Job 30

1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

"But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.

2 Yea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me? men in whom ripe age is perished.

Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men in whom ripe age has perished?

3 They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of wasteness and desolation.

They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.

4 They pluck salt-wort with wormwood; and the roots of the broom are their food.

They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom are their food.

5 They are driven forth from the midst of men; they cry after them as after a thief.

They are driven out from the midst of men. They cry after them as after a thief;

6 In the clefts of the valleys must they dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.

So that they dwell in frightful valleys, and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.

7 Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they are gathered together.

Among the bushes they bray; and under the nettles they are gathered together.

8 They are children of churls, yea, children of ignoble men; they were scourged out of the land.

They are children of fools, yes, children of base men. They were flogged out of the land.

9 And now I am become their song, yea, I am a byword unto them.

"Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.

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

They abhor me, they keep their distance from me, and do not hesitate to spit in my face.

11 For He hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, and they have cast off the bridle before me.

For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me; and they have thrown off restraint before me.

12 Upon my right hand rise the brood; they entangle my feet, and they cast up against me their ways of destruction.

On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet, They cast up against me their ways of destruction.

13 They break up my path, they further my calamity, even men that have no helper.

They mar my path, They set forward my calamity, without anyone's help.

14 As through a wide breach they come; in the midst of the ruin they roll themselves upon me.

As through a wide breach they come, in the midst of the ruin they roll themselves in.

15 Terrors are turned upon me, they chase mine honour as the wind; and my welfare is passed away as 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 is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

"Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold on me.

17 In the night my bones are pierced, and fall from me, and my sinews take no rest.

In the night season my bones are pierced in me, and the pains that gnaw me take no rest.

18 By the great force of my disease is my garment disfigured; it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

By great force is my garment disfigured. It binds 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 has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.

20 I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost not answer me; I stand up, and Thou lookest at me.

I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.

21 Thou art turned to be cruel to me; with the might of Thy hand Thou hatest me.

You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.

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

You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.

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

For I know that you will bring me to death, To the house appointed for all living.

24 Surely none shall put forth his hand to a ruinous heap, neither because of these things shall help come in one's calamity,

"However doesn't one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?

25 If I have not wept for him that was in trouble, and if my soul grieved not for the needy.

Did I not weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn't my soul grieved for the needy?

26 Yet, when I looked for good, there came evil; and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

When I looked for good, then evil came; When I waited for light, there came darkness.

27 Mine inwards boil, and rest not; days of affliction are come upon me.

My heart is troubled, and doesn't rest. Days of affliction have come on me.

28 I go mourning without the sun; I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.

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 are burned with heat.

My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burned with heat.

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

Therefore my harp has turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.