| Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. | 1After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born. |
| 2He said: | 2Job spoke up and said: |
| 3May the day I was born perish, and the night that said, "A boy is conceived." | 3"Let the day on which I was born perish, and the night that said, 'A man has been conceived!' |
| 4If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above not care about it, or light shine on it. | 4That day--let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it! |
| 5May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it. May what darkens the day terrify it. | 5Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it! |
| 6If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year or be listed in the calendar. | 6That night--let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months! |
| 7Yes, may that night be barren; may no joyful shout be heard in it. | 7Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it! |
| 8Let those who curse days condemn it, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan. | 8Let those who curse the day curse it--those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan. |
| 9May its morning stars grow dark. May it wait for daylight but have none; may it not see the breaking of dawn. | 9Let its morning stars be darkened; let it wait for daylight but find none, nor let it see the first rays of dawn, |
| 10For that night did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, and hide sorrow from my eyes. | 10because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes! |
| 11Why was I not stillborn; why didn't I die as I came from the womb? | 11"Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb? |
| 12Why did the knees receive me, and why were there breasts for me to nurse? | 12Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them? |
| 13Now I would certainly be lying down in peace; I would be asleep. Then I would be at rest | 13For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace |
| 14with the kings and counselors of the earth, who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves, | 14with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate, |
| 15or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. | 15or with princes who possessed gold, who filled their palaces with silver. |
| 16Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child, like infants who never see daylight? | 16Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light? |
| 17There the wicked cease to make trouble, and there the weary find rest. | 17There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest. |
| 18The captives are completely at rest; they do not hear a taskmaster's voice. | 18There the prisoners relax together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. |
| 19Both small and great are there, and the slave is set free from his master. | 19Small and great are there, and the slave is free from his master. |
| 20Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter, | 20"Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter, |
| 21who wait for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasure, | 21to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures, |
| 22who are filled with much joy and are glad when they reach the grave? | 22who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave? |
| 23Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in? | 23Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? |
| 24I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water. | 24For my sighing comes in place of my food, and my groanings flow forth like water. |
| 25For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. | 25For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me, and what I feared has come upon me. |
| 26I cannot relax or be calm; I have no rest, for turmoil has come. | 26I have no ease, I have no quietness; I cannot rest; turmoil has come upon me." |
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