Job 30
1 But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nothing; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
“But now men who are younger than I am make fun of me— men whose fathers I greatly despised, with the result that I would not even have allowed them to help my dogs guard my sheep.
2 Yes, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost.
They were men who were old and (weak/worn out); so (what could I gain from them working for me?/I would have gained nothing from them working for me.) [RHQ]
3 [One is] childless in lack and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.
They were very poor and hungry, with the result that they chewed on roots [at night] in dry and desolate places.
4 Who compass the salt places on the sounding [shore], who had salt [herbs] for their food, and were dishonourable and of no repute, in lack of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
They pulled up plants in the desert [and ate them] and warmed themselves by [burning] the roots of broom trees.
5 Thieves have risen up against me,
Everyone shouted at them as though they were thieves and expelled them [from their areas].
6 whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.
They were forced to live in caves in the hills, in holes in the ground, and in the sides of cliffs.
7 They will cry out amongst the rustling [bushes].
In the bushes they howled [like animals because they were hungry], and they huddled together under thornbushes.
8 [They are] sons of fools and vile men, [whose] name and glory [are] quenched from off the earth.
They were people without good sense, whose names no one knows; they have been expelled from the land [where they were born].
9 But now I am their music, and they have me for a byword.
“And now their [children] sing songs to make fun of me. They tell jokes about me.
10 And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.
They are disgusted with me, and they [usually] stay away from me, [but when they see me, ] they are happy to spit in my face.
11 For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.
Because [it is as though] [MET] God has cut my bowstring, [he has caused me to be unable to defend myself, ] and he has humbled me, and my enemies have done to me whatever they wanted.
12 They have risen up against [me] on the right hand of [their] offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.
(Gangs/Groups of violent youths) attack me and force me to run away; they prepare to destroy me.
13 My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.
They prevent me from escaping, and they [do] not [need] anyone to help them (OR, there is no one to help me).
14 And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.
[It is as though I am a city wall and] [SIM] they have broken through the wall, and they have come crashing down on me.
15 My pains return upon [me]; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.
I am very terrified; My dignity/honor has been taken away as though [SIM] [it has been] blown away by the wind, and my prosperity has disappeared like [SIM] clouds disappear.
16 Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.
“And now I [SYN] am about to die [IDM]; I suffer every day.
17 And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.
My bones ache during the night, and the pain that torments me never stops.
18 With great force [my disease] has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.
[It is as though God] seizes my clothes and chokes me with the collar of my coat.
19 And you have counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.
He has thrown me into the mud; I am [not worth anything more than] dust and ashes.
20 And I have cried to you, but you hear me not: but they stood still, and observed me.
“I cry out to God, but he does not answer/help me; I stand up [and pray], but he does not pay any attention.
21 They attacked me also without mercy: you have scourged me with a strong hand.
He acts very cruelly toward me; with all of his power [MTY] he causes me to suffer.
22 And you have put me to grief, and have cast me away from safety.
He [allows] the wind to lift me up and blow me away, and he tosses me up and down in a violent storm.
23 For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house [appointed] for every mortal.
I know that he will cause me to die, which is what happens to everyone [MTY] who is alive.
24 Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.
“When people experience disasters, and they sit on a pile of ruins and cry out for help, others surely [RHQ] reach out their hand to help them.
25 Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.
[That is what I did previously]. I wept for people who were experiencing troubles, and I felt sorry for poor/needy people.
26 But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
But when I expected good things [to happen to me], evil things happened; when I waited for light/happiness, all I experienced was darkness/unhappiness [MET].
27 My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.
I am very distressed [IDM], all the time; I suffer every day.
28 I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.
I go about very discouraged; I stand up and plead for people to help me.
29 I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.
My wailing sounds as sad as [MET] the cries of jackals/foxes and ostriches.
30 And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burnt with heat.
My skin has become dark/black and is peeling off, and I have a fever [which causes my body to feel like it is] burning.
31 My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.
Previously, I played joyful music on my harp and with my flute, but now I play only the sad music of those who mourn.”
