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After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day,

And he said:

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said: A man child is conceived.

Let that day be turned into darkness, let not God regard it from above, and let not the light shine upon it.

Let darkness, and the shadow of death cover it, let a mist overspread it, and let it be wrapped up in bitterness.

Let a darksome whirlwind seize upon that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months.

Let that night be solitary, and not worthy of praise.

Let them curse it who curse the day. who are ready to raise up a leviathan:

Let the stars be darkened with the mist thereof: let it expect light and not see it, nor the rising of the dawning of the day:

10 Because it shut not up the doors of the womb that bore me, nor took away evils from my eyes.

11 Why did I not die in the womb, why did I not perish when I came out of the belly?

12 Why received upon the knees? why suckled at the breasts?

13 For now I should have been asleep and still, and should have rest in my sleep.

14 With kings and consuls of the earth, who build themselves solitudes:

15 Or with princes, that possess gold, and All their houses with silver:

16 Or as a hidden untimely birth I should not be, or as they that being conceived have not seen the light.

17 There the wicked cease from tumult, and there the wearied in strength are at rest.

18 And they sometime bound together without disquiet, have not heard the voice of the oppressor.

19 The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master.

20 Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to them that are in bitterness of soul?

21 That look for death, and it cometh not, as they that dig for a treasure:

22 And they rejoice exceedingly when they have found the grave.

23 To a man whose way is hidden, and God hath surrounded him with darkness?

24 Before I eat I sigh: and as overflowing waters, so is my roaring:

25 For the fear which I feared hath come upon me: and that which I was afraid of, hath befallen me.

26 Have I not dissembled? have I not kept silence? have I not been quiet? and indignation is come upon me.

Job Speaks

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.(A) He said:

“May the day of my birth perish,
    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’(B)
That day—may it turn to darkness;
    may God above not care about it;
    may no light shine on it.
May gloom and utter darkness(C) claim it once more;
    may a cloud settle over it;
    may blackness overwhelm it.
That night—may thick darkness(D) seize it;
    may it not be included among the days of the year
    nor be entered in any of the months.
May that night be barren;
    may no shout of joy(E) be heard in it.
May those who curse days[a] curse that day,(F)
    those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.(G)
May its morning stars become dark;
    may it wait for daylight in vain
    and not see the first rays of dawn,(H)
10 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me
    to hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why did I not perish at birth,
    and die as I came from the womb?(I)
12 Why were there knees to receive me(J)
    and breasts that I might be nursed?
13 For now I would be lying down(K) in peace;
    I would be asleep and at rest(L)
14 with kings and rulers of the earth,(M)
    who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,(N)
15 with princes(O) who had gold,
    who filled their houses with silver.(P)
16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child,(Q)
    like an infant who never saw the light of day?(R)
17 There the wicked cease from turmoil,(S)
    and there the weary are at rest.(T)
18 Captives(U) also enjoy their ease;
    they no longer hear the slave driver’s(V) shout.(W)
19 The small and the great are there,(X)
    and the slaves are freed from their owners.

20 “Why is light given to those in misery,
    and life to the bitter of soul,(Y)
21 to those who long for death that does not come,(Z)
    who search for it more than for hidden treasure,(AA)
22 who are filled with gladness
    and rejoice when they reach the grave?(AB)
23 Why is life given to a man
    whose way is hidden,(AC)
    whom God has hedged in?(AD)
24 For sighing(AE) has become my daily food;(AF)
    my groans(AG) pour out like water.(AH)
25 What I feared has come upon me;
    what I dreaded(AI) has happened to me.(AJ)
26 I have no peace,(AK) no quietness;
    I have no rest,(AL) but only turmoil.”(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Job 3:8 Or curse the sea