Job 3

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