11 “Why did I not perish at birth,

and die as I came from the womb?

12 Why were there knees to receive me

and breasts that I might be nursed?

13 For now I would be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep and at rest

14 with kings and rulers of the earth,

who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,

15 with princes who had gold,

who filled their houses with silver.

11 Why died I not from the womb?

Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

12 Why did the knees prevent me?

Or why the breasts that I should suck?

13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

14 With kings and counsellers of the earth,

Which built desolate places for themselves;

15 Or with princes that had gold,

Who filled their houses with silver:

11 “Why wasn’t I born dead?

Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?

12 Why was I laid on my mother’s lap?

Why did she nurse me at her breasts?

13 Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace.

I would be asleep and at rest.

14 I would rest with the world’s kings and prime ministers,

whose great buildings now lie in ruins.

15 I would rest with princes, rich in gold,

whose palaces were filled with silver.

11 “Why did I not die at birth?

Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?

12 Why did the knees receive me?

Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?

13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet,

I would have been asleep;

Then I would have been at rest

14 With kings and counselors of the earth,

Who built ruins for themselves,

15 Or with princes who had gold,

Who filled their houses with silver;

11 “Why didn’t I die as soon as I was born?

Why didn’t I die when I came out of the womb?

12 Why did my mother’s knees receive me,

and my mother’s breasts feed me?

13 If they had not been there,

I would be lying dead in peace;

I would be asleep and at rest

14 with kings and wise men of the earth

who built places for themselves that are now ruined.

15 I would be asleep with rulers

who filled their houses with gold and silver.

11 Why died I not from the womb?

Why did I not give up the ghost when my mother bare me?

12 Why did the knees receive me?

Or why the breasts, that I should suck?

13 For now should I have lain down and been quiet;

I should have slept; then had I been at rest,

14 With kings and counsellors of the earth,

Who built up waste places for themselves;

15 Or with princes that had gold,

Who filled their houses with silver

11 Wherefore did I not die from the womb, —come forth from the belly and expire? 12 Why did the knees meet me? and wherefore the breasts, that I should suck? 13 For now should I have lain down and been quiet; I should have slept: then had I been at rest, 14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, who build desolate places for themselves, 15 Or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver;

11 “Why didn’t I die as soon as I was born 

and breathe my last breath when I came out of the womb? 

12 Why did knees welcome me? 

Why did breasts let me nurse? 

13 Instead of being alive, 

I would now be quietly lying down. 

I would now be sleeping peacefully. 

14 I would be with the kings and the counselors of the world 

who built for themselves ⸤what are now⸥ ruins. 

15 I would be with princes 

who had gold, 

who filled their homes with silver. 

11 Why was I not stillborn;

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

12 Why did the knees receive me,

and why were there breasts for me to nurse?

13 Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep.

Then I would be at rest

14 with the kings and counselors of the earth,

who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

15 or with princes who had gold,

who filled their houses with silver.

11 “Why did I not die at birth,

come forth from the womb and expire?

12 Why were there knees to receive me,

or breasts for me to suck?

13 Now I would be lying down and quiet;

I would be asleep; then I would be at rest

14 with kings and counselors of the earth

who rebuild ruins for themselves,

15 or with princes who have gold,

who fill their houses with silver.

11 “Why did I not die at birth?

Why did I not come forth from the womb and expire?

12 Why did the knees receive me

and the breasts, that I could suck?

13 For now I would lie down, and I would be at peace;

I would be asleep; then I would be at rest

14 with kings and counselors of the earth,

who rebuild ruins for themselves,

15 or with high officials who have gold,

who fill up their houses with silver.

11 “Why didn’t I die when I was born?

Why didn’t I die as I came out of my mother’s body?

12 Why was I placed on her knees?

Why did her breasts give me milk?

13 If all of that hadn’t happened,

I would be lying down in peace.

I’d be asleep and at rest in the grave.

14 I’d be with the earth’s kings and advisers.

They had built for themselves places that are now destroyed.

15 I’d be with rulers who used to have gold.

They had filled their houses with silver.

11 “Why did I not die at birth,

Come forth from the womb and expire?

12 “Why did the knees receive me,

And why the breasts, that I should suck?

13 “For now I would have lain down and been quiet;

I would have slept then, I would have been at rest,

14 With kings and with counselors of the earth,

Who rebuilt ruins for themselves;

15 Or with princes who had gold,

Who were filling their houses with silver.