Elihu Justifies His Right to Answer Job

321 And these three men cease from answering Job, for he 'is' righteous in his own eyes, 2 and burn doth the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram; against Job hath his anger burned, because of his justifying himself more than God; 3 and against his three friends hath his anger burned, because that they have not found an answer, and condemn Job. 4 And Elihu hath waited earnestly beside Job with words, for they are older than he in days. 5 And Elihu seeth that there is no answer in the mouth of the three men, and his anger burneth.

6 And Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answereth and saith:—Young I 'am' in days, and ye 'are' age Therefore I have feared, And am afraid of shewing you my opinion. 7 I said: Days do speak, And multitude of years teach wisdom. 8 Surely a spirit is in man, And the breath of the Mighty One Doth cause them to understand. 9 The multitude are not wise, Nor do the aged understand judgment. 10 Therefore I have said: Hearken to me, I do shew my opinion—even I. 11 Lo, I have waited for your words, I give ear unto your reasons, Till ye search out sayings. 12 And unto you I attend, And lo, there is no reasoner for Job, 'Or' answerer of his sayings among you. 13 Lest ye say, We have found wisdom, God doth thrust him away, not man. 14 And he hath not set in array words for me, And with your sayings I do not answer him.

15 (They have broken down, They have not answered again, They removed from themselves words. 16 And I have waited, but they do not speak, For they have stood still, They have not answered any more.) 17 I answer, even I—my share, I shew my opinion—even I. 18 For I have been full of words, Distressed me hath the spirit of my breast, 19 Lo, my breast 'is' as wine not opened, Like new bottles it is broken up. 20 I speak, and there is refreshment to me, I open my lips and answer. 21 Let me not, I pray you, accept the face of any, Nor unto man give flattering titles, 22 For I have not known to give flattering titles, In a little doth my Maker take me away.

Job Bewails His Birth

31 After this hath Job opened his mouth, and revileth his day. 2 And Job answereth and saith:— 3 Let the day perish in which I am born, And the night that hath said: 'A man-child hath been conceived.' 4 That day—let it be darkness, Let not God require it from above, Nor let light shine upon it. 5 Let darkness and death-shade redeem it, Let a cloud tabernacle upon it, Let them terrify it as the most bitter of days. 6 That night—let thick darkness take it, Let it not be united to days of the year, Into the number of months let it not come. 7 Lo! that night—let it be gloomy, Let no singing come into it. 8 Let the cursers of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan. 9 Let the stars of its twilight be dark, Let it wait for light, and there is none, And let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn. 10 Because it hath not shut the doors Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery from mine eyes.

11 Why from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp! 12 Wherefore have knees been before me? And what 'are' breasts, that I suck? 13 For now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept—then there is rest to me, 14 With kings and counsellors of earth, These building wastes for themselves. 15 Or with princes—they have gold, They are filling their houses 'with' silver. 16 (Or as a hidden abortion I am not, As infants—they have not seen light.) 17 There the wicked have ceased troubling, And there rest do the wearied in power. 18 Together prisoners have been at ease, They have not heard the voice of an exactor, 19 Small and great 'are' there the same. And a servant 'is' free from his lord.

20 Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul? 21 Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures. 22 Who are glad—unto joy, They rejoice when they find a grave. 23 To a man whose way hath been hidden, And whom God doth shut up? 24 For before my food, my sighing cometh, And poured out as waters 'are' my roarings. 25 For a fear I feared and it meeteth me, And what I was afraid of doth come to me. 26 I was not safe—nor was I quiet—Nor was I at rest—and trouble cometh!