Job 3
3
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 when they said,
“A boy is conceived.” # Jb 5:7; Pr 23:25; Is 7:14
4If only that day had turned to darkness!
May God above not care about it,
or light shine on it.
5May darkness and gloom # Jb 10:21-22; 12:22; 28:3 reclaim it,
and a cloud settle over it.
May an eclipse of the sun # Lit May a darkening of daylight terrify it.
6If only darkness had taken that night away!
May it not appear # LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads rejoice among the days of the year
or be listed in the calendar. # Lit or enter the number of months
7Yes, may that night be barren;
may no joyful shout # Jb 20:5; Ps 63:5 be heard in it.
8Let those who curse certain days
cast a spell # Nm 22:11,17; Jb 5:3; Pr 11:26 on it,
those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan. # Jb 41; Ps 74:14; 104:26
9May its morning stars grow dark.
May it wait for daylight but have none;
may it not see the breaking # Lit the eyelids 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? # Jb 1:21; 10:17-18; Jr 20:17-18
12Why did the knees receive me,
and why were there breasts for me to nurse? # Sg 8:1; Is 66:12; Jl 2:16
13Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;
I would be asleep. # Ps 13:3; Jr 51:39,57; Mt 8:24
Then I would be at rest # Jb 17:16; Dn 12:13; Rv 14:13
14with the kings and counselors # Is 14:9; Jr 51:57; Ezk 32:29 of the earth,
who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,
15or with princes who had gold,
who filled their houses # Jb 17:13; 30:23; Ec 12:5 with silver.
16Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child, # Nm 12:12; Ps 58:8; Ec 6:3
like infants who never see daylight?
17There the wicked # Jb 9:22; 11:20; 18:5 cease to make trouble,
and there the weary find rest.
18The captives are completely at ease; # Pr 1:33; Jr 30:10; 46:27
they do not hear the voice of their oppressor. # Ex 3:7; 5:10,13-14; Jb 39:7
19Both small and great are there,
and the slave is set free from his master. # Jb 9:22; Ec 9:2-3; Is 14:9-10
20Why is light given to one burdened with grief,
and life to those whose existence is bitter, # Jb 23:2; Ps 71:20; Lm 1:4
21who wait for death, # 1Kg 19:4; Jb 7:15; Jnh 4:3 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? # Jb 5:26; 10:19; 17:1
23Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, # Jb 19:8; Lm 3:9; Hs 2:6
whom God has hedged in?
24I sigh when food # Jb 6:7: 33:20; Ps 102:4 is put before me, # Or My sighing serves as my food
and my groans pour out like water. # Ps 6:6; 22:1,14; 32:3
25For the thing I feared has overtaken me,
and what I dreaded has happened to me. # Jb 9:28; 13:11; 30:15
26I cannot relax or be still;
I have no rest, # Jb 30:17; Pr 25:2; Ec 2:23 for trouble comes.
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Job 3: HCSB
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