Job curses the day of his birth

Job's first speech

Blot out the day of my birth

1Finally, Job cursed the day3.1-19: Jr 20.14-18.

of his birth

2by saying to God:

3Blot out the day of my birth

and the night when my parents

created a son.

4Forget about that day,

cover it with darkness,

5and send thick, gloomy shadows

to fill it with dread.

6Erase that night from the calendar

and conceal it with darkness.

7Don't let children be created

or joyful shouts be heard

ever again in that night.

8Let those with magic powers3.8 those with magic powers: The Hebrew text has “those who can place a curse on the day and rouse up Leviathan”, which was some kind of sea monster. God's victory over this monster sometimes stood for God's power over all creation and sometimes for his defeat of his enemies (see Isaiah 27.1). In Job 41.1, Leviathan is either a sea monster or a crocodile with almost supernatural powers.

place a curse on that day.

9Darken its morning stars

and remove all hope of light,

10because it let me be born

into a world of trouble.

Why didn't I die at birth?

11Why didn't I die at birth?

12Why was I accepted3.12 Why was I accepted: The Hebrew text has “Why were there knees to receive me”, which may refer either to Job's mother or to his father, who would have placed Job on his knees to show that he had accepted him as his child.

and allowed to nurse

at my mother's breast?

13Now I would be at peace

in the silent world below

14with kings and their advisers

whose palaces lie in ruins,

15and with rulers once rich

with silver and gold.

16I wish I had been born dead

and then buried, never to see

the light of day.

17In the world of the dead,

the wicked and the weary rest

without a worry.

18-19Everyone is there—

where captives and slaves

are free at last.

Why does God let me live?

20Why does God let me live

when life is miserable

and so bitter?

21I keep longing for death3.21: Rev 9.6.

more than I would seek

a valuable treasure.

22Nothing could make me happier

than to be in the grave.

23Why do I go on living

when God has me surrounded,

and I can't see the road?

24Moaning and groaning

are my food and drink,

25and my worst fears

have all come true.

26I have no peace or rest—

only troubles and worries.