New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 After seven days Job cried out and cursed the day he had been born,
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After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
2 saying:
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He said:
3 "Let the day I was born be destroyed, and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!'
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“May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’
4 Let that day turn to darkness. Don't let God care about it. Don't let light shine on it.
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That day—may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine on it.
5 Let darkness and gloom have that day. Let a cloud hide it. Let thick darkness cover its light.
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May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm it.
6 Let thick darkness capture that night. Don't count it among the days of the year or put it in any of the months.
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That night—may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months.
7 Let that night be empty, with no shout of joy to be heard.
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May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.
8 Let those who curse days curse that day. Let them prepare to wake up the sea monster Leviathan.
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May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
9 Let that day's morning stars never appear; let it wait for daylight that never comes. Don't let it see the first light of dawn,
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May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn,
10 because it allowed me to be born and did not hide trouble from my eyes.
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for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.
11 "Why didn't I die as soon as I was born? Why didn't I die when I came out of the womb?
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“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?
12 Why did my mother's knees receive me, and my mother's breasts feed me?
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Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?
13 If they had not been there, I would be lying dead in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
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For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
14 with kings and wise men of the earth who built places for themselves that are now ruined.
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with kings and rulers of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,
15 I would be asleep with rulers who filled their houses with gold and silver.
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with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
16 Why was I not buried like a child born dead, like a baby who never saw the light of day?
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Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
17 In the grave the wicked stop making trouble, and the weary workers are at rest.
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There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.
18 In the grave there is rest for the captives who no longer hear the shout of the slave driver.
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Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout.
19 People great and small are in the grave, and the slave is freed from his master.
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The small and the great are there, and the slaves are freed from their owners.
20 "Why is light given to those in misery? Why is life given to those who are so unhappy?
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“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
21 They want to die, but death does not come. They search for death more than for hidden treasure.
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to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
22 They are very happy when they get to the grave.
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who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
23 They cannot see where they are going. God has hidden the road ahead.
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Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
24 I make sad sounds as I eat; my groans pour out like water.
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For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.
25 Everything I feared and dreaded has happened to me.
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What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I have no peace or quietness. I have no rest, only trouble."
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I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.