1 A fter this hath Job opened his mouth, and revileth his day.

2 A nd Job answereth and saith: --

3 L et the day perish in which I am born, And the night that hath said: `A man-child hath been conceived.'

4 T hat day -- let it be darkness, Let not God require it from above, Nor let light shine upon it.

5 L et darkness and death-shade redeem it, Let a cloud tabernacle upon it, Let them terrify it as the most bitter of days.

6 T hat night -- let thick darkness take it, Let it not be united to days of the year, Into the number of months let it not come.

7 L o! that night -- let it be gloomy, Let no singing come into it.

8 L et the cursers of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.

9 L et the stars of its twilight be dark, Let it wait for light, and there is none, And let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn.

10 B ecause it hath not shut the doors Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery from mine eyes.

11 W hy from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp!

12 W herefore have knees been before me? And what breasts, that I suck?

13 F or now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept -- then there is rest to me,

14 W ith kings and counsellors of earth, These building wastes for themselves.

15 O r with princes -- they have gold, They are filling their houses silver.

16 ( Or as a hidden abortion I am not, As infants -- they have not seen light.)

17 T here the wicked have ceased troubling, And there rest do the wearied in power.

18 T ogether prisoners have been at ease, They have not heard the voice of an exactor,

19 S mall and great there the same. And a servant free from his lord.

20 W hy giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?

21 W ho are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.

22 W ho are glad -- unto joy, They rejoice when they find a grave.

23 T o a man whose way hath been hidden, And whom God doth shut up?

24 F or before my food, my sighing cometh, And poured out as waters my roarings.

25 F or a fear I feared and it meeteth me, And what I was afraid of doth come to me.

26 I was not safe -- nor was I quiet -- Nor was I at rest -- and trouble cometh!