66 Books

¹ After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. ² And Job spoke, and said: ³ ‘A male child is conceived.’ ⁴ Nor the light shine upon it. ⁵ May the blackness of the day terrify it. ⁶ May it not come into the number of the months. ⁷ May no joyful shout come into it! ⁸ Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan. ⁹ And not see the dawning of the day; ¹⁰ Nor hide sorrow from my eyes. ¹¹ Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? ¹² Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? ¹³ Then I would have been at rest ¹⁴ Who built ruins for themselves, ¹⁵ Who filled their houses with silver; ¹⁶ Like infants who never saw light? ¹⁷ And there the weary are at rest. ¹⁸ They do not hear the voice of the oppressor. ¹⁹ And the servant is free from his master. ²⁰ And life to the bitter of soul, ²¹ And search for it more than hidden treasures; ²² And are glad when they can find the grave? ²³ And whom God has hedged in? ²⁴ And my groanings pour out like water. ²⁵ And what I dreaded has happened to me. ²⁶ I have no rest, for trouble comes.”