Job 3

Job’s Opening Speech

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.

11 Why was I not stillborn;
why didn’t I die as I came from the womb? ^k
12 Why did the knees receive me,
and why were there breasts for me to nurse? ^l
13 Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;
I would be asleep. ^m
Then I would be at rest ⁿ
14 with the kings and counselors ^o of the earth,
who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold,
who filled their houses ^p with silver.
16 Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child ^q
like infants who never see daylight?
17 There the wicked ^r cease to make trouble,
and there the weary find rest.
18 The captives are completely at ease; ^s
they do not hear the voice of their oppressor. ^t
19 Both small and great are there,
and the slave is set free from his master. ^u

20 Why is light given to one burdened with grief,
and life to those whose existence is bitter ^v
21 who wait for death ^w but it does not come,
and search for it more than for hidden treasure,
22 who are filled with much joy
and are glad when they reach the grave? ^x
23 Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden ^y
whom God has hedged in?
24 I sigh when food ^z is put before me, ^{▼▼Or My sighing serves as my food}
and my groans pour out like water. ^ab
25 For the thing I feared has overtaken me,
and what I dreaded has happened to me. ^ac
26 I cannot relax or be still;
I have no rest ^ad for trouble comes.