When the days of their feasting were over, Job would send [for them] and consecrate them, rising early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did this at all [such] times.

“Why did the knees receive me?
And why the breasts, that I would nurse?

“As for me, I would seek God and inquire of Him,
And I would commit my cause to God;

“My soul refuses to touch them;
Such things are like loathsome food to me [sickening and repugnant].

“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.]

“Why then do You not pardon my transgression
And take away my sin and guilt?
For now I will lie down in the dust;
And You will seek me [diligently], but I will not be.”

“If you would [diligently] seek God
And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,

“Shall a multitude of words not be answered?
And should a talkative man [making such a long-winded defense] be acquitted?

“But I have intelligence and understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know such things as these [of God’s wisdom and might]?

“You also open Your eyes upon him
And bring him into judgment with Yourself.

“For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that the shoots of it will not cease nor fail, [but there is no such hope for man].

“Should a wise man [such as you] utter such windy and vain knowledge [as we have just heard]
And fill himself with the east wind [of withering, parching, and violent accusations]?

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

“Let him not trust in vanity (emptiness, futility) and be led astray;
For emptiness will be his reward [for such living].

“I have heard many such things;
Wearisome and miserable comforters are you all.

“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked and the ungodly,
And such is the place of him who does not know or recognize or honor God.”

“He sucks the poison of vipers [which ill-gotten wealth contains];
The viper’s tongue slays him.

To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him;
He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.

“For He performs what is planned (appointed) for me,
And He is mindful of many such things.

“They are insignificant on the surface of the water;
Their portion is cursed on the earth;
They do not turn toward the vineyards.

“Your wickedness affects only a man such as you,
And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign].

“Can you, with Him, spread out the sky,
Strong as a molten mirror?

“Tell us [Job] what words [of man] shall we say to such a Being;
We cannot state our case because of darkness [that is, our ignorance in the presence of the unsearchable God].

“His young ones suck up blood;
And where the slain are, there is he.”

“Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle [with him]; you will not do such [an ill-advised thing] again!