Job 21
1 Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
But Job answered and said:
2 Y preye, here ye my wordis, and do ye penaunce.
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Suffre ye me, that Y speke; and leiye ye aftir my wordis, if it schal seme worthi.
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Whether my disputyng is ayens man, that skilfuli Y owe not to be sori?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Perseyue ye me, and be ye astonyed; and sette ye fyngur on youre mouth.
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 And whanne Y bithenke, Y drede, and tremblyng schakith my fleisch.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Whi therfor lyuen wickid men? Thei ben enhaunsid, and coumfortid with richessis.
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Her seed dwellith bifor hem; the cumpeny of kynesmen, and of sones of sones dwellith in her siyt.
Their children are established in their sight with them, 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 in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not 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 sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Whiche men seiden to God, Go thou awei fro us; we nylen the kunnyng of thi weies.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! 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?
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
16 Netheles for her goodis ben not in her hond, `that is, power, the counsel of wickid men be fer fro me.
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
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 it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations 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.
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 God schal kepe the sorewe of the fadir to hise sones; and whanne he hath yoldun, thanne he schal wite.
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
20 Hise iyen schulen se her sleyng; and he schal drynke of the stronge veniaunce of Almyyti God.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath 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 concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Whether ony man schal teche God kunnyng, which demeth hem that ben hiye?
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 This yuel man dieth strong and hool, riche and blesful, `that is, myrie.
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, 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 his bones moist with marrow.
25 Sotheli anothir wickid man dieth in the bittirnesse of his soule, and with outen ony richessis.
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 And netheles thei schulen slepe togidere in dust, and wormes schulen hile hem.
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 Certis Y knowe youre wickid thouytis, and sentensis ayens me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong 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 oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
29 Axe ye ech of `the weie goeris; and ye schulen knowe, that he vndurstondith these same thingis,
Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know 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 spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in 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 will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 He schal be led to the sepulcris; and he schal wake in the heep of deed men.
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
33 He was swete to the `stoonys, ether filthis, of helle; and drawith ech man aftir hym, and vnnoumbrable men bifor him.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 Hou therfor coumforten ye me in veyn, sithen youre answeris ben schewid to `repugne to treuthe?
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
