[1] After this Job has opened his mouth, and reviles his day. [2] And Job answers and says: [3] “Let the day perish in which I am born, || And the night that has said: A man-child has been conceived. [4] That day—let it be darkness, || Do not let God require it from above, || Nor let light shine on it. [5] Let darkness and death-shade redeem it, || Let a cloud dwell on it, || Let them terrify it as the most bitter of days. [6] That night—let thick darkness take it, || Let it not be united to days of the year, || Let it not come into the number of months. [7] Behold! That night—let it be barren, || Let no singing come into it. [8] Let the cursers of day mark it, || Who are ready to wake up Leviathan. [9] Let the stars of its twilight be dark, || Let it wait for light, and there is none, || And let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn. [10] Because it has not shut the doors || Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery from my eyes. [11] Why do I not die from the womb? I have come forth from the belly and gasp! [12] Why have knees been before me? And what [are] breasts, that I suck? [13] For now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept—then there is rest to me, [14] With kings and counselors of earth, || These building ruins for themselves. [15] Or with princes—they have gold, || They are filling their houses [with] silver. [16] (Or I am not as a hidden abortion, || As infants—they have not seen light.) [17] There the wicked have ceased troubling, || And there the wearied rest in power. [18] Together prisoners have been at ease, || They have not heard the voice of an exactor, [19] Small and great [are] the same there. And a servant [is] free from his lord. [20] Why does He give light to the miserable, and life to the bitter soul? [21] Who are waiting for death, and it is not, || And they seek it above hid treasures. [22] Who are glad—to joy, || They rejoice when they find a grave. [23] To a man whose way has been hidden, || And whom God shuts up? [24] For before my food, my sighing comes, || And my roarings [are] poured out as waters. [25] For I feared a fear and it meets me, || And what I was afraid of comes to me. [26] I was not safe—nor was I quiet—Nor was I at rest—and trouble comes!”
