Job 30

1 But men younger than I am make fun of me now! Their fathers have always been so worthless that I wouldn't let them help my dogs guard sheep.

2 They were a bunch of worn-out men, too weak to do any work for me.

3 They were so poor and hungry that they would gnaw dry roots - at night, in wild, desolate places.

4 They pulled up the plants of the desert and ate them, even the tasteless roots of the broom tree!

5 Everyone drove them away with shouts, as if they were shouting at thieves.

6 They had to live in caves, in holes dug in the sides of cliffs.

7 Out in the wilds they howled like animals and huddled together under the bushes.

8 A worthless bunch of nameless nobodies! They were driven out of the land.

9 Now they come and laugh at me; I am nothing but a joke to them.

10 They treat me with disgust; they think they are too good for me, and even come and spit in my face.

11 Because God has made me weak and helpless, they turn against me with all their fury.

12 This mob attacks me head-on; they send me running; they prepare their final assault.

13 They cut off my escape and try to destroy me; and there is no one to stop them.

14 They pour through the holes in my defenses and come crashing down on top of me;

15 I am overcome with terror; my dignity is gone like a puff of wind, and my prosperity like a cloud.

16 Now I am about to die; there is no relief for my suffering.

17 At night my bones all ache; the pain that gnaws me never stops.

18 God seizes me by my collar and twists my clothes out of shape.

19 He throws me down in the mud; I am no better than dirt.

20 I call to you, O God, but you never answer; and when I pray, you pay no attention.

21 You are treating me cruelly; you persecute me with all your power.

22 You let the wind blow me away; you toss me about in a raging storm.

23 I know you are taking me off to my death, to the fate in store for everyone.

24 Why do you attack a ruined man, one who can do nothing but beg for pity?

25 Didn't I weep with people in trouble and feel sorry for those in need?

26 I hoped for happiness and light, but trouble and darkness came instead.

27 I am torn apart by worry and pain; I have had day after day of suffering.

28 I go about in gloom, without any sunshine; I stand up in public and plead for help.

29 My voice is as sad and lonely as the cries of a jackal or an ostrich.

30 My skin has turned dark; I am burning with fever.

31 Where once I heard joyful music, now I hear only mourning and weeping.

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]. [Probable text] stop; [Hebrew] help.
• [b]. [Verse 24 in Hebrew is unclear.]

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.