Job Wishes He Had Never Been Born
1After a while, Job opened his mouth to speak. He cursed the day he had been born. 2He said,
3“May the day I was born be wiped out.
May the night be wiped away when people said, ‘A boy is born!’
4May that day turn into darkness.
May God in heaven not care about it.
May no light shine on it.
5May gloom and total darkness take it back.
May a cloud settle over it.
May blackness cover it up.
6May deep darkness take over the night I was born.
May it not be included among the days of the year.
May it never appear in any of the months.
7May no children ever have been born on that night.
May no shout of joy be heard in it.
8May people say evil things about that day.
May people ready to wake the sea monster Leviathan say evil things about that day.
9May its morning stars become dark.
May it lose all hope of ever seeing daylight.
May it not see the first light of the morning sun.
10It didn’t keep my mother from letting me be born.
It didn’t keep my eyes from seeing trouble.
11“Why didn’t I die when I was born?
Why didn’t I die as I came out of my mother’s body?
12Why was I placed on her knees?
Why did her breasts give me milk?
13If all of that hadn’t happened,
I would be lying down in peace.
I’d be asleep and at rest in the grave.
14I’d be with the earth’s kings and rulers.
They had built for themselves places that are now destroyed.
15I’d be with princes who used to have gold.
They had filled their houses with silver.
16Why wasn’t I buried like a baby who was born dead?
Why wasn’t I buried like a child who never saw the light of day?
17In the grave, sinful people don’t cause trouble anymore.
And there tired people find rest.
18Prisoners also enjoy peace there.
They don’t hear a slave driver shouting at them anymore.
19The least important and most important people are there.
And there the slaves are set free from their owners.
20“Why should those who suffer ever be born?
Why should life be given to those whose spirits are bitter?
21Why is life given to those who long for death that doesn’t come?
Why is it given to those who would rather search for death
than for hidden treasure?
22Why is life given to those who are actually happy and glad
when they reach the grave?
23Why is life given to a man like me?
God hasn’t told me what will happen to me.
He has surrounded me with nothing but trouble.
24Sighs have become my food every day.
Groans pour out of me like water.
25What I was afraid of has come on me.
What I worried about has happened to me.
26I don’t have any peace and quiet.
I can’t find any rest. All I have is trouble.”
Nagsalita si Job
1Kinalaunan, nagsalita si Job at isinumpa niya ang araw na isinilang siya. 2Sinabi niya, 3“Isinusumpa ko ang araw na akoʼy ipinanganak. 4Naging madilim na lang sana ang araw na iyon at hindi na sinikatan ng araw. Kinalimutan na lang sana ng Dios sa langit ang araw na iyon. 5Nanatili na lang sana itong madilim o natatakpan ng makapal na ulap, at nilukuban na lang sana ng kadiliman ang kaliwanagan. 6Kinuha na lang sana ng kadiliman ang gabing iyon nang akoʼy isilang, at hindi na sana napabilang sa kalendaryo. 7Hindi na nga lang sana ako ipinanganak ng gabing iyon, at wala rin sanang kasayahan noon. 8Sumpain nawa ang gabing iyon ng mga manunumpa na alam kung paano pakilusin ang Leviatan.3:8 Leviatan: Maaaring dambuhalang hayop, buwaya, ahas, o balyena. 9Hindi na sana sumikat ang tala sa umaga ng araw na iyon, at hindi na sana dumating ang bukang-liwayway. 10Isinusumpa ko ang araw na iyon dahil hindi niya pinigilan ang pagsilang sa akin, nang hindi ko na sana naranasan ang ganitong paghihirap.
11“Mabuti pang namatay na lang ako sa sinapupunan ng aking ina. 12Bakit pa ako kinalingaʼt pinasuso ng aking ina? 13Kung namatay na sana ako noon, tahimik na sana ako ngayong natutulog at nagpapahinga 14kasama ng mga hari at mga pinuno ng mundo na nagtayo ng mga palasyo3:14 palasyo: o, gusali. na giba na ngayon.3:14 giba na ngayon: o, na muling itatayo. 15Nagpapahinga na rin sana ako kasama ng mga pinuno na ang mga tahanan ay puno ng mga gintoʼt pilak. 16Mas mabuti pang akoʼy naging katulad ng mga batang patay na nang ipinanganak at hindi na nakakita ng liwanag. 17Doon sa lugar ng mga patay, ang masama ay hindi na gumagawa ng kasamaan at ang mga pagod ay nagpapahinga na. 18Doon, ang mga bihag ay nagpapahinga rin at hindi na nila naririnig ang sigaw ng taong pumipilit sa kanila na magtrabaho. 19Naroon ang lahat ng uri ng tao, tanyag man o hindi. At ang mga alipin ay malaya na sa kanilang amo.
20“Bakit pa pinapayagang mabuhay ang taong nagtitiis at nagdurusa? 21Nagnanais silang mamatay pero hindi pa rin sila namamatay. Hangad nila ang kamatayan ng higit pa sa isang taong naghahanap ng nakatagong kayamanan. 22Mas sasaya sila kapag namatay na at nailibing. 23Bakit kaya niloob pa ng Dios na mabuhay ang tao nang hindi man lamang pinapaalam ang kanyang kahahantungan? 24Hindi ako makakain dahil sa labis na pagdaramdam at walang tigil ang aking pagdaing. 25Ang kinatatakutan koʼy nangyari sa akin. 26Wala akong kapayapaan at katahimikan. Wala akong kapahingahan, pawang kabagabagan ang nararanasan ko.”
