His sons used to go [in turn] and feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

“The paths of their course wind along,
They go up into nothing and perish.
[Your counsel is as helpful to me as a dry streambed in the heat of summer.]

“He thrives and prospers [like a green plant] before the sun,
And his branches spread out over his garden.

Before I go—and I shall not return—
To the land of darkness and the deep shadow [of death],

That you should turn your spirit against God
And let such words [as you have spoken] go out of your mouth?

“For when a few years are past,
I shall go the way of no return.

“Will my hope go down with me to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead)?
Shall we go down together in the dust?”

Though he desires it and will not let it go
But holds it in his mouth,

Complete darkness (misfortune) is held in reserve for his treasures.
An unfanned fire will devour him;
It will consume the survivor in his tent.

“The produce and increase of his house will depart [with the victors];
His possessions will be dragged away in the day of God’s wrath.

“They fully enjoy their days in prosperity,
And so go down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) in a [peaceful] moment.

“Behold, I go forward (to the east), but He is not there;
I go backward (to the west), but I cannot perceive Him;

“Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert,
The poor go to their work, diligently seeking food;
As bread for their children in the desert.

“They cause the poor to go about naked without clothing,
And they take away the sheaves [of grain] from the hungry.

“I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go;
My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

“I go about mourning without comfort [my skin blackened by disease, not by the heat of the sun];
I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.

Because I feared the great multitude,
And the contempt of families terrified me,
So that I kept silence and did not acknowledge my sin and did not go out of the door?

“Then the beast goes into its lair
And remains in its hiding place.

“Can you send forth lightnings that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?

“Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field;
They leave and do not return to them.

“Out of his mouth go burning torches,
And sparks of fire leap out.

Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him [and his prayer] so that I may not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.”