Job 3 — AAB

Job Laments His Birth

3Verse 1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.^{Verse 2}And this is what he said:^{Verse 3}“May the day of my birth perish,and the night it was said,
‘A boy is conceived.’^{Verse 4}If only that day had turned to darkness!May God above disregard it;
may no light shine upon it.^{Verse 5}May darkness and gloom reclaim it,and a cloud settle over it;
may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.^{Verse 6}If only darkness had taken that night away!May it not appear among the days of the year;
may it never be entered in any of the months.^{Verse 7}Behold, may that night be barren;may no joyful voice come into it.^{Verse 8}May it be cursed by those who curse the day⁺—those prepared to rouse Leviathan.^{Verse 9}May its morning stars grow dark;may it wait in vain for daylight;
may it not see the breaking of dawn.^{Verse 10}For that night did not shut the doors of the wombto hide the sorrow from my eyes.^{Verse 11}Why did I not perish at birth;why did I not die as I came from the womb?^{Verse 12}Why were there knees to receive me,and breasts that I should be nursed?^{Verse 13}For now I would be lying down in peace;I would be asleep and at rest^{Verse 14}with kings and counselors of the earth,who built for themselves cities now in ruins,^{Verse 15}or with princes who had gold,who filled their houses with silver.^{Verse 16}Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child,like an infant who never sees daylight?^{Verse 17}There the wicked cease from raging,and there the weary find rest.^{Verse 18}The captives enjoy their ease;they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.^{Verse 19}Both small and great are there,and the slave is freed from his master.^{Verse 20}Why is light given to the miserable,and life to the bitter of soul,^{Verse 21}who long for death that does not come,and search for it like hidden treasure,^{Verse 22}who rejoice and greatly exultwhen they reach the grave?^{Verse 23}Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden,whom God has hedged in?^{Verse 24}I sigh when food is put before me,and my groans pour out like water.^{Verse 25}For the thing I feared has overtaken me,and what I dreaded has befallen me.^{Verse 26}I am not at ease or quiet;I have no rest, for trouble has come.”