1.
Now Job raised his voice and said,
2.
"Would the day in which I was to be born be lost, and the night when one said, 'A man has impregnated.'
3.
May that day be dark; let God not seek it from above, and let no light shine upon it.
4.
May darkness and the shadow of death defile it; let pitch darkness dwell upon it; let them frighten it like demons of the day.
5.
That night-may pitch darkness take it; it shall not rejoice among the days of the year; in the number of months it shall not come.
6.
Behold that night shall be lonely; no joyful singing shall come therein.
7.
May those who curse the day, curse it-those destined to be childless in their union.
8.
May the stars of its evening be darkened; it shall hope for light but have none, neither shall it see the rays of dawn.
9.
For He did not shut the doors of my womb, neither did He hide trouble from my eyes.
10.
Why did I not die from the womb? [Why did I not] emerge from the belly and perish?
11.
Why did knees receive me and why [were there] breasts that I should suck?
12.
For now, I would be lying tranquilly; I would sleep, then it would be restful for me.
13.
With kings and counselors of the earth, who build ruins for themselves,
14.
Or with princes who have gold, who fill their houses with silver.
15.
Or [why] was I not like a hidden stillborn child, like infants who did not see the light?
16.
There the wicked cease from anger, and there the weary rest.
17.
Together prisoners are tranquil; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.
18.
Small and great are there, and a slave is free from his master.
19.
Why does He give the toiler light and life to those of bitter spirit?
20.
Who await death and it is not here, and they spy after it more than after hidden treasures.
21.
Those who are happy over joyous occurrences, rejoice when they find a grave
22.
for a man whose way is hidden, and God hedged him in.
23.
For before my meal comes my sigh, and my moans pour like water.
24.
For the thing I feared has befallen me, and what I dreaded is coming upon me.
25.
I was not at ease, neither was I quiet, and I did not rest, yet trouble came.
