Job 6
1 And Job answered and said,
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
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 are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: 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 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his 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 that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste 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 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome 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 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
9 And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
10 Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice 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 is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?
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? is my flesh of brass?
Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.
18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
