1 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

2 And Job answered and said:

And Job spake, and said,

3 Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, 'A man is conceived.'

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

4 May that day be darkness; may God above not seek it, nor let light shine upon it.

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

5 Let darkness and deep shadow claim it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let blackness of the day terrify it.

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

6 As for that night, let thick darkness seize it; let it not be joined to the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

7 Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful voice enter it.

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

8 Let those who curse the day curse it, those who are skilled to rouse Leviathan.

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning.

Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

10 Because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes.

Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

11 Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

12 Why were there knees to receive me, or breasts that I should nurse?

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

13 For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept, then I would be at rest.

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

14 With kings and counselors of the earth who built ruins for themselves.

With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;

15 Or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

16 Or why was I not like a stillborn child, like infants who never saw the light?

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

17 There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

18 Together the prisoners are at ease; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

19 The small and the great are there, and the servant is free from his masters.

The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

20 Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter in soul?

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

21 To those who long for death, but it does not come, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures.

Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

22 Who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave.

Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

23 To a man whose path is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

24 For my sighing comes before my food, and my groanings pour out like water.

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

25 For the thing I dread comes upon me, and what I fear befalls me.

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but turmoil comes.

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.