Job 30
1 But now they who are younger than I in years laugh at me, whose fathers I scorned to put as equals with the dogs of my flocks.
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yea, what possible use can the strength of their hands be unto me, over whom old age hath passed fruitlessly?
Yes, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
3 Who suffer for want and famine in solitude; who flee into the wilderness [where all is] darkness, ruin, and desolation;
For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
4 Who crop off mallows by the bushes, and have broom-bush roots as their bread;
Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
5 Who are driven forth from among [men], who are shouted after as though they were thieves,
They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief; )
6 To dwell in the caverns of the valleys, in holes of the earth, and on naked cliffs.
To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they shriek; under briers they are huddled together,
Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
8 The children of the worthless, yea, the children of the nameless, who were outcasts from the land.
They were children of fools, yes, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
9 But now I am become their song, and I am become a byword unto them.
And now am I their song, yes, I am their byword.
10 They loathe me, they keep themselves far from me, and from my face they withhold not their spittle.
They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
11 Because he hath loosened the cord of my bow, and afflicted me, they have also cast off the bridle before me.
Because he has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.
12 Against my right hand rise up this swarm of worthless youths: they push away my feet, and they level against me their calamity-bringing paths.
On my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
13 They destroy my footpath, they help forward my downfall, without any one to aid them.
They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
14 As [through] a broad breach they come: amidst a loud noise they rolled themselves along.
They came on me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves on me.
15 Terrors have turned their face against me; they chase like the wind my glory: and like a cloud is my happiness passed away.
Terrors are turned on me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passes away as a cloud.
16 And now my soul is poured out over me; the days of affliction have seized on me;
And now my soul is poured out on me; the days of affliction have taken hold on me.
17 All night it holloweth out my bones out of my body; and my pursuers take no rest.
My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
18 Through the Almlghty's power is my garment made unknown: like the opening of my coat hath he enclosed me.
By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
He has cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry aloud unto thee, but thou answerest me not: I stand up, and thou fixest thy regard against me.
I cry to you, and you do not hear me: I stand up, and you regard me not.
21 Thou art changed into a cruel master toward me: with the strength of thy hand thou assailest me.
You are become cruel to me: with your strong hand you oppose yourself against me.
22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to pass away, and dissolvest in me all wise counsel.
You lift me up to the wind; you cause me to ride on it, and dissolve my substance.
23 For I know that thou wilt bring me back to death, and to the house of assembly for all the living.
For I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
24 But doth not a man stretch out his hand among ruins? or doth one not cry out therefrom [for help] when he meeteth his downfall?
However, he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
25 Did I not weep for him that was hard pressed by misfortune? was not my soul grieved for the needy?
Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 That I hoped for good, but there came evil; and I waited for light, and there came darkness!
When I looked for good, then evil came to me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27 My bowels heave, and rest not: the days of affliction have overcome me.
My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.
28 I walk about mournfully without sunlight: when I rise up, in the assembly, I cry with pain.
I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
29 I am a brother to [howling] monsters, and a companion to ostriches.
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
30 My skin hangeth down black from me, and my bones are burnt from heat.
My skin is black on me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31 And thus is changed to mourning my harp, and my pipe to the sound of weeping.
My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
