Job 3

Job’s Opening Speech

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

³May the day I was born perish,

and the night when they said,

“A boy is conceived.” ^r

⁴If only that day had turned to darkness!

May God above not care about it,

or light shine on it.

⁵May darkness and gloom ^sreclaim it,

and a cloud settle over it.

May an eclipse of the sun ^tterrify it.

⁶If only darkness had taken that night away!

May it not appear ^uamong the days of the year

or be listed in the calendar. ^v

⁷Yes, may that night be barren;

may no joyful shout ^wbe heard in it.

⁸Let those who curse certain days

cast a spell ^xon it,

those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan. ^y

⁹May its morning stars grow dark.

May it wait for daylight but have none;

may it not see the breaking ^zof dawn.

¹⁰For that night did not shut

the doors of my mother’s womb,

and hide sorrow from my eyes.

¹¹Why was I not stillborn;

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

¹²Why did the knees receive me,

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

¹³Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep. ^c

Then I would be at rest ^d

¹⁴with the kings and counselors ^eof the earth,

who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

¹⁵or with princes who had gold,

who filled their houses ^fwith silver.

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

like infants who never see daylight?

¹⁷There the wicked ^hcease to make trouble,

and there the weary find rest.

¹⁸The captives are completely at ease; ⁱ

they do not hear the voice of their oppressor. ^j

¹⁹Both small and great are there,

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

²⁰Why is light given to one burdened with grief,

and life to those whose existence is bitter, ^l

²¹who wait for death, ^mbut 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? ⁿ

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

whom God has hedged in?

²⁴I sigh when food ^pis put before me, ^q

and my groans pour out like water. ^r

²⁵For the thing I feared has overtaken me,

and what I dreaded has happened to me. ^s

²⁶I cannot relax or be still;

I have no rest, ^tfor trouble comes.