Job 12
1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,
Then Job, answering, said:
2 Therfor ben ye men aloone, that wisdom dwelle with you?
Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?
3 And to me is an herte, as and to you, and Y am not lowere than ye; for who knowith not these thingis, whiche ye knowen?
And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
4 He that is scorned of his frend, as Y am, schal inwardli clepe God, and God schal here hym; for the symplenesse of a iust man is scorned.
He who is mocked by his friends as I am, will call upon God, and he will listen to him because it is the sincerity of the just that is being mocked.
5 A laumpe is dispisid at the thouytis of riche men, and the laumpe is maad redi to a tyme ordeyned.
The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
6 The tabernaclis of robberis ben plenteuouse, `ether ful of goodis; and boldli thei terren God to wraththe, whanne he hath youe alle thingis in to her hondis.
The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.
7 No wondur, ax thou beestis, and tho schulen teche thee; and axe thou volatilis of the eir, and tho schulen schewe to thee.
In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
8 Speke thou to the erthe, and it schal answere thee; and the fischis of the see schulen telle tho thingis.
Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
9 Who knowith not that the hond of the Lord made alle these thingis?
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
10 In whos hond the soule is of ech lyuynge thing, and the spirit, `that is, resonable soule, of ech fleisch of man.
In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
11 Whether the eere demeth not wordis, and the chekis of the etere demen sauour?
Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
12 Wisdom is in elde men, and prudence is in myche tyme.
In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
13 Wisdom and strengthe is at God; he hath counsel and vndurstondyng.
With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
14 If he distrieth, no man is that bildith; if he schittith in a man, `noon is that openith.
If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.
15 If he holdith togidere watris, alle thingis schulen be maad drie; if he sendith out tho watris, tho schulen distrie the erthe.
If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
16 Strengthe and wisdom is at God; he knowith bothe hym that disseyueth and hym that is disseyued.
With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
17 And he bryngith conselours in to a fonned eende, and iugis in to wondryng, ethir astonying.
He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
18 He vnbindith the girdil of kyngis, and girdith her reynes with a coorde.
He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
19 He ledith her prestis with out glorie, and he disseyueth the principal men, `ethir counselours;
He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
20 and he chaungith the lippis of sothefast men, and takith awei the doctrine of elde men.
altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
21 He schedith out dispisyng on princes, and releeueth hem, that weren oppressid.
He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
22 Which schewith depe thingis fro derknessis; and bryngith forth in to liyt the schadewe of deeth.
He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 Which multiplieth folkis, and leesith hem, and restorith hem destried in to the hool.
He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
24 Which chaungith the herte of princes of the puple of erthe; and disseyueth hem, that thei go in veyn out of the weie.
He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.
25 Thei schulen grope, as in derknessis, and not in liyt; and he schal make hem to erre as drunken men.
They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.
