Job 30:1-7

1 Mais, maintenant, des hommes plus jeunes que moi se moquent de moi, des hommes dont je n'aurais pas daigné mettre les pères avec les chiens de mon troupeau.
2 Et qu'aurais-je pu faire de la force de leurs mains? En eux avait péri toute vigueur.
3 Exténués par la disette et la faim, ils broutent les lieux arides, depuis longtemps désolés et déserts.
4 Ils cueillent l'herbe sauvage près des buissons, et la racine des genêts est leur nourriture.
5 On les chasse du milieu des hommes; on crie après eux comme après un larron;
6 Ils habitent dans des torrents affreux, dans les trous de la terre, et parmi les rochers.
7 On les entend braire dans les buissons, ils s'étendent pêle-mêle sous les chardons;

Job 30:1-7 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.

The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.