Job 30:10-20

10 They 1abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to 2spit at the sight of me.
11 Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, they have cast off restraint[a] in my presence.
12 On my 3right hand the rabble rise; they push away my feet; they 4cast up against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path; they promote my 5calamity; they need no one to help them.
14 As through a wide 6breach they come; amid the crash they roll on.
15 7Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like 8a cloud.
16 "And now my soul is 9poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 10The night 11racks my bones, and the pain that 12gnaws me takes no rest.
18 With great force my garment is 13disfigured; it binds me about like the collar of my tunic.
19 God[b] has cast me into the mire, and I have become like 14dust and ashes.
20 I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me.

Job 30:10-20 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.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Psalms 88:8; [Job 17:6]
  • 2. Numbers 12:14; Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67; Matthew 27:30
  • 3. Psalms 109:6
  • 4. Job 19:12
  • 5. Job 6:2
  • 6. Job 16:14
  • 7. See Job 18:11
  • 8. Job 7:9; Isaiah 44:22
  • 9. 1 Samuel 1:15; [Job 10:1]
  • 10. [Job 7:3]
  • 11. Job 33:19
  • 12. ver. 3
  • 13. [1 Samuel 28:8; 1 Kings 20:38]
  • 14. Job 42:6; [Genesis 18:27]

Footnotes 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.