Job Curses the Day He Was Born

1After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2Job said:

3‘Let the day perish on which I was born,

and the night that said,

“A man-child is conceived.”

4Let that day be darkness!

May God above not seek it,

or light shine on it.

5Let gloom and deep darkness claim it.

Let clouds settle upon it;

let the blackness of the day terrify it.

6That night—let thick darkness seize it!

let it not rejoice among the days of the year;

let it not come into the number of the months.

7Yes, let that night be barren;

let no joyful cry be heard3.7 Heb come in it.

8Let those curse it who curse the Sea,3.8 Cn: Heb day

those who are skilled to rouse up Leviathan.

9Let the stars of its dawn be dark;

let it hope for light, but have none;

may it not see the eyelids of the morning—

10because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb,

and hide trouble from my eyes.

11‘Why did I not die at birth,

come forth from the womb and expire?

12Why were there knees to receive me,

or breasts for me to suck?

13Now I would be lying down and quiet;

I would be asleep; then I would be at rest

14with kings and counsellors of the earth

who rebuild ruins for themselves,

15or with princes who have gold,

who fill their houses with silver.

16Or why was I not buried like a stillborn child,

like an infant that never sees the light?

17There the wicked cease from troubling,

and there the weary are at rest.

18There the prisoners are at ease together;

they do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.

19The small and the great are there,

and the slaves are free from their masters.

20‘Why is light given to one in misery,

and life to the bitter in soul,

21who long for death, but it does not come,

and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

22who rejoice exceedingly,

and are glad when they find the grave?

23Why is light given to one who cannot see the way,

whom God has fenced in?

24For my sighing comes like3.24 Heb before my bread,

and my groanings are poured out like water.

25Truly the thing that I fear comes upon me,

and what I dread befalls me.

26I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;

I have no rest; but trouble comes.’