Job 3:9-24
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 3
9May the stars of its twilight be darkened; May it wait for light but have none, And may it not see the breaking dawn; 10Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb, Or hide trouble from my eyes. 11'Why did I not die at birth, Come out of the womb and pass away? 12Why were the knees there in front of me, And why the breasts, that I would nurse? 13For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest, 14With kings and counselors of the earth, Who rebuilt ruins for themselves; 15Or with rulers who had gold, Who were filling their houses with silver. 16Or like a miscarriage which is hidden, I would not exist, As infants that never saw light. 17There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest. 18The prisoners are at ease together; They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster. 19The small and the great are there, And the slave is free from his master. 20'Why is light given to one burdened with grief, And life to the bitter of soul, 21Who long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for hidden treasures; 22Who are filled with jubilation, And rejoice when they find the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has shut off? 24For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, And my cries pour out like water.King James Version
10Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
11Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
Christian Standard Bible
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?
12Why did the knees receive me, and why were there breasts for me to nurse?
13Now I would certainly be lying down in peace; I would be asleep. Then I would be at rest
14with the kings and counselors of the earth, who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,
15or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
16Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child, like infants who never see daylight?
17There the wicked cease to make trouble, and there the weary find rest.
18The captives are completely at rest; they do not hear a taskmaster’s voice.
19Both small and great are there, and the slave is set free from his master.
20Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter,
21who wait for death, 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?
23Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
24I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.
New Living Translation
Chapter 3
9Let its morning stars remain dark. Let it hope for light, but in vain; may it never see the morning light. 10Curse that day for failing to shut my mother’s womb, for letting me be born to see all this trouble.
11'Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?
12Why was I laid on my mother’s lap? Why did she nurse me at her breasts?
13Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. I would be asleep and at rest.
14I would rest with the world’s kings and prime ministers, whose great buildings now lie in ruins.
15I would rest with princes, rich in gold, whose palaces were filled with silver.
16Why wasn’t I buried like a stillborn child, like a baby who never lives to see the light?
17For in death the wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest.
18Even captives are at ease in death, with no guards to curse them.
19Rich and poor are both there, and the slave is free from his master.
20'Oh, why give light to those in misery, and life to those who are bitter?
21They long for death, and it won’t come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure.
22They’re filled with joy when they finally die, and rejoice when they find the grave.
23Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties?
24I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water.
English Standard Version
Chapter 3
9Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning, 10because it did not shut the doors of my mother 's womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes. 11"Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire? 12Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? 13For then I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest, 14with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves, 15or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. 16Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light? 17There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest. 18There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. 19The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master. 20"Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, 21who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, 22who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave? 23Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? 24For my sighing comes instead of my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.New International Version
10for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.
11"Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?
12Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?
13For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
14with kings and rulers of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,
15with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
16Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
17There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.
18Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout.
19The small and the great are there, and the slaves are freed from their owners.
20"Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
21to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
22who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
23Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
24For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.
New King James Version
