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Cry of Great Agony

30 “But now they mock me—those younger than me,
whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.
Moreover, what use was the strength of their hands to me,
    since their vigor has gone from them.
Haggard from want and hunger,
    they gnaw the parched land,
    in former time desolate and waste.
In the brush they pluck salt herbs,
    and their food was from the root of the broom tree.
They were banished from society,
    shouted at as if they were thieves,
so they were forced to dwell in wadis,
    in holes of the earth and among the rocks.
They brayed among the bushes
    and huddled under the nettles.
A senseless and nameless brood,
    they were cast out from the land.
“So now I have become their taunt song;
    I have become a byword to them.
10 They despise me;
    they keep their distance from me;
    they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Because He has loosened my cord and afflicted me,
they have cast off restraint in my presence
12 On my right the rabble rise up;
    they entangle my feet
    and build up their destructive paths against me.
13 They break up my path;
    they succeed in destroying me without anyone helping them.
14 As through a wide breach they come;
    amid the ruins they come rolling in.
15 Terrors are turned on me;
    they chase away my honor like the wind,
    and like a cloud my deliverance vanishes.
16 “And now my soul is poured out within me;
    days of suffering have taken hold of me.
17 Night pierces my bones within me;
    my gnawing pains never rest.
18 By great power He seizes my garment;
    He binds me like the collar of my tunic.
19 He has cast me into the mud,
    and I have become like dust and ashes.

20 “I cry out to You, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, but You only look at me.
21 You have turned on me cruelly;
    You attack me with the might of Your hand.
22 You lift me up on the wind
    and make me ride on it;
    You toss me about in the storm.
23 For I know that you will bring me to death,
    to the house appointed for all the living.
24 Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out His hand,
    and in his distress cry for help?
25 Have I not wept for the unfortunate?
    Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 Yet, when I hoped for good, evil came;
when I waited for light, then darkness came.
27 “My heart[a] seethes and never stops;
    days of suffering confront me.
28 I walk about blackened, but not by the sun;
I stand in the assembly and cry for help.
29 I have become a brother to jackals,
    and a companion to ostriches.
30 My skin has turned black on me;
    my bones burn with heat.
31 My harp is for mourning
    and my flute for the sound of weeping.

Footnotes

  1. Job 30:27 Lit. loins.

30 1 Job complaineth that he is contemned of the most contemptible, 11, 21 because of his adversity and affliction. 23 Death is the house of all flesh.

But now they that are younger than I, [a]mock me: yea, they whose fathers I have refused to set with the [b]dogs of my flocks.

For whereto should the strength of their hands have served me, seeing age [c]perished in them?

For poverty and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wilderness, which is dark, desolate and waste.

They cut up [d]nettles by the bushes, and the juniper roots was their meat.

They were [e]chased forth from among men: they shouted at them, as at a thief.

Therefore they dwelt in the clefts of rivers, in the holes of the earth and rocks.

They roared among the bushes, and under the thistles they gathered themselves.

They were the children of fools, and the children of villains, which were more vile than the earth.

And now am I their [f]song, and I am their talk.

10 They abhor me, and flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

11 Because that God hath loosed my [g]cord and humbled me, [h]they have loosed the bridle before me.

12 The youth rise up at my right hand: they have pushed my feet, and have trode on me as on the [i]paths of their destruction.

13 They have destroyed my paths: they took pleasure at my calamity, they had no [j]help.

14 They came as a great breach of waters, and [k]under this calamity they come on heaps.

15 Fear is turned upon me: and they pursue my soul as the wind, and mine health passeth away as a cloud.

16 Therefore my soul is now [l]poured out upon me, and the days of affliction have taken hold on me.

17 [m]It pierceth my bones in the night, and my sinews take no rest.

18 For the great vehemency is my garments changed, which compasseth me about, as the collar of my coat.

19 [n]He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like ashes and dust.

20 When I cry unto thee, thou dost not hear me, neither regardest me, when I stand up.

21 Thou turnest thyself [o]cruelly against me, and art enemy unto me with the strength of thine hand.

22 Thou takest me up and causest me to ride upon the [p]wind, and makest my [q]strength to fail.

23 Surely I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all the living.

24 Doubtless none can stretch his hand [r]unto the grave, though they cry in his destruction.

25 Did not I weep with him that was in trouble? was not my soul in heaviness for the poor?

26 Yet when I looked for good, [s]evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

27 My bowels did boil without rest: for the days of affliction are come upon me.

28 I went mourning [t]without sun: I stood up in the Congregation [u]and cried.

29 I am a brother to the [v]Dragons, and a companion to the Ostriches.

30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burnt with [w]heat.

31 Therefore mine harp is turned to mourning, and mine organs into the voice of them that weep.

Footnotes

  1. Job 30:1 That is, mine estate is changed, and whereas before the ancient men were glad to do me reverence, the young men now contemn me.
  2. Job 30:1 Meaning to be my shepherds, or to keep my dogs.
  3. Job 30:2 That is, their fathers died for famine before they came to age.
  4. Job 30:4 Or, mallows.
  5. Job 30:5 Job showeth that these that mocked him in his affliction, were like to their fathers, wicked and lewd fellows, such as he here describeth.
  6. Job 30:9 They make songs of me, and mock at my misery.
  7. Job 30:11 God hath taken from me the force, credit, and authority wherewith I kept them in subjection.
  8. Job 30:11 He said that the young men when they saw him, hid themselves, as Job 29:8, and now in his misery they were impudent and licentious.
  9. Job 30:12 That is, they sought by all means how they might destroy me.
  10. Job 30:13 They need none to help them.
  11. Job 30:14 By my calamity they took an occasion against me.
  12. Job 30:16 My life faileth me, and I am as half dead.
  13. Job 30:17 Meaning, sorrow.
  14. Job 30:19 That is, God hath brought me into contempt.
  15. Job 30:21 He speaketh not thus to accuse God, but to declare the vehemency of his affliction, whereby he was carried beside himself.
  16. Job 30:22 He compareth his afflictions to a tempest or whirlwind.
  17. Job 30:22 Or, wisdom, or law.
  18. Job 30:24 None can deliver me thence, though they lament at my death.
  19. Job 30:26 Instead of comforting they mocked at me.
  20. Job 30:28 Not delighting in any worldly thing, no not so much as in the use of the Sun.
  21. Job 30:28 Lamenting them that were in affliction, and moving others to pity them.
  22. Job 30:29 I am like the wild beasts that desire most solitary places.
  23. Job 30:30 With the heat of affliction.

30 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.

Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.

They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)

To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.

12 Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.

13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.

14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

15 Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.

18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: 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.

20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

21 Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.

23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.

25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

26 When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

27 My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.

28 I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.

29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

Job’s Wealth Now Poverty

30 “But now they mock at me, men [a]younger than I,
Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me?
Their vigor has perished.
They are gaunt from want and famine,
Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,
Who pluck [b]mallow by the bushes,
And broom tree roots for their food.
They were driven out from among men,
They shouted at them as at a thief.
They had to live in the clefts of the [c]valleys,
In [d]caves of the earth and the rocks.
Among the bushes they brayed,
Under the nettles they nestled.
They were sons of fools,
Yes, sons of vile men;
They were scourged from the land.

“And(A) now I am their taunting song;
Yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they keep far from me;
They do not hesitate (B)to spit in my face.
11 Because (C)He has loosed [e]my bowstring and afflicted me,
They have cast off restraint before me.
12 At my right hand the rabble arises;
They push away my feet,
And (D)they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path,
They promote my calamity;
They have no helper.
14 They come as broad breakers;
Under the ruinous storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are turned upon me;
They pursue my honor as the wind,
And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.

16 “And(E) now my soul is (F)poured out because of my plight;
The days of affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night,
And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great force my garment is disfigured;
It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire,
And I have become like dust and ashes.

20 “I (G)cry out to You, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You regard me.
21 But You have become cruel to me;
With the strength of Your hand You (H)oppose me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it;
You spoil my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death,
And to the house (I)appointed for all living.

24 “Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins,
If they cry out when He destroys it.
25 (J)Have I not wept for him who was in trouble?
Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 (K)But when I looked for good, evil came to me;
And when I waited for light, then came darkness.
27 [f]My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest;
Days of affliction confront me.
28 (L)I go about mourning, but not in the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 (M)I am a brother of jackals,
And a companion of ostriches.
30 (N)My skin grows black and falls from me;
(O)My bones burn with fever.
31 My harp is turned to mourning,
And my flute to the voice of those who weep.

Footnotes

  1. Job 30:1 Lit. of fewer days
  2. Job 30:4 A plant of the salty marshes
  3. Job 30:6 wadis
  4. Job 30:6 Lit. holes
  5. Job 30:11 So with MT, Syr., Tg.; LXX, Vg. His
  6. Job 30:27 I seethe inside

30 “But now they mock me,(A)
    men younger than I,
whose fathers I would have disdained
    to put with my sheep dogs.(B)
Of what use was the strength of their hands to me,
    since their vigor had gone from them?
Haggard from want and hunger,
    they roamed[a] the parched land(C)
    in desolate wastelands(D) at night.(E)
In the brush they gathered salt herbs,(F)
    and their food[b] was the root of the broom bush.(G)
They were banished from human society,
    shouted at as if they were thieves.
They were forced to live in the dry stream beds,
    among the rocks and in holes in the ground.(H)
They brayed(I) among the bushes(J)
    and huddled in the undergrowth.
A base and nameless brood,(K)
    they were driven out of the land.(L)

“And now those young men mock me(M) in song;(N)
    I have become a byword(O) among them.
10 They detest me(P) and keep their distance;
    they do not hesitate to spit in my face.(Q)
11 Now that God has unstrung my bow(R) and afflicted me,(S)
    they throw off restraint(T) in my presence.
12 On my right(U) the tribe[c] attacks;
    they lay snares(V) for my feet,(W)
    they build their siege ramps against me.(X)
13 They break up my road;(Y)
    they succeed in destroying me.(Z)
    ‘No one can help him,’ they say.
14 They advance as through a gaping breach;(AA)
    amid the ruins they come rolling in.
15 Terrors(AB) overwhelm me;(AC)
    my dignity is driven away as by the wind,
    my safety vanishes like a cloud.(AD)

16 “And now my life ebbs away;(AE)
    days of suffering grip me.(AF)
17 Night pierces my bones;
    my gnawing pains never rest.(AG)
18 In his great power(AH) God becomes like clothing to me[d];
    he binds me like the neck of my garment.
19 He throws me into the mud,(AI)
    and I am reduced to dust and ashes.(AJ)

20 “I cry out to you,(AK) God, but you do not answer;(AL)
    I stand up, but you merely look at me.
21 You turn on me ruthlessly;(AM)
    with the might of your hand(AN) you attack me.(AO)
22 You snatch me up and drive me before the wind;(AP)
    you toss me about in the storm.(AQ)
23 I know you will bring me down to death,(AR)
    to the place appointed for all the living.(AS)

24 “Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man(AT)
    when he cries for help in his distress.(AU)
25 Have I not wept for those in trouble?(AV)
    Has not my soul grieved for the poor?(AW)
26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came;
    when I looked for light, then came darkness.(AX)
27 The churning inside me never stops;(AY)
    days of suffering confront me.(AZ)
28 I go about blackened,(BA) but not by the sun;
    I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.(BB)
29 I have become a brother of jackals,(BC)
    a companion of owls.(BD)
30 My skin grows black(BE) and peels;(BF)
    my body burns with fever.(BG)
31 My lyre is tuned to mourning,(BH)
    and my pipe(BI) to the sound of wailing.

Footnotes

  1. Job 30:3 Or gnawed
  2. Job 30:4 Or fuel
  3. Job 30:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  4. Job 30:18 Hebrew; Septuagint power he grasps my clothing