Job 3:9

Let its morning stars ¹  be darkened; let it wait ²  for daylight but find none, ³  nor let it see the first rays ⁴  of dawn,

May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn,

"Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; Let it wait for light but have none, And let it not see the breaking dawn;

Let its morning stars remain dark. Let it hope for light, but in vain; may it never see the morning light.

May its morning stars turn to black cinders, waiting for a daylight that never comes, never once seeing the first light of dawn.

Let its morning stars be dark; let it be looking for light, but may it not have any; let it not see the eyes of the dawn.

Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none; may it not see the eyelids of the morning—

May the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but have none, And not see the dawning of the day;

Let its morning stars ¹  be darkened; let it wait ²  for daylight but find none, ³  nor let it see the first rays ⁴  of dawn,

¹ tn Heb “the stars of its dawn.” The word נֶשֶׁף (neshef) can mean “twilight” or “dawn.” In this context the morning stars are in mind. Job wishes that the morning stars – that should announce the day – go out.

² tn The verb “wait, hope” has the idea of eager expectation and preparation. It is used elsewhere of waiting on the Lord with anticipation.

³ tn The absolute state אַיִן (’ayin, “there is none”) is here used as a verbal predicate (see GKC 480 §152.k). The concise expression literally says “and none.”

⁴ sn The expression is literally “the eyelids of the morning.” This means the very first rays of dawn (see also Job 41:18). There is some debate whether it refers to “eyelids” or “eyelashes” or “eyeballs.” If the latter, it would signify the flashing eyes of a person. See for the Ugaritic background H. L. Ginsberg, The Legend of King Keret (BASORSup), 39; see also J. M. Steadman, “‘Eyelids of Morn’: A Biblical Convention,” HTR 56 (1963): 159-67.