Job 30:7-17

7 Among the bushes they bray; And under the nettles they are gathered together.
8 They are children of fools, yes, children of base men. They were flogged out of the land.
9 "Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
10 They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, And don't hesitate to spit in my face.
11 For he has loosed his cord, and afflicted me; And they have thrown off restraint before me.
12 On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet, They cast up against me their ways of destruction.
13 They mar my path, They set forward my calamity, Without anyone's help.
14 As through a wide breach they come, In the midst of the ruin they roll themselves in.
15 Terrors are turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
16 "Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold on me.
17 In the night season my bones are pierced in me, And the pains that gnaw me take no rest.

Job 30:7-17 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.

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