Job 3
1 After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day,
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day,
2 And he said:
and this is what he said:
3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said: A man child is conceived.
May the day perish on which I was born, and the night, in which it was said, “A man has been conceived.”
4 Let that day be turned into darkness, let not God regard it from above, and let not the light shine upon it.
May that day be turned into darkness, may God not seek it from above, and may light not illuminate it.
5 Let darkness, and the shadow of death cover it, let a mist overspread it, and let it be wrapped up in bitterness.
Let darkness and the shadow of death obscure it, let a fog overtake it, and let it be enveloped in bitterness.
6 Let a darksome whirlwind seize upon that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months.
Let a whirlwind of darkness take hold of that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months.
7 Let that night be solitary, and not worthy of praise.
May that night be alone and unworthy of praise.
8 Let them curse it who curse the day. who are ready to raise up a leviathan:
May they curse it, who curse the day, who are prepared to awaken a leviathan.
9 Let the stars be darkened with the mist thereof: let it expect light and not see it, nor the rising of the dawning of the day:
Let the stars be concealed with its darkness. Let it expect light, and not see it, nor the rising of the dawn in the East.
10 Because it shut not up the doors of the womb that bore me, nor took away evils from my eyes.
For it did not close the doors of the womb that bore me, nor take away evils from my eyes.
11 Why did I not die in the womb, why did I not perish when I came out of the belly?
Why did I not die in the womb? Having left the womb, why did I not immediately perish?
12 Why received upon the knees? why suckled at the breasts?
Why was I received upon the knees? Why was I suckled at the breasts?
13 For now I should have been asleep and still, and should have rest in my sleep.
For by now, I should have been sleeping silently, and taking rest in my sleep
14 With kings and consuls of the earth, who build themselves solitudes:
with the kings and consuls of the earth, who build themselves solitudes,
15 Or with princes, that possess gold, and All their houses with silver:
either with princes, who possess gold and fill their houses with silver,
16 Or as a hidden untimely birth I should not be, or as they that being conceived have not seen the light.
or, like a hidden miscarriage, I should not have continued, just like those who, being conceived, have not seen the light.
17 There the wicked cease from tumult, and there the wearied in strength are at rest.
There the impious cease from rebellion, and there the wearied in strength take rest.
18 And they sometime bound together without disquiet, have not heard the voice of the oppressor.
And at such times, having been bound together without difficulty, they have not heard the voice of the bailiff.
19 The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master.
The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master.
20 Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to them that are in bitterness of soul?
Why is light given to the miserable, and life to those who are in bitterness of soul,
21 That look for death, and it cometh not, as they that dig for a treasure:
who expect death, and it does not arrive, like those who dig for treasure
22 And they rejoice exceedingly when they have found the grave.
and who rejoice greatly when they have found the grave,
23 To a man whose way is hidden, and God hath surrounded him with darkness?
to a man whose way is hidden and whom God has surrounded with darkness?
24 Before I eat I sigh: and as overflowing waters, so is my roaring:
Before I eat, I sigh; and like overflowing waters, so is my howl,
25 For the fear which I feared hath come upon me: and that which I was afraid of, hath befallen me.
for the terror that I feared has happened to me, and so has the dread befallen me.
26 Have I not dissembled? have I not kept silence? have I not been quiet? and indignation is come upon me.
Have I not remained hidden? Have I not kept silence? Have I not remained calm? Yet indignation has overcome me.
