Job 7
1 Knyythod is lijf of man on erthe, and his daies ben as the daies of an hired man.
Is there not a limited time of service to a mortal upon the earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired laborer?
2 As an hert desireth schadowe, and as an hirede man abideth the ende of his werk;
As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:
3 so and Y hadde voide monethis, and Y noumbrede trauailous niytes to me.
So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto 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 He down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am wearied with tossings about till the dawn of day.
5 Mi fleisch is clothid with rot, and filthis of dust; my skyn driede vp, and is drawun togidere.
My flesh is covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.
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 hasten away more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end in the absence of hope.
7 God, haue thou mynde, for my lijf is wynde, and myn iye schal not turne ayen, that it se goodis.
Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not 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 of him that seeth me now will not behold me again: [thou fixest] thy eyes upon me, and I am no more.
As the cloud vanisheth and passeth away: so will he that goeth down to the nether world not come up again. (Sheol h7585)
10 nether schal turne ayen more in to his hows, and his place schal no more knowe hym.
He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any 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 will I also 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 a sea, or a monster, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 If Y seie, My bed schal coumfort me, and Y schal be releeuyd, spekynge with me in my bed;
For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:
14 thou schalt make me aferd bi dremys, and thou schalt schake me with `orrour, ethir hidousnesse, `bi siytis.
Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;
15 Wherfor my soule `chees hangyng, and my boonys cheesiden deth.
So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.
16 `Y dispeiride, now Y schal no more lyue; Lord, spare thou me, for my daies ben nouyt.
I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.
17 What is a man, for thou `magnifiest hym? ether what settist thou thin herte toward hym?
What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?
18 Thou visitist hym eerly, and sudeynli thou preuest hym.
And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?
19 Hou long sparist thou not me, nether suffrist me, that Y swolowe my spotele?
How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down 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 [injury] can I cause unto thee, O thou Guardian of men? why hast thou set me as an object for thee to strike at, so that I am become a burden to myself?
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.
And why wilt thou not forgive my transgression, and let my iniquity pass away? for soon must I lie down in the dust; and thou wilt seek for me, but I shall be no more.
