1-5. Job’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. Then 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. He was also angry with the three friends because they had neither come up with an answer nor proved Job wrong. Elihu had waited with Job while they spoke because they were all older than he. But when he saw that the three other men had exhausted their arguments, he exploded with pent-up anger.
11-14. “I hung on your words while you spoke,listened carefully to your arguments.While you searched for the right words,I was all ears.And now what have you proved? Nothing.Nothing you say has even touched Job.And don’t excuse yourselves by saying, ‘We’ve done our best.Now it’s up to God to talk sense into him.’Job has yet to contend with me.And rest assured, I won’t be using your arguments!