{Then when} the days of the feast had run their course, {Job would send}, and he would sanctify them. Thus he would arise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings [according to] the number of all of them, because Job thought, "Perhaps my children have sinned and {cursed} God in their heart." This is what Job used to do {all the time}.

Thus Job's three friends heard of this calamity that had come upon him. So each set out from his [own] place: Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. And they met together to come to console him and to comfort him.

It stood still, but I could not recognize its appearance; a form [was] {before} my eyes; [there was] a hush, and I heard a voice:

"Does not {a human being have hard service} on earth? And [are not] his days like the days of a laborer?

Will they themselves not teach you [and] {tell you} and {utter} words from their heart?

[He is] wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and succeeded?

" 'Yet you hid these [things] in your heart; I know that this {was your purpose}.

"If you yourself direct your heart and stretch out your hands to him--

"Look, my eye has seen everything; my ear has heard and has understood it.

Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,

"I have heard many [things] like these; all of you [are] {miserable comforters}.

"My days are past; my plans are broken down-- [even] the desires of my heart.

whom {I will see for myself}, and [whom] my eyes will see and not a stranger. {My heart faints within me}.

Please receive instruction from his mouth, and place his words in your heart.

Indeed, God has made my heart faint, and Shaddai has terrified me.

I hold fast to my righteousness, and I will not let it go; my heart will not blame [any] of my days.

He puts his hand on the hard rock; he overturns mountains by [the] roots.

Abaddon and Death say, 'We heard its rumor with our ears.'

"When [the] ear heard and commended me, and [the] eye saw and testified in support of me

[The] blessing of [the] wretched came upon me, and I caused [the] widow's heart to sing for joy.

If my steps have turned aside from the way, and my heart has walked after my eyes, and my hand has clung to a spot,

"If my heart has been enticed by a woman, and at my neighbor's doorway I have lain in wait,

My words [declare] my heart's uprightness, and my lips sincerely speak {what my lips know}.

"Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard [the] sound of [your] words:

If he should set his heart to it, and he should gather his spirit and his breath to himself,

And [the] godless of heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.

"About this also my heart trembles, and it leaps from its place.

After it, his voice roars; it thunders {with his majestic voice}, and he does not restrain it when his voice is heard.

with him can you spread out [the] skies, hard as a molten mirror?

Like stone [the] waters become hard, and [the] faces of the deep freeze.

Its heart is cast as stone; yes, it is cast as [the] lower millstone.

By the ear's hearing I heard [of] you, but now my eye has seen you.