Job 30

1 But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy my shepherd dogs.

2 Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term was lost.

3 childless in want and famine, they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.

4 Who compass the salt places on the sounding , who had salt for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.

5 Thieves have risen up against me,

6 whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.

7 They will cry out among the rustling .

8 sons of fools and vile men, name and glory quenched from off the earth.

9 But now I am their music, and they have me for a by-word.

10 And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.

11 For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.

12 They have risen up against on the right hand of offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.

13 My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.

14 And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.

15 My pains return upon ; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.

16 Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.

17 And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.

18 With great force has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.

19 And thou hast counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.

20 And I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: but they stood still, and observed me.

21 They attacked me also without mercy: thou hast scourged me with a strong hand.

22 And thou hast put me to grief, and hast cast me away from safety.

23 For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house for every mortal.

24 Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.

25 Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.

26 But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.

27 My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.

28 I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.

29 I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.

30 And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat.

31 My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.

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.