Job 3:11–26

¹¹Why was I not stillborn;

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

¹²Why did the knees receive me,

and why were there breasts for me to nurse?^s

¹³Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep.^t

Then I would be at rest^u

¹⁴with the kings and counselors^v of the earth,

who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

¹⁵or with princes who had gold,

who filled their houses^w with silver.

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

like infants who never see daylight?

¹⁷There the wicked^y cease to make trouble,

and there the weary find rest.

¹⁸The captives are completely at rest;^z

they do not hear a taskmaster’s voice.^aa

¹⁹Both small and great are there,

and the slave is set free from his master.^ab

²⁰Why is light given to one burdened with grief,

and life to those whose existence is bitter,^ac

²¹who wait for death,^ad but it does not come,

and search for it more than for hidden treasure,

²²who are filled with much joy

and are glad when they reach the grave?^a

²³Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden,^b

whom God has hedged in?

²⁴I sigh when food^c is put before me,^A

and my groans pour out like water.^d

²⁵For the thing I feared has overtaken me,

and what I dreaded has happened to me.^e

²⁶I cannot relax or be calm;

I have no rest,^f for turmoil has come.