New International Version NIV
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
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After this hath Job opened his mouth, and revileth his day.
2 He said:
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And Job answereth and saith: --
3 “May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’
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Let the day perish in which I am born, And the night that hath said: `A man-child hath been conceived.'
4 That day—may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine on it.
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That day -- let it be darkness, Let not God require it from above, Nor let light shine upon it.
5 May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm it.
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Let darkness and death-shade redeem it, Let a cloud tabernacle upon it, Let them terrify it as the most bitter of days.
6 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.
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That night -- let thick darkness take it, Let it not be united to days of the year, Into the number of months let it not come.
7 May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.
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Lo! that night -- let it be gloomy, Let no singing come into it.
8 May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
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Let the cursers of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.
9 May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn,
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Let 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.
10 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.
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Because it hath not shut the doors Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery from mine eyes.
11 “Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?
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Why from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp!
12 Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?
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Wherefore have knees been before me? And what [are] breasts, that I suck?
13 For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
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For now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept -- then there is rest to me,
14 with kings and rulers of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,
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With kings and counsellors of earth, These building wastes for themselves.
15 with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
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Or with princes -- they have gold, They are filling their houses [with] silver.
16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
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(Or as a hidden abortion I am not, As infants -- they have not seen light.)
17 There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.
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There the wicked have ceased troubling, And there rest do the wearied in power.
18 Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout.
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Together prisoners have been at ease, They have not heard the voice of an exactor,
19 The small and the great are there, and the slaves are freed from their owners.
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Small and great [are] there the same. And a servant [is] free from his lord.
20 “Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
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Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?
21 to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
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Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.
22 who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
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Who are glad -- unto joy, They rejoice when they find a grave.
23 Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
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To a man whose way hath been hidden, And whom God doth shut up?
24 For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.
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For before my food, my sighing cometh, And poured out as waters [are] my roarings.
25 What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.
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For a fear I feared and it meeteth me, And what I was afraid of doth come to me.
26 I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
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I was not safe -- nor was I quiet -- Nor was I at rest -- and trouble cometh!
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.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.