Job 6
1 Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
Bvt Iob answered, and said,
2 Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.
Oh that my griefe were well weighed, and my miseries were layed together in the balance.
3 As the grauel of the see, this wretchidnesse schulde appere greuousere; wherfor and my wordis ben ful of sorewe.
For it woulde be nowe heauier then the sande of the sea: therefore my wordes are swallowed vp.
4 For the arowis of the Lord ben in me, the indignacioun of whiche drynkith vp my spirit; and the dredis of the Lord fiyten ayens me.
For the arrowes of the Almightie are in me, the venime whereof doeth drinke vp my spirit, and the terrours of God fight against me.
5 Whether a feeld asse schal rore, whanne he hath gras? Ethir whether an oxe schal lowe, whanne he stondith byfor a `ful cratche?
Doeth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe when he hath fodder?
6 Ether whethir a thing vnsauery may be etun, which is not maad sauery bi salt? Ether whether ony man may taaste a thing, which tastid bryngith deeth?
That which is vnsauerie, shall it be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge?
7 For whi to an hungri soule, yhe, bittir thingis semen to be swete; tho thingis whiche my soule nolde touche bifore, ben now my meetis for angwisch.
Such things as my soule refused to touch, as were sorowes, are my meate.
8 Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
Oh that I might haue my desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
That is, that God would destroy me: that he would let his hand go, and cut me off.
10 And `this be coumfort to me, that he turmente me with sorewe, and spare not, and that Y ayenseie not the wordis of the hooli.
Then should I yet haue comfort, (though I burne with sorowe, let him not spare) because I haue not denyed the wordes of the Holy one.
11 For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?
What power haue I that I should endure? or what is mine end, if I should prolong my life?
12 Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brasse?
13 Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
Is it not so, that there is in me no helpe? and that strength is taken from me?
14 He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
He that is in miserie, ought to be comforted of his neighbour: but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie.
15 My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
My brethre haue deceiued me as a brook, and as the rising of the riuers they passe away.
16 Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
Which are blackish with yee, and wherein the snowe is hid.
17 In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.
But in time they are dryed vp with heate and are consumed: and when it is hote they faile out of their places,
18 The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
Or they depart from their way and course, yea, they vanish and perish.
19 Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
They that go to Tema, considered them, and they that goe to Sheba, waited for them.
20 Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
But they were confounded: when they hoped, they came thither and were ashamed.
21 Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
Surely nowe are ye like vnto it: ye haue seene my fearefull plague, and are afraide.
22 Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
Was it because I said, Bring vnto me? or giue a rewarde to me of your substance?
23 Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
And deliuer me from the enemies hande, or ransome me out of the hand of tyrants?
24 Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
Teach me, and I wil hold my tongue: and cause me to vnderstande, wherein I haue erred.
25 Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
Howe stedfast are the wordes of righteousnes? and what can any of you iustly reproue?
26 Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
Doe ye imagine to reproue wordes, that the talke of the afflicted should be as the winde?
27 Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
Ye make your wrath to fall vpon the fatherlesse, and dig a pit for your friende.
28 Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
Nowe therefore be content to looke vpon me: for I will not lie before your face.
29 Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
Turne, I pray you, let there be none iniquitie: returne, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousnesse in that behalfe.
30 And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
Is there iniquitie in my tongue? doeth not my mouth feele sorowes?
