1 A fter this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day (birthday).

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

2 A nd Job said,

And Job spake, and said,

3 L et the day perish wherein I was born, and the night which announced, There is a man-child conceived.

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

4 L et that day be darkness! May not God above regard it, nor light shine upon it.

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

5 L et gloom and deep darkness claim it for their own; let a cloud dwell upon it; let all that blackens the day terrify it (the day that I was born).

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

6 A s for that night, let thick darkness seize it; let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

7 Y es, let that night be solitary and barren; let no joyful voice come into it.

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

8 L et those curse it who curse the day, who are skilled in rousing up Leviathan.

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

9 L et the stars of the early dawn of that day be dark; let look in vain for the light, nor let it behold the day’s dawning,

Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

10 B ecause it shut not the doors of my mother’s womb nor hid sorrow and trouble from my eyes.

Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

11 W hy was I not stillborn? Why did I not give up the ghost when my mother bore me?

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

12 W hy did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should suck?

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

13 F or then would I have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then would I have been at rest

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

14 W ith kings and counselors of the earth, who built up desolate ruins for themselves,

With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves;

15 O r with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

16 O r was I not a miscarriage, hidden and put away, as infants who never saw light?

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

17 T here the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

18 T here the prisoners rest together; they hear not the taskmaster’s voice.

There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

19 T he small and the great are there, and the servant is free from his master.

The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

20 W hy is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

21 W ho long and wait for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

22 W ho rejoice exceedingly and are elated when they find the grave?

Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

23 t o a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

24 F or my sighing comes before my food, and my groanings are poured out like water.

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

25 F or the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me.

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

26 I was not or am not at ease, nor had I or have I rest, nor was I or am I quiet, yet trouble came and still comes.

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.