Job 23

1 Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,

2 Though my talke be this day in bitternes, and my plague greater then my groning,

Now also my word is in bitternesse, and the hond of my wounde is agreggid on my weilyng.

3 Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.

Who yyueth to me, that Y knowe, and fynde hym, and come `til to his trone?

4 I would pleade the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

Y schal sette doom bifor hym, and Y schal fille my mouth with blamyngis;

5 I would knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, and would vnderstand what he would say vnto me.

that Y kunne the wordis, whiche he schal answere to me, and that Y vnderstonde, what he schal speke to me.

6 Would he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength in me.

Y nyle, that he stryue with me bi greet strengthe, nether oppresse me with the heuynesse of his greetnesse.

7 There the righteous might reason with him, so I shoulde be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.

Sette he forth equite ayens me, and my doom come perfitli to victorie.

8 Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue him:

If Y go to the eest, God apperith not; if Y go to the west, Y schal not vndurstonde hym; if Y go to the left side,

9 If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he wil hide himselfe in the South, and I cannot beholde him.

what schal Y do? Y schal not take hym; if Y turne me to the riyt side, Y schal not se hym.

10 But he knoweth my way, and trieth mee, and I shall come forth like the gold.

But he knowith my weie, and he schal preue me as gold, that passith thorouy fier.

11 My foote hath followed his steps: his way haue I kept, and haue not declined.

My foot suede hise steppis; Y kepte his weie, and Y bowide not awey fro it.

12 Neyther haue I departed from the commandement of his lippes, and I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed foode.

Y yede not awei fro the comaundementis of hise lippis; and Y hidde in my bosum the wordis of his mouth.

13 Yet he is in one minde, and who can turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.

For he is aloone, and no man may turne awei hise thouytis; and what euer thing he wolde, his wille dide this thing.

14 For he will performe that, which is decreed of me, and many such things are with him.

Whanne he hath fillid his wille in me, also many othere lijk thingis ben redi to hym.

15 Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.

And therfor Y am disturblid of his face, and Y biholdynge hym am anguyschid for drede.

16 For God hath softened mine heart, and the Almightie hath troubled me.

God hath maad neische myn herte, and Almyyti God hath disturblid me.

17 For I am not cut off in darknesse, but he hath hid the darkenesse from my face.

For Y perischide not for derknessis neiyynge; nethir myist hilide my face.