Job 3

1 After this [following these events, afterward], Job [the patriarch famous for his patience] opened [to engrave or carve, as in intricate designs] his mouth [lips, edge of something] and cursed [to make light of, bring into contempt] the day [a 24-hour period or figurative space of time] of his birth [the time of his coming into the world]. word study 2 And this is what he said [uttered, declared]: word study 3 “May the day [of my earthly existence, from birth] of my birth [conception, coming into being] perish [be destroyed, lost], and the night [period of darkness, adversity] it was said [declared, announced], ‘A boy [man-child, male offspring] is conceived [begotten, brought into being].’ word study 4 If only that day [of my birth, a time of sorrow] had turned to [deep, spiritual] darkness [a state of misery or wickedness]! May God [Eloah, the one true God] above [in heaven, in a position of authority] disregard it; may no [not any, none] light shine upon it [illuminating or bringing joy to]. word study 5 May darkness [and the shadow of death] and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud [a black cloud, a cloud of sorrow] settle over it; may the blackness [deep darkness, complete gloom] of the day [a day of misery, a time of suffering] overwhelm it. word study 6 If only [thick, intense] darkness [a state of gloom] had taken that night [a period of adversity] away! May it [that specific night] not appear [never be counted] among the days [a 24-hour period] of the year [a period of time]; may it never be entered [not come into the number] in any of the months [a lunar cycle]. word study 7 Behold [look, take notice], may that night [be solitary, desolate] be barren [without fruit, sterile]; may no joyful [triumphant, celebratory] voice [sound of joy, shouting] come into it [enter, approach]. word study 8 May it be cursed [utterly condemned, put under a divine ban] by those who curse [execrate, wish harm upon] the day [a period of time, a season of life]— those prepared [ready, skilled] to rouse [stir up, awaken] Leviathan [a massive sea creature]. word study 9 May its morning [early, at dawn] stars [celestial bodies, heavenly messengers] grow dark [become obscured, lose their light]; may it wait [look for, expect] in vain [without result, to no avail] for daylight [natural light, illumination]; may it not [never, under no circumstances] see [perceive, behold] the breaking [dawning, rising] of dawn [the morning light, new beginning]. word study 10 For that night [when I was conceived] did not shut [close, prevent] the doors [gates, entrance] of the womb [belly, mother’s body] to hide [conceal, keep secret] the sorrow [trouble, pain] from my eyes [sight, understanding]. word study 11 Why did I not perish [die] at birth [from the womb, at the moment of delivery]; why did I not [expire, give up the ghost] die as I came from the womb [belly, mother’s body]? word study 12 Why [for what reason, on what account] were there knees [to meet] to receive me, and breasts [for nursing, to suckle] that I should be nursed [to suck, to receive milk]? word study 13 For now [at this time, in this moment] I would be lying down [to rest, to sleep] in peace [quiet, stillness]; I would be asleep [in a state of dormancy, lazy] and at rest [settled, in a state of tranquility, to rest] word study 14 with kings [rulers, monarchs] and counselors [advisors, wise ones] of the earth [land, territory], who built [constructed, established] for themselves cities [palaces, great houses] now in ruins [desolate places, waste areas], word study 15 or [as an alternative, if] with princes [rulers, noblemen] who had gold [valuable treasure, wealth], who filled [completely satisfied, made full] their houses [palaces, dwelling places] with silver [precious metal, riches]. word study 16 Or [as an alternative, if I had a choice] why was I not hidden [concealed, secretly buried] like a stillborn child [miscarriage, untimely birth], like an infant [young child, newborn] who never sees [looks upon, experiences] daylight [natural light, spiritual illumination]? word study 17 There [in the grave, then] the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] cease [stop, come to an end] from raging [troubling, turmoil], and there [at that point, in that place] the weary [exhausted, worn out] find rest [settle down, remain at peace]. word study 18 The captives [prisoners, those bound or restrained] enjoy [are at rest, experience peace] their ease [to rest, be at peace]; they do not [absence or negation] hear [listen, give attention] the voice [sound, utterance] of the oppressor [one who exacts, harasses, or drives]. word study 19 Both [small in size or importance] small and great [in size, age, or importance] are there [in the same place, at the same time], and the slave [servant, bondservant] is freed [exempt from slavery, set at liberty] from his master [lord, one who has control]. word study 20 Why [for what reason, to what purpose] is light [natural and spiritual illumination, happiness] given [bestowed, granted] to the miserable [suffering, in distress], and life [physical and spiritual existence] to the bitter [unpleasant, distressed] of soul [the inner being, one’s essence], word study 21 who long [wait patiently, yearn] for death [physical or violent, the end of life] that does not come, and search [dig, seek deeply] for it like hidden [secret, concealed] treasure [valuables, riches], word study 22 who rejoice [with great joy, exceedingly] and greatly exult [are glad, full of delight] when they can find [attain, discover] the grave [their last resting-place, sepulchre]? word study 23 Why is life [light, a gift from God] given to a man [great man] whose way [path, journey, manner of life] is hidden [concealed, secret], whom God [Eloah, the one true God] has hedged in [fenced, protected, shut up]? word study 24 I sigh [with deep sadness, my groaning] when food [bread, sustenance] is put before me, and my groans [roarings, cries of sorrow] pour out [are poured, flow forth] like water [refreshment]. word study 25 For [because of this reason] the thing I [greatly] feared [dreaded with terror, was afraid of] has overtaken me [come upon me, happened to me], and what I dreaded [was afraid of, feared] has befallen me [come to me, come upon me]. word study 26 I am not [at all, in any way] at ease [prosperous, secure] or quiet [still, peaceful]; I have no [absence of, lack of] rest [settled, calm], for trouble [turmoil, commotion, rage] has come [approached, entered].” word study