Job 3:1-19

1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.

2Then Job answered and said:

3“May the day I was born perish, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived!’

4That day—may it be darkness; may God above not regard it; may no light shine on it.

5May darkness and deep gloom reclaim it; may a cloud settle over it; may whatever blackens the day terrify it.

6That night—may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year, nor be entered among the number of months.

7Indeed, may that night be barren; may no joyful shout enter it.

8May those who curse, curse the day— those ready to awaken Leviathan.

9May its morning stars be darkened; may it hope for light but have none— may it never see the eyelids of dawn.

10For it did not shut the doors of the womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.

11Why did I not die at birth and expire as I exited the womb?

12Why did the knees welcome me, and breasts that I might nurse?

13For now I would be lying down and quiet; I would be asleep and at rest

14with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves places now desolate,

15with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

16Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn, like infants who never saw light?

17There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.

18Prisoners are at ease together; they do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.

19Small and great are there; and slave is free from his master.