Elihu starts speaking
1The 3 men stopped speaking to Job because he kept on saying that he was innocent. 2Elihu then became angry with Job. Elihu was the son of Barakel, a descendant of Buz, from the family of Ram. Elihu became angry because Job said that he was right and God was wrong. 3Elihu was also angry with Job's 3 friends because they did not know how to answer Job. They only said that Job had done wrong. 4Elihu had not wanted to speak to Job immediately because the 3 friends were older than he was. 5But when he saw that the 3 friends did not know how to answer Job, he became angry. 6Elihu, son of Barakel, a descendant of Buz, started speaking and he said:
‘I am young and you are old,
and that is why I have waited.
I was afraid to tell you what I know.
7I thought that older people should speak first,
because they know more and have wisdom.
8But it is the spirit in a person,
the mind that the Lord gives him,
that helps him understand.
9You don't get wisdom
just because you grow old,
and you don't know what is right
just because you are an old person.
10That is why I am saying: Listen to me.
I also want to say what I know.
11Remember that I waited
for you to speak first,
and I listened to the clever things
that you said while you were thinking
of the right words to say.
12I listened carefully
to what you said, but not one of you
could show Job that he was wrong,
and not one of you could answer him
in the right way.
13You must beware and never say:
“We have found wisdom.”
People can not answer Job.
Only God can do that.
14Job did not speak to me, and that is why
I will not try to answer him like you did.
15Job, your friends do not know
what to say to you.
They are confused.
16But I will not wait any longer,
because they are saying nothing.
They are just standing there,
and not speaking to you anymore.
17I want to do something.
I want to say what I know.
18There are a lot of things
that I want to say, and I can not keep quiet.
19I feel like a skin-bag
that is so full that it is going to burst.
20I must speak to you, and then I will feel better.
I will say what I have to say.
21I will be fair to everyone.
I will not try to please one person
and be against the other one.
22I don't know how to please people,
and if I should do it,
God who has made me would punish me quickly.’
