Job 30

1 “But now [at this time, in this present moment] they mock [laugh at, scorn] me, men [people, individuals] younger [little, insignificant] than I am, whose fathers [ancestors, forefathers] I would have refused [disdained, rejected] to entrust [set, place] with my sheep dogs [the dogs of my flock, guardians of my sheep]. word study 2 What use [benefit or profit] to me was the strength [power or might] of their hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share], since their vigor [full strength or prime of life] had left [perished or was lost] them? word study 3 Gaunt [thin, wasted] from poverty [lack, destitution] and hunger [famine, severe want], they gnawed [to chew, to bite] the dry [barren, desolate] land, and the desolate [solitary, harsh] wasteland [wilderness, desolation] by night [in the darkness, last night]. word study 4 They plucked [cut up, cropped] mallow [a type of plant, salt-wort] among the shrubs [bushes, small plants], and the roots [underground part, source] of the broom tree [Spanish broom, juniper] were their food [meat, bread, sustenance]. word study 5 They were banished [driven forth, expelled] from among men [their townsmen, the community], shouted down [cried after, yelled at] like [as after] thieves [a thief, someone who takes things that don’t belong to them], word study 6 so that they lived [to dwell, reside] on the slopes [in the clifts, frightful places] of the wadis [brooks, valleys, rivers], among the rocks [hollow rocks, places of shelter] and in holes [caves, frightful valleys] in the ground [earth, dust, dry earth]. word study 7 They cried out [brayed, made noises like animals] among the shrubs [bushes, small plants] and huddled [gathered together, collected] beneath the nettles [thorns, thorny weeds, undergrowth]. word study 8 A senseless [foolish] and [without a name, nameless] nameless brood [sons of fools, people without good sense], they were [driven off, scourged out, forced out] driven off the [land, earth, territory] [from the very ground they stood on] land. word study 9 And now [at this time, currently] they mock me in [instrumental] song [music, melody]; I have become [exist as] a byword [a word of shame, a proverb] among them [to them, in their midst]. word study 10 They abhor [detest, have disgust for] me and keep [stand aloof, remove] far from me; they do not hesitate [spare not, withhold not] to spit [spittle, saliva] in my face [presence, before me]. word study 11 Because God [the Almighty, sovereign Ruler] has unstrung [loosed, cut] my bow [cord, strength] and afflicted [humbled, oppressed] me, they have cast off [let loose, thrown away] restraint [the bridle, control] in my presence [before my face, in my sight]. word study 12 The rabble [a brood or group of violent youths] arises at my right [hand, side, or direction]; they lay snares [to trap or deceive] for my feet [steps, path, or journey] and build [to construct or exalt] siege ramps [ways of destruction or calamity] against me [in opposition to, or as an enemy]. word study 13 They tear up [destroy] my path [road, journey]; they profit [gain, benefit] from my destruction [calamity, ruin], with no one [none, no helper] to restrain [help, aid] them [without anyone’s help]. word study 14 They advance [like a wide breaking in of waters, as through a great breach] as through a wide [broad, spacious] breach [a break or gap, like a hole in a wall]; through the ruins [desolation, devastation, a place laid waste] they keep rolling in [upon me, in a rolling motion, to bring something upon]. word study 15 Terrors [fears, dreadful events] are turned loose [overturned, changed completely] against me; they drive away [pursue, chase] my dignity [honor, nobility] as by the wind [a blast of air], and my prosperity [welfare, salvation] has passed [crossed over, transitioned] like a cloud [dark cloud, thicket]. word study 16 And now [at this time, in this moment] my soul [the essence of my being, living being] is poured out [to spill, shed, or empty] within me; days [a period of time, a season] of affliction [trouble, hardship, misery] grip [to grasp, take hold of, seize] me. word study 17 Night [period of darkness, adversity] pierces [digs into, penetrates] my bones [body, essence], and my gnawing [sharp, chewing] pains [sorrows, afflictions] never [at no time] rest [lie down, sleep]. word study 18 With great [abundant, mighty] force [strength, power] He grasps [seizes, takes hold of] my garment [clothing, attire]; He seizes [grips, binds] me by the collar [neck, mouth, kaph] of my tunic [long shirt, coat]. word study 19 He throws [casts, hurls] me into the mud [mire, clay, a heap of material like clay or mire], and I have become [am likened, to use a proverb or speak in a way that teaches a lesson] like dust [dry earth, clay, earth, or mortar] and ashes [worthless]. word study 20 I cry out [with a loud voice, to shout for help] to You [toward Your presence, for freedom from trouble] for help, but You do not [absent, without] answer; when I stand up [in a strong sense, like a soldier at attention], You merely [without response, gaze] look at me [to understand, discern my situation]. word study 21 You have ruthlessly turned [turned to be cruel] on me; You oppose [with hostility, in opposition] me with Your strong [mighty, powerful] hand [symbolizing power, direction]. word study 22 You snatch me up [lift, raise] into the wind [a blast of air] and drive me before it [cause me to ride upon it]; You toss me about [dissolve, melt] in the storm [intense, powerful tempest]. word study 23 Yes, I know [am certain, have assurance] that You will bring me down to [send me back to, deliver me to] death [the end of physical life, separation from the living], to the place [house, appointed meeting point] appointed [designated, ordained] for all [every, the entire] the living [those who have life, the alive]. word study 24 Yet no one [does not, will not] stretches out his hand [in help, to assist] to a ruined [desolate, fallen] man when he cries [calls out, shouts] for help [in distress, salvation] in his distress [calamity, trouble]. word study 25 Have I not [certainly, truly] wept [shed tears, cried out] for those in trouble [the afflicted, oppressed, or distressed]? Has my soul [living being, inner self] not [never, at no time] grieved [been sad, mourned, or felt sorrow] for the needy [poor, impoverished, or destitute, those in need of help]? word study 26 But when I hoped [expected, waited patiently] for good [pleasant, welfare], evil [bad, moral harm] came; when I looked [waited, expected] for light [happiness, spiritual illumination], darkness [gloom, spiritual gloom] fell. word study 27 I am churning [my bowels are boiling, intensely troubled] within and cannot rest [find no peace]; days [periods of time, seasons] of affliction [misery, hardship, trouble] confront [meet, come upon] me [overtake me, are before me]. word study 28 I go about [mourning, in dark clothing] blackened [uncomforted, without joy], but not by the [heat of the] sun. I stand up [rise, get up] in the [congregation, public place] assembly and cry [shout, call out] for help. word study 29 I have become [like] a brother [close relative, friend] of jackals [dragons, monsters], a companion [neighbor, friend] of ostriches [daughters of the ostrich, possibly other birds]. word study 30 My skin [black as with mourning, darkened] grows black [like leather, becomes dark] and peels [falls off, is shed], and my bones [the very essence of my being] burn [are scorched, experience intense heat] with fever [a burning heat, an inner fire]. word study 31 My harp [lyre] is tuned to mourning [lamenting, sorrow] and my flute [pipe, reed-pipe] to the sound [voice, noise] of weeping [crying, shedding tears]. word study