< Job 32 >

1 Forsothe these thre men leften of to answere Joob, for he semyde a iust man to hem.
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 And Helyu, the sone of Barachel Buzites, of the kynrede of Ram, was wrooth, and hadde indignacioun; forsothe he was wrooth ayens Joob, for he seide hym silf to be iust bifor God.
Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
3 Sotheli Helyu hadde indignacioun ayens the thre frendis of hym, for thei hadden not founde resonable answere, but oneli hadde condempned Joob.
Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Therfor Helyu abood Joob spekynge, for thei, that spaken, weren eldere men.
Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.
5 But whanne he hadde seyn, that thre men myyten not answere, he was wrooth greetly.
And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
6 And Helyu, the sone of Barachel Buzites, answeride, and seyde, Y am yongere in tyme, sotheli ye ben eldere; therfor with heed holdun doun Y dredde to schewe to you my sentence.
And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I held back, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7 For Y hopide that lengere age schulde speke, and that the multitude of yeeris schulden teche wisdom.
I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But as Y se, spirit is in men, and the enspiryng `ether reuelacioun, of Almyyti God yyueth vndurstondyng.
But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Men of long lijf ben not wise, and elde men vndurstonden not doom.
It is not the great that are wise, nor the aged that understand judgment.
10 Therfor Y schal seie, Here ye me, and Y also schal schewe my kunnyng to you.
Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11 For Y abood youre wordis, Y herde youre prudence, as long as ye dispuytiden in youre wordis.
Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 And as long as Y gesside you to seie ony thing, Y bihelde; but as Y se, `noon is of you, that may repreue Joob, and answere to hise wordis;
Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none that convinced Job, or that answered his words, among you.
13 lest perauenture ye seien, We han founde wisdom; God, and not man, hath cast hym awei.
Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man:
14 Joob spak no thing to me, and Y not bi youre wordis schal answere hym.
For he hath not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 Thei dredden, and answeriden no more, and token awei speche fro hem silf.
They are amazed, they answer no more: they have not a word to say.
16 Therfor for Y abood, and thei spaken not, thei stoden, and answeriden no more; also Y schal answere my part,
And shall I wait, because they speak not, because they stand still, and answer no more?
17 and Y schal schewe my kunnyng.
I also will answer my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18 For Y am ful of wordis, and the spirit of my wombe, `that is, mynde, constreyneth me.
For I am full of words; the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Lo! my wombe is as must with out `spigot, ether a ventyng, that brekith newe vessels.
Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; like new bottles it is ready to burst.
20 Y schal speke, and brethe ayen a litil; Y schal opene my lippis, and Y schal answere.
I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
21 Y schal not take the persoone of man, and Y schal not make God euene to man.
Let me not, I pray you, respect any man’s person; neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.
22 For Y woot not hou long Y schal abide, and if my Makere take me awei `after a litil tyme.
For I know not to give flattering titles; [else] would my Maker soon take me away.

< Job 32 >