Job 3:20

¹⁸ The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

¹⁹ Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.

Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,

²¹ who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,

²² who rejoice and greatly exult when they can find the grave?

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,
KJV: Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
WEB: “Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,
ASV: Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;
DARBY: Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul,
BLB: Why is light given to the one toiling, and life to the bitter of soul,

ÅB: Hvorfor gir han[^1] den lidende lys, og liv til dem som bærer sorg i sitt hjerte,
OTB: “Hvorfor gis lys til de som lider,
og liv til de bitre i sjelen,
B1930: Hvorfor gir han den lidende lys, og liv til dem som bærer sorg i sitt hjerte, / < Gud.>

Jeremiah 20:18
Why did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame?
Read in context
Job 7:15–16
so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
Read in context
1 Samuel 1:10
In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.
Read in context
Proverbs 31:6
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Read in context
Job 6:9
that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!
Read in context
2 Kings 4:27
When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.”
Read in context
Job 33:30
to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
Read in context
Job 3:16
Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight?
Read in context