Job 6
1 Then Job answered,
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 “Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore my words have been rash.
As the grauel of the see, this wretchidnesse schulde appere greuousere; wherfor and my wordis ben ful of sorewe.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
For the arowis of the Lord ben in me, the indignacioun of whiche drynkith vp my spirit; and the dredis of the Lord fiyten ayens me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
Whether a feeld asse schal rore, whanne he hath gras? Ethir whether an oxe schal lowe, whanne he stondith byfor a `ful cratche?
6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Ether whethir a thing vnsauery may be etun, which is not maad sauery bi salt? Ether whether ony man may taaste a thing, which tastid bryngith deeth?
7 My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.
For whi to an hungri soule, yhe, bittir thingis semen to be swete; tho thingis whiche my soule nolde touche bifore, ben now my meetis for angwisch.
8 “Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,
Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?
9 even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?
10 Let it still be my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
And `this be coumfort to me, that he turmente me with sorewe, and spare not, and that Y ayenseie not the wordis of the hooli.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?
Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
13 Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;
My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
16 which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.
18 The caravans that travel beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish.
The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.
19 The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.
20 They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?
Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,
23 or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?
Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?
24 “Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.
Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
26 Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.
Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
29 Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.
Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
