Job 30:19-29

19 "He has cast me into the 1mire, And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 "I 2cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me.
21 "You have become cruel to me; With the might of Your hand You 3persecute me.
22 "You 4lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride; And You dissolve me in a storm.
23 "For I know that You 5will bring me to death And to the 6house of meeting for all living.
24 "Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, Or in his disaster therefore 7cry out for help?
25 "Have I not 8wept for the one whose life is hard? Was not my soul grieved for 9the needy?
26 "When I 10expected good, then evil came; When I waited for light, 11then darkness came.
27 "I am seething 12within and cannot relax; Days of affliction confront me.
28 "I go about 13mourning without comfort; I stand up in the assembly and 14cry out for help.
29 "I have become a brother to 15jackals And a companion of ostriches *.

Job 30:19-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 30

Job in this chapter sets forth his then unhappy state and condition, in contrast with his former state of prosperity described in the preceding chapter: things had taken a strange turn, and were just the reverse of what they were before; he that was before in such high esteem and credit with all sorts of men, young and old, high and low, rich and poor, now is had in derision by the meanest and basest of men, whose characters are described, Job 30:1-8; and the instances of their contempt of him by words and gestures are given, Job 30:9-14; he who enjoyed so much ease of mind, and health of body, is now filled with distresses of soul, and bodily diseases, Job 30:15-19; and he who enjoyed so much of the presence of God, and communion with him, and of his love and favour, was now disregarded, and, as he thought, cruelly used by him, who not only had destroyed his substance, but was about to bring him to the grave, Job 30:20-24; all which came upon him, though he had a sympathizing heart with the poor, and them that were in trouble, and when he expected better things, Job 30:25-28; and he close the chapter, lamenting his sad and sorrowful circumstances, Job 30:29-31.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Psalms 69:2, 14
  • 2. Job 19:7
  • 3. Job 10:3; Job 16:9, 14; Job 19:6, 22
  • 4. Job 9:17; Job 27:21
  • 5. Job 9:22; Job 10:8
  • 6. Job 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:5
  • 7. Job 19:7
  • 8. Psalms 35:13, 14; Romans 12:15
  • 9. Job 24:4
  • 10. Job 3:25, 26; Jeremiah 8:15
  • 11. Job 19:8
  • 12. Lamentations 2:11
  • 13. Job 30:31; Psalms 38:6; Psalms 42:9; Psalms 43:2
  • 14. Job 19:7
  • 15. Psalms 44:19; Micah 1:8

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Lit "turned to be"
  • [b]. Lit "hard of day"
  • [c]. Lit "My inward parts are boiling"
  • [d]. Or "blackened, but not by the heat of the sun"
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