Job 7
1 Knyythod is lijf of man on erthe, and his daies ben as the daies of an hired man.
“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 As an hert desireth schadowe, and as an hirede man abideth the ende of his werk;
Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
3 so and Y hadde voide monethis, and Y noumbrede trauailous niytes to me.
So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed me.
4 If Y schal slepe, Y schal seie, Whanne schal Y rise? and eft Y schal abide the euentid, and Y schal be fillid with sorewis `til to derknessis.
When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 Mi fleisch is clothid with rot, and filthis of dust; my skyn driede vp, and is drawun togidere.
My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
6 My daies passiden swiftliere thanne a web is kit doun `of a webstere; and tho daies ben wastid with outen ony hope.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
7 God, haue thou mynde, for my lijf is wynde, and myn iye schal not turne ayen, that it se goodis.
Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
8 Nethir the siyt of man schal biholde me; but thin iyen ben in me, and Y schal not `be in deedli lijf.
The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.
As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
10 nether schal turne ayen more in to his hows, and his place schal no more knowe hym.
He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
11 Wherfor and Y schal not spare my mouth; Y schal speke in the tribulacioun of my spirit, Y schal talke togidere with the bitternesse of my soule.
Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Whether Y am the see, ethir a whal, for thou hast cumpassid me with prisoun?
Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
13 If Y seie, My bed schal coumfort me, and Y schal be releeuyd, spekynge with me in my bed;
When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 thou schalt make me aferd bi dremys, and thou schalt schake me with `orrour, ethir hidousnesse, `bi siytis.
then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
15 Wherfor my soule `chees hangyng, and my boonys cheesiden deth.
so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
16 `Y dispeiride, now Y schal no more lyue; Lord, spare thou me, for my daies ben nouyt.
I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 What is a man, for thou `magnifiest hym? ether what settist thou thin herte toward hym?
What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
18 Thou visitist hym eerly, and sudeynli thou preuest hym.
that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 Hou long sparist thou not me, nether suffrist me, that Y swolowe my spotele?
Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
20 Y haue synned; A! thou kepere of men, what schal Y do to thee? Whi hast thou set me contrarie to thee, and Y am maad greuouse to my silf?
If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?
21 Whi doist thou not awei my sinne, and whi takist thou not awei my wickidnesse? Lo! now Y schal slepe in dust, and if thou sekist me eerli, Y schal not abide.
Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
