| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. | 1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. |
| 2He said: | 2And this is what he said: |
| 3May the day I was born perish, and the night when they said, "A boy is conceived." | 3“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’ |
| 4If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above not care about it, or light shine on it. | 4If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it. |
| 5May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it. May an eclipse of the sun terrify it. | 5May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it. |
| 6If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year or be listed in the calendar. | 6If 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. |
| 7Yes, may that night be barren; may no joyful shout be heard in it. | 7Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it. |
| 8Let those who curse certain days cast a spell on it, those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan. | 8May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan. |
| 9May its morning stars grow dark. May it wait for daylight but have none; may it not see the breaking of dawn. | 9May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn. |
| 10For that night did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, and hide sorrow from my eyes. | 10For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes. |
| 11Why was I not stillborn; why didn't I die as I came from the womb? | 11Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? |
| 12Why did the knees receive me, and why were there breasts for me to nurse? | 12Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed? |
| 13Now I would certainly be lying down in peace; I would be asleep. Then I would be at rest | 13For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest |
| 14with the kings and counselors of the earth, who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves, | 14with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins, |
| 15or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. | 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? | 16Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight? |
| 17There the wicked cease to make trouble, and there the weary find rest. | 17There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest. |
| 18The captives are completely at ease; they do not hear the voice of their oppressor. | 18The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. |
| 19Both small and great are there, and the slave is set free from his master. | 19Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master. |
| 20Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter, | 20Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul, |
| 21who wait for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasure, | 21who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure, |
| 22who are filled with much joy and are glad when they reach the grave? | 22who rejoice and greatly exult when they can find the grave? |
| 23Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in? | 23Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? |
| 24I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water. | 24I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water. |
| 25For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. | 25For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me. |
| 26I cannot relax or be still; I have no rest, for trouble comes. | 26I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.” |
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