Job

Explores the themes of suffering and faith through the story of Job, a man tested by losing everything.

Chapter 30

1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

*Now, younger people mock me, which I wouldn't have thought to be below the level of my sheep dogs, compared to their fathers.

2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

*So, why would the power of their hands help me when they are too old?

3 For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

*Because of hunger and scarcity, they were alone; in the past, they fled to the wilderness where it was empty and barren.

4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.

*Who chopped up marshmallow plants near the bushes, and ate juniper tree roots for food.

5 They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)

*They were forced to leave the people, (they shouted at them like chasing a thief;)

6 To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

*To live in valley cliffs, in earth's caves, and among rocks.

7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

*In the shrubs, they cried out; under the prickly plants, they came together.

8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

*They were kids of silly people, yes, offspring of low individuals; they were more despicable than the ground itself.

9 And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

*Now, I am their song, and I am their saying.

10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

*They really don't like me, they stay as far away as possible, and they don't hesitate to spit on my face.

11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.

*Because he untied my rope and caused me pain, they also removed the reins controlling me.

12 Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.

*On my right side are young people. They make me lose balance and they choose the path to their own ruin.

13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.

*They mess up my way, they bring me trouble, they don't have anyone to help them.

14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

*They suddenly overwhelmed me like a huge wave crashing down: in the emptiness, they covered me completely.

15 Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

*Terrifying things happen to me; they chase after me like the wind, and my well-being disappears like a cloud.

16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

*My soul is drained, suffering has gripped me tightly.

17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.

*In the night, my bones hurt a lot and my muscles don't get any rest.

18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

*My illness strongly affects my clothing, making it tight like a coat collar, binding me tightly.

19 He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.

*He threw me into the mud, and now I'm like dirt and ash.

20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

*I call out to you, but you don't listen: I stand before you, but you don't notice me.

21 Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

*You have become unfair to me: with your powerful hand, you are fighting against me.

22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.

*You lift me up for the wind to carry; you make me ride on it, and break down what I am made of.

23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

*I understand that you will lead me to death and to the home where all living beings go.

24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.

*However, he won't reach out his hand to death, even if they shout for his ruin.

25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

*Did I not cry for those in distress? Wasn't my soul sad for the needy?

26 When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

*When I searched for goodness, badness found me; and when I waited for brightness, darkness arrived instead.

27 My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.

*I felt extremely upset and couldn't calm down; the difficult times stopped me.

28 I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.

*I felt sad without sunlight. I stood up and cried in a group of people.

29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

*I'm like a dragon's sibling, and a friend to owls.

30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

*My skin is dark, and I'm feeling very hot, causing my bones to burn.

31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

*My instrument turns to sadness, and my keyboard becomes like the sound of those who cry.

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