Job’s Opening Speech

1After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. 2He said:

3May the day I was born perish,

and the night that said,

“A boy is conceived.”a

4If only that day had turned to darkness!

May God above not care about it,

or light shine on it.

5May darkness and glooma reclaim it,

and a cloud settle over it.

May what darkens the day terrify it.

6If only darkness had taken that night away!

May it not appearA among the days of the year

or be listed in the calendar.B

7Yes, may that night be barren;

may no joyful shouta be heard in it.

8Let those who curse days

condemna it,

those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.b

9May its morning stars grow dark.

May it wait for daylight but have none;

may it not see the breakingA of dawn.

10For that night did not shut

the doors of my mother’s womb,

and hide sorrow from my eyes.

11Why was I not stillborn;

why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?a

12Why did the knees receive me,

and why were there breasts for me to nurse?a

13Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;

I would be asleep.a

Then I would be at restb

14with the kings and counselorsa of the earth,

who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

15or with princes who had gold,

who filled their housesa with silver.

16Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child,a

like infants who never see daylight?

17There the wickeda cease to make trouble,

and there the weary find rest.

18The captives are completely at rest;a

they do not hear a taskmaster’s voice.b

19Both small and great are there,

and the slave is set free from his master.a

20Why is light given to one burdened with grief,

and life to those whose existence is bitter,a

21who wait for death,a but it does not come,

and search for it more than for hidden treasure,

22who are filled with much joy

and are glad when they reach the grave?a

23Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden,a

whom God has hedged in?

24I sigh when fooda is put before me,A

and my groans pour out like water.b

25For the thing I feared has overtaken me,

and what I dreaded has happened to me.a

26I cannot relax or be calm;

I have no rest,a for turmoil has come.

First Series of Speeches