< Job 32 >

1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Forsothe these thre men leften of to answere Joob, for he semyde a iust man to hem.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
And Helyu, the sone of Barachel Buzites, of the kynrede of Ram, was wrooth, and hadde indignacioun; forsothe he was wrooth ayens Joob, for he seide hym silf to be iust bifor God.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Sotheli Helyu hadde indignacioun ayens the thre frendis of hym, for thei hadden not founde resonable answere, but oneli hadde condempned Joob.
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.
Therfor Helyu abood Joob spekynge, for thei, that spaken, weren eldere men.
5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
But whanne he hadde seyn, that thre men myyten not answere, he was wrooth greetly.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; Wherefore I held back, and durst not show you mine opinion.
And Helyu, the sone of Barachel Buzites, answeride, and seyde, Y am yongere in tyme, sotheli ye ben eldere; therfor with heed holdun doun Y dredde to schewe to you my sentence.
7 I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.
For Y hopide that lengere age schulde speke, and that the multitude of yeeris schulden teche wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
But as Y se, spirit is in men, and the enspiryng `ether reuelacioun, of Almyyti God yyueth vndurstondyng.
9 It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.
Men of long lijf ben not wise, and elde men vndurstonden not doom.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.
Therfor Y schal seie, Here ye me, and Y also schal schewe my kunnyng to you.
11 Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasonings, Whilst ye searched out what to say.
For Y abood youre wordis, Y herde youre prudence, as long as ye dispuytiden in youre wordis.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you.
And as long as Y gesside you to seie ony thing, Y bihelde; but as Y se, `noon is of you, that may repreue Joob, and answere to hise wordis;
13 Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man:
lest perauenture ye seien, We han founde wisdom; God, and not man, hath cast hym awei.
14 For he hath not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches.
Joob spak no thing to me, and Y not bi youre wordis schal answere hym.
15 They are amazed, they answer no more: They have not a word to say.
Thei dredden, and answeriden no more, and token awei speche fro hem silf.
16 And shall I wait, because they speak not, Because they stand still, and answer no more?
Therfor for Y abood, and thei spaken not, thei stoden, and answeriden no more; also Y schal answere my part,
17 I also will answer my part, I also will show mine opinion.
and Y schal schewe my kunnyng.
18 For I am full of words; The spirit within me constraineth me.
For Y am ful of wordis, and the spirit of my wombe, `that is, mynde, constreyneth me.
19 Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.
Lo! my wombe is as must with out `spigot, ether a ventyng, that brekith newe vessels.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
Y schal speke, and brethe ayen a litil; Y schal opene my lippis, and Y schal answere.
21 Let me not, I pray you, respect any man’s person; Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.
Y schal not take the persoone of man, and Y schal not make God euene to man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; [Else] would my Maker soon take me away.
For Y woot not hou long Y schal abide, and if my Makere take me awei `after a litil tyme.

< Job 32 >