2.1 KiB
Job's Opening Speech
Chapter 3
-
After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born.
-
He said:
-
May the day I was born perish, and the night that said, "A boy is conceived."
-
If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above not care about it, or light shine on it.
-
May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it. May what darkens the day terrify it.
-
If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year or be listed in the calendar.
-
Yes, may that night be barren; may no joyful shout be heard in it.
-
Let those who curse days condemn it, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
-
May its morning stars grow dark. May it wait for daylight but have none; may it not see the breaking of dawn.
-
For that night did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, and hide sorrow from my eyes.
-
Why was I not stillborn; why didn't I die as I came from the womb?
-
Why did the knees receive me, and why were there breasts for me to nurse?
-
Now I would certainly be lying down in peace; I would be asleep. Then I would be at rest
-
with the kings and counselors of the earth, who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,
-
or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
-
Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child, like infants who never see daylight?
-
There the wicked cease to make trouble, and there the weary find rest.
-
The captives are completely at rest; they do not hear a taskmaster's voice.
-
Both small and great are there, and the slave is set free from his master.
-
Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter,
-
who wait for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasure,
-
who are filled with much joy and are glad when they reach the grave?
-
Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
-
I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.
-
For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.
-
I cannot relax or be calm; I have no rest, for turmoil has come.