Job curses the day he was born
1After this Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. 2Job spoke, and said: 3Perish the day I was born in, and the night that said, “A valiant man has been conceived.” 4That day — let it be darkness; let Eloah above not seek it out, let no daylight break over it. 5Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it back, let a cloud settle upon it, let the blackness of the day terrify it. 6That night — let thick gloom take it away; let it not be joined to the days of the year, let it not enter the count of the months. 7Yes, let that night be barren, let no cry of joy come into it. 8Let those who curse days lay their curse on it, those ready to rouse Leviathan. 9Let the stars of its twilight go dark; let it hope for light and find none, and never see the eyelids of the dawn, 10because it did not shut the doors of the womb I came from, and hide trouble from my eyes.
Why did I not die at birth?
11Why did I not die at birth, come out of the belly and breathe my last? 12Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts for me to suck? 13For by now I would be lying still and quiet; I would be asleep, and then I would have rest, 14with kings and counselors of the earth, who built ruins for themselves, 15or with princes who had gold, who kept filling their houses with silver. 16Or, like a stillbirth buried out of sight, I would not exist, like infants who never saw the light. 17There the wicked leave off their turmoil, and there the worn-out are at rest. 18Prisoners are at ease together; they do not hear the taskmaster’s voice. 19Small and great are there alike, and the slave is free from his master. 20Why is light given to one in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, 21who wait for death and it does not come, who dig for it more than for buried treasure, 22who rejoice to the point of exultation, who are glad when they find a grave? 23Why, to a valiant man whose way is hidden, whom Eloah has hedged in? 24For my sighing comes before my bread, and my roaring pours out like water. 25For the dread I dreaded has come upon me, and what I feared has found me. 26I have no ease, no quiet, no rest — and turmoil comes.
