Job 6
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 Oh that my vexation could be truly weighed, and my calamity; oh that men might lift it up in the balances at once!
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 is already heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore are my words confused.
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 my spirit drinketh it: the terrors of God 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 over the 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 Is ever tasteless food eaten without salt? or is there any flavor 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 My soul refuseth to touch them: they are unto me like disgusting 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 some one would grant the accomplishment of my request; and that God would grant me the fulfillment of my hope!
Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
9 Yea, that it would please God that he might crush me: that he would let loose his hand, and make an end of me!
And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
10 Then would this be still my comfort; yea, I would rejoice in my pain while be would not spare: that I have not gainsaid the commands 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 wait? and what my end, that I should yet longer retain my patience?
For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?
12 Is the strength of stones my strength? or is my flesh brazen?
Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
13 Truly, am I not without my help in me? and is not wise counsel driven far away from me?
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 As though I were one who refuseth kindness to his friend, and forsaketh the fear of the Almighty:
He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
15 My brothers are treacherous as a brook, like flowing brooks they pass along;
My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
16 Which are made turbid by reason of the ice, wherein the snow hideth itself;
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 At the time when they feel the warmth, they vanish; when it is hot, they are quenched 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 course wind themselves along; they go in the wilderness and are lost.
The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
19 The caravans of Thema look hither, the travelling companies Sheba hope for them;
Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
20 But they stand ashamed because they had trusted; they come thither and are made to blush.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 For truly now ye are like such a one: ye see my terrible state and are afraid.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 Have I then ever said, Give me something, and out of your property offer a bribe in my behalf?
Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
23 And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? and redeem from the hand of tyrants?
Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
24 Teach me, and I will indeed remain silent; and wherein I erred give me to understand.
Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
25 How pleasant are straightforward words! but what doth arguing prove?
Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
26 Do ye think to reprove words, and [to regard] as wind the speeches of one that is despairing?
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 Yea, ye would cast any thing upon the fatherless, and ye would dig a pit against your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 But now, if it please you, turn yourselves toward me, and [say] whether I would lie before your face.
Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
29 Reflect again, I pray you, there will be no wrong: yea, reflect once more, my righteousness [will be found] therein.
Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
30 Is there any wrong on my tongue? or should my palate not understand [if I spoke] what is iniquitous?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
