JOB’S OPENING SPEECH

3 After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. 2 He said:

3 May the day I was born perish,

and the night that said,

“A boy is conceived.”m

4 If only that day had turned to darkness!

May God above not care about it,

or light shine on it.

5 May darkness and gloomn reclaim it,

and a cloud settle over it.

May what darkens the day terrify it.

6 If only darkness had taken that night away!

May it not appearB among the days of the year

or be listed in the calendar.C

7 Yes, may that night be barren;

may no joyful shouto be heard in it.

8 Let those who curse days

condemnp it,

those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.q

9 May its morning stars grow dark.

May it wait for daylight but have none;

may it not see the breakingD of dawn.

10 For that night did not shut

the doors of my mother’s womb,

and hide sorrow from my eyes.

11 Why was I not stillborn;

why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?r