Job 30:20-30

20 Je crie vers toi, et tu ne me réponds pas; Je me tiens debout, et tu me lances ton regard.
21 Tu deviens cruel contre moi, Tu me combats avec la force de ta main.
22 Tu me soulèves, tu me fais voler au-dessus du vent, Et tu m'anéantis au bruit de la tempête.
23 Car, je le sais, tu me mènes à la mort, Au rendez-vous de tous les vivants.
24 Mais celui qui va périr n'étend-il pas les mains? Celui qui est dans le malheur n'implore-t-il pas du secours?
25 N'avais-je pas des larmes pour l'infortuné? Mon coeur n'avait-il pas pitié de l'indigent?
26 J'attendais le bonheur, et le malheur est arrivé; J'espérais la lumière, et les ténèbres sont venues.
27 Mes entrailles bouillonnent sans relâche, Les jours de la calamité m'ont surpris.
28 Je marche noirci, mais non par le soleil; Je me lève en pleine assemblée, et je crie.
29 Je suis devenu le frère des chacals, Le compagnon des autruches.
30 Ma peau noircit et tombe, Mes os brûlent et se dessèchent.

Job 30:20-30 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.

The Louis Segond 1910 is in the public domain.