³ “Let the day I was born be destroyed.
    And destroy the night when it was said, ‘A boy is born!’
⁴ Let that day turn to darkness.
    Let God not even care about it.
    Don’t let light shine on that day.
⁵ Let darkness and gloom have that day.
    Let a cloud hide that day.
    Let darkness cover its light.
⁶ Let thick darkness capture that night.
    Don’t count it among the days of the year.
    Don’t put it in any of the months.
⁷ Let that night be empty.
    Let no shout of joy be heard in it.
⁸ Let the people who curse days curse that day.
    They know how to wake up the sea monster Leviathan.
⁹ Let that day’s morning stars become dark.
    Let it wait for daylight, but don’t let it come.
    Don’t let it see the first light of dawn.
¹⁰ This is because it allowed me to be born.
    That day did not hide trouble from my eyes.

¹¹ “Why didn’t I die as soon as I was born?
    Why didn’t I die when I came out of the womb?
¹² Why did my mother’s knees receive me?
    Why did my mother’s breasts feed me?
¹³ If they had not been there, I would be lying dead in peace.
    I would be asleep and at rest.
¹⁴ I would be asleep with kings and wise men of the earth.
    They built places for themselves that are now ruined.
¹⁵ I would be asleep with rulers who had gold.
    They filled their houses with silver!
¹⁶ Or why was I not buried like a child born dead?
    I wish I were like a baby who never saw the light of day.
¹⁷ In the grave the wicked stop causing trouble.
    And people who are tired are at rest.
¹⁸ In the grave there is rest for the captives.
    They no longer hear the shout of the slave driver.
¹⁹ People great and small are in the grave.
    And the slave is freed from his master.

²⁰ “Why is life given to those who are in misery?
    Why is it given to those who are so unhappy?
²¹ Some people want to die, but death does not come.
    They search for death more than for hidden treasure.
²² They are very happy
    when they get to the grave.
²³ Life shouldn’t be given to a man who doesn’t know what will happen to him.
    It shouldn’t be given to a man who feels trapped by God.
²⁴ I make sad sounds as I eat.
    My groans pour out like water.
²⁵ The thing I was afraid of has happened to me.
    And the thing I dreaded has happened.
²⁶ I have no peace. I have no quietness.
    I have no rest. I only have trouble.”