way you did.

15You sit there speechless ²¹⁴with nothing left to say.

16Should I continue to wait since you're no longer talking, just standing there saying nothing?

17No—now I'll give my answer too. I'll tell you what I know.

18I have so much to say I can't hold the words back! ²¹⁵

19Inside I'm like fermenting wine all bottled up; like new wineskins ready to explode!

20I have to speak before I burst; ²¹⁶I will open my lips to answer him.

21I will not take sides, and I'm not going to flatter anyone.

22I don't know how to flatter, and if I did my Creator would soon destroy me.”