< 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. 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] 3 They were very poor and hungry, with the result that they chewed on roots [at night] in dry and desolate places. 4 They pulled up plants in the desert [and ate them] and warmed themselves by [burning] the roots of broom trees. 5 Everyone shouted at them as though they were thieves and expelled them [from their areas]. 6 They were forced to live in caves in the hills, in holes in the ground, and in the sides of cliffs. 7 In the bushes they howled [like animals because they were hungry], and they huddled together under thornbushes. 8 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 their [children] sing songs to make fun of me. They tell jokes about me. 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. 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. 12 (Gangs/Groups of violent youths) attack me and force me to run away; they prepare to destroy me. 13 They prevent me from escaping, and they [do] not [need] anyone to help them (OR, there is no one to help me). 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. 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. 16 “And now I [SYN] am about to die [IDM]; I suffer every day. 17 My bones ache during the night, and the pain that torments me never stops. 18 [It is as though God] seizes my clothes and chokes me with the collar of my coat. 19 He has thrown me into the mud; I am [not worth anything more than] 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. 21 He acts very cruelly toward me; with all of his power [MTY] he causes me to suffer. 22 He [allows] the wind to lift me up and blow me away, and he tosses me up and down in a violent storm. 23 I know that he will cause me to die, which is what happens to everyone [MTY] who is alive. 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. 25 [That is what I did previously]. I wept for people who were experiencing troubles, and I felt sorry for poor/needy people. 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]. 27 I am very distressed [IDM], all the time; I suffer every day. 28 I go about very discouraged; I stand up and plead for people to help me. 29 My wailing sounds as sad as [MET] the cries of jackals/foxes and 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. 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.”

< Job 30 >