Job 32

World English Bible 84 include this book

1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

2 Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God.

3 Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he.

5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

6 Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old. Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.

7 I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’

8 But there is a spirit in man, and the Spirit of the Almighty gives them understanding.

9 It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.

10 Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say.

12 Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.

13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom. God may refute him, not man;’

14 for he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.

15 “They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say.

16 Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, because they stand still, and answer no more?

17 I also will answer my part, and I also will show my opinion.

18 For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.

19 Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst.

20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.

21 Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.

22 For I don’t know how to give flattering titles, or else my Maker would soon take me away.

Go deeper in Job

Go deeper in Job on Amazon

2 places named in this book — no place is named in this chapter, so the whole book is shown.

Where this was written

Not known unknown No setting is given, and the book is deliberately placed outside Israel's history.

When this was written

Traditions differ. Each position is shown rather than one asserted as settled.

Traditional: 2000 BC–1800 BC Unknown
The patriarchal setting and absence of Israelite institutions have long suggested a very early origin.
Critical: 600 BC–400 BC Unknown
Language and the developed treatment of suffering point to the exilic or post-exilic period.

Elsewhere in the world

Events overlapping the period this book is dated to (2000 BC–400 BC).

2600 BC–1900 BC Indus Valley cities India
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro housed tens of thousands, with planned streets and drainage, and a script still undeciphered.
2055 BC–1650 BC Egyptian Middle Kingdom Egypt
Egypt reunified under Theban rule; large-scale irrigation works and the classical form of the Egyptian language date from this period.
1900 BC–1450 BC Minoan palace culture Greece
Crete supported a literate palace society trading across the Aegean long before mainland Greece.
1755 BC–1750 BC Code of Hammurabi Mesopotamia
Babylonian law code inscribed on a basalt stele, covering property, family and injury, and predating the Mosaic law codes.
1600 BC–1046 BC Shang dynasty oracle bones China
The earliest substantial Chinese writing, inscribed on bone and shell for divination.
1600 BC–1178 BC Hittite empire Anatolia
An Anatolian power rivalling Egypt, ended in the Bronze Age collapse.
1200 BC–1150 BC Late Bronze Age collapse Mediterranean
Within roughly two generations most eastern Mediterranean states fell; cities were destroyed, trade networks broke and literacy contracted sharply.
1200 BC–1000 BC Iron working spreads in the Levant Levant
Iron gradually displaced bronze for tools and weapons across the eastern Mediterranean.

Select a verse number to compare it across every translation.