Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,

2 Even to-day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

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

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!

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

4 I would order [my] 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 know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say to 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 dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

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

8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive 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 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [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 the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

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

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

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

13 But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.

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 performeth [the thing that is] appointed for 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 am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

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

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.

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