Job 6
1 Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
And Job answers and says:
2 Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.
“O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
3 As the grauel of the see, this wretchidnesse schulde appere greuousere; wherfor and my wordis ben ful of sorewe.
For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, Therefore my words have been rash.
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 arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] 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?
Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?
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?
Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
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.
My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
8 Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9 And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
That God would please—and bruise me, 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.
And yet it is my comfort (And I exult in pain—He does not spare), That I have not hidden The sayings 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 power that I should hope? And what [is] my 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? Is my flesh bronze?
13 Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
Is my help not with me, And substance driven from me?
14 He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.
15 My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
My brothers have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
16 Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
That are black because of ice, By them snow hides itself.
17 In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.
By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
18 The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
The paths turn aside of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19 Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
They were ashamed that one has trusted, They have come to it and are confounded.
21 Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.
22 Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23 Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?
24 Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
Show me, and I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25 Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
How powerful have been upright sayings, And what reproof from you reproves?
26 Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?
27 Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, And are strange to your friend.
28 Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
And now, please, look on me, Even to your face do I lie?
29 Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, Indeed, turn back 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 perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”
