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Job 32 (CEV)

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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 respect by keeping silent. ⁷ I once believed age was the source of wisdom; ⁸ now I truly realize wisdom comes from God. ⁹ Age is no guarantee of wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ That's why I ask you to listen to me. ¹¹ I eagerly listened to each of your arguments, ¹² but not one of you proved Job 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 him with your arguments. ¹⁵ All of you are shocked; you don't know what to say. ¹⁶ But am I to remain silent, just because you have 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 I don't know how to be unfair or to flatter anyone-- ²² if I did, my Creator would quickly destroy me!