Job's Fall into Scorn

Job 30

Job now describes being mocked by the worthless sons of men he once disdained, and laments his physical torment, sleepless nights, and cries to God that go unanswered. His former joy has turned to mourning and his harp to weeping.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonBUT now the meanest have me in derision: now, those undertake to admonish me; whose fathers I held in contempt: whom I did not think worthy the dogs of my flocks.

BrentonBut now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in their turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy to be with my shepherd dogs.

GreekΝυνὶ δὲ κατεγέλασάν μου ἐλάχιστοι, νῦν νουθετοῦσί με ἐν μέρει, ὧν ἐξουδένουν τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν, οὓς οὐχ ἡγησάμην ἀξίους κυνῶν τῶν ἐμῶν νομάδων.

KJVBut 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.

JPSBut now they that are younger than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

ThomsonWhat indeed was the strength of their hands to me? Destruction would have been lost upon them.

BrentonYea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term of life was lost.

GreekΚαί γε ἰσχὺς χειρῶν αὐτῶν ἱνατί μοι; ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἀπώλετο συντέλεια.

KJVYea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

JPSYea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me? Men in whom ripe age is perished.

ThomsonBy reason of want and famine it was useless. Already they were fleeing ineffectually from distress and misery—

BrentonOne is childless in want and famine, such as they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.

GreekἘν ἐνδείᾳ καὶ λιμῷ ἄγονος, οἱ φεύγοντες ἄνυδρον ἐχθὲς συνοχὴν καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonthey were crowding round the samphire on the sounding shore; and feeding on sea-weeds as their food; despicable and contemned and in want of everything good, they through extreme want were chewing even the roots of trees.

BrentonWho compass the salt places on the sounding shore, who had salt herbs for their food, and were dishonourable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.

GreekΟἱ περικυκλοῦντες ἄλιμα ἐπὶ ἠχοῦντι, οἵτινες ἄλιμα ἦν αὐτῶν τὰ σῖτα, ἄτιμοι δὲ καὶ πεφαυλισμένοι, ἐνδεεῖς παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ, οἳ καὶ ῥὶζας ξύλων ἐμασσῶντο ὑπὸ λιμοῦ μεγάλου.

KJV—

JPSThey pluck salt-wort with wormwood; And the roots of the broom are their food.

ThomsonAgainst me thieves have risen up,

BrentonThieves have risen up against me,

GreekἘπανέστησάν μοι κλέπται,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonwhose habitations were the clefts of rocks.

Brentonwhose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.

Greekὧν οἱ οἶκοι αὐτῶν ἦσαν τρῶγλαι πετρῶν·

KJVTo dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonThey will cry out among the rustling bushes.

GreekἈναμέσον εὐήχων βοήσονται οἳ ὑπὸ φρύγανα ἄγρια διῃτῶντο.

KJVAmong the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

JPSAmong the bushes they bray; Under the nettles they are gathered together.

ThomsonA race of fools and despicable wretches, whose name and honour are extinguished from the earth.

BrentonThey are sons of fools and vile men, whose name and glory are quenched from off the earth.

GreekἈφρόνων υἱοὶ καὶ ἀτίμων, ὄνομα καὶ κλέος ἐσβεσμένον ἀπὸ γῆς.

KJVThey were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

JPS—

ThomsonBut now I am become their song: and they have me for their byword:

BrentonBut now I am their music, and they have me for a by-word.

GreekΝυνὶ δὲ κιθάρα ἐγώ εἰμι αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐμὲ θρύλλημα ἔχουσιν.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand have abhorred me and stood at a distance: and have not spared to spit in my face.

BrentonAnd they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.

GreekἘβδελύξαντο δέ με ἀποστάντες μακρὰν, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ προσώπου μου οὐκ ἐφείσαντο πτύελον.

KJVThey abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

JPSThey abhor me, they flee far from me, And spare not to spit in my face.

ThomsonBecause He opened His quiver and afflicted me: therefore they have cast off the restraint, which they were under at my presence.

BrentonFor he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.

GreekἈνοίξας γὰρ φαρέτραν αὐτοῦ ἐκάκωσέ με, καὶ χαλινὸν τοῦ προσώπου μου ἐξαπέστειλεν.

KJVBecause he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.

JPSFor He hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, And they have cast off the bridle before me.

ThomsonAt the right of their brood they have taken their stand: they have stretched out their foot; and vindicated against me their destructive ways.

BrentonThey have risen up against me on the right hand of their offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.

GreekἘπὶ δεξιῶν βλαστοῦ ἐπανέστησαν, πόδα αὐτῶν ἐξέτειναν, καὶ ὡδοποίησαν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ· τρίβους ἀπωλείας αὐτῶν.

KJVUpon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.

JPSUpon my right hand rise the brood; They entangle my feet, And they cast up against me their ways of destruction.

Thomson—

BrentonMy paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.

GreekἘξετρίβησαν τρίβοι μου, ἐξέδυσαν γάρ μου τὴν στολήν·

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.

Greekβέλεσιν αὐτοῦ κατηκόντισέ με. Κέκριται δέ μοι ὡς βούλεται, ἐν ὀδύναις πέφυρμαι.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonMy sorrows roll back upon me. My hope is gone like a breath, and like a cloud, my safety.

BrentonMy pains return upon me; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.

GreekἘπιστρέφονταί μου αἱ ὀδύναι, ᾤχετό μου ἡ ἐλπὶς ὥσπερ πνεῦμα, καὶ ὥσπερ νέφος ἡ σωτηρία μου.

KJVTerrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

JPSTerrors are turned upon me, They chase mine honour as the wind; And my welfare is passed away as a cloud.

Thomson—

BrentonEven now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἐκχυθήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου, ἔχουσιν δέ με ἡμέραι ὀδυνῶν.

KJVAnd now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

JPSAnd now my soul is poured out within me; Days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

ThomsonAnd now my soul is melting within me. Days of sorrow take hold of me; and at night my bones are melted and my sinews are quite dissolved.

BrentonAnd by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.

GreekΝυκτὶ δέ μου τὰ ὀστᾶ συγκέχυται, τὰ δὲ νεῦρά μου διαλέλυται.

KJVMy bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.

JPSIn the night my bones are pierced, and fall from me, And my sinews take no rest.

ThomsonWith great force He took hold of my garment; and girded me about like the collar of my vest.

BrentonWith great force my disease has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.

GreekἘν πολλῇ ἰσχύϊ ἐπελάβετό μου τῆς στολῆς, ὥσπερ τὸ περιστόμιον τοῦ χιτῶνός μου περιέσχε με.

KJVBy the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

JPSBy the great force [of my disease] is my garment disfigured; It bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

ThomsonThou hast accounted me as dirt: and my portion is in dust and ashes.

BrentonAnd thou hast counted me as clay; my portion is in dust and ashes.

GreekἭγησαι δέ με ἴσα πηλῷ, ἐν γῇ καὶ σποδῷ μου ἡ μερίς.

KJVHe hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.

JPSHe hath cast me into the mire, And I am become like dust and ashes.

ThomsonThough I have cried to Thee, Thou hearest me not: but they stood up and observed me;

BrentonAnd I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: but they stood still, and observed me.

GreekΚέκραγα δὲ πρὸς σὲ καὶ οὐκ ἀκούεις μου, ἔστησαν δὲ καὶ κατενόησάν με.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand came upon me without mercy. Thou hast chastised me with a heavy hand;

BrentonThey attacked me also without mercy: thou hast scourged me with a strong hand.

GreekἘπέβησαν δέ μοι ἀνελεημόνως, χειρὶ κραταιᾷ με ἐμαστίγωσας.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand placed me among sorrows; and cast me away far from safety.

BrentonAnd thou hast put me to grief, and hast cast me away from safety.

GreekἜταξας δέ με ἐν ὀδύναις, καὶ ἀπέῤῥιψάς με ἀπὸ σωτηρίας.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor I know that death will destroy me: for earth is the house for every mortal.

BrentonFor I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house appointed for every mortal.

GreekΟἶδα γὰρ ὅτι θάνατός με ἐκτρίψει, οἰκία γὰρ παντὶ θνητῷ γῆ.

KJVFor I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

JPSFor I know that Thou wilt bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.

ThomsonFor O! how I wish that I might lay violent hands on myself; or beseech another to do this for me.

BrentonOh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.

GreekΕἰ γὰρ ὄφελον δυναίμην ἐμαυτὸν χειρώσασθαι, ἢ δεηθείς γε ἑτέρου, καὶ ποιήσει μοι τοῦτο.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAs for me I indeed wept for everyone in trouble; and sighed, when I saw a man in distress.

BrentonYet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.

GreekἘγὼ δὲ ἐπὶ παντὶ ἀδυνάτῳ ἔκλαυσα, ἐστέναξα ἰδὼν ἄνδρα ἐν ἀνάγκαις·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut when I expected prosperity: behold days of affliction came upon me.

BrentonBut I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.

Greekἐγὼ δὲ ἐπέχων ἀγαθοῖς, ἰδοὺ συνήντησάν μοι μᾶλλον ἡμέραι κακῶν.

KJVWhen I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

JPSYet, when I looked for good, there came evil; And when I waited for light, there came darkness.

ThomsonMy bowels have boiled and could not rest: days of misery have prevented me.

BrentonMy belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.

GreekἩ κοιλία μου ἐξέζεσε καὶ οὐ σιωπήσεται, προέφθασάν με ἡμέραι πτωχείας.

KJVMy bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.

JPS—

ThomsonI have gone mourning without restraint; and have stood in the congregation and cried.

BrentonI went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.

GreekΣτένων πεπόρευμαι ἄνευ φιμοῦ, ἕστηκα δὲ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ κεκραγώς.

KJVI went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.

JPSI go mourning without the sun; I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.

ThomsonI have been made a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.

BrentonI am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.

GreekἈδελφὸς γέγονα σειρήνων, ἑταῖρος δὲ στρουθῶν.

KJVI am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

JPSI am become a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.

ThomsonMy skin is become very black; and my bones are burning with heat.

BrentonAnd my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat.

GreekΤὸ δὲ δέρμα μου ἐσκότωται μεγάλως, τὰ δὲ ὀστᾶ μου ἀπὸ καύματος.

KJVMy skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

JPSMy skin is black, and falleth from me, And my bones are burned with heat.

ThomsonMy kithara is turned into mourning, and my song to wailing for myself.

BrentonMy harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.

GreekἈπέβη δὲ εἰς πένθος μου ἡ κιθάρα, ὁ δὲ ψαλμός μου εἰς κλαυθμὸν ἐμοί.

KJVMy harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

JPSTherefore is my harp turned to mourning, And my pipe into the voice of them that weep.