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 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 Of what use to me would be even the strength of their hands, To whom old age is 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 By want and hunger they are famished; They gnaw the dry desert, The darkness of desolate wastes.
They were very poor and hungry, with the result that they chewed on roots [at night] in dry and desolate places.
4 They gather purslain among the bushes, And the root of the broom is their bread.
They pulled up plants in the desert [and ate them] and warmed themselves by [burning] the roots of broom trees.
5 They are driven from the society of men; There is a cry after them as after a thief.
Everyone shouted at them as though they were thieves and expelled them [from their areas].
6 They dwell in gloomy valleys, In caves of the earth and in rocks.
They were forced to live in caves in the hills, in holes in the ground, and in the sides of cliffs.
7 They bray among the bushes; Under the brambles are they stretched out.
In the bushes they howled [like animals because they were hungry], and they huddled together under thornbushes.
8 An impious and low-born race, They are beaten out of the land.
They were people without good sense, whose names no one knows; they have been expelled from the land [where they were born].
9 And now I am become their song; Yea, I am their by-word!
“And now their [children] sing songs to make fun of me. They tell jokes about me.
10 They abhor me, they stand aloof from me; They forbear not to spit before 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 Yea, they let loose the reins, and humble me; They cast off the bridle before me.
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 On my right hand riseth up the brood; They thrust away my feet; They cast up against me their destructive ways.
(Gangs/Groups of violent youths) attack me and force me to run away; they prepare to destroy me.
13 They break up my path; They hasten my fall, —They who have no helper!
They prevent me from escaping, and they [do] not [need] anyone to help them (OR, there is no one to help me).
14 They come upon me as through a wide breach; Through the ruins they rush in upon me.
[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 Terrors are turned against me; They pursue my prosperity like the wind, And my welfare passeth away like 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 And now my soul poureth itself out upon me; Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
“And now I [SYN] am about to die [IDM]; I suffer every day.
17 By night my bones are pierced; they are torn from me, And my gnawers take no rest.
My bones ache during the night, and the pain that torments me never stops.
18 Through the violence of my disease is my garment changed; It bindeth me about like the collar of my tunic.
[It is as though God] seizes my clothes and chokes me with the collar of my coat.
19 He hath cast me into the mire, And I am become like dust and ashes.
He has thrown me into the mud; I am [not worth anything more than] 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 out to God, but he does not answer/help me; I stand up [and pray], but he does not pay any attention.
21 Thou art become cruel to me; With thy strong hand dost thou lie in wait for me.
He acts very cruelly toward me; with all of his power [MTY] he causes me to suffer.
22 Thou liftest me up, and causest me to ride upon the wind; Thou meltest me away in the storm.
He [allows] the wind to lift me up and blow me away, and he tosses me up and down in a violent storm.
23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death, To the place of assembly for all the living.
I know that he will cause me to die, which is what happens to everyone [MTY] who is alive.
24 When He stretcheth out his hand, prayer availeth nothing; When He bringeth destruction, vain is the cry for help.
“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 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
[That is what I did previously]. I wept for people who were experiencing troubles, and I felt sorry for poor/needy people.
26 But when I looked for good, then evil came; When I looked for light, then came darkness.
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 bowels boil, and have no rest; Days of anguish have come upon me.
I am very distressed [IDM], all the time; I suffer every day.
28 I am black, but not by the sun; I stand up, and utter my cries in the congregation.
I go about very discouraged; I stand up and plead for people to help me.
29 I am become a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.
My wailing sounds as sad as [MET] the cries of jackals/foxes and ostriches.
30 My skin is black, and falleth from me, And my bones burn 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 is turned to mourning, And my pipe to notes of grief.
Previously, I played joyful music on my harp and with my flute, but now I play only the sad music of those who mourn.”
