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."
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 reclaim it,
and a cloud settle over it.
May an eclipse of the sun terrify it.
6 If only darkness had taken that night away!
May it not appear among the days of the year
or be listed in the calendar.
7 Yes, may that night be barren;
may no joyful shout be heard in it.
8 Let those who curse [certain] days
cast a spell on it,
those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan.
9 May its morning stars grow dark.
May it wait for daylight but have none;
may it not see the breaking 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?
12 Why did the knees receive me,
and why were there breasts for me to nurse?
13 Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;
I would be asleep.
Then I would be at rest
14 with the kings and counselors of the earth,
who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold,
who filled their houses with silver.
16 Or [why] was I not hidden like a miscarried child,
like infants who never see daylight?
17 There the wicked cease to make trouble,
and there the weary find rest.
18 The captives are completely at ease;
they do not hear the voice of [their] oppressor.

19 Both small and great are there,
and the slave is set free from his master.

20 Why is light given to one burdened with grief,
and life to those whose existence is bitter,
21 who wait for death, 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?
23 [Why is life given] to a man whose path is hidden,
whom God has hedged in?
24 I sigh when food is [put] before me,
and my groans pour out like water.
25 For the thing I feared has overtaken me,
and what I dreaded has happened to me.

26 I cannot relax or be still;
I have no rest, for trouble comes.

Job 3

II. Job’s Dialogue With His Friends(3:1-27:33)

Job Regrets His Birth

1 After this Job opened his mouths and cursedt the day he was born.t

2 Job spoke upt and said:

3 “Let the day on whicht I was bornt perish,
and the night that said,t
‘A mant has been conceived!’s

4 That dayt – let it be darkness;s
let not God on high regardt it,
nor let light shinet on it!

5 Let darkness and the deepest
shadows claim it;t
let a cloud settle on it;
let whatever blackens the dayt terrify it!

6 That night – let darkness seizet it;
let it not be includedt among the days of the year;
let it not enter among the number of the months!s

7 Indeed,t let that night be barren;t
let no shout of joyt penetratet it!

8 Let those who curse the dayts curse itt –
those who are prepared to rouset Leviathan.s

9 Let its morning starst be darkened;
let it waitt for daylight but find none,t
nor let it see the first rayss of dawn,

10 because itt did not shut the doorss of my mother’s womb on me,t
nor did it hide troublet from my eyes!

Job Wishes He Had Died at Birth

11 “Why did I nott diet at birth,t
and why did I not expire
ast I came out of the womb?

12 Why did the knees welcome me,ts
and why were theret two breastss
that I might nurse at them?t

13 For nowt I would be lying down
andt would be quiet,t
I would be asleep and then at peacet

14 with kings and counselors of the earth
who built for themselves places now desolate,t

15 or with princes who possessed gold,t
who filled their palacest with silver.

16 Or whyt wast I not buriedt
like a stillborn infant,t
like infantst who have never seen the light?t

17 Theres the wickeds ceaset from turmoil,t
and there the wearyt are at rest.

18 Theret the prisonerst relaxt together;s
they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.t

19 Small and great aret there,
and the slave is freet from his master.t

Longing for Death

20 “Why does Godt givets light to one who is in misery,s
and life to thoset whose soul is bitter,

21 tot those who waitt for death thatt does not come,
and search for itts
more than for hidden treasures,

22 who rejoicet even to jubilation,t
and are exultantt whent they find the grave?s

23 Why is light givent to a mans
whose way is hidden,t
and whom God has hedged in?t

24 For my sighing comes in place oft my food,s
and my groaningst flow forth like water.t

25 For the very thing I dreadedt has happenedt to me,
and what I feared has come upon me.t

26 I have no ease,t I have no quietness;
I cannot rest;t turmoil has come upon me.”t