Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

New Revised Standard

Job 32:20

I must speak, so that I may find relief; I must 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.
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.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer.

Contextual Overview

15 "They are dismayed, they answer no more; they have not a word to say. 16 And am I to wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more? 17 I also will give my answer; I also will declare my opinion. 18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me. 19 My heart is indeed like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins, it is ready to burst. 20 I must speak, so that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer. 21 I will not show partiality to any person or use flattery toward anyone. 22 For I do not know how to flatter— or my Maker would soon put an end to me!

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
thinking, "If Esau comes to the one company and destroys it, then the company that is left will escape."
Genesis 32:9
And 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 kindred, and I will do you good,'
Genesis 32:17
He instructed the foremost, "When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?'
Genesis 43:11
Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man—a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.
1 Samuel 6:5
So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps he will lighten his hand on you and your gods and your land.
1 Kings 20:31
His servants said to him, "Look, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings; let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life."
Proverbs 6:35
He will accept no compensation, and refuses a bribe no matter how great.
Proverbs 15:18
Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention.
Proverbs 16:14
A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and whoever is wise will appease it.
Proverbs 21:14
A gift in secret averts anger; and a concealed 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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