Job 7
1 Knyythod is lijf of man on erthe, and his daies ben as the daies of an hired man.
“Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2 As an hert desireth schadowe, and as an hirede man abideth the ende of his werk;
As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
3 so and Y hadde voide monethis, and Y noumbrede trauailous niytes to me.
so I am made to possess months of misery, 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 will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until 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 closes up, and breaks 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 a breath. My eye will 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 who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will 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 will return no more to his house, neither will 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 keep silent. 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 you put a guard 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 will comfort me. 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 scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
15 Wherfor my soule `chees hangyng, and my boonys cheesiden deth.
so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than 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 don’t want to 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 magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18 Thou visitist hym eerly, and sudeynli thou preuest hym.
that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 Hou long sparist thou not me, nether suffrist me, that Y swolowe my spotele?
How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until 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 do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, 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.
Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”
