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Job 3
II. THE DIALOGUE
A. FIRST SERIES OF SPEECHES
Job curses the day of his birth
1 In the end it was Job who broke the silence and cursed the day of his birth.
2 This is what he said:
3 May the day perish when I was born, and the night that told of a boy conceived.
4 May that day be darkness, may God on high have no thought for it, may no light shine on it.
5 May murk and deep shadow claim it for their own, clouds hang over it, eclipse swoop down on it.
6 Yes, let the dark lay hold of it, to the days of the year let it not be joined, into the reckoning of months not find its way.
7 May that night be dismal, no shout of joy come near it.
8 Let them curse it who curse the day, who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.[*a]
9 Dark be the stars of its morning, let it wait in vain for light and never see the opening eyes of dawn.
10 Since it would not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide sorrow from my eyes.
11 Why did I not die new-born, not perish as I left the womb?
12 Why were there two knees to receive me, two breasts for me to suck?
13 Had there not been, I should now be lying in peace, wrapped in a restful slumber,
14 with the kings and high viziers of earth who build themselves vast vaults,
15 or with princes who have gold to spare and houses crammed with silver.
16 Or put away like a still-born child that never came to be, like unborn babes that never see the light.
17 Down there,[*b] bad men bustle no more, there the weary rest.
18 Prisoners, all left in peace, hear no more the shouts of the gaoler.
19 Down there, high and low are all one, and the slave is free of his master.
20 Why give light to a man of grief? Why give life to those bitter of heart,
21 who long for a death that never comes, and hunt for it more than for a buried treasure?
23 They would be glad to see the grave-mound and shout with joy if they reached the tomb.
24 Why make this gift of light to a man who does not see his way, whom God baulks on every side?
25 My only food is sighs, and my groans pour out like water.
26 Whatever I fear comes true, whatever I dread befalls me.
27 For me, there is no calm, no peace; my torments banish rest.