Job 30

1 »¡Y ahora resulta que de mí se burlanjovencitos a cuyos padres no habría puestoni con mis perros ovejeros!

2 ¿De qué me habría servido la fuerza de sus manos,si no tenían ya fuerza para nada?

3 Retorciéndose de hambre y de necesidad,rondaban^[a] en la noche por tierras desoladas,por páramos deshabitados.

4 En las breñas recogían hierbas amargasy comían^[b] raíces de retama.

5 Habían sido excluidos de la comunidad,acusados a gritos como ladrones.

6 Se vieron obligados a viviren el lecho de los arroyos secos,entre las grietas y en las cuevas.

7 Bramaban entre los matorrales,se amontonaban entre la maleza.

8 Gente vil, generación infame,fueron expulsados de la tierra.

9 »¡Y ahora resulta que soy tema de sus parodias!¡Me he vuelto su hazmerreír!

10 Les doy asco, y se alejan de mí;no vacilan en escupirme en la cara.

11 Ahora que Dios me ha humillado por completo,no se refrenan en mi presencia.

12 A mi derecha, me ataca el populacho;^[c]tienden trampas a mis piesy levantan rampas de asalto para atacarme.

13 Han irrumpido en mi camino;sin ayuda de nadie han logrado destruirme.^[d]

14 Avanzan como a través de una brecha;irrumpen entre las ruinas.

15 El terror me ha sobrecogido;mi dignidad se esfuma como el viento,¡mi salvación se desvanece como las nubes!

16 »Y ahora la vida se me escapa;me oprimen los días de sufrimiento.

17 La noche me taladra los huesos;el dolor que me corroe no tiene fin.

18 Como con un manto, Dios me envuelve con su poder;me ahoga como el cuello de mi ropa.

19 Me arroja con fuerza en el fango,y me reduce a polvo y ceniza.

20 »A ti clamo, oh Dios, pero no me respondes;me hago presente, pero tú apenas me miras.

21 Implacable, te vuelves contra mí;con el poder de tu brazo me atacas.

22 Me arrebatas, me lanzas al^[e] viento;me arrojas al ojo de la tormenta.

23 Sé muy bien que me harás bajar al sepulcro,a la morada final de todos los vivientes.

24 »Pero nadie golpea al que está derrotado,al que en su angustia reclama auxilio.

25 ¿Acaso no he llorado por los que sufren?¿No me he condolido por los pobres?

26 Cuando esperaba lo bueno, vino lo malo;cuando buscaba la luz, vinieron las sombras.

27 No cesa la agitación que me invade;me enfrento a días de sufrimiento.

28 Ando apesadumbrado, pero no a causa del sol;me presento en la asamblea, y pido ayuda.

29 He llegado a ser hermano de los chacales,compañero de las lechuzas.

30 La piel se me ha requemado, y se me cae;el cuerpo me arde por la fiebre.

31 El tono de mi arpa es de lamento,el son de mi flauta es de tristeza.

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]. "rondaban" . Alt. "roían" .
• [b]. "comían" . Alt. "se calentaban con" .
• [c]. "populacho" . Palabra de difícil traducción.
• [d]. "sin ayuda " "… " "destruirme" . Alt. "han logrado destruirme, y dicen: “Nadie puede ayudarlo”."
• [e]. "me lanzas al" . Lit. "me haces cabalgar sobre el" .

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.