Job

¹ 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.

² 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.

³ He was also angry with the three friends because they had neither come up with an answer nor proved Job wrong.

⁴ Elihu had waited with Job while they spoke because they were all older than he.

⁵ But when he saw that the three other men had exhausted their arguments, he exploded with pent-up anger.

⁶ "I'm a young man, and you are all old and experienced. That's why I kept quiet and held back from joining the discussion.

⁷ The longer you live, the wiser you become.'

⁸ the breath of the Almighty One, that makes wise human insight possible.

⁹ getting old doesn't guarantee good sense.

¹⁰ I'm going to tell you exactly what I think.

¹¹ listened carefully to your arguments. While you searched for the right words,

¹² And now what have you proved? Nothing. Nothing you say has even touched Job.

¹³ Now it's up to God to talk sense into him.'

¹⁴ And rest assured, I won't be using your arguments!

¹⁵ Of course you don't! You're total frauds!

¹⁶ now that you're stopped dead in your tracks?

¹⁷ It's my turn—and it's about time!

¹⁸ and I'm bursting to say it.

¹⁹ I'm a volcano ready to blow.

²⁰ I have to say what's on my heart,

²¹ the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

²² my Maker would make short work of me if I started in now!