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.
“But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
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]
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men in whom ripe age has perished?
3 They were very poor and hungry, with the result that they chewed on roots [at night] in dry and desolate places.
They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
4 They pulled up plants in the desert [and ate them] and warmed themselves by [burning] the roots of broom trees.
They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom tree are their food.
5 Everyone shouted at them as though they were thieves and expelled them [from their areas].
They are driven out from among men. They cry after them as after a thief,
6 They were forced to live in caves in the hills, in holes in the ground, and in the sides of cliffs.
so that they live in frightful valleys, and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 In the bushes they howled [like animals because they were hungry], and they huddled together under thornbushes.
They bray among the bushes. They are gathered together under the nettles.
8 They were people without good sense, whose names no one knows; they have been expelled from the land [where they were born].
They are children of fools, yes, children of wicked men. They were flogged out of the land.
9 “And now their [children] sing songs to make fun of me. They tell jokes about me.
“Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
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.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and don’t hesitate 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.
For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me; and they have thrown off restraint before me.
12 (Gangs/Groups of violent youths) attack me and force me to run away; they prepare to destroy me.
On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet. They cast their ways of destruction up against me.
13 They prevent me from escaping, and they [do] not [need] anyone to help them (OR, there is no one to help me).
They mar my path. They promote my destruction without anyone’s help.
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.
As through a wide breach they come. They roll themselves in amid the ruin.
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.
Terrors have turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
16 “And now I [SYN] am about to die [IDM]; I suffer every day.
“Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 My bones ache during the night, and the pain that torments me never stops.
In the night season my bones are pierced in me, and the pains that gnaw me take no rest.
18 [It is as though God] seizes my clothes and chokes me with the collar of my coat.
My garment is disfigured by great force. It binds me about as the collar of my tunic.
19 He has thrown me into the mud; I am [not worth anything more than] dust and ashes.
He has cast me into the mire. I have become like 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.
I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.
21 He acts very cruelly toward me; with all of his power [MTY] he causes me to suffer.
You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
22 He [allows] the wind to lift me up and blow me away, and he tosses me up and down in a violent storm.
You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.
23 I know that he will cause me to die, which is what happens to everyone [MTY] who is alive.
For I know that you will bring me to death, to the house appointed for all living.
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.
“However doesn’t one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
25 [That is what I did previously]. I wept for people who were experiencing troubles, and I felt sorry for poor/needy people.
Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?
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].
When I looked for good, then evil came. When I waited for light, darkness came.
27 I am very distressed [IDM], all the time; I suffer every day.
My heart is troubled, and doesn’t rest. Days of affliction have come on me.
28 I go about very discouraged; I stand up and plead for people to help me.
I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29 My wailing sounds as sad as [MET] the cries of jackals/foxes and ostriches.
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to 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.
My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burned with heat.
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.”
Therefore my harp has turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.
