Job 19
1 Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide, Hou long turmente ye my soule,
Then Job answered, and said:
2 and al to-breken me with wordis?
How long do you afflict my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3 Lo! ten sithis ye schenden me, and ye ben not aschamed, oppressynge me.
Behold, these ten times you confound me, and are not ashamed to oppress me.
4 Forsothe and if Y `koude not, myn vnkynnyng schal be with me.
For if I have been ignorant, my ignorance shall be with me.
5 And ye ben reisid ayens me, and repreuen me with my schenschipis.
But you have set yourselves up against me, and reprove me with my reproaches.
6 Nameli now vndurstonde ye, that God hath turmentid me not bi euene doom, and hath cumpassid me with hise betyngis.
At least now understand, that God hath not afflicted me with an equal judgment, and compassed me with his scourges.
7 Lo! Y suffrynge violence schal crye, and no man schal here; Y schal crye loude, and `noon is that demeth.
Behold I cry suffering violence, and no one will hear: I shall cry aloud, and there is none to judge.
8 He bisette aboute my path, and Y may not go; and he settide derknessis in my weie.
He hath hedged in my path round about, and I cannot pass, and in my way he hath set darkness.
9 He hath spuylid me of my glorye, and hath take awey the coroun fro myn heed.
He hath stripped me of my glory, and hath taken the crown from my head.
10 He hath distried me on ech side, and Y perischide; and he hath take awei myn hope, as fro a tre pullid vp bi the roote.
He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am lost, and he hath taken away my hope, as from a tree that is plucked up.
11 His stronge veniaunce was wrooth ayens me; and he hadde me so as his enemye.
His wrath is kindled against me, and he hath counted me as his enemy.
12 Hise theues camen togidere, and `maden to hem a wei bi me; and bisegiden my tabernacle in cumpas.
His troops have come together, and have made themselves a way by me, and have besieged my tabernacle round about.
13 He made fer my britheren fro me; and my knowun as aliens yeden awei fro me.
He hath put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintance like strangers have departed from me.
14 My neiyboris forsoken me; and thei that knewen me han foryete me.
My kinsmen have forsaken me, and they that knew me, have forgotten me.
15 The tenauntis of myn hows, and myn handmaydis hadden me as a straunger; and Y was as a pilgrym bifor her iyen.
They that dwelt in my house, and my maidservants have counted me a stranger, and I have been like an alien in their eyes.
16 Y clepide my seruaunt, and he answeride not to me; with myn owne mouth Y preiede hym.
I called my servant, and he gave me no answer, I entreated him with my own mouth.
17 My wijf wlatide my breeth; and Y preiede the sones of my wombe.
My wife hath abhorred my breath, and I entreated the children of my womb.
18 Also foolis dispisiden me; and whanne Y was goon awei fro hem, thei bacbitiden me.
Even fools despise me; and when I gone from them, they spoke against me.
19 Thei, that weren my counselouris sum tyme, hadden abhomynacioun of me; and he, whom Y louede moost, was aduersarie to me.
They that were sometime my counsellors, have abhorred me: and he whom I love most is turned against me.
20 Whanne fleischis weren wastid, my boon cleuyde to my skyn; and `oneli lippis ben left aboute my teeth.
The flesh being consumed. My bone hath cleaved to my skin, and nothing but lips are left about my teeth.
21 Haue ye merci on me, haue ye merci on me, nameli, ye my frendis; for the hond of the Lord hath touchid me.
Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me.
22 Whi pursuen ye me, as God pursueth; and ben fillid with my fleischis?
Why do you persecute me as God, and glut yourselves with my flesh?
23 Who yyueth to me, that my wordis be writun? Who yyueth to me,
Who will grant me that my words may be written? Who will grant me that they may be marked down in a book?
24 that tho be writun in a book with an yrun poyntil, ethir with a plate of leed; ethir with a chisel be grauun in a flynt?
With an iron pen and in a plate of lead, or else be graven with an instrument in flint stone.
25 For Y woot, that myn ayenbiere lyueth, and in the laste dai Y schal rise fro the erthe;
For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.
26 and eft Y schal be cumpassid with my skyn, and in my fleisch Y schal se God, my sauyour.
And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God.
27 Whom Y my silf schal se, and myn iyen schulen biholde, and not an other man. This myn hope is kept in my bosum.
Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not another: this my hope is laid up in my bosom.
28 Whi therfor seien ye now, Pursue we hym, and fynde we the roote of a word ayens hym?
Why then do you say now: Let us persecute him, and let us find occasion of word against him?
29 Therfor fle ye fro the face of the swerd; for the swerd is the vengere of wickidnessis, and wite ye, that doom schal be.
Flee then from the face of the sword, for the sword is the revenger of iniquities: and know ye that there is judgment.
