Job 6
1 Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
But Job 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 grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 As the grauel of the see, this wretchidnesse schulde appere greuousere; wherfor and my wordis ben ful of sorewe.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
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 arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array 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?
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his 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?
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there [any] taste in the white of an egg?
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.
The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.
8 Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
Oh that I might have my request; 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?
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, 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 have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11 For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?
What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] mine end, that 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 brass?
13 Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
[Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow 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.
What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
For now ye are nothing; ye see [my] casting down, and are afraid.
22 Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26 Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
27 Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
28 Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident unto you if I lie.
29 Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
30 And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
