Job 6
1 But Job answered and said,
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
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 sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
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, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array 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 when he hath grass? or loweth the 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 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or 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 The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.
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 [me] the thing that I long for!
Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
9 Even that it would please God to destroy 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; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed 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 prolong my life?
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 [Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but 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 brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid:
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of 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 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see [my] casting down, and are afraid.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
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 arguing 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, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident unto you 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 it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
