Job 30:1-11

1 "But now men who are younger than I make fun of me. I would not have even let their fathers sit with my sheep dogs.
2 What use did I have for their strength since they had lost their strength to work?
3 They were thin from hunger and wandered the dry and ruined land at night.
4 They gathered desert plants among the brush and ate the root of the broom tree.
5 They were forced to live away from people; people shouted at them as if they were thieves.
6 They lived in dried up streambeds, in caves, and among the rocks.
7 They howled like animals among the bushes and huddled together in the brush.
8 They are worthless people without names and were forced to leave the land.
9 "Now they make fun of me with songs; my name is a joke among them.
10 They hate me and stay far away from me, but they do not mind spitting in my face.
11 God has taken away my strength and made me suffer, so they attack me with all their anger.

Job 30:1-11 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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.