Job 3
1 post haec aperuit Iob os suum et maledixit diei suo
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
2 et locutus est
And this is what he said:
3 pereat dies in qua natus sum et nox in qua dictum est conceptus est homo
“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’
4 dies ille vertatur in tenebras non requirat eum Deus desuper et non inlustret lumine
If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.
5 obscurent eum tenebrae et umbra mortis occupet eum caligo et involvatur amaritudine
May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.
6 noctem illam tenebrosus turbo possideat non conputetur in diebus anni nec numeretur in mensibus
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 sit nox illa solitaria nec laude digna
Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.
8 maledicant ei qui maledicunt diei qui parati sunt suscitare Leviathan
May it be cursed by those who curse the day — those prepared to rouse Leviathan.
9 obtenebrentur stellae caligine eius expectet lucem et non videat nec ortum surgentis aurorae
May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.
10 quia non conclusit ostia ventris qui portavit me nec abstulit mala ab oculis meis
For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes.
11 quare non in vulva mortuus sum egressus ex utero non statim perii
Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?
12 quare exceptus genibus cur lactatus uberibus
Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?
13 nunc enim dormiens silerem et somno meo requiescerem
For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
14 cum regibus et consulibus terrae qui aedificant sibi solitudines
with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins,
15 aut cum principibus qui possident aurum et replent domos suas argento
or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
16 aut sicut abortivum absconditum non subsisterem vel qui concepti non viderunt lucem
Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight?
17 ibi impii cessaverunt a tumultu et ibi requieverunt fessi robore
There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.
18 et quondam vincti pariter sine molestia non audierunt vocem exactoris
The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.
19 parvus et magnus ibi sunt et servus liber a domino suo
Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.
20 quare data est misero lux et vita his qui in amaritudine animae sunt
Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,
21 qui expectant mortem et non venit quasi effodientes thesaurum
who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,
22 gaudentque vehementer cum invenerint sepulchrum
who rejoice and greatly exult when they can find the grave?
23 viro cuius abscondita est via et circumdedit eum Deus tenebris
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
24 antequam comedam suspiro et quasi inundantes aquae sic rugitus meus
I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.
25 quia timor quem timebam evenit mihi et quod verebar accidit
For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me.
26 nonne dissimulavi nonne silui nonne quievi et venit super me indignatio
I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.”
