1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.
2And Job answered and said:
3May the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’
4That day — let it be darkness; may God not seek it from above, and let no light shine upon it.
5May darkness and deep shadow reclaim it; may a cloud settle upon it; may the blackness of the day terrify it.
6That night — may thick darkness seize it; may it not rejoice among the days of the year; may it not enter into the count of the months.
7Behold, that night — may it be barren; may no joyful cry come into it.
8May those who curse days curse it, those ready to rouse Leviathan.
9May the stars of its dawn be dark; may it hope for light, and there be none, and may it not see the eyelids of the dawn.
10Because it did not shut the doors of my womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes.
11Why did I not die from the womb, come out from the belly and expire?
12Why did knees receive me, and why breasts, that I should nurse?
13For now I would be lying down and quiet; I would be asleep — then there would be rest for me.
14with kings and counselors of the earth, who build ruins for themselves,
15or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
16Or like a hidden stillbirth I would not exist, like infants who never saw light.
17There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary of strength find rest.
18Together the prisoners are at ease; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.
19Small and great are there alike, and the slave is free from his masters.
20Why is light given to the sufferer, and life to the bitter of soul,
21who long for death but it does not come, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
22who rejoice exultantly, who are glad when they find the grave?
23To a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?
24For my sighing comes before my food, and my groanings pour out like water.
25For the dread I dreaded has come upon me, and what I feared has come to me.
26I am not at ease, and I am not quiet, and I have no rest; but turmoil has come.
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