THE BOOK OF JOB

 

Job Chapter 3

1 ¶ After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth.

2 And when Job spoke, he said,

3 Let the day on which I was born perish, along with the night in which it was said, A son has been conceived.

4 Let that day be darkness; let God not regard it from above, or let the light shine on it.

5 Let gloom and deep darkness claim it; let a cloud settle upon it; may an eclipse terrify it.

6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined to the days of the year, or be numbered among the months.

7 Let that night produce nothing, and let no happy shouting come into it.

8 Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it look for light, but have none; nor let it see the dawning of the day:

10 Because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, or hide sorrow from my eyes.

11 ¶ Why did I not die when I was born? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the womb?

12 Why did the knees receive me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

13 For then I would I have lain down in peace, I would have slept: then I would be at rest,

14 With kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves what are now ruins;

15 Or with princes who had gold, and filled their homes with silver:

16 Or I would be like a stillborn baby; as infants who never saw the light.

17 There the wicked stop their raging; and there the weary are at rest.

18 There the prisoners rest together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

19 The small and great are there; and the slave is free from his master.

20 ¶ Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul;

21 Who long for death, but it does not come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

22 Who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has fenced in?

24 For instead of eating I sigh, and my groaning pours out like water.

25 For the thing that I greatly feared has come upon me, and that which I dread most has befallen me.

26 I cannot relax, or be at peace, I have no rest; for trouble comes.