"Whydid I not dieat birth,Comeforthfrom the womband expire?
Becauseit did not shutthe openingof my [mother's] womb,Or hidetroublefrom my eyes.
"Whydid the kneesreceiveme, And whythe breasts,that I should suck?
[Let them be] as a snailwhich meltsawayas it goesalong, [Like] the miscarriagesof a womanwhich neverseethe sun.
By You I have been sustainedfrom [my] birth;You are He who tookme from my mother'swomb;My praiseis continuallyof You.
So I congratulatedthe deadwhoare alreadydeadmorethanthe livingwhoare stillliving.
But better[off] thanbothof them is the one whohas neverexisted,whohas neverseenthe evilactivitythat is doneunderthe sun.
Ifa manfathersa hundred[children] and livesmanyyears,however manythey be, but his soulis not satisfiedwith goodthingsand he does not evenhavea [proper] burial,[then] I say,"Betterthe miscarriagethanhe,
"It neverseesthe sunand it neverknows[anything]; it is betteroff thanhe.
"Listento Me, O houseof Jacob,And allthe remnantof the houseof Israel,You who have been borneby Me from birthAnd have been carriedfrom the womb;
Woeto me, my mother,that you have borneme [As] a manof strifeand a manof contentionto allthe land!I have not lent,norhave men lentmoney to me, [Yet] everyonecursesme.
Becausehe did not killme beforebirth,So that my motherwould have beenmy grave,And her wombeverpregnant.
Givethem, O LORD--whatwill You give?Givethem a miscarryingwomband drybreasts.
