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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible (1995)

Job 32:20

"Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer.

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Elihu;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - 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;   Lip;   Refresh;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I must speak so that I can find relief;I must open my lips and respond.
Hebrew Names Version
I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.
King James Version
I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
English Standard Version
I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.
New Century Version
I must speak so I will feel relief; I must open my mouth and answer.
New English Translation
I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer.
Amplified Bible
"I must speak so that I may get relief; I will open my lips and answer.
New American Standard Bible
"Let me speak so that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer.
World English Bible
I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore will I speake, that I may take breath: I will open my lippes, and will answere.
Legacy Standard Bible
Let me speak that I may get relief;Let me open my lips and answer.
Berean Standard Bible
I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and respond.
Contemporary English Version
if I don't speak.
Complete Jewish Bible
I must speak, to find relief; I will open my lips and answer.
Darby Translation
I will speak, that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer.
Easy-to-Read Version
I must speak so that I will feel better. I must answer your arguments.
George Lamsa Translation
I will speak so that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer.
Good News Translation
I can't stand it; I have to speak.
Lexham English Bible
Let me speak that I may find relief; let me open my lips, and let me answer.
Literal Translation
I will speak so that I may be relieved; I will open my lips and answer.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore wil I speake, that I maye haue vete: I wil open my lyppes, and make answere.
American Standard Version
I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
Bible in Basic English
Let me say what is in my mind, so that I may get comfort; let me give answer with open mouth.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
I will speak, that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer.
King James Version (1611)
I will speake, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lippes, and answere.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
[Therfore] will I speake, that I may haue a bent: I will open my lippes, and make aunswere.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
I will speak, that I may open my lips and relieve myself.
English Revised Version
I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Y schal speke, and brethe ayen a litil; Y schal opene my lippis, and Y schal answere.
Update Bible Version
I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
Webster's Bible Translation
I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
New King James Version
I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.
New Living Translation
I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers.
New Life Bible
Let me speak, that I may find comfort. Let me open my lips and answer.
New Revised Standard
I must speak, so that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I will speak, that I may freely breathe, I will open my lips and respond.
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will speak and take breath a little: I will open my lips, and will answer.
Revised Standard Version
I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.
Young's Literal Translation
I speak, and there is refreshment to me, I open my lips and answer.

Contextual Overview

15 "They are dismayed, they no longer answer; Words have failed them. 16 "Shall I wait, because they do not speak, Because they stop and no longer answer? 17 "I too will answer my share, I also will tell my opinion. 18 "For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me. 19 "Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, Like new wineskins it is about to burst. 20 "Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer.21 "Let me now be partial to no one, Nor flatter any man. 22 "For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I will speak: Job 13:13, Job 13:19, Job 20:2, Job 21:3

be refreshed: Heb. breathe

I will open: Proverbs 8:6, Proverbs 8:7

Reciprocal: Psalms 39:2 - my sorrow Isaiah 42:14 - long time 2 Corinthians 6:11 - our mouth

Cross-References

Genesis 32:8
for he said, "If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape."
Genesis 32:9
Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,'
Genesis 32:17
He commanded the one in front, saying, "When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, saying, 'To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and to whom do these animals in front of you belong?'
Genesis 43:11
Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
1 Samuel 6:5
"So you shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will ease His hand from you, your gods, and your land.
1 Kings 20:31
His servants said to him, "Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, please let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will save your life."
Proverbs 6:35
He will not accept any ransom, Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.
Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
Proverbs 16:14
The fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it.
Proverbs 21:14
A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I will speak, that I may be refreshed,.... That his mind might be made easy; the matter it was full of lay with much weight upon it, pressed him hard, and gave him pain; and therefore he determines to speak his mind, and disburden himself: so a minister of the word speaks sometimes to the refreshment of others, the Gospel being a word in season to weary souls, bread to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, even wine to them that are of an heavy heart; and especially it is refreshing when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart through it, and the presence of God is enjoyed under it; and sometimes he speaks to the refreshment of himself with others, Romans 15:32; and whether it be so, one or the other, yet a faithful minister eases his mind, discharges his conscience, and is clear from the blood of all, when he truly and fully declares the whole counsel of God, so far as he is acquainted with it:

I will open my lips and answer; speak freely and boldly what was upon his mind, and he had to say, and which he judged would be a sufficient answer to Job; the opening of his lips is a phrase used by him in allusion to the opening of a bottle, full of new wine, the metaphor before expressed by him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I will speak, that I may be refreshed - Margin, “breathe.” The meaning is, that he would then have room to breathe again; he would feel relieved.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 32:20. I will open my lips and answer. — In the preceding verse Elihu compares himself to a skin-bottle, in which the wine was in a state of fermentation, and the bottle ready to burst for want of vent. He carries on the metaphor in this verse: the bottle must be opened to save it from bursting; I will OPEN my mouth.


 
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