Job 30:3-13

3 For want and famine they walked alone; fleeing into solitude, to the dark place, desolate and waste.

4 Who cut up mallows among the bushes and juniper roots for their food.

5 They were driven forth from among men (they cried after them as after a thief).

6 They dwelt in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

8 They were sons of fools and men without names; they were lower than the earth.

9 And now I am their song, and I am their byword.

10 They abhor me, they distance themselves from me, and do not spare to spit in my face.

11 Because God has loosed my cord and afflicted me, they have also gone out of control before my face.

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

13 They cast down my path, they took advantage of my calamity, against them there was no helper.

Job 30:3-13 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.