Iyov 30

1 0 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose avot I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my tzon.

2 Yea, what use was the koach of their hands to me, since their vigor hath perished?

3 For choser (want, lack) and hunger they gnawed the parched ground desolate and waste.

4 They cut up mallow plants by the bushes, and juniper roots for their lechem.

5 They were banished from among men, (they shouted after them as after a ganav);

6 To dwell in the clefts of the wadis, in holes of aphar, and in the rocks.

7 Among the bushes they brayed; tachat (under) the underbrush they were huddled together.

8 They were bnei naval, yea, sons of base men; they were driven forth out of ha’aretz.

9 And atah (now) am I their mocking song, yea, I am their byword.

10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not rok (spit) in my face [Mt 26:67].

11 Because He hath loosed my bowstring, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the resen (bridle) before me.

12 Upon my yamin (right hand) rise up the rabble; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.

13 They break up my road, they set forward my overthrow, they have no ozer (helper).

14 They approach me as through a wide breach; in the shoah (desolation, Holocaust), they rolled themselves upon me.

15 Ballahot (terrors) are turned upon me; they pursue my dignity like the ruach, and my safety passeth away like a cloud.

16 And now my nefesh ebbs away from me; the yemei oni have taken hold upon me.

17 My atzmot are pierced in me in the night, and my gnawing pains take no rest.

18 By great koach is my garment disfigured; it bindeth me about like the collar of my kuttonet (chiton, robe).

19 He hath cast me into the chomer, and I am become like aphar and ashes.

20 I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost answer me lo (not); I stand up, and Thou regardest me not.

21 Thou art become cruel to me; with Thy strong yad Thou opposest Thyself against me.

22 Thou liftest me up to the ruach; Thou causest me to drive along, and vanish in the roaring of the storm.

23 For I know that Thou wilt bring me down to mavet, to the bais mo’ed l’khol chai.

24 Yet will not one stretch out his yad in a heap of ruin, or cry out for help in his disaster.

25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my nefesh grieved for the evyon (needy)?

26 When I looked for tov, then rah came unto me; and when I waited for ohr, there came ofel (darkness).

27 My bowels boiled, and rested not; yemei oni met me.

28 I went mourning without the sun; I stood up, and I cried out in the kahal.

29 I am an ach to jackals, and a re’a to owls.

30 My ohr (skin) grows black upon me, and my atzmot are burned with fever.

31 My kinnor (harp) also is turned to evel (mourning), and my flute into the voice of them that weep.

Iyov 30 Commentary

Chapter 30

Job's honour is turned into contempt. (1-14) Job a burden to himself. (15-31)

Verses 1-14 Job contrasts his present condition with his former honour and authority. What little cause have men to be ambitious or proud of that which may be so easily lost, and what little confidence is to be put in it! We should not be cast down if we are despised, reviled, and hated by wicked men. We should look to Jesus, who endured the contradiction of sinners.

Verses 15-31 Job complains a great deal. Harbouring hard thoughts of God was the sin which did, at this time, most easily beset Job. When inward temptations join with outward calamities, the soul is hurried as in a tempest, and is filled with confusion. But woe be to those who really have God for an enemy! Compared with the awful state of ungodly men, what are all outward, or even inward temporal afflictions? There is something with which Job comforts himself, yet it is but a little. He foresees that death will be the end of all his troubles. God's wrath might bring him to death; but his soul would be safe and happy in the world of spirits. If none pity us, yet our God, who corrects, pities us, even as a father pitieth his own children. And let us look more to the things of eternity: then the believer will cease from mourning, and joyfully praise redeeming love.

Chapter Summary

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.