Job 30
1 But now yongere men in tyme scornen me, whos fadris Y deynede not to sette with the doggis of my flok.
But now the younger in time scorn me, whose fathers I would not have set with the dogs of my flock:
2 Of whiche men the vertu of hondis was for nouyt to me, and thei weren gessid vnworthi to that lijf.
The strength of whose hands was to me as nothing, and they were thought unworthy of life itself.
3 Thei weren bareyn for nedynesse and hungur; that gnawiden in wildirnesse, and weren pale for pouert and wretchidnesse;
Barren with want and hunger, who gnawed in the wilderness, disfigured with calamity and misery.
4 and eeten eerbis, aud the ryndis of trees; and the roote of iunyperis was her mete.
And they ate grass, and barks of trees, and the root of junipers was their food.
5 Whiche men rauyschiden these thingis fro grete valeis; and whanne thei hadden foundun ony of alle, thei runnen with cry to tho.
Who snatched up these things out of the valleys, and when they had found any of them, they ran to them with a cry.
6 Thei dwelliden in deseertis of strondis, and in caues of erthe, ethir on grauel, `ethir on cley.
They dwelt in the desert places of torrents, and in caves of earth, or upon the gravel.
7 Whiche weren glad among siche thingis, and arettiden delices to be vndur buschis.
They pleased themselves among these kind of things, and counted it delightful to be under the briers.
8 The sones of foolis and of vnnoble men, and outirli apperynge not in erthe.
The children of foolish and base men, and not appearing at all upon the earth.
9 But now Y am turned in to the song of hem, and Y am maad a prouerbe to hem.
Now I am turned into their song, and am become their byword.
10 Thei holden me abhomynable, and fleen fer fro me, and dreden not to spete on my face.
They abhor me, and flee far from me, and are not afraid to spit in my face.
11 For God hath openyd his arowe caas, and hath turmentid me, and hath set a bridil in to my mouth.
For he hath opened his quiver, and hath afflicted me, and hath put a bridle into my mouth.
12 At the riytside of the eest my wretchidnessis risiden anoon; thei turneden vpsedoun my feet, and oppressiden with her pathis as with floodis.
At the right hand of my rising, my calamities forthwith arose: they have overthrown my feet, and have overwhelmed me with their paths as with waves.
13 Thei destrieden my weies; thei settiden tresoun to me, and hadden the maistri; and `noon was that helpide.
They have destroyed my ways, they have lain in wait against me, and they have prevailed, and there was none to help.
14 Thei felden in on me as bi a brokun wal, and bi yate openyd, and weren stretchid forth to my wretchidnessis.
They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and a gate opened, and have rolled themselves down to my miseries.
15 Y am dryuun in to nouyt; he took awei my desir as wynd, and myn helpe passide awei as a cloude.
I am brought to nothing: as a wind thou hast taken away my desire: and my prosperity hath passed away like a cloud.
16 But now my soule fadith in my silf, and daies of turment holden me stidfastly.
And now my soul fadeth within myself, and the days of affliction possess me.
17 In nyyt my boon is persid with sorewis; and thei, that eten me, slepen not.
In the night my bone is pierced with sorrows: and they that feed upon me, do not sleep.
18 In the multitude of tho my cloth is wastid, and thei han gird me as with coler of a coote.
With the multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they have girded me about, as with the collar of my coat.
19 Y am comparisound to cley, and Y am maad lijk to a deed sparcle and aisch.
I am compared to dirt, and am likened to embers and ashes.
20 Y schal cry to thee, and thou schalt not here me; Y stonde, and thou biholdist not me.
I cry to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand up, and thou dost not regard me.
21 Thou art chaungid in to cruel to me, and in the hardnesse of thin hond thou art aduersarie to me.
Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of thy hand thou art against me.
22 Thou hast reisid me, and hast set as on wynd; and hast hurtlid me doun strongli.
Thou hast lifted me up, and set me as it were upon the wind, and thou hast mightily dashed me.
23 Y woot, that thow schalt bitake me to deeth, where an hows is ordeyned to ech lyuynge man.
I know that thou wilt deliver me to death, where a house is appointed for every one that liveth.
24 Netheles thou sendist not out thin hond to the wastyng of hem; and if thei fallen doun, thou schalt saue.
But yet thou stretchest not forth thy hand to their consumption: and if they shall fall down thou wilt save.
25 Y wepte sum tyme on him, that was turmentid, and my soule hadde compassioun on a pore man.
I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.
26 Y abood goodis, and yuelis ben comun to me; Y abood liyt, and derknessis braken out.
I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for light, and darkness broke out.
27 Myn ynnere thingis buyliden out with outen my reste; daies of turment camen bifor me.
My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of affliction have prevented me.
28 Y yede morenynge, and Y roos with out woodnesse in the cumpenye, and criede.
I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the crowd.
29 Y was the brother of dragouns, and the felow of ostrigis.
I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches.
30 My skyn was maad blak on me, and my boonys drieden for heete.
My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with heat.
31 Myn harpe is turned in to morenyng, and myn orgun in to the vois of weperis.
My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those that weep.
