Job’s Opening Speech
1 After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. 2 He said:
3 May the day I was born perish,
and the night that said,
“A boy is conceived.” j
4 If only that day had turned to darkness!
May God above not care about it,
or light shine on it.
5 May darkness and gloom k reclaim it,
and a cloud settle over it.
May what darkens the day terrify it.
6 If only darkness had taken that night away!
May it not appear F among the days of the year
or be listed in the calendar. G
7 Yes, may that night be barren;
may no joyful shout l be heard in it.
condemn m it,
those who are ready to rouse Leviathan. n
9 May its morning stars grow dark.
May it wait for daylight but have none;
may it not see the breaking H of dawn.
10 For that night did not shut
the doors of my mother’s womb,
and hide sorrow from my eyes.
11 Why was I not stillborn;
why didn’t I die as I came from the womb? o
12 Why did the knees receive me,
and why were there breasts for me to nurse? p
13 Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;
I would be asleep. q
Then I would be at rest r
14 with the kings and counselors s of the earth,
who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold,
who filled their houses t with silver.
16 Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child, u
like infants who never see daylight?
17 There the wicked v cease to make trouble,
and there the weary find rest.
18 The captives are completely at rest; w
they do not hear a taskmaster’s voice. x
19 Both small and great are there,
and the slave is set free from his master. y
20 Why is light given to one burdened with grief,
and life to those whose existence is bitter, z
21 who wait for death, a but it does not come,
and search for it more than for hidden treasure,
22 who are filled with much joy
and are glad when they reach the grave? b
23 Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, c
whom God has hedged in?
24 I sigh when food d is put before me, I
and my groans pour out like water. e
25 For the thing I feared has overtaken me,
and what I dreaded has happened to me. f
I have no rest, g for turmoil has come.