Job 30

1 “But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

They pluck salt-wort by the bushes; and the roots of the broom [are] their meat.

5 They are driven out from among men. They cry after them as after a thief,

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

6 so that they live in frightful valleys, and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.

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

7 They bray among the bushes. They are gathered together under the nettles.

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

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

[They are] children of fools, yea, children of base men; they were scourged out of the land.

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

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

10 They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and do not hesitate to spit in my face.

They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

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

For he hath loosed his cord, and afflicted me, and they have cast off the bridle before me.

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

Upon my right hand rise the rabble; they thrust aside my feet, and they cast up against me their ways of destruction.

13 They mar my path. They promote my destruction without anyone’s help.

They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, [even] men that have no helper.

14 As through a wide breach they come. They roll themselves in amid the ruin.

As through a wide breach they come: in the midst of the ruin they roll themselves [upon me].

15 Terrors have turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.

Terrors are turned upon me, they chase mine honour as the wind; and my welfare is passed away as a cloud.

16 “Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold of me.

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

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

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

18 My garment is disfigured by great force. It binds me about as the collar of my tunic.

By the great force [of my disease] is my garment disfigured: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

19 He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.

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

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

I cry unto thee, and thou dost not answer me: I stand up, and thou lookest at me.

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

Thou art turned to be cruel to me: with the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.

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

Thou liftest me up to the wind, thou causest me to ride [upon it]; and thou dissolvest me in the storm.

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

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

24 “However does not one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?

Surely against a ruinous heap he will not put forth his hand; though [it be] in his destruction, [one may utter] a cry because of these things.

25 Did not I weep for him who was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?

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

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

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

27 My heart is troubled, and does not rest. Days of affliction have come on me.

My bowels boil, and rest not; days of affliction are come upon 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 a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.

I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.

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

My skin is black, [and falleth] from me, and my bones are burned with heat.

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

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