My Harp Has Turned to Mourning

The words But now mark a sharp turn from chapter 29. Those who once honored Job are replaced by those who mock him. But now those who are younger than I have me in derision. Now I have become their song. They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and don't hesitate to spit in my face. Because God has afflicted him, they have thrown off restraint.

Job's inner life is shaken. Terrors have turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud. Now my soul is poured out within me. He feels that God has cast him into the mire and become like dust and ashes. He prays, I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me. Job even feels God has turned to be cruel to him. These are words of lament, spoken in pain, and God later corrects Job for darkening counsel (38:2) while still calling him His servant.

Job appeals to his past kindness: Didn't I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn't my soul grieved for the needy? When I looked for good, then evil came. When I waited for light, darkness came. My heart is troubled, and doesn't rest. I go mourning without the sun. Therefore my harp has turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep. Like the lament psalms, Job brings his grief directly to God.