Job 23

1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,

Then 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 [even] to his seat!

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

I would order [my] 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 [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say to 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? No; but he would put [strength] in me.

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

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I 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,

Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot 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 cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:

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: [when] he hath tried 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 his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

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 esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

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, even [that] he doeth.

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

For he performeth [the thing that 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: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God maketh 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 covered the darkness from my face.