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1.
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
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2.
He said:
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3.
"May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!'
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4.
That day--may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it.
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5.
May darkness and deep shadow claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm its light.
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6.
That night--may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months.
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7.
May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.
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8.
May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
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9.
May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn,
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10.
for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.
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11.
"Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?
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12.
Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?
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13.
For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
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14.
with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,
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15.
with rulers who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
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16.
Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
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17.
There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.
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18.
Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver's shout.
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19.
The small and the great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.
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20.
"Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
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21.
to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
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22.
who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
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23.
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
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24.
For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water.
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25.
What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.
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26.
I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."
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