1After these things Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day,

2and he said,

3Perish the day in which I was born, and the night in which it was said, A man is conceived.

4That day be turned into darknesses; God seek not it [from] above, and be it not in mind, neither be it lightened with light.

5Darkness make it dark, and the shadow of death and of mist occupy it; and be it wrapped with bitterness.

6Dark whirlwind hold that night; be it not reckoned among the days of the year, neither be it numbered among the months.

7That night be sullen, and not worthy of praising.

8Curse they it, that curse the day, that be ready to raise Leviathan ¹.

9[The] Stars of that night be they made dark with the darkness thereof; abide it light, and see it not, neither see it the beginning of the morrow-tide rising up.

10For it closed not the doors of the womb, that bare me, neither it took away evil from mine eyes.

11Why was not I dead in the womb? why went I out of the womb, and perished not anon?

12Why was I taken on knees? why was I given suck with teats?

13For now I sleeping should be still, and I should rest in my sleep,

14with kings and counsellors of the earth, which build to them sullen places;

15either with princes that have gold in possession, and fill their houses with silver;

16either as a child, or a beast, born before the time, and hid, I should not have been; either as they that be conceived, and saw not light.

17There wicked men ceased of making noise, and there men made weary of strength rested.

18And sometime men bound together now be without dis-ease, they heard not the voice of the wrongful asker.

19A little man and a great man be there, and a servant is free from his lord.

20Why is light given to the wretch, and life to them that be in bitterness of soul?

21Which abide death, and it cometh not; as men that dig out treasure,

22and joy greatly, when they have found a sepulchre?

23Why is light given to a man, whose way is hid, and God hath encompassed him with darknesses?

24Before that I eat, I sigh; and as of water flowing, so is my roaring.

25For the dread, which I dreaded, hath come to me; and that thing, that I shamed [of], hath befallen to me.

26Whether I dissembled or feigned not? whether I was not still? whether I rested not? and yet indignation hath come [up] on me.