Job 30

1 "But now they mock at me, men younger than I, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.

2 Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me? Their vigor has perished.

3 They are gaunt from want and famine, Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,

4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes, And broom tree roots for their food.

5 They were driven out from among men, They shouted at them as at a thief.

6 They had to live in the clefts of the valleys, In caves of the earth and the rocks.

7 Among the bushes they brayed, Under the nettles they nestled.

8 They were sons of fools, Yes, sons of vile men; They were scourged from the land.

9 "And now I am their taunting song; Yes, I am their byword.

10 They abhor me, they keep far from me; They do not hesitate to spit in my face.

11 Because He has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off restraint before me.

12 At my right hand the rabble arises; They push away my feet, And they raise against me their ways of destruction.

13 They break up my path, They promote my calamity; They have no helper.

14 They come as broad breakers; Under the ruinous storm they roll along.

15 Terrors are turned upon me; They pursue my honor as the wind, And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.

16 "And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; The days of affliction take hold of me.

17 My bones are pierced in me at night, And my gnawing pains take no rest.

18 By great force my garment is disfigured; It binds me about as the collar of my coat.

19 He has cast me into the mire, And I have become like dust and ashes.

20 "I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me.

21 But You have become cruel to me; With the strength of Your hand You oppose me.

22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it; You spoil my success.

23 For I know that You will bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.

24 "Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins, If they cry out when He destroys it.

25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?

26 But when I looked for good, evil came to me; And when I waited for light, then came darkness.

27 My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest; Days of affliction confront me.

28 I go about mourning, but not in the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.

29 I am a brother of jackals, And a companion of ostriches.

30 My skin grows black and falls from me; My bones burn with fever.

31 My harp is turned to mourning, And my flute to the voice of those who 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read His.

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.