1After this Job has opened his mouth, and reviles his day.

2And Job answers and says:

3“Let the day perish in which I am born, || And the night that has said: A man-child has been conceived.

4That day—let it be darkness, || Do not let God require it from above, || Nor let light shine on it.

5Let darkness and death-shade redeem it, || Let a cloud dwell on it, || Let them terrify it as the most bitter of days.

6That night—let thick darkness take it, || Let it not be united to days of the year, || Let it not come into the number of months.

7Behold! That night—let it be barren, || Let no singing come into it.

8Let the cursers of day mark it, || Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.

9Let the stars of its twilight be dark, || Let it wait for light, and there is none, || And let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn.

10Because it has not shut the doors || Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery from my eyes.

11Why do I not die from the womb? I have come forth from the belly and gasp!

12Why have knees been before me? And what [are] breasts, that I suck?

13For now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept—then there is rest to me,

14With kings and counselors of earth, || These building ruins for themselves.

15Or with princes—they have gold, || They are filling their houses [with] silver.

16(Or I am not as a hidden abortion, || As infants—they have not seen light.)

17There the wicked have ceased troubling, || And there the wearied rest in power.

18Together prisoners have been at ease, || They have not heard the voice of an exactor,

19Small and great [are] the same there. And a servant [is] free from his lord.

20Why does He give light to the miserable, and life to the bitter soul?

21Who are waiting for death, and it is not, || And they seek it above hid treasures.

22Who are glad—to joy, || They rejoice when they find a grave.

23To a man whose way has been hidden, || And whom God shuts up?

24For before my food, my sighing comes, || And my roarings [are] poured out as waters.

25For I feared a fear and it meets me, || And what I was afraid of comes to me.

26I was not safe—nor was I quiet—Nor was I at rest—and trouble comes!”