Job 6
1 And Job made answer and said,
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!
Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.
3 For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.
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 Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order 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 the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?
Whether a feeld asse schal rore, whanne he hath gras? Ethir whether an oxe schal lowe, whanne he stondith byfor a `ful cratche?
6 Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?
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 has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.
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 I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!
Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
9 If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!
And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
10 So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to 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 Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?
For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?
Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
13 I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me.
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.
He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
15 My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:
My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
16 Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them;
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of 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 The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction.
The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
19 The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:
Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
20 They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?
Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
23 Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?
Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
24 Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.
Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
25 How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?
Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
26 My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.
Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
29 Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.
Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
30 Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
