Job 30

1 But now the younger in time scorn me, whose fathers I would not have set with the dogs of my flock:

2 The strength of whose hands was to me as nothing, and they were thought unworthy of life itself.

3 Barren with want and hunger, who gnawed in the wilderness, disfigured with calamity and misery.

4 And they ate grass, and barks of trees, and the root of junipers was their food.

5 Who snatched up these things out of the valleys, and when they had found any of them, they ran to them with a cry.

6 They dwelt in the desert places of torrents, and in caves of earth, or upon the gravel.

7 They pleased themselves among these kind of things, and counted it delightful to be under the briers.

8 The children of foolish and base men, and not appearing at all upon the earth.

9 Now I am turned into their song, and am become their byword.

10 They abhor me, and flee far from me, and are not afraid to spit in my face.

11 For he hath opened his quiver, and hath afflicted me, and hath put a bridle into my mouth.

12 At the right hand of my rising, my calamities forthwith arose: they have overthrown my feet, and have overwhelmed me with their paths as with waves.

13 They have destroyed my ways, they have lain in wait against me, and they have prevailed, and there was none to help.

14 They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and a gate opened, and have rolled themselves down to my miseries.

15 I am brought to nothing: as a wind thou hast taken away my desire: and my prosperity hath passed away like a cloud.

16 And now my soul fadeth within myself, and the days of affliction possess me.

17 In the night my bone is pierced with sorrows: and they that feed upon me, do not sleep.

18 With the multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they have girded me about, as with the collar of my coat.

19 I am compared to dirt, and am likened to embers and ashes.

20 I cry to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand up, and thou dost not regard me.

21 Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of thy hand thou art against me.

22 Thou hast lifted me up, and set me as it were upon the wind, and thou hast mightily dashed me.

23 I know that thou wilt deliver me to death, where a house is appointed for every one that liveth.

24 But yet thou stretchest not forth thy hand to their consumption: and if they shall fall down thou wilt save.

25 I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.

26 I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for light, and darkness broke out.

27 My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of affliction have prevented me.

28 I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the crowd.

29 I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches.

30 My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with heat.

31 My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those that weep.

Job 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.