Job 3
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After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. Begin Abide·
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And this is what he said: Begin Abide·
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“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’ Begin Abide·
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If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it. Begin Abide·
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May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it. Begin Abide·
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If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months. Begin Abide·
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Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it. Begin Abide·
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May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan. Begin Abide·
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May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn. Begin Abide·
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For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes. Begin Abide·
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Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? Begin Abide·
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Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed? Begin Abide·
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For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest Begin Abide·
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with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins, Begin Abide·
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or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. Begin Abide·
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Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight? Begin Abide·
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There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest. Begin Abide·
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The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. Begin Abide·
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Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master. Begin Abide·
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Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul, Begin Abide·
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who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure, Begin Abide·
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who rejoice and greatly exult when they reach the grave? Begin Abide·
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Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? Begin Abide·
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I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water. Begin Abide·
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For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me. Begin Abide·
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I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.” Begin Abide·