20 Do not long for the night,

to drag people away from their homes.

21 Beware of turning to evil,

which you seem to prefer to affliction.

20 Desire not the night,

When people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity:

For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

20 Do not long for the cover of night,

for that is when people will be destroyed.

21 Be on guard! Turn back from evil,

for God sent this suffering

to keep you from a life of evil.

20 Do not desire the night,

When people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity,

For you have chosen this rather than affliction.

20 Don’t wish for the night

when people are taken from their homes.

21 Be careful not to turn to evil,

which you seem to want more than suffering.

20 Desire not the night,

When peoples are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity:

For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place. 21 Take heed, turn not to iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

20 Don’t look forward to the night, 

when people disappear from their places. 

21 Be careful! Don’t turn to evil, 

because you have chosen evil instead of suffering. 

20 Do not long for the night

when nations will disappear from their places.

21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity,

for that is why you have been tested by affliction.

20 Do not long for the night,

when peoples are cut off in their place.

21 Beware! Do not turn to iniquity;

because of that you have been tried by affliction.

20 You must not long for the night,

to cut off people in their place.

21 Take care, you must not turn to mischief,

for because of this you have been tried by misery.

20 Don’t long for the night to come

so you can drag people away from their homes.

21 Be careful not to do what is evil.

You seem to like evil better than suffering!

20 “Do not long for the night,

When people vanish in their place.

21 “Be careful, do not turn to evil,

For you have preferred this to affliction.