Job 30

1 Bvt now they that are yonger then I, mocke me: yea, they whose fathers I haue refused to set with the dogges of my flockes.

“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 For whereto shoulde the strength of their handes haue serued mee, seeing age perished in them?

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 For pouertie and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wildernes, which is darke, desolate and waste.

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

4 They cut vp nettels by the bushes, and the iuniper rootes was their meate.

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

5 They were chased forth from among men: they shouted at them, as at a theefe.

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

6 Therfore they dwelt in the clefts of riuers, in the holes of the earth and rockes.

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

7 They roared among the bushes, and vnder the thistles they gathered themselues.

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

8 They were the children of fooles and the children of villaines, which were more vile then the earth.

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 am I their song, and I am their talke.

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

10 They abhorre me, and flee farre from mee, and spare not to spit in my face.

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 that God hath loosed my corde and humbled mee, they haue loosed the bridle before me.

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 The youth rise vp at my right hand: they haue pusht my feete, and haue trode on me as on the paths of their destruction.

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

13 They haue destroyed my paths: they tooke pleasure at my calamitie, they had none helpe.

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

14 They came as a great breach of waters, and vnder this calamitie they come on heapes.

[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 Feare is turned vpon mee: and they pursue my soule as the winde, and mine health passeth away as a cloude.

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 Therefore my soule is nowe powred out vpon me, and the dayes of affliction haue taken holde on me.

“And now I [SYN] am about to die [IDM]; I suffer every day.

17 It pearceth my bones in the night, and my sinewes take no rest.

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

18 For the great vehemencie is my garment changed, which compasseth me about as the colar of my coate.

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

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

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

20 Whe I cry vnto thee, thou doest not heare me, neither regardest me, when I stand vp.

“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 Thou turnest thy selfe cruelly against me, and art enemie vnto mee with the strength of thine hand.

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

22 Thou takest me vp and causest mee to ride vpon the winde, and makest my strength to faile.

He [allows] the wind to lift me up and blow me away, and he tosses me up and down in a violent storm.

23 Surely I knowe that thou wilt bring mee to death, and to the house appoynted for all the liuing.

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

24 Doubtles none can stretch his hand vnto the graue, though they cry in his destruction.

“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 Did not I weepe with him that was in trouble? was not my soule in heauinesse for the poore?

[That is what I did previously]. I wept for people who were experiencing troubles, and I felt sorry for poor/needy people.

26 Yet when I looked for good, euill came vnto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkenesse.

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 My bowels did boyle without rest: for the dayes of affliction are come vpon me.

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

28 I went mourning without sunne: I stood vp in the congregation and cryed.

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

29 I am a brother to the dragons, and a companion to the ostriches.

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

30 My skinne is blacke vpon me, and my bones are burnt with heate.

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 Therefore mine harpe is turned to mourning, and mine organs into the voyce of them that weepe.

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