Job 30
1 But now they that are younger than I hold me in derision, Whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
“But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
2 Of what use to me would be even the strength of their hands, To whom old age is lost?
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men in whom ripe age has perished?
3 By want and hunger they are famished; They gnaw the dry desert, The darkness of desolate wastes.
They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
4 They gather purslain among the bushes, And the root of the broom is their bread.
They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom tree are their food.
5 They are driven from the society of men; There is a cry after them as after a thief.
They are driven out from among men. They cry after them as after a thief,
6 They dwell in gloomy valleys, In caves of the earth and in rocks.
so that they live in frightful valleys, and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 They bray among the bushes; Under the brambles are they stretched out.
They bray among the bushes. They are gathered together under the nettles.
8 An impious and low-born race, They are beaten out of the land.
They are children of fools, yes, children of wicked men. They were flogged out of the land.
9 And now I am become their song; Yea, I am their by-word!
“Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
10 They abhor me, they stand aloof from me; They forbear not to spit before my face.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Yea, they let loose the reins, and humble me; They cast off the bridle before me.
For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me; and they have thrown off restraint before me.
12 On my right hand riseth up the brood; They thrust away my feet; They cast up against me their destructive ways.
On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet. They cast their ways of destruction up against me.
13 They break up my path; They hasten my fall, —They who have no helper!
They mar my path. They promote my destruction without anyone’s help.
14 They come upon me as through a wide breach; Through the ruins they rush in upon me.
As through a wide breach they come. They roll themselves in amid the ruin.
15 Terrors are turned against me; They pursue my prosperity like the wind, And my welfare passeth away like a cloud.
Terrors have turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
16 And now my soul poureth itself out upon me; Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
“Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 By night my bones are pierced; they are torn from me, And my gnawers take no rest.
In the night season my bones are pierced in me, and the pains that gnaw me take no rest.
18 Through the violence of my disease is my garment changed; It bindeth me about like the collar of my tunic.
My garment is disfigured by great force. It binds me about as the collar of my tunic.
19 He hath cast me into the mire, And I am become like dust and ashes.
He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.
20 I call upon Thee, but thou dost not hear me; I stand up before thee, but thou regardest me not.
I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.
21 Thou art become cruel to me; With thy strong hand dost thou lie in wait for me.
You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
22 Thou liftest me up, and causest me to ride upon the wind; Thou meltest me away in the storm.
You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.
23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death, To the place of assembly for all the living.
For I know that you will bring me to death, to the house appointed for all living.
24 When He stretcheth out his hand, prayer availeth nothing; When He bringeth destruction, vain is the cry for help.
“However does not one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
Did not I weep for him who was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26 But when I looked for good, then evil came; When I looked for light, then came darkness.
When I looked for good, then evil came. When I waited for light, darkness came.
27 My bowels boil, and have no rest; Days of anguish have come upon me.
My heart is troubled, and does not rest. Days of affliction have come on me.
28 I am black, but not by the sun; I stand up, and utter my cries in the congregation.
I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29 I am become a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.
30 My skin is black, and falleth from me, And my bones burn with heat.
My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burned with heat.
31 My harp also is turned to mourning, And my pipe to notes of grief.
Therefore my harp has turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.
