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Bible in Basic English

Job 32:11

I was waiting for your words, I was giving ear to your wise sayings; while you were searching out what to say,

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Ear;   Job, the Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ethics;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elihu;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Job, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Look, I waited for your conclusions;I listened to your insightsas you sought for words.
Hebrew Names Version
"Behold, I waited for your words, And I listened for your reasoning, While you searched out what to say.
King James Version
Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
English Standard Version
"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.
New Century Version
I waited while you three spoke, and listened to your explanations. While you looked for words to use,
New English Translation
Look, I waited for you to speak; I listened closely to your wise thoughts, while you were searching for words.
Amplified Bible
"You see, I waited for your words, I listened to your [wise] reasons, While you pondered and searched out what to say.
New American Standard Bible
"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened to your skillful speech, While you pondered what to say.
World English Bible
"Behold, I waited for your words, And I listened for your reasoning, While you searched out what to say.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Behold, I did waite vpon your wordes, and hearkened vnto your knowledge, whiles you sought out reasons.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Behold, I waited for your words,I gave ear to your reasonings,While you searched out what to say.
Berean Standard Bible
Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,
Contemporary English Version
I eagerly listened to each of your arguments,
Complete Jewish Bible
"Here, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasoning, as you were searching for what to say.
Darby Translation
Lo, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasonings, until ye searched out what to say.
Easy-to-Read Version
I waited patiently while you men talked. I listened to the answers you gave as you searched for the right words.
George Lamsa Translation
Behold, I kept silent while you spoke; I gave ear until you made an end of speaking, while you searched for words.
Good News Translation
I listened patiently while you were speaking and waited while you searched for wise phrases.
Lexham English Bible
"Look, I waited for your words; I listened for your insight, until you searched out what to say.
Literal Translation
Behold, I waited for your words; I listened to your reasons while you searched out words;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For whe I had wayted till ye made an ende of youre talkynge, & herde youre wy?dome, what argumetes ye made in youre communicacion:
American Standard Version
Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasonings, Whilst ye searched out what to say.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
King James Version (1611)
Behold, I waited for your words: I gaue eare to your reasons, whilest you searched out what to say.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For when I had wayted till ye made an end of your talking, and hearde your wysdome, what argumentes ye made in your communication,
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Hearken to my words; for I will speak in your hearing, until ye shall have tried the matter with words:
English Revised Version
Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Y abood youre wordis, Y herde youre prudence, as long as ye dispuytiden in youre wordis.
Update Bible Version
Look, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasonings, While you searched out what to say.
Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
New King James Version
Indeed I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
New Living Translation
"I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words.
New Life Bible
"See, I waited for your words. I listened to what you said and waited to hear more from you.
New Revised Standard
"See, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lo! I waited for your words, I kept giving ear for your reasons, until ye should search out what to say;
Douay-Rheims Bible
For I have waited for your words, I have given ear to your wisdom, as long as you were disputing in words.
Revised Standard Version
"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.
Young's Literal Translation
Lo, I have waited for your words, I give ear unto your reasons, Till ye search out sayings.
THE MESSAGE
"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!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, While you pondered what to say.

Contextual Overview

6 And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, made answer and said, I am young, and you are very old, so I was in fear, and kept myself from putting my knowledge before you. 7 I said to myself, It is right for the old to say what is in their minds, and for those who are far on in years to give out wisdom. 8 But truly it is the spirit in man, even the breath of the Ruler of all, which gives them knowledge. 9 It is not the old who are wise, and those who are full of years have not the knowledge of what is right. 10 So I say, Give ear to me, and I will put forward my knowledge. 11 I was waiting for your words, I was giving ear to your wise sayings; while you were searching out what to say, 12 I was taking note; and truly not one of you was able to make clear Job's error, or to give an answer to his words. 13 Take care that you do not say, Wisdom is here; God may overcome him, but not man. 14 I will not put forward words like these, or make use of your sayings in answer to him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I waited for: Job 32:4, Job 29:21, Job 29:23

reasons: Heb. understandings, Instead of tevoonotheychem, nine manuscripts read techoonotheychem, "your arguments;" but the sense is nearly the same.

whilst: Ad tachkeroon millin, "whilst ye were searching for words;" a fine irony, which they must have felt. Job 5:27, Proverbs 18:17, Proverbs 28:11, Ecclesiastes 12:9, Ecclesiastes 12:10

what to say: Heb. words

Reciprocal: Job 6:24 - Teach me Job 26:3 - counselled Job 33:31 - General 1 Corinthians 14:30 - let

Cross-References

Genesis 27:41
So Esau was full of hate for Jacob because of his father's blessing; and he said in his heart, The days of weeping for my father are near; then I will put my brother Jacob to death.
Genesis 32:1
And on his way Jacob came face to face with the angels of God.
Genesis 32:2
And when he saw them he said, This is the army of God: so he gave that place the name of Mahanaim.
Deuteronomy 22:6
If by chance you see a place which a bird has made for itself in a tree or on the earth, with young ones or eggs, and the mother bird seated on the young ones or on the eggs, do not take the mother bird with the young:
1 Samuel 12:10
Then crying out to the Lord, they said, We have done evil, because we have been turned away from the Lord, worshipping the Baals and the Astartes: but now, make us safe from those who are against us and we will be your servants.
1 Samuel 24:15
So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.
Psalms 16:1
Keep me safe, O God: for in you I have put my faith.
Psalms 25:20
O keep my soul, and take me out of danger: let me not be shamed, for I have put my faith in you.
Psalms 31:2
Let your ear be turned to me; take me quickly out of danger; be my strong Rock, my place of strength where I may be safe.
Psalms 43:1
Be my judge, O God, supporting my cause against a nation without religion; O keep me from the false and evil man.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Behold, I waited for your words,.... With great desire, with great eagerness and earnestness, in hope of meeting with arguments fully satisfying and convincing; he waited for them, as for the rain, and the latter rain, to be revived, refreshed, and edified therewith; and he patiently waited until they had done speaking:

I gave ear to your reasons, or "understandings" r; endeavoured to get into the sense and meaning of their words; not only attended to what they did say, but to what he thought they meant to say: some are not so happy in their expressions; and yet, by what they do say, with close attention it may be understood what they aim at, what is their drift and design; this Elihu was careful to attain unto, not barely to hear their words, but penetrate, if possible, into their meaning:

whilst ye searched out what to say; for they did not make their replies to Job immediately, and say what came uppermost at once, but they took time to think of things, and to search out for the most forcible arguments to refute Job, and strengthen their cause; it is very probable they made a pause at the end of every speech of Job's, and considered what was proper to be said in reply, and, perhaps, consulted each other.

r עד תבונותיכם "usque ad intellignetias vestras", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Schultens; "usque ad sensa vestra", Beza, Junius & Tremellius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I gave ear to your reasons - Margin, “understandings.” The meaning is, that he had given the most respectful attention to the views which they had expressed, implying that he had been all along present, and had listened to the debate.

Whilst ye searched out what to say - Margin, as in Hebrew, words. It is implied here that they had bestowed much attention on what they had said. They had carefully sought out all the arguments at their command to confute Job, and still had been unsuccessful.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 32:11. I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons — Instead of תבונותיכם tebunotheychem, your reasons, תכונותיכם techunotheychem, your arguments, is the reading of nine of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. The sense, however, is nearly the same.

Whilst ye searched out what to say. — עד תחקרון מלין ad tachkerun millin; "Whilst ye were searching up and down for words." A fine irony, which they must have felt.


 
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