Job 3:3-13

3 "Let the day I was born be destroyed, and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!'

4 Let that day turn to darkness. Don't let God care about it. Don't let light shine on it.

5 Let darkness and gloom have that day. Let a cloud hide it. Let thick darkness cover its light.

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.

7 Let that night be empty, with no shout of joy to be heard.

8 Let those who curse days curse that day. Let them prepare to wake up the sea monster 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,

10 because it allowed me to be born and did not 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?

12 Why did my mother's knees receive me, and my mother's breasts feed me?

13 If they had not been there, I would be lying dead in peace; I would be asleep and at rest

Job 3:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 3

In this chapter we have an account of Job's cursing the day of his birth, and the night of his conception; Job 3:1-3; first the day, to which he wishes the most extreme darkness, Job 3:4,5; then the night, to which he wishes the same and that it might be destitute of all joy, and be cursed by others as well as by himself, Job 3:6-9; The reasons follow, because it did not prevent his coming into the world, and because he died not on it, Job 3:10-12; which would, as he judged, have been an happiness to him; and this he illustrates by the still and quiet state of the dead, the company they are with, and their freedom from all trouble, oppression, and bondage, Job 3:13-19; but however, since it was otherwise with him, he desires his life might not be prolonged, and expostulates about the continuance of it, Job 3:20-23; and this by reason of his present troubles, which were many and great, and came upon him as he feared they would, and which had made him uneasy in his prosperity, Job 3:24-26.