Job 30

Job contrasts his present humiliation with his former honor. Those younger than he now mock him, the outcasts make him their byword, and God has cast him into the mire. He cries out to God but receives no answer; his skin is black and his bones burn with fever.

v	King James Version	Modern English
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.	"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.
2	Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?	Yes, where to might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
3	For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.	For want and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
4	Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.	Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
5	They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)	They were driven forth from among men (they cried after them as after a thief),
6	To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.	to live in the clefts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
7	Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.	Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
8	They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.	They were children of fools, yes, children of base men; they were viler than the earth.
9	And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.	And now I am their song, yes, I am their byword.
10	They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.	They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
11	Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.	Because he has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before 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 hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
13	They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.	They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
14	They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.	They came on me as a wide breaking in of waters; in the desolation they rolled themselves on me.
15	Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.	Terrors are turned on me; they pursue my soul as the wind, and my welfare passes away as a cloud.
16	And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.	And now my soul is poured out on me; the days of affliction have taken hold on me.
17	My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.	My bones are pierced in me in the night season, and my sinews take no rest.
18	By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.	By the great force of my disease is my garment changed; it binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19	He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.	He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
20	I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.	I cry to you, and you do not hear me; I stand up, and you do not regard me.
21	Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.	You have become cruel to me; with your strong hand you oppose yourself 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 to the wind; you cause me to ride on it, and dissolve my substance.
23	For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.	For I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
24	Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.	However he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
25	Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?	Did I not weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26	When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.	When I looked for good, then evil came to me; and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27	My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.	My bowels boiled, and did not rest; the days of affliction prevented me.
28	I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.	I went mourning without the sun; I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
29	I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.	I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
30	My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.	My skin is black on me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31	My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.	My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep."