1 After this, Job spoke up solemnly, cursing a3:1 Or Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born. b3:1 The Heb. lacks he was born ISV — Job 3:1
2 This is what Job said: ISV — Job 3:2
3 “Let the day when I was born be annihilated, along with the night when it was announced, ‘It’s a boy!’ c3:3 Lit. A man has been conceived. ISV — Job 3:3
4 Let that day be dark; let God above not care about it; let no light shine over it. ISV — Job 3:4
5 Let darkness and deep gloom reclaim it; let clouds settle down on it; let blackness in mid-day terrify it. ISV — Job 3:5
6 Let darkness carry that night away; let it not take its place joyfully among the days of the year; let it not be entered into the calendar. d3:6 Lit. entered among the numbering of months ISV — Job 3:6
7 “Yes, let that night be barren; let it not appear with its joyful shout. ISV — Job 3:7
8 Let whoever curses days curse it— those who are ready to awaken monsters. e3:8 Lit. Leviathan; i.e. an ancient sea creature ISV — Job 3:8
9 Let the stars of its evening twilight be dark; let it hope for light but let there be none; let it not see the breaking rays f3:9 Lit. the eyelashes of the dawn. ISV — Job 3:9
10 “Because that night g3:10 Lit. It refused to shut the doors of my mother’s h3:10 The Heb. lacks mother’s womb; it failed to keep me from seeing this trouble. ISV — Job 3:10
11 Why didn’t I die while I was still in the womb, or die while I was being born? ISV — Job 3:11
12 Why was there a lap i3:12 Lit. Why were there knees to hold me, and why were there breasts to nurse me? ISV — Job 3:12
13 “If I had died, j3:13 Lit. For I would be lying down by now, undisturbed, asleep, and at rest, ISV — Job 3:13
14 along with kings and counselors of the earth, who used to build for themselves what are now only k3:14 The Heb. lacks only ruins, ISV — Job 3:14
15 or princes who amassed l3:15 The Heb. lacks who amassed gold for themselves, and who kept filling their houses with silver. ISV — Job 3:15
16 “Or why was I not buried m3:16 Lit. hidden like a stillborn child, n3:16 Or miscarriage like babies o3:16 Lit. children who never saw the light? ISV — Job 3:16
17 In that place, the wicked stop causing trouble, and there, those whose strength is exhausted are at rest. ISV — Job 3:17
18 In that place, those who once were prisoners will be at ease together; they won’t hear the voice of oppressors. ISV — Job 3:18
19 The unimportant and the important are both there, and the servant is free from his master. ISV — Job 3:19
20 “Why does God p3:20 Lit. he give light to the sufferer or life to the bitter person: ISV — Job 3:20
21 To those who are longing for death— even though it does not come? To those who search for it more than for hidden treasure? ISV — Job 3:21
22 To those who are happy beyond measure q3:22 Lit. happy with great rejoicing when they reach their graves? ISV — Job 3:22
23 To the formerly successful r3:23 Lit. the valiant man who lost his way in life, and God fenced him in? ISV — Job 3:23
24 “As far as I’m concerned, my food comes to me in the form of sighs, and my cries of anguish pour out like water. ISV — Job 3:24
25 For the dreaded thing that I feared has happened to me, what caused me to worry has engulfed s3:25 Lit. come me. ISV — Job 3:25
26 I will not be at ease; I will not be quiet; I will not rest; because trouble has arrived.” ISV — Job 3:26