(KJV) Job 30¹

⥃Job’s Honor Turned to Contempt

[1] But now [they that are²] younger than I³ have me in derision, whose⁴ fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. [2] Yea, whereto [might] the strength of their hands [profit] me, in whom old age was perished? [3] For want and famine [they were] solitary⁵; fleeing into⁶ the wilderness in former time⁷ desolate and waste. [4] Who cut up mallows⁸ by the bushes, and juniper roots⁹ [for] their meat¹⁰. [5] They were driven¹¹ forth from among [men], (they cried after them as [after] a thief;) [6] To dwell¹² in the clifts of the valleys, [in] caves¹³ of the earth, and [in] the rocks. [7] Among the bushes they brayed¹⁴; under the nettles¹⁵ they were gathered together. [8] [They were] children¹⁶ of fools¹⁷, yea, children of base men¹⁸: they were viler¹⁹ than the earth. [9] And now am I²⁰ their song, yea, I am their byword. [10] They abhor me²¹, they flee far²² from me, and spare not to spit in my face²³. [11] Because he hath loosed²⁴ my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose²⁵ the bridle before me. [12] Upon [my] right [hand] rise²⁶ the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up²⁷ against me the ways of their destruction. [13] They mar my path, they set forward²⁸ my calamity, they have no helper. [14] They came [upon me] as a wide²⁹ breaking in [of waters]: in the desolation they rolled themselves [upon me].

⥃Job’s Prosperity Becomes Calamity

[15] Terrors³⁰ are turned upon me: they pursue my soul³¹ as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud³². [16] And now my soul³³ is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold³⁴ upon me. [17] My bones³⁵ are pierced in me in the night season³⁶: and my sinews take no rest. [18] By the great³⁷ force [of my disease] is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat. [19] He hath cast me³⁸ into the mire, and I am become like dust³⁹ and ashes. [20] I cry⁴⁰ unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me [not]. [21] Thou art become cruel⁴¹ to me: with thy strong hand⁴² thou opposest thyself against me. [22] Thou liftest me⁴³ up to the wind; thou causest me to ride⁴⁴ [upon it], and dissolvest my substance⁴⁵. [23] For I know [that] thou wilt bring me [to] death, and [to] the house⁴⁶ appointed for all living. [24] Howbeit he will not stretch out [his] hand to the grave⁴⁷, though they cry⁴⁸ in his destruction. [25] Did not I⁴⁹ weep for him that was in trouble⁵⁰? was⁵¹ [not] my soul grieved for the poor? [26] When I looked⁵² for good, then evil came [unto me]: and when I waited for light⁵³, there came darkness. [27] My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.⁵⁴ [28] I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, [and] I cried in the congregation.⁵⁵ [29] I am a brother⁵⁶ to dragons, and a companion to owls⁵⁷. [30] My skin⁵⁸ is black upon me, and my bones⁵⁹ are burned with heat. [31] My harp also is [turned] to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep. ⁶⁰