1 Finally, Job cursed the dayof his birth
2 by saying to God:
3 Blot out the day of my birthand the night when my parentscreated a son.
4 Forget about that day,cover it with darkness,
5 and send thick, gloomy shadowsto fill it with dread.
6 Erase that night from the calendarand conceal it with darkness.
7 Don't let children be createdor joyful shouts be heardever again in that night.
8 Let those with magic powersplace a curse on that day.
9 Darken its morning starsand remove all hope of light,
10 because it let me be borninto a world of trouble.
11 Why didn't I die at birth?
12 Why was I acceptedand allowed to nurseat my mother's breast?
13 Now I would be at peacein the silent world below
14 with kings and their advisorswhose palaces lie in ruins,
15 and with rulers once richwith silver and gold.
16 I wish I had been born deadand then buried, never to seethe light of day.
17 In the world of the dead,the wicked and the weary restwithout a worry.*
18 Everyone is there—
19 where captives and slavesare free at last.
20 Why does God let me livewhen life is miserableand so bitter?
21 I keep longing for deathmore than I would seeka valuable treasure.
22 Nothing could make me happierthan to be in the grave.
23 Why do I go on livingwhen God has me surrounded,and I can't see the road?
24 Moaning and groaningare my food and drink,
25 and my worst fearshave all come true.
26 I have no peace or rest—only troubles and worries.