Job 3:17–21

17 There the wicked cease from turmoil,

and there the weary are at rest.

18 Captives also enjoy their ease;

they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout.

19 The small and the great are there,

and the slaves are freed from their owners.

20 “Why is light given to those in misery,

and life to the bitter of soul,

21 to those who long for death that does not come,

who search for it more than for hidden treasure,

17 There the wicked cease from troubling;

And there the weary be at rest.

18 There the prisoners rest together;

They hear not the voice of the oppressor.

19 The small and great are there;

And the servant is free from his master.

20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery,

And life unto the bitter in soul;

21 Which long for death, but it cometh not;

And dig for it more than for hid treasures;

17 For in death the wicked cause no trouble,

and the weary are at rest.

18 Even captives are at ease in death,

with no guards to curse them.

19 Rich and poor are both there,

and the slave is free from his master.

20 “Oh, why give light to those in misery,

and life to those who are bitter?

21 They long for death, and it won’t come.

They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure.

17 There the wicked cease from troubling,

And there the weary are at rest.

18 There the prisoners rest together;

They do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

19 The small and great are there,

And the servant is free from his master.

20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery,

And life to the bitter of soul,

21 Who long for death, but it does not come,

And search for it more than hidden treasures;

17 In the grave the wicked stop making trouble,

and the weary workers are at rest.

18 In the grave there is rest for the captives

who no longer hear the shout of the slave driver.

19 People great and small are in the grave,

and the slave is freed from his master.

20 “Why is light given to those in misery?

Why is life given to those who are so unhappy?

21 They want to die, but death does not come.

They search for death more than for hidden treasure.

17 There the wicked cease from troubling;

And there the weary are at rest.

18 There the prisoners are at ease together;

They hear not the voice of the taskmaster.

19 The small and the great are there:

And the servant is free from his master.

20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery,

And life unto the bitter in soul;

21 Who long for death, but it cometh not,

And dig for it more than for hid treasures;

17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the wearied are at rest. 18 The prisoners together are at ease; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. 19 The small and great are there, and the bondman freed from his master.

20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul, 21 Who long for death, and it cometh not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

17 There the wicked stop their raging. 

There the weary are able to rest. 

18 There the captives have no troubles at all. 

There they do not hear the shouting of the slave driver. 

19 There ⸤you find⸥ both the unimportant and important people. 

There the slave is free from his master. 

20 “Why give light to one in misery 

and life to those who find it so bitter, 

21 to those who long for death but it never comes— 

though they dig for it more than for buried treasure? 

17 There the wicked cease to make trouble,

and there the weary find rest.

18 The captives are completely at ease;

they do not hear the voice of their oppressor.

19 Both small and great are there,

and the slave is set free from his master.

20 Why is light given to one burdened with grief,

and life to those whose existence is bitter,

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

and search for it more than for hidden treasure,

17 There the wicked cease from troubling,

and there the weary are at rest.

18 There the prisoners are at ease together;

they do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.

19 The small and the great are there,

and the slaves are free from their masters.

20 “Why is light given to one in misery

and life to the bitter in soul,

21 who long for death, but it does not come,

and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

17 There the wicked cease from troubling,

and there the weary are at rest;

18 the prisoners are at ease together;

they do not hear the oppressor’s voice.

19 The small and the great are there,

and the slave is free from his masters.

20 “Why does he give light to one in misery

and life to those bitter of soul,

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

and search for it more than for treasures,

17 In the grave, sinful people don’t cause trouble anymore.

And there those who are tired find rest.

18 Prisoners also enjoy peace there.

They don’t hear a slave driver shouting at them anymore.

19 The least important and most important people are there.

And there the slaves are set free from their owners.

20 “Why is the light that leads to life given to those who suffer?

Why is it given to those whose spirits are bitter?

21 Why is life given to those who long for death that doesn’t come?

Why is it given to those who would rather search for death

than for hidden treasure?

17 “There the wicked cease from raging,

And there the weary are at rest.

18 “The prisoners are at ease together;

They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.

19 “The small and the great are there,

And the slave is free from his master.

20 “Why is light given to him who suffers,

And life to the bitter of soul,

21 Who long for death, but there is none,

And dig for it more than for hidden treasures,