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

^2. He said:

^3. "May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, `A boy is born!'

^4. That day--may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it.

^5. May darkness and deep shadow [1] claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm its light.

^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.

^7. May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.

^8. May those who curse days [2] curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.

^9. May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn,

^10. for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.

^11. "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?

^12. Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?

^13. For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest

^14. with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,

^15. with rulers who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

^16. Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?

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

^18. Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver's shout.

^19. The small and the great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.

^20. "Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,

^21. to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,

^22. who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?

^23. Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

^24. For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water.

^25. What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.

^26. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."