Job 30:24

“Surely one does not stretch out his hand against a broken man ¹  when he cries for help in his distress. ² 

"Surely no-one lays a hand on a broken man when he cries for help in his distress.

"Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, Or in his disaster therefore cry out for help?

"Surely no one would turn against the needy when they cry for help.

"What did I do to deserve this? Did I ever hit anyone who was calling for help?

Has not my hand been stretched out in help to the poor? have I not been a saviour to him in his trouble?

"Surely one does not turn against the needy, when in disaster they cry for help.

"Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins, If they cry out when He destroys it .

“Surely one does not stretch out his hand against a broken man ¹  when he cries for help in his distress. ² 

¹ tc Here is another very difficult verse, as is attested by the differences among commentaries and translations. The MT has “surely not against a ruinous heap will he [God] put forth his [God’s] hand.” But A. B. Davidson takes Job as the subject, reading “does not one stretch out his hand in his fall?” The RSV suggests a man walking in the ruins and using his hand for support. Dillmann changed it to “drowning man” to say “does not a drowning man stretch out his hand?” Beer has “have I not given a helping hand to the poor?” Dhorme has, “I did not strike the poor man with my hand.” Kissane follows this but retains the verb form, “one does not strike the poor man with his hand.”

² tc The second colon is also difficult; it reads, “if in his destruction to them he cries.” E. Dhorme (Job, 425-26) explains how he thinks “to them” came about, and he restores “to me.” This is the major difficulty in the line, and Dhorme’s suggestion is the simplest resolution.