Job 30:16-31

16 "And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.

17 The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest.

18 With violence he seizes my garment; he grasps me by the collar of my tunic.

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

20 I cry to you and you do not answer me; I stand, and you merely look at me.

21 You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me.

22 You lift me up on the wind, you make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.

23 I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

24 "Surely one does not turn against the needy, when in disaster they cry for help.

25 Did I not weep for those whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?

26 But when I looked for good, evil came; and when I waited for light, darkness came.

27 My inward parts are in turmoil, and are never still; days of affliction come to meet me.

28 I go about in sunless gloom; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.

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

30 My skin turns black and falls from me, and my bones burn with heat.

31 My lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.

Job 30:16-31 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Gk: Heb [my garment is disfigured]
• [b] Heb [like]
• [c] Heb [ruin]
• [d] Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain