Job 3
1 After this Job has opened his mouth, and reviles his day.
After this hath Job opened his mouth, and revileth his day.
2 And Job answers and says:
And Job answereth and saith: —
3 “Let the day perish in which I am born, And the night that has said: A man-child has been conceived.
Let the day perish in which I am born, And the night that hath said: 'A man-child hath been conceived.'
4 That day—let it be darkness, Do not let God require it from above, Nor let light shine on it.
That day — let it be darkness, Let not God require it from above, Nor let light shine upon 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.
Let darkness and death-shade redeem it, Let a cloud tabernacle upon 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.
That night — let thick darkness take it, Let it not be united to days of the year, Into the number of months let it not come.
7 Behold! That night—let it be barren, Let no singing come into it.
Lo! that night — let it be gloomy, Let no singing come into it.
8 Let the cursers of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.
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.
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.
Because it hath not shut the doors Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery from mine eyes.
11 Why do I not die from the womb? I have come forth from the belly and gasp!
Why from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp!
12 Why have knees been before me? And what [are] breasts, that I suck?
Wherefore 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,
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.
With kings and counsellors of earth, These building wastes for themselves.
15 Or with princes—they have gold, They are filling their houses [with] silver.
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.)
(Or as a hidden abortion I am not, As infants — they have not seen light.)
17 There the wicked have ceased troubling, And there the wearied rest in power.
There the wicked have ceased troubling, And there rest do the wearied in power.
18 Together prisoners have been at ease, They have not heard the voice of an exactor,
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.
Small and great [are] there the same. And a servant [is] free from his lord.
20 Why does He give light to the miserable, and life to the bitter soul?
Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?
21 Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.
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.
Who are glad — unto joy, They rejoice when they find a grave.
23 To a man whose way has been hidden, And whom God shuts up?
To a man whose way hath been hidden, And whom God doth shut up?
24 For before my food, my sighing comes, And my roarings [are] poured out as waters.
For before my food, my sighing cometh, And poured out as waters [are] my roarings.
25 For I feared a fear and it meets me, And what I was afraid of comes to me.
For a fear I feared and it meeteth me, And what I was afraid of doth come to me.
26 I was not safe—nor was I quiet—Nor was I at rest—and trouble comes!”
I was not safe — nor was I quiet — Nor was I at rest — and trouble cometh!
