Job 28
1 habet argentum venarum suarum principia et auro locus est in quo conflatur
Siluer hath bigynnyngis of his veynes; and a place is to gold, in which it is wellid togidere.
2 ferrum de terra tollitur et lapis solutus calore in aes vertitur
Irun is takun fro erthe, and a stoon resolued, `ethir meltid, bi heete, is turned in to money.
3 tempus posuit tenebris et universorum finem ipse considerat lapidem quoque caliginis et umbram mortis
God hath set tyme to derknessis, and he biholdith the ende of alle thingis.
4 dividit torrens a populo peregrinante eos quos oblitus est pes egentis hominum et invios
Also a stronde departith a stoon of derknesse, and the schadewe of deth, fro the puple goynge in pilgrymage; it departith tho hillis, whiche the foot of a nedi man foryat, and hillis with out weie.
5 terra de qua oriebatur panis in loco suo igne subversa est
The erthe, wher of breed cam forth in his place, is destried bi fier.
6 locus sapphyri lapides eius et glebae illius aurum
The place of saphir ben stoonys therof, and the clottis therof ben gold.
7 semitam ignoravit avis nec intuitus est oculus vulturis
A brid knewe not the weie, and the iye of a vultur, ethir rauenouse brid, bihelde it not.
8 non calcaverunt eam filii institorum nec pertransivit per eam leaena
The sones of marchauntis tretiden not on it, and a lyonesse passide not therbi.
9 ad silicem extendit manum suam subvertit a radicibus montes
God stretchide forth his hond to a flynt; he distriede hillis fro the rootis.
10 in petris rivos excidit et omne pretiosum vidit oculus eius
He hewide doun ryuers in stoonys; and his iye siy al precious thing.
11 profunda quoque fluviorum scrutatus est et abscondita produxit in lucem
And he souyte out the depthis of floodis; and he brouyte forth hid thingis in to liyt.
12 sapientia vero ubi invenitur et quis est locus intellegentiae
But where is wisdom foundun, and which is the place of vndurstondyng?
13 nescit homo pretium eius nec invenitur in terra suaviter viventium
A man noot the prijs therof, nether it is foundun in the lond of men lyuynge swetli, `ether delicatli.
14 abyssus dicit non est in me et mare loquitur non est mecum
The depthe of watris seith, It is not in me; and the see spekith, It is not with me.
15 non dabitur aurum obrizum pro ea nec adpendetur argentum in commutatione eius
Gold ful cleene schal not be youun for wisdom, nether siluer schal be weied in the chaungyng therof.
16 non conferetur tinctis Indiae coloribus nec lapidi sardonico pretiosissimo vel sapphyro
It schal not be comparysound to the died colours of Iynde, not to the moost preciouse stoon of sardius, nether to saphir.
17 non adaequabitur ei aurum vel vitrum nec commutabuntur pro ea vasa auri
Nether gold, nether glas schal be maad euene worth therto;
18 excelsa et eminentia non memorabuntur conparatione eius trahitur autem sapientia de occultis
and hiye and fer apperynge vessels of gold schulen not be chaungid for wisdom, nether schulen be had in mynde in comparisoun therof. Forsothe wisdom is drawun of pryuy thingis;
19 non adaequabitur ei topazium de Aethiopia nec tincturae mundissimae conponetur
topasie of Ethiope schal not be maad euene worth to wisdom, and moost preciouse diyngis schulen not be set togidere in prijs, `ether comparisound, therto.
20 unde ergo sapientia veniet et quis est locus intellegentiae
Therfor wherof cometh wisdom, and which is the place of vndurstondyng?
21 abscondita est ab oculis omnium viventium volucres quoque caeli latet
It is hid fro the iyen of alle lyuynge men; also it is hid fro briddis of heuene.
22 perditio et mors dixerunt auribus nostris audivimus famam eius
Perdicioun and deeth seiden, With oure eeris we herden the fame therof.
23 Deus intellegit viam eius et ipse novit locum illius
God vndurstondith the weye therof, and he knowith the place therof.
24 ipse enim fines mundi intuetur et omnia quae sub caelo sunt respicit
For he biholdith the endis of the world, and biholdith alle thingis that ben vndur heuene.
25 qui fecit ventis pondus et aquas adpendit mensura
`Which God made weiyte to wyndis, and weiede watris in mesure.
26 quando ponebat pluviis legem et viam procellis sonantibus
Whanne he settide lawe to reyn, and weie to tempestis sownynge;
27 tunc vidit illam et enarravit et praeparavit et investigavit
thanne he siy wisdom, and telde out, and made redi, and souyte out.
28 et dixit homini ecce timor Domini ipsa est sapientia et recedere a malo intellegentia
And he seide to man, Lo! the drede of the Lord, thilke is wisdom; and to go awei fro yuel, is vndurstondyng.
