Job 30
1But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, 1 Now they reprove me in their turn, 1 Whose fathers I set at nought; 1 Whom I did not deem worthy to be with my shepherd dogs. 1
2Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? 1 For them the full term of life was lost. 1
3One is childless in want and famine, 1 Such as they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought. 1
4Who compass the salt places on the sounding shore, 1 Who had salt herbs for their food, 1 And were dishonorable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; 1 Who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger. 1
5Thieves have risen up against me, 1
6Whose houses were the caves of the rocks, 1 Who lived under the wild shrubs. 1
7They will cry out among the rustling bushes. 1
8They are sons of fools and vile men, 1 Whose name and glory are quenched from off the earth. 1
9But now I am their music, 1 And they have me for a byword. 1
10And they stood aloof and abhorred me, 1 And spared not to spit in my face. 1
11For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: 1 They also have cast off the restraint of my presence. 1
12They have risen up against me on the right hand of their offspring; 1 They have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction. 1
13My paths are ruined; 1 For they have stripped off my raiment: 1 He has shot at me with his weapons. 1
14And he has pleaded against me as he will: 1 I am overwhelmed with pains. 1
15My pains return upon me; 1 My hope is gone like the wind, 1 And my safety as a cloud. 1
16Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; 1 And days of anguish seize me. 1
17And by night my bones are confounded; 1 And my sinews are relaxed. 1
18With great force my disease has taken hold of my garment: 1 It has compassed me as the collar of my coat. 1
19And thou hast counted me as clay; 1 My portion is in dust and ashes. 1
20And I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: 1 But they stood still, and observed me. 1
21They attacked me also without mercy: 1 Thou hast scourged me with a strong hand. 1
22And thou hast put me to grief, 1 And hast cast me away from safety. 1
23For I know that death will destroy me: 1 For the earth is the house appointed for every mortal. 1
24Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, 1 Or at least ask another, and he should do this for me. 1
25Yet I wept over every helpless man; 1 I groaned when I saw a man in distress. 1
26But I, when I waited for good things, 1 Behold, days of evils came the more upon me. 1
27My belly boiled, and would not cease: 1 The days of poverty prevented me. 1
28I went mourning without restraint: 1 And I have stood and cried out in the assembly. 1
29I am become a brother of monsters, 1 And a companion of ostriches. 1
30And my skin has been greatly blackened, 1 And my bones are burned with heat. 1
31My harp also has been turned into mourning, 1 And my song into my weeping.