Job’s Opening Speech

After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. He said:

May the day I was born perish,
and the night when they said,
“A boy is conceived.”(A)
If only that day had turned to darkness!
May God above not care about it,
or light shine on it.
May darkness and gloom(B) reclaim it,
and a cloud settle over it.
May an eclipse of the sun[a] terrify it.
If only darkness had taken that night away!
May it not appear[b] among the days of the year
or be listed in the calendar.[c]
Yes, may that night be barren;
may no joyful shout(C) be heard in it.
Let those who curse certain days
cast a spell(D) on it,
those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan.(E)
May its morning stars grow dark.
May it wait for daylight but have none;
may it not see the breaking[d] of dawn.
10 For that night did not shut
the doors of my mother’s womb,
and hide sorrow from my eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 3:5 Lit May a darkening of daylight
  2. Job 3:6 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads rejoice
  3. Job 3:6 Lit or enter the number of months
  4. Job 3:9 Lit the eyelids

Job Speaks

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.(A) He said:

“May the day of my birth perish,
    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’(B)
That day—may it turn to darkness;
    may God above not care about it;
    may no light shine on it.
May gloom and utter darkness(C) claim it once more;
    may a cloud settle over it;
    may blackness overwhelm it.
That night—may thick darkness(D) seize it;
    may it not be included among the days of the year
    nor be entered in any of the months.
May that night be barren;
    may no shout of joy(E) be heard in it.
May those who curse days[a] curse that day,(F)
    those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.(G)
May its morning stars become dark;
    may it wait for daylight in vain
    and not see the first rays of dawn,(H)
10 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me
    to hide trouble from my eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 3:8 Or curse the sea