Job (The Book of )

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

Job said:

"Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night that said, 'A man-child is conceived.'

Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, or light shine on it.

Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds settle upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

That night--let thick darkness seize it! let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

Yes, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry be heard in it.

Let those curse it who curse the Sea, those who are skilled to rouse up Leviathan.

Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none; may it not see the eyelids of the morning--

because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, and hide trouble from my eyes.

"Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?

Why were there knees to receive me, or breasts for me to suck?

Now I would be lying down and quiet; I would be asleep; then I would be at rest

with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuild ruins for themselves,

or with princes who have gold, who fill their houses with silver.

Or why was I not buried like a stillborn child, like an infant that never sees the light?

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