Job 30
1 Bvt now they that are yonger then I, mocke me: yea, they whose fathers I haue refused to set with the dogges of my flockes.
Now those who are younger than I have nothing but mockery for me— these young men whose fathers I would have refused to allow to work beside the dogs of my flock.
2 For whereto shoulde the strength of their handes haue serued mee, seeing age perished in them?
Indeed, the strength of their fathers' hands, how could it have helped me— men in whom the strength of their mature age had perished?
3 For pouertie and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wildernes, which is darke, desolate and waste.
They were thin from poverty and hunger; they gnawed at the dry ground in the darkness of wilderness and desolation.
4 They cut vp nettels by the bushes, and the iuniper rootes was their meate.
They plucked saltwort and bushes' leaves; the roots of the broom tree were their food.
5 They were chased forth from among men: they shouted at them, as at a theefe.
They were driven out from among people who shouted after them as one would shout after a thief.
6 Therfore they dwelt in the clefts of riuers, in the holes of the earth and rockes.
So they had to live in river valleys, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 They roared among the bushes, and vnder the thistles they gathered themselues.
Among the bushes they brayed like donkeys and they gathered together under the nettles.
8 They were the children of fooles and the children of villaines, which were more vile then the earth.
They were the sons of fools, indeed, sons of nameless people! They were driven out of the land with whips.
9 And now am I their song, and I am their talke.
But now I have become the subject of their taunting song; I have become a byword for them.
10 They abhorre me, and flee farre from mee, and spare not to spit in my face.
They abhor me and stand far off from me; they do not refrain from spitting in my face.
11 Because that God hath loosed my corde and humbled mee, they haue loosed the bridle before me.
For God has unstrung the string to my bow and afflicted me, and those who taunt me cast off restraint before my face.
12 The youth rise vp at my right hand: they haue pusht my feete, and haue trode on me as on the paths of their destruction.
Upon my right hand rise the rabble; they drive me away and pile up against me their siege mounds.
13 They haue destroyed my paths: they tooke pleasure at my calamitie, they had none helpe.
They destroy my path; they push forward disaster for me, men who have no one to hold them back.
14 They came as a great breach of waters, and vnder this calamitie they come on heapes.
They come against me like an army through a wide hole in a city wall; in the midst of the destruction they roll themselves in on me.
15 Feare is turned vpon mee: and they pursue my soule as the winde, and mine health passeth away as a cloude.
Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is driven away as if by the wind; my prosperity passes away as a cloud.
16 Therefore my soule is nowe powred out vpon me, and the dayes of affliction haue taken holde on me.
Now my life is pouring out from within me; many days of suffering have laid hold on me.
17 It pearceth my bones in the night, and my sinewes take no rest.
In the night my bones in me are pierced; the pains that gnaw at me take no rest.
18 For the great vehemencie is my garment changed, which compasseth me about as the colar of my coate.
God's great force has seized my clothing; it wraps around me like the collar of my tunic.
19 He hath cast me into the myre, and I am become like ashes and dust.
He has thrown me into the mud; I have become like dust and ashes.
20 Whe I cry vnto thee, thou doest not heare me, neither regardest me, when I stand vp.
I cry to you, God, but you do not answer me; I stand up, and you merely look at me.
21 Thou turnest thy selfe cruelly against me, and art enemie vnto mee with the strength of thine hand.
You have changed and become cruel to me; with the strength of your hand you persecute me.
22 Thou takest me vp and causest mee to ride vpon the winde, and makest my strength to faile.
You lift me up to the wind and cause it to drive me along; you throw me back and forth in a storm.
23 Surely I knowe that thou wilt bring mee to death, and to the house appoynted for all the liuing.
For I know that you will bring me to death, to the house appointed for all the living.
24 Doubtles none can stretch his hand vnto the graue, though they cry in his destruction.
However, does no one reach out with his hand to beg for help when he falls? Does no one in trouble call out for help?
25 Did not I weepe with him that was in trouble? was not my soule in heauinesse for the poore?
Did not I weep for him who was in trouble? Did I not grieve for the needy man?
26 Yet when I looked for good, euill came vnto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkenesse.
When I hoped for good, then evil came; when I waited for light, darkness came instead.
27 My bowels did boyle without rest: for the dayes of affliction are come vpon me.
My heart is troubled and does not rest; days of affliction have come on me.
28 I went mourning without sunne: I stood vp in the congregation and cryed.
I have gone about like one who was living in the dark, but not because of the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
29 I am a brother to the dragons, and a companion to the ostriches.
I am a brother to jackals, a companion of ostriches.
30 My skinne is blacke vpon me, and my bones are burnt with heate.
My skin is black and falls away from me; my bones are burned with heat.
31 Therefore mine harpe is turned to mourning, and mine organs into the voyce of them that weepe.
Therefore my harp is tuned for songs of mourning, my flute for the singing of those who wail.
