Job 32 (MSG)

¹Job'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.

²Then 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.

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

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

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

⁶This is what Elihu, son of Barakel the Buzite, said: "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.

⁷I kept thinking, 'Experience will tell. The longer you live, the wiser you become.'

⁸But I see I was wrong—it's God's Spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty One, that makes wise human insight possible.

⁹The experts have no corner on wisdom; getting old doesn't guarantee good sense.

¹⁰So I've decided to speak up. Listen well! I'm going to tell you exactly what I think.

¹¹"I hung on your words while you spoke, listened carefully to your arguments. While you searched for the right words,

¹²I was all ears. And now what have you proved? Nothing. Nothing you say has even touched Job.

¹³And don't excuse yourselves by saying, 'We've done our best. Now it's up to God to talk sense into him.'

¹⁴Job has yet to contend with me. And rest assured, I won't be using your arguments!

¹⁵"Do you three have nothing else to say? Of course you don't! You're total frauds!

¹⁶Why should I wait any longer, now that you're stopped dead in your tracks?

¹⁷I'm ready to speak my piece. That's right! It's my turn—and it's about time!

¹⁸I've got a lot to say, and I'm bursting to say it.

¹⁹The pressure has built up, like lava beneath the earth. I'm a volcano ready to blow.

²⁰I have to speak—I have no choice. I have to say what's on my heart,

²¹And I'm going to say it straight— the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

²²I was never any good at bootlicking; my Maker would make short work of me if I started in now!