Job’s calamity – Book of Job, chapter 30

Job shews the wonderful change of his temporal estate, from welfare to great calamity.

[1] But now the younger in time scorn me, whose fathers I would not have set with the dogs of my flock: [2] The strength of whose hands was to me as nothing, and they were thought unworthy of life itself. [3] Barren with want and hunger, who gnawed in the wilderness, disfigured with calamity and misery. [4] And they ate grass, and barks of trees, and the root of junipers was their food. [5] Who snatched up these things out of the valleys, and when they had found any of them, they ran to them with a cry.

[6] They dwelt in the desert places of torrents, and in caves of earth, or upon the gravel. [7] They pleased themselves among these kind of things, and counted it delightful to be under the briers. [8] The children of foolish and base men, and not appearing at all upon the earth. [9] Now I am turned into their song, and am become their byword. [10] They abhor me, and flee far from me, and are not afraid to spit in my face.

[11] For he hath opened his quiver, and hath afflicted me, and hath put a bridle into my mouth. [12] At the right hand of my rising, my calamities forthwith arose: they have overthrown my feet, and have overwhelmed me with their paths as with waves. [13] They have destroyed my ways, they have lain in wait against me, and they have prevailed, and there was none to help. [14] They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and a gate opened, and have rolled themselves down to my miseries. [15] I am brought to nothing: as a wind thou hast taken away my desire: and my prosperity hath passed away like a cloud.

[16] And now my soul fadeth within myself, and the days of affliction possess me. [17] In the night my bone is pierced with sorrows: and they that feed upon me, do not sleep. [18] With the multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they have girded me about, as with the collar of my coat. [19] I am compared to dirt, and am likened to embers and ashes. [20] I cry to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand up, and thou dost not regard me.

[21] Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of thy hand thou art against me. [22] Thou hast lifted me up, and set me as it were upon the wind, and thou hast mightily dashed me. [23] I know that thou wilt deliver me to death, where a house is appointed for every one that liveth. [24] But yet thou stretchest not forth thy hand to their consumption: and if they shall fall down thou wilt save. [25] I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.

[26] I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for light, and darkness broke out. [27] My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of affliction have prevented me. [28] I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the crowd. [29] I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches. [30] My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with heat.

[31] My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those that weep.

Commentary

[1] “But now the younger in time”: That is, younger than I am, and as it were obscure, when I was conspicuous and in magnificence; they now look down on me.

[29] “Brother of dragons”: Imitating these creatures in their lamentable noise.