Job 3:1-26 ERV

[1] Then Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born. [2] He said, [3] "I wish the day I was born would be lost forever. I wish the night they said, 'It's a boy!' had never happened. [4] I wish that day had remained dark. I wish God above had forgotten that day and not let any light shine on it. [5] I wish that bitter day had remained as dark as death, covered with the darkest clouds. [6] I wish the darkness had carried away that night, that it was left off the calendar and not included in any of the months. [7] I wish that night had produced nothing and no happy shouts had been heard. [8] Some magicians think they can wake Leviathan. So let them say their curses and curse the day I was born. [9] Let that day's morning star be dark. Let that night wait for a morning that never comes. I wish it had never seen the first rays of sunlight. [10] I wish it had stopped me from being born and kept me from seeing all these troubles. [11] Why didn't I die when I was born? Why didn't I die as I came from my mother's womb? [12] Why did my mother hold me on her knees? Why did her breasts feed me? [13] If I had died when I was born, I would be at peace now. I wish I were asleep and at rest [14] with the kings and their advisors who built palaces that are now in ruins. [15] I wish I were buried with rulers who filled their graves with gold and silver. [16] Why wasn't I a child who died at birth and was put in the ground? I wish I had been buried like a baby who never saw the light of day. [17] There the wicked stop causing trouble, and the weary find rest. [18] Even prisoners find relief there; they no longer hear their guards shouting at them. [19] Everyone-from the greatest to the least important-will be there, and even the slave is free from his master. [20] "Why must a suffering person continue to live? Why let anyone live such a bitter life? [21] Such people want to die, but death does not come. They search for death more than for hidden treasure. [22] They would be happy to find their grave. They would rejoice to find their tomb. [23] But God keeps their future a secret and builds a wall around them to protect them. [24] When it is time to eat, all I can do is sigh with sadness, not joy. My groans pour out like water. [25] I was afraid something terrible would happen, and what I feared most has happened. [26] I cannot calm down or relax. I am too upset to rest!"