Job 21
1 Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
And Job answered and said,
2 Y preye, here ye my wordis, and do ye penaunce.
Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
3 Suffre ye me, that Y speke; and leiye ye aftir my wordis, if it schal seme worthi.
Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Whether my disputyng is ayens man, that skilfuli Y owe not to be sori?
As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
5 Perseyue ye me, and be ye astonyed; and sette ye fyngur on youre mouth.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
6 And whanne Y bithenke, Y drede, and tremblyng schakith my fleisch.
Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Whi therfor lyuen wickid men? Thei ben enhaunsid, and coumfortid with richessis.
Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
8 Her seed dwellith bifor hem; the cumpeny of kynesmen, and of sones of sones dwellith in her siyt.
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Her housis ben sikur, and pesible; and the yerde of God is not on hem.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 The cow of hem conseyuede, and caluede not a deed calf; the cow caluyde, and is not priued of hir calf.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 Her litle children goen out as flockis; and her yonge children `maken fulli ioye with pleies.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 Thei holden tympan, and harpe; and ioien at the soun of orgun.
They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Whiche men seiden to God, Go thou awei fro us; we nylen the kunnyng of thi weies.
And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Who is Almiyti God, that we serue him? and what profitith it to vs, if we preien him?
What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
16 Netheles for her goodis ben not in her hond, `that is, power, the counsel of wickid men be fer fro me.
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
17 Hou ofte schal the lanterne of wickid men be quenchid, and flowing schal come on hem, and God schal departe the sorewis of his stronge veniaunce?
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
18 Thei schulen be as chaffis bifor the face of the wynd; and as a deed sparcle, whiche the whirlewynd scaterith abrood.
Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 God schal kepe the sorewe of the fadir to hise sones; and whanne he hath yoldun, thanne he schal wite.
God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
20 Hise iyen schulen se her sleyng; and he schal drynke of the stronge veniaunce of Almyyti God.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
21 For whi what perteyneth it to hym of his hows aftir hym, thouy the noumbre of his monethis be half takun awey?
For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Whether ony man schal teche God kunnyng, which demeth hem that ben hiye?
Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
23 This yuel man dieth strong and hool, riche and blesful, `that is, myrie.
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 Hise entrails ben ful of fatnesse; and hise boonys ben moistid with merowis.
His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
25 Sotheli anothir wickid man dieth in the bittirnesse of his soule, and with outen ony richessis.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
26 And netheles thei schulen slepe togidere in dust, and wormes schulen hile hem.
Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 Certis Y knowe youre wickid thouytis, and sentensis ayens me.
Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye seien, Where is the hows of the prince? and where ben the tabernaclis of wickid men?
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
29 Axe ye ech of `the weie goeris; and ye schulen knowe, that he vndurstondith these same thingis,
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
30 that an yuel man schal be kept in to the dai of perdicioun, and schal be led to the dai of woodnesse.
That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who schal repreue hise weies bifor hym? and who schal yelde to hym tho thingis, whiche he hath doon?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 He schal be led to the sepulcris; and he schal wake in the heep of deed men.
Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
33 He was swete to the `stoonys, ether filthis, of helle; and drawith ech man aftir hym, and vnnoumbrable men bifor him.
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Hou therfor coumforten ye me in veyn, sithen youre answeris ben schewid to `repugne to treuthe?
How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
