Chapter 30

But now [they that are] younger ³¹¹⁷ than I have me in derision,¹ whose fathers I would have disdained¹ to have set² with the dogs of my flock.

Yea, whereto [might] the strength of their hands [profit] me, in whom old age was perished?¹

For want and famine [they were] solitary; fleeing⁶ into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

Who cut up⁵ mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots [for] their meat.

They were driven forth²⁹ from among [men], (they cried⁵⁵ after them as [after] a thief;)

To dwell² in the clifts of the valleys, [in] caves of the earth, and [in] the rocks.

Among the bushes they brayed;⁴ under the nettles they were gathered together.²⁹

[They were] children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler⁸ than the earth.

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

They abhor¹⁴ me, they flee far¹ from me, and spare¹ not to spit in my face.

Because he hath loosed¹⁴ my cord, and afflicted¹⁷ me, they have also let loose¹⁴ the bridle before me.

Upon [my] right [hand] rise⁴ the youth; they push away¹⁴ my feet, and they raise up⁴ against me the ways of their destruction.

They mar¹ my path, they set forward⁵⁵ my calamity, ¹⁹⁶² they have no helper.⁶

They came⁴ [upon me] as a wide breaking in [of waters]: in the desolation they rolled¹¹⁵ themselves [upon me].

Terrors are turned⁹⁰ upon me: they pursue⁴ my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away¹ as a cloud.

And now my soul is poured out¹⁰¹ upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.⁴

My bones are pierced¹⁴ in me in the night season: and my sinews⁶ take no rest.⁴

By the great force [of my disease] is my garment changed:¹⁰¹ it bindeth me about⁴ as the collar of my coat.

He hath cast⁵² me into the mire, and I am become like¹⁰¹ dust and ashes.

I cry¹⁷ unto thee, and thou dost not hear⁴ me: I stand up,¹ and thou regardest¹¹³ me [not].

Thou art become¹¹ cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest⁴ thyself against me.

Thou liftest me up⁴ to the wind; thou causest me to ride⁵⁵ [upon it], and dissolvest³⁴ my substance. ^{7738 17}

For I know¹ [that] thou wilt bring⁵⁵ me [to] death, and [to] the house appointed for all living.

Howbeit he will not stretch out⁴ [his] hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.

Did not I weep¹ for him that was in trouble? ³¹¹⁷ was [not] my soul grieved¹ for the poor?

When I looked¹⁴ for good, then evil came⁴ [unto me]: and when I waited¹⁷ for light, there came⁴ darkness.

My bowels boiled,²⁷ and rested¹ not: the days of affliction prevented¹⁴ me.

I went¹⁴ mourning⁶ without the sun: I stood up,¹ [and] I cried¹⁷ in the congregation.

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. ³²⁸⁴

My skin is black¹ upon me, and my bones are burned¹ with heat.

My harp also is [turned] to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.⁶