Job 23

1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,

And Job answered and said,

2 Now also my word is in bitternesse, and the hond of my wounde is agreggid on my weilyng.

Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Who yyueth to me, that Y knowe, and fynde hym, and come `til to his trone?

Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!

4 Y schal sette doom bifor hym, and Y schal fille my mouth with blamyngis;

I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;

5 that Y kunne the wordis, whiche he schal answere to me, and that Y vnderstonde, what he schal speke to me.

I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 Y nyle, that he stryue with me bi greet strengthe, nether oppresse me with the heuynesse of his greetnesse.

Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

7 Sette he forth equite ayens me, and my doom come perfitli to victorie.

There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 If Y go to the eest, God apperith not; if Y go to the west, Y schal not vndurstonde hym; if Y go to the left side,

Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

9 what schal Y do? Y schal not take hym; if Y turne me to the riyt side, Y schal not se hym.

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.

10 But he knowith my weie, and he schal preue me as gold, that passith thorouy fier.

But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot suede hise steppis; Y kepte his weie, and Y bowide not awey fro it.

My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

12 Y yede not awei fro the comaundementis of hise lippis; and Y hidde in my bosum the wordis of his mouth.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.

13 For he is aloone, and no man may turne awei hise thouytis; and what euer thing he wolde, his wille dide this thing.

But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

14 Whanne he hath fillid his wille in me, also many othere lijk thingis ben redi to hym.

For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

15 And therfor Y am disturblid of his face, and Y biholdynge hym am anguyschid for drede.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

16 God hath maad neische myn herte, and Almyyti God hath disturblid me.

For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

17 For Y perischide not for derknessis neiyynge; nethir myist hilide my face.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.