Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends
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So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was v righteous in his own eyes.
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Then Elihu the son of Barachel w the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself x rather than God.
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He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had y declared Job to be in the wrong.
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Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.
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And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.
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And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:
"I am young in years,
and you are z aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
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I said, 'Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.'
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But it is a the spirit in man,
b the breath of the Almighty, that makes him c understand.
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d It is not the old who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
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Therefore I say, 'Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.'
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"Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searched out what to say.
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I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
or who answered his words.
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Beware e lest you say, 'We have found wisdom;
God may vanquish him, not a man.'
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He has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your speeches.
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"They are dismayed; they answer no more;
they have not a word to say.
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And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
because they stand there, and answer no more?
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I also will answer with my share;
I also will declare my opinion.
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For I am full of words;
the spirit within me constrains me.
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Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
like new f wineskins ready to burst.
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g I must speak, that I may find h relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
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I will not i show partiality to any man
or use flattery toward any person.
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For I do not know how to flatter,
else my Maker would soon take me away.
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Cross References
Job 33:9
You say, 'I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
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Cross References
Genesis 22:21
Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram.
Jeremiah 25:23
Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair.
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Cross References
Job 4:17
Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?
Job 34:5
For Job has said, 'I am in the right, and God has taken away my right.
Job 35:2
"Do you think this to be just? Do you say, 'It is my right before God,'
Job 40:8
Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
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Cross References
Job 8:6
If you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation.
Job 22:5
Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.
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Cross References
Job 15:10
Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, older than your father.
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Cross References
Job 33:4
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 34:14
If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath.
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Cross References
Job 33:4
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
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Cross References
Job 35:11
Who teaches us more than the beasts of the eart...
Job 38:36
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given...
Job 39:17
Because God has made her forget wisdom and give...
1 Kings 3:12
Behold, I now do according to your word. Behold...
1 Kings 4:29
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding b...
Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come ...
Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to the one who pleases him God has given wi...
Daniel 1:17
As for these four youths, God gave them learnin...
Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; he removes kings ...
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, wh...
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:26
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
Job 12:20
He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.
Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 9:23
Thus says the Lord : "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.
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Cross References
Matthew 9:17
Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.
Joshua 9:4
They on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended.
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Cross References
Psalms 39:3
My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
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Cross References
1 Samuel 16:23
And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.
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Cross References
Leviticus 19:15
You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.