Job 6
1 But Job answered and said,
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!
Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.
3 And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.
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 Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce 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 What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has a 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 Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
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 For my wrath can’t cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.
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 For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!
Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
9 Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
10 Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leapt: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.
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 For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?
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 of brass?
Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
13 Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
15 My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
16 They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.
18 Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
19 Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
20 They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,
Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
23 to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
24 Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.
Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
25 But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.
Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
26 Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
29 Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
30 For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
