Job 30:17-27

17 In [the] night my bone is pierced with sorrows; and they, that eat me (who eat me), sleep not.

18 In the multitude of those my cloth is wasted (In the multitude of them my cloak is destroyed), and they have girded me (about) as with the collar of a coat.

19 I am comparisoned to clay, and I am made like to a dead spark and ashes.

20 I shall cry to thee, and thou shalt not hear me; I stand, and thou beholdest not me. (I cry to thee, but thou hearest me not/but thou answerest me not; I stand up, but thou seest me not.)

21 Thou art changed into cruel to me, and in the hardness of thine hand thou art adversary to me. (Thou art cruel towards me, and with thy hard hand thou hast become an adversary to me.)

22 Thou hast raised me, and hast set me as on (the) wind; and hast hurtled me down strongly. (Thou hast raised me up, and set me on the wind; and then thou hast strongly hurtled me down.)

23 I know, that thou shalt betake me to death, where an house is ordained to each living man. (I know that thou shalt deliver me unto death, where a house is ordained for each man who liveth.)

24 Nevertheless thou sendest not out thine hand to the wasting of them; and if they fall down, thou shalt save them.

25 I wept sometime on him that was tormented, and my soul had compassion on a poor man. (There were times when I wept over those who were tormented, and my soul had compassion for the poor.)

26 I abode goods, and evils be come to me; I abode light, and darknesses brake out. (And I waited for good things, but only evil came to me; I waited for the light, but only darkness broke out.)

27 Mine inner things boiled out without my rest (My innards, or my bowels, boiled without any rest); and [the] days of torment came before me.

Job 30:17-27 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.