Job 6
1 Then Job replied:
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 “If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.
Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.
3 For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been rash.
As the grauel of the see, this wretchidnesse schulde appere greuousere; wherfor and my wordis ben ful of sorewe.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
For the arowis of the Lord ben in me, the indignacioun of whiche drynkith vp my spirit; and the dredis of the Lord fiyten ayens me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?
Whether a feeld asse schal rore, whanne he hath gras? Ethir whether an oxe schal lowe, whanne he stondith byfor a `ful cratche?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
Ether whethir a thing vnsauery may be etun, which is not maad sauery bi salt? Ether whether ony man may taaste a thing, which tastid bryngith deeth?
7 My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
For whi to an hungri soule, yhe, bittir thingis semen to be swete; tho thingis whiche my soule nolde touche bifore, ben now my meetis for angwisch.
8 If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:
Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
9 that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!
And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
10 It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
And `this be coumfort to me, that he turmente me with sorewe, and spare not, and that Y ayenseie not the wordis of the hooli.
11 What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?
For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?
12 Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
13 Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
15 But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,
My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
16 darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.
The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
19 The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
20 They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;
Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?
Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
24 Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
25 How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
26 Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?
Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
29 Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.
Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
