Let the day perish on which I was born
Let that day be darkness
Let the sun not shine upon that place
Let it be reclaimed by the deepest gloom
Let a rain cloud settle over it
Let whatever darkens the day terrify it
Let it not rejoice among the days of a year
Let it not enter among the number of the months
Let that night become barren
Let no joyful cry be heard in it
Let a curse be put on it
Let the stars of its twilight grow dark
Let it wait in vain for daylight
Let it not see the rays of dawn
It did not close the dorrs of my mother’s womb
It did not hide trouble from my eyes
Why did I not die at birth
Why did I not perish when I came from the womb
Why were there knees to receive me
And breasts to nurse me
For now I would be lying down undisturbed
I would be sleeping at rest with kings of the earth and their advisers
Who built for themselves places that are now in ruins
Or with princes who possessed gold
Whose houses were filled with silver
Why was I not like a hidden miscarriage
Like children who have never seen the light
There, men have ceased from agitation
There, the weary are at rest
They do not hear the voice of the one forcing them to work
Small and great are the same there
There, the slave is set free from his master
Why is light given to one who suffers
Why do they long for d**h but it does not come
Why is light given to a man who has lost his way
In place of my food comes my sighing
My groaning pours out like water
What I have dreaded has come upon me