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 adviserswhose 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.
18-19. Everyone is there—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.