Job 30

1 “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 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 They were very poor and hungry, with the result that they chewed on roots [at night] in dry and desolate places.

4 They pulled up plants in the desert [and ate them] and warmed themselves by [burning] the roots of broom trees.

5 Everyone shouted at them as though they were thieves and expelled them [from their areas].

6 They were forced to live in caves in the hills, in holes in the ground, and in the sides of cliffs.

7 In the bushes they howled [like animals because they were hungry], and they huddled together under thornbushes.

8 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 their [children] sing songs to make fun of me. They tell jokes about me.

10 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 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 (Gangs/Groups of violent youths) attack me and force me to run away; they prepare to destroy me.

13 They prevent me from escaping, and they [do] not [need] anyone to help them (OR, there is no one to help me).

14 [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 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 I [SYN] am about to die [IDM]; I suffer every day.

17 My bones ache during the night, and the pain that torments me never stops.

18 [It is as though God] seizes my clothes and chokes me with the collar of my coat.

19 He has thrown me into the mud; I am [not worth anything more than] dust and ashes.

20 “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 He acts very cruelly toward me; with all of his power [MTY] he causes me to suffer.

22 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 he will cause me to die, which is what happens to everyone [MTY] who is alive.

24 “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 [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 expected good things [to happen to me], evil things happened; when I waited for light/happiness, all I experienced was darkness/unhappiness [MET].

27 I am very distressed [IDM], all the time; I suffer every day.

28 I go about very discouraged; I stand up and plead for people to help me.

29 My wailing sounds as sad as [MET] the cries of jackals/foxes and ostriches.

30 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 Previously, I played joyful music on my harp and with my flute, but now I play only the sad music of those who mourn.”