Job 28
1 Siluer hath bigynnyngis of his veynes; and a place is to gold, in which it is wellid togidere.
Habet argentum venarum suarum principia, et auro locus est in quo conflatur.
2 Irun is takun fro erthe, and a stoon resolued, `ethir meltid, bi heete, is turned in to money.
Ferrum de terra tollitur, et lapis solutus calore in æs vertitur.
3 God hath set tyme to derknessis, and he biholdith the ende of alle thingis.
Tempus posuit tenebris, et universorum finem ipse considerat: lapidem quoque caliginis et umbram mortis.
4 Also a stronde departith a stoon of derknesse, and the schadewe of deth, fro the puple goynge in pilgrymage; it departith tho hillis, whiche the foot of a nedi man foryat, and hillis with out weie.
Dividit torrens a populo peregrinante eos quos oblitus est pes egentis hominis, et invios.
5 The erthe, wher of breed cam forth in his place, is destried bi fier.
Terra de qua oriebatur panis, in loco suo igni subversa est.
6 The place of saphir ben stoonys therof, and the clottis therof ben gold.
Locus sapphiri lapides ejus, et glebæ illius aurum.
7 A brid knewe not the weie, and the iye of a vultur, ethir rauenouse brid, bihelde it not.
Semitam ignoravit avis, nec intuitus est eam oculus vulturis.
8 The sones of marchauntis tretiden not on it, and a lyonesse passide not therbi.
Non calcaverunt eam filii institorum, nec pertransivit per eam leæna.
9 God stretchide forth his hond to a flynt; he distriede hillis fro the rootis.
Ad silicem extendit manum suam: subvertit a radicibus montes.
10 He hewide doun ryuers in stoonys; and his iye siy al precious thing.
In petris rivos excidit, et omne pretiosum vidit oculus ejus.
11 And he souyte out the depthis of floodis; and he brouyte forth hid thingis in to liyt.
Profunda quoque fluviorum scrutatus est, et abscondita in lucem produxit.
12 But where is wisdom foundun, and which is the place of vndurstondyng?
Sapientia vero ubi invenitur? et quis est locus intelligentiæ?
13 A man noot the prijs therof, nether it is foundun in the lond of men lyuynge swetli, `ether delicatli.
Nescit homo pretium ejus, nec invenitur in terra suaviter viventium.
14 The depthe of watris seith, It is not in me; and the see spekith, It is not with me.
Abyssus dicit: Non est in me, et mare loquitur: Non est mecum.
15 Gold ful cleene schal not be youun for wisdom, nether siluer schal be weied in the chaungyng therof.
Non dabitur aurum obrizum pro ea, nec appendetur argentum in commutatione ejus.
16 It schal not be comparysound to the died colours of Iynde, not to the moost preciouse stoon of sardius, nether to saphir.
Non conferetur tinctis Indiæ coloribus, nec lapidi sardonycho pretiosissimo vel sapphiro.
17 Nether gold, nether glas schal be maad euene worth therto;
Non adæquabitur ei aurum vel vitrum, nec commutabuntur pro ea vasa auri.
18 and hiye and fer apperynge vessels of gold schulen not be chaungid for wisdom, nether schulen be had in mynde in comparisoun therof. Forsothe wisdom is drawun of pryuy thingis;
Excelsa et eminentia non memorabuntur comparatione ejus: trahitur autem sapientia de occultis.
19 topasie of Ethiope schal not be maad euene worth to wisdom, and moost preciouse diyngis schulen not be set togidere in prijs, `ether comparisound, therto.
Non adæquabitur ei topazius de Æthiopia, nec tincturæ mundissimæ componetur.
20 Therfor wherof cometh wisdom, and which is the place of vndurstondyng?
Unde ergo sapientia venit? et quis est locus intelligentiæ?
21 It is hid fro the iyen of alle lyuynge men; also it is hid fro briddis of heuene.
Abscondita est ab oculis omnium viventium: volucres quoque cæli latet.
22 Perdicioun and deeth seiden, With oure eeris we herden the fame therof.
Perditio et mors dixerunt: Auribus nostris audivimus famam ejus.
23 God vndurstondith the weye therof, and he knowith the place therof.
Deus intelligit viam ejus, et ipse novit locum illius.
24 For he biholdith the endis of the world, and biholdith alle thingis that ben vndur heuene.
Ipse enim fines mundi intuetur, et omnia quæ sub cælo sunt respicit.
25 `Which God made weiyte to wyndis, and weiede watris in mesure.
Qui fecit ventis pondus, et aquas appendit in mensura.
26 Whanne he settide lawe to reyn, and weie to tempestis sownynge;
Quando ponebat pluviis legem, et viam procellis sonantibus:
27 thanne he siy wisdom, and telde out, and made redi, and souyte out.
tunc vidit illam et enarravit, et præparavit, et investigavit.
28 And he seide to man, Lo! the drede of the Lord, thilke is wisdom; and to go awei fro yuel, is vndurstondyng.
Et dixit homini: Ecce timor Domini, ipsa est sapientia; et recedere a malo, intelligentia.
