1. Finally, these three men stopped arguing with Job, because he refused to admit that he was guilty.
2. Elihu from Buz was there, and he had become upset with Job for blaming God instead of himself.
3. He was also angry with Job's three friends for not being able to prove that Job was wrong.
4. Elihu was younger than these three, and he let them speak first.
5. But he became irritated when they could not answer Job,
6. and he said to them:I am much younger than you,so I have shown respectby keeping silent.
7. I once believed agewas the source of wisdom;
8. now I truly realizewisdom comes from God.
9. Age is no guarantee of wisdomand understanding.
10. That's why I ask youto listen to me.
11-12. I eagerly listenedto each of your arguments,but not one of you provedJob to be wrong.
13. You shouldn't say,“We know what's right!Let God punish him.”
14. Job hasn't spoken against me,and so I won't answer himwith your arguments.
15. All of you are shocked;you don't know what to say.
16. But am I to remain silent,just because youhave stopped speaking?
17. No! I will give my opinion,
18. because I have so much to say,that I can't keep quiet.
19. I am like a swollen wineskin,and I will burst
20. if I don't speak.
21-22. I don't know how to be unfairor to flatter anyone—if I did, my Creatorwould quickly destroy me!