may the day perish on which I was born
and the night in which it was said a
male child is conceived may that day be
darkness may God above not seek it nor
the light shine upon it may darkness and
the shadow of death claim it may
a cloud settle on it may the blackness
of the day terrified it as for that night
may darkness seize it may it not rejoice
among the days of the year may it not come
into the number of the months may Oh may
that night be barren may no joyful
shout come into it may those curse it
who curse that day those who are ready to
arouse Leviathan may the stars of its
morning be dark may it look for light
but have none and not see the dawning of
the day because it did not shut up the
doors of my mother's womb nor hide
sorrow from mine eyes why did I not die at
birth why did I not perish when I came
from the womb why did the knees receive
me or why the breasts that I should
nurse for now I would have lain still
and been quiet I would have been asleep
then I would have been at rest with the
Kings and counselors of the earth who
built ruins for themselves or with
Prince's who had gold who filled their
houses with silver but why was I not
hidden like a stillborn child like
infants who never saw light there the
wicked cease from troubling and there
the weary are quiet at rest there the
prisoners rest together they do not hear
the voice of the oppressor the small and
great are there and the servant is free
from his master why is light given to
him who is in misery and life to the
bitterest of souls who long for death but
it
does not come and search for it more than
hidden treasures who rejoice exceedingly
and are glad when they find the grave
why is life given to a man whose way is
hidden and whom God has hedged in for my
sighing comes before I eat and my groanings
pour out like water for the thing I
greatly feared has come upon me and what
I dreaded has happened to me I am not at
ease nor am I quiet I have no rest for
trouble comes
