Job 30

¹ But now they hold me in derision who are younger in years than I; Whose fathers I should have disdained to rank with the dogs of my flock.

² Such strength as they had, to me meant nought; they were utterly destitute.

³ In want and hunger was their lot, they who fled to the parched wastelands:

⁴ They plucked saltwort and shrubs; the roots of the broom plant were their food.

⁵ They were banished from among men, with an outcry like that against a thief--

⁶ To dwell on the slopes of the wadies, in caves of sand and stone;

⁷ Among the bushes they raised their raucous cry; under the nettles they huddled together.

⁸ Irresponsible, nameless men, they were driven out of the land.

⁹ Yet now they sing of me in mockery; I am become a byword among them.

¹⁰ They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, they do not hesitate to spit in my face!

¹¹ Indeed, they have loosed their bonds; they lord it over me, and have thrown off restraint in my presence.

¹² To subvert my paths they rise up; they build their approaches for my ruin.

¹³ To destroy me, they attack with none to stay them;

¹⁴ as through a wide breach they advance. Amid the uproar they come on in waves;

¹⁵ over me rolls the terror. My dignity is borne off on the wind, and my welfare vanishes like a cloud.

¹⁶ My soul ebbs away from me;

¹⁷ My frame takes no rest by night; my inward parts seethe and will not be stilled.

¹⁸ One with great power lays hold of my clothing; by the collar of my tunic he seizes me:

¹⁹ He has cast me into the mire; I am leveled with the dust and ashes.

²⁰ I cry to you, but you do not answer me; you stand off and look at me,

²¹ Then you turn upon me without mercy and with your strong hand you buffet me.

²² You raise me up and drive me before the wind; I am tossed about by the tempest.

²³ Indeed I know you will turn me back in death to the destined place of everyone alive.

²⁴ Yet should not a hand be held out to help a wretched man in his calamity?

²⁵ Or have I not wept for the hardships of others; was not my soul grieved for the destitute?

²⁶ Yet when I looked for good, then evil came; when I expected light, then came darkness.

²⁷ days of affliction have overtaken me.

²⁸ I go about in gloom, without the sun; I rise up in public to voice my grief.

²⁹ I have become the brother of jackals, companion to the ostrich.

³⁰ My blackened skin falls away from me; the heat scorches my very frame.

³¹ My harp is turned to mourning, and my reed pipe to sounds of weeping.