Job 3

New International Version

• 1. After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
• 2. He said:
• 3. "May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!'
• 4. That day-may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it.
• 5. May darkness and deep shadow claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm its light.
• 6. That night-may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months.
• 7. May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.
• 8. May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
• 9. May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn,
• 10. for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.
• 11. "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?
• 12. Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?
• 13. For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
• 14. with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,
• 15. with rulers who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
• 16. Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
• 17. There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.
• 18. Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver's shout.
• 19. The small and the great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.
• 20. "Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
• 21. to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
• 22. who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
• 23. Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
• 24. For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water.
• 25. What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.
• 26. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."

New International Version