Job 3:1-26 VOICE

[1] After all of this, Job opened his mouth and broke the silence. He spoke a curse, not upon God but upon his day of birth. [3] Job: May the day die on which I was born, along with the night that spoke the words, "a boy is conceived." [4] May that day of birth become darkness, and when it has disappeared, may God above neither seek it out nor light find a way to shine on it. [5] Rather, let darkness and the shadow of death claim the day and its life-giving light. Let storm clouds roll over it and threatening blackness terrorize it. [6] As to that night of my conception- may it be snatched by the thick darkness of death's realm, Never to be released again for any year or any month- so my conception and life could never have happened. [7] May that night prove infertile, and may no moan of pleasure be heard there. [8] Bring out the enchanters, the diviners who cast their spells on the day- who can awaken that beast, Leviathan- [9] And may the early-morning stars be extinguished. Let the day wait for a light that won't ever come, And may it never see the eyelids of dawn crack open. [10] Because it neither closed the door of my mother's womb nor covered my eyes to these sorrows. [11] Job: Why did I not die at my birth, simply pass from the womb into death? [12] Why did my mother's lap welcome me, and why did her breasts nourish me? [13] If I had died, then I would now be reposed in quiet; I would be sleeping in peace, [14] Resting with kings and their earthly ministers who rebuilt ruined cities to glorify themselves, [15] With princes who possessed gold, whose houses swelled with silver. [16] Why was I not buried in secret as a baby born still, as a newborn who never saw light? [17] In the sleep of death, the wicked can do no more damage; the weary ones at last find rest. [18] In death the captives are freed, together at ease, and the shouts of their oppressors die along with them. [19] In the grave, together are the small and great, and slaves from masters are emancipated. [20] Why is light awarded to those distressed, and life given to embittered souls [21] Who long for a death that can't be found, though they mine the earth to find it More than hidden veins of riches- [22] Who would be overjoyed and glad when they find the grave? [23] Why is light wasted on the earthbound, who cannot find their way and whom God has surrounded? [24] For I groan before every meal; my moaning flows like water. [25] What I feared most descends on me; my nightmare-now reality. [26] I have no peace; I have no quiet; my resting, gone, has turned to riot.