Job 3:1-10

1 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 when they said,
“A boy is conceived.” ^a
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 gloom ^b reclaim it,
and a cloud settle over it.
May an eclipse of the sun ^{▼▼Lit May a darkening of daylight} terrify it.
6 If only darkness had taken that night away!
May it not appear ^{▼▼LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads rejoice} among the days of the year
or be listed in the calendar. ^{▼▼Lit or enter the number of months}
7 Yes, may that night be barren;
may no joyful shout ^f be heard in it.
8 Let those who curse certain days
cast a spell ^g on it,
those who are skilled in rousing ^{▼▼Leviathan: Or twisting one; a mythological sea serpent or dragon associated with the chaos at creation. Sometimes it is applied to an animal such as a crocodile.}Leviathan. ⁱ
9 May its morning stars grow dark.
May it wait for daylight but have none;
may it not see the breaking ^{▼▼Lit the eyelids} of dawn.
10 For that night did not shut
the doors of my mother’s womb,
and hide sorrow from my eyes.