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

12 Why did the knees receive me,

and why were there breasts for me to nurse?s

13 Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep.t

Then I would be at restu

14 with the kings and counselorsv of the earth,

who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

15 or with princes who had gold,

who filled their housesw with silver.

16 Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child,x

like infants who never see daylight?

17 There the wickedy cease to make trouble,

and there the weary find rest.

18 The captives are completely at rest;z

they do not hear a taskmaster’s voice.aa

19 Both small and great are there,

and the slave is set free from his master.ab