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 warfare to man upon earth? and are not his days like the days of an hireling?
2 As an hert desireth schadowe, and as an hirede man abideth the ende of his werk;
As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling that looketh for his wages:
3 so and Y hadde voide monethis, and Y noumbrede trauailous niytes to me.
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to 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 say, When shall I arise? but the night is long; and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
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 clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.
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, and are spent without 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 my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
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 shall behold me no more: thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 nether schal turne ayen more in to his hows, and his place schal no more knowe hym.
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know 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 I will not refrain 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 sea-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;
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14 thou schalt make me aferd bi dremys, and thou schalt schake me with `orrour, ethir hidousnesse, `bi siytis.
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15 Wherfor my soule `chees hangyng, and my boonys cheesiden deth.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than [these] my bones.
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 alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 What is a man, for thou `magnifiest hym? ether what settist thou thin herte toward hym?
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him,
18 Thou visitist hym eerly, and sudeynli thou preuest hym.
And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 Hou long sparist thou not me, nether suffrist me, that Y swolowe my spotele?
How long wilt thou not look away from me, nor let me alone 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 do I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, so that I am 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 dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I lie down in the dust; and thou shall seek me diligently, but I shall not be.
