1 ¶ After this Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

2 A nd Job spoke and said,

And Job spoke, and said:

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

“May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.’

4 L et that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above; neither let the light shine upon it.

May that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it.

5 L et darkness and the shadow of death redeem it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it.

6 A s 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.

As for that night, may darkness seize it; May it not rejoice among the days of the year, May it not come into the number of the months.

7 O , let that night be solitary; let no song come therein!

Oh, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it!

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

May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.

9 L et the stars of its dawn be darkened; they waited for light, but have none; neither let them see the dawning of the day;

May the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but have none, And not see the dawning of the day;

10 b ecause it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb nor hide the misery from my eyes.

Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.

11 ¶ Why did I not die from the womb? Why did I not give up the spirit when I came out of the belly?

“Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?

12 W hy did the knees receive me? Of what use the breasts that I should suck?

Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?

13 F or now I should have lain still and been quiet; I should have slept; then I would have been at rest,

For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest

14 w ith the kings and the counsellors of the earth, who built desolate places for themselves;

With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built ruins for themselves,

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

Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses with silver;

16 O r, why was I not hidden as an untimely birth, as infants who never saw light?

Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, Like infants who 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 are at rest.

18 T here the prisoners rest together, they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

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

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

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

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

“Why is light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter of soul,

21 w ho long for death, but it comes not; and search for it more than for hid treasures;

Who long for death, but it does not come, And search for it more than hidden treasures;

22 w ho rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they can find the grave;

Who rejoice exceedingly, And are glad when they can find the grave?

23 t o the man who does not know which way he goes and whom God has hedged in?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?

24 F or my sighing comes before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

For my sighing comes before I eat, And my groanings pour out like water.

25 F or the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

26 I never had prosperity, nor did I secure myself, neither was I at rest; yet trouble came.

I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.”