| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. | 1After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born. |
| 2He said: | 2Job spoke up and said: |
| 3"May the day of my birth 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!' |
| 4That day--may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine on it. | 4That day--let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it! |
| 5May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm it. | 5Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it! |
| 6That 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. | 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! |
| 7May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it. | 7Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it! |
| 8May those who curse days curse that day, 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 become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays 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 it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble 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! |
| 11"Why did I not perish at birth, and 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 were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? | 12Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them? |
| 13For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest | 13For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace |
| 14with kings and rulers of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins, | 14with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate, |
| 15with 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 away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day? | 16Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light? |
| 17There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest. | 17There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest. |
| 18Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver's shout. | 18There the prisoners relax together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. |
| 19The small and the great are there, and the slaves are freed from their owners. | 19Small and great are there, and the slave is free from his master. |
| 20"Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, | 20"Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter, |
| 21to those who long for death that does not come, who 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 gladness and rejoice 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 way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? | 23Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? |
| 24For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water. | 24For my sighing comes in place of my food, and my groanings flow forth like water. |
| 25What I feared has come upon me; 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 have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil." | 26I have no ease, I have no quietness; I cannot rest; turmoil has come upon me." |
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