Job 11
1 Forsothe Sophar Naamathites answeride, and seide,
Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,
2 Whether he, that spekith many thingis, schal not also here? ether whethir a man ful of wordis schal be maad iust?
“Should not the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?
3 Schulen men be stille to thee aloone? whanne thou hast scorned othere men, schalt thou not be ouercomun of ony man?
Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?
4 For thou seidist, My word is cleene, and Y am cleene in thi siyt.
For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.’
5 And `Y wolde, that God spak with thee, and openyde hise lippis to thee;
But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,
6 to schewe to thee the priuetees of wisdom, and that his lawe is manyfold, and thou schuldist vndurstonde, that thou art requirid of hym to paie myche lesse thingis, than thi wickidnesse disserueth.
that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
7 In hap thou schalt comprehende the steppis of God, and thou schalt fynde Almyyti God `til to perfeccioun.
“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 He is hiyere than heuene, and what schalt thou do? he is deppere than helle, and wherof schalt thou knowe? (Sheol h7585)
They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol (Sheol h7585). What can you know?
9 His mesure is lengere than erthe, and brodere than the see.
Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10 If he distrieth alle thingis, ethir dryueth streitli `in to oon, who schal ayenseie hym? Ethir who may seie to hym, Whi doest thou so?
If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?
11 For he knowith the vanyte of men; and whether he seynge byholdith not wickidnesse?
For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he does not consider it.
12 A veyn man is reisid in to pride; and gessith hym silf borun fre, as the colt of a wilde asse.
An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.
13 But thou hast maad stidefast thin herte, and hast spred abrood thin hondis to hym.
“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If thou doest awei `fro thee the wickidnesse, which is in thin hond, and vnriytfulnesse dwellith not in thi tabernacle,
If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Do not let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.
15 thanne thou schalt mowe reise thi face with out wem, and thou schalt be stidefast, and thou schalt not drede.
Surely then you will lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,
16 And thou schalt foryete wretchidnesse, and thou schalt not thenke of it, as of watris that han passid.
for you will forget your misery. You will remember it like waters that have passed away.
17 And as myddai schynynge it schal reise to thee at euentid; and whanne thou gessist thee wastid, thou schalt rise vp as the dai sterre.
Life will be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.
18 And thou schalt haue trist, while hope schal be set forth to thee; and thou biried schalt slepe sikurli.
You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.
19 Thou schalt reste, and `noon schal be that schal make thee aferd; and ful many men schulen biseche thi face.
Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Yes, many will court your favor.
20 But the iyen of wickid men schulen faile; and socour schal perische fro hem, and the hope of hem schal be abhominacyioun of soule.
But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”
