Job 6
1 Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
Then 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, if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!
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 seas. That is why my words were reckless.
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 in me, my spirit drinks up the poison; the terrors of God have arranged 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?
Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has 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 has no taste 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.
I refuse to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.
8 Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
Oh, that I might have my request; oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for:
9 And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
that it would please God to crush me once, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life!
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.
May this still be my consolation— even if I exult in pain that does not lessen: that I have not denied 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 try to wait? 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? Or is my flesh made of bronze?
13 Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
Is it not true that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom has been driven out of me?
14 He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed, as channels of water that pass away to nothing,
16 Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
which are darkened because of ice over them, and because of the snow that hides itself in them.
17 In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.
When they thaw out, they vanish; when it is hot, they melt out of their place.
18 The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water; they wander into barren land and then perish.
19 Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
Caravans from Tema looked there, while companies of Sheba hoped in them.
20 Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water. They went there, but they were deceived.
21 Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
For now you friends are nothing to me; you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.
22 Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
Did I say to you, 'Give something to me?' Or, 'Offer me a gift from your wealth?'
23 Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
Or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand?' Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my oppressors?'
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 peace; make me understand where I have been wrong.
25 Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
26 Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?
27 Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child, and haggle over your friend like merchandise.
28 Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
Now, therefore, please look at me, for surely I would not lie to your face.
29 Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.
30 And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
Is there evil on my tongue? Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?
