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 they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Of what use to me would be even the strength of their hands, To whom old age is lost?
Yea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me? men in whom ripe age is perished.
3 By want and hunger they are famished; They gnaw the dry desert, The darkness of desolate wastes.
They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the dry ground; in the gloom of wasteness and desolation.
4 They gather purslain among the bushes, And the root of the broom is their bread.
They pluck salt-wort by the bushes; and the roots of the broom [are] their meat.
5 They are driven from the society of men; There is a cry after them as after a thief.
They are driven forth from the midst [of men]; they cry after them as after a thief.
6 They dwell in gloomy valleys, In caves of the earth and in rocks.
In the clefts of the valleys must they dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 They bray among the bushes; Under the brambles are they stretched out.
Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they are gathered together.
8 An impious and low-born race, They are beaten out of the land.
[They are] children of fools, yea, children of base men; they were scourged out of the land.
9 And now I am become their song; Yea, I am their by-word!
And now I am become their song, yea, I am a byword unto 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 spare not to spit in my face.
11 Yea, they let loose the reins, and humble me; They cast off the bridle before me.
For he hath loosed his cord, and afflicted me, and they have cast off the bridle before me.
12 On my right hand riseth up the brood; They thrust away my feet; They cast up against me their destructive ways.
Upon my right hand rise the rabble; they thrust aside my feet, and they cast up against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path; They hasten my fall, —They who have no helper!
They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, [even] men that have no helper.
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: in the midst of the ruin they roll themselves [upon me].
15 Terrors are turned against me; They pursue my prosperity like the wind, And my welfare passeth away like a cloud.
Terrors are turned upon me, they chase mine honour as the wind; and my welfare is passed away as a cloud.
16 And now my soul poureth itself out upon me; Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold upon 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.
By the great force [of my disease] is my garment disfigured: it bindeth 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 hath cast me into the mire, and I am 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 unto thee, and thou dost not answer me: I stand up, and thou lookest at me.
21 Thou art become cruel to me; With thy strong hand dost thou lie in wait for me.
Thou art turned to be cruel to me: with the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.
22 Thou liftest me up, and causest me to ride upon the wind; Thou meltest me away in the storm.
Thou liftest me up to the wind, thou causest me to ride [upon it]; and thou dissolvest 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 thou wilt bring me to death, and 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.
Surely against a ruinous heap he will not put forth his hand; though [it be] in his destruction, [one may utter] a cry because of these things.
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 that 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; and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27 My bowels boil, and have no rest; Days of anguish have come upon me.
My bowels boil, and rest not; days of affliction are come upon 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 is black, [and falleth] from me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31 My harp also is turned to mourning, And my pipe to notes of grief.
Therefore is my harp [turned] to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of them that weep.
