Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said:
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 O that my grief were weighed thoroughly! That my calamities were put together in the balance!
Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.
3 Surely they would be heavier than the sand of the sea; On this account were my words rash.
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 have pierced me; Their poison drinketh up my spirit; 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 in the midst of 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 unsavory 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 That which my soul abhorreth to touch Hath become 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 O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!
Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
9 That it would please God to destroy 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 Yet it should still be my consolation, Yea, in unsparing anguish I would exult, That I have not denied 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 hope? And what mine end, that I should be patient?
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 brass?
Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
13 Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.
He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
15 But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that 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, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up 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 The caravans turn aside to them on their way; They go up into the desert, and perish.
The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
19 The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;
Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
20 They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 Have I said, Bring me gifts? Or, Give a present for me out 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, Rescue 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 Convince me, and I will hold my peace; 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 powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?
Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
26 Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye dig a pit for your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?
Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
29 Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.
Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
