[1] After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. [2] And this is what he said: [3] “May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’ [4] If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it. [5] May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it. [6] If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months. [7] Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it. [8] May it be cursed by those who curse the day —those prepared to rouse Leviathan. [9] May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn. [10] For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes. [11] Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? [12] Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should 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 cities now in ruins, [15] or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. [16] Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight? [17] There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest. [18] The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. [19] Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master. [20] Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul, [21] who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure, [22] who rejoice and greatly exult when they reach the grave? [23] Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? [24] I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water. [25] For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me. [26] I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.”
