Elihu is replaced by “he” in Good News Translation. Rather than repeat a noun (Elihu), modern English style calls for a pronoun (“he”) as a more natural expression. No answer in the mouth translates the Hebrew literally and means “had nothing to say in reply,” “had no answer to give,” or “could not answer.” Men refers, as in verse 1, to the three friends. This is the fourth time Elihu is said to be angry.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .