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

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

“For now I would have lain down and been quiet;
I would have slept then, I would have been at rest,

“Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be,
As infants that never saw light.

“But as for me, I would seek God,
And I would place my cause before God;

“For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas;
Therefore my words have been rash.

“Oh that my request might come to pass,
And that God would grant my longing!

“Would that God were willing to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

“You would even cast lots for the orphans
And barter over your friend.

So that my soul would choose suffocation,
Death rather than my pains.

“If you would seek God
And implore the compassion of the Almighty,

If you are pure and upright,
Surely now He would rouse Himself for you
And restore your righteous estate.

“Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.

“For though I were right, I could not answer;
I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

Yet You would plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would abhor me.

“Then I would speak and not fear Him;
But I am not like that in myself.

‘Your hands fashioned and made me altogether,
And would You destroy me?

‘Remember now, that You have made me as clay;
And would You turn me into dust again?

If I sin, then You would take note of me,
And would not acquit me of my guilt.

‘Should my head be lifted up, You would hunt me like a lion;
And again You would show Your power against me.

‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
Would that I had died and no eye had seen me!

“Would He not let my few days alone?
Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer

“But would that God might speak,
And open His lips against you,

“If you would direct your heart right
And spread out your hand to Him,

“Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect,
And you would be steadfast and not fear.

“For you would forget your trouble,
As waters that have passed by, you would remember it.

“Your life would be brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.

“Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.

“You would lie down and none would disturb you,
And many would entreat your favor.

“But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to argue with God.

“O that you would be completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom!

“Who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.

“Oh that You would hide me in Sheol,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You,
That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

“He has lived in desolate cities,
In houses no one would inhabit,
Which are destined to become ruins.

‘Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
And what would we gain if we entreat Him?’

“Behold, I know your thoughts,
And the plans by which you would wrong me.

“I would present my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.

“I would learn the words which He would answer,
And perceive what He would say to me.

“Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.

“There the upright would reason with Him;
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

“Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence;
When I consider, I am terrified of Him.

“For that would be a lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges.

“For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,
And would uproot all my increase.

That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment,
For I would have denied God above.

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
I would bind it to myself like a crown.

“I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince I would approach Him.

“For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.

All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.

So that godless men would not rule
Nor be snares of the people.

“Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?

“Behind him he makes a wake to shine;
One would think the deep to be gray-haired.