Job 3:20

¹⁸ There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

¹⁹ The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

²¹ Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

²² Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, 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
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Read in context
Job 7:15–16
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
Read in context
1 Samuel 1:10
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
Read in context
Proverbs 31:6
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Read in context
Job 6:9
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
Read in context
2 Kings 4:27
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
Read in context
Job 33:30
To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
Read in context
Job 3:16
Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
Read in context