Job 13

1 Lo! myn iye siy alle thingis, and myn eere herde; and Y vndurstood alle thingis.

Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].

2 Euene with youre kunnyng also Y kan, and Y am not lowere than ye.

And I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

3 But netheles Y schal speke to Almyyti God, and Y coueite to dispute with God;

Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.

4 and firste Y schewe you makeris of leesyng, and louyeris of weyward techyngis.

But ye are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.

5 And `Y wolde that ye weren stille, that ye weren gessid to be wise men.

But would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

6 Therfor here ye my chastisyngis; and perseyue ye the doom of my lippis.

But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.

7 Whether God hath nede to youre leesyng, that ye speke gilis for hym?

Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?

8 Whether ye taken his face, and enforsen to deme for God?

Or will ye draw back? nay do, ye yourselves be judges.

9 Ethir it schal plese hym, fro whom no thing mai be hid? Whether he as a man schal be disseyued with youre falsnessis?

For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] ye should attach yourselves to him,

10 He schal repreue you; for ye taken his face in hiddlis.

he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,

11 Anoon as he schal stire hym, he schal disturble you; and his drede schal falle on you.

shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?

12 Youre mynde schal be comparisound to aische; and youre nollis schulen be dryuun in to clei.

And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.

13 Be ye stille a litil, that Y speke, what euer thing the mynde hath schewid to me.

Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,

14 Whi to-rende Y my fleischis with my teeth, and bere my lijf in myn hondis?

while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

15 Yhe, thouy God sleeth me, Y schal hope in hym; netheles Y schal preue my weies in his siyt.

Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.

16 And he schal be my sauyour; for whi ech ypocrite schal not come in his siyt.

And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.

17 Here ye my word, and perseyue ye with eeris derke and harde figuratif spechis.

Hear, hear ye my words, for I will declare in your hearing.

18 Yf Y schal be demed, Y woot that Y schal be foundun iust.

Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.

19 Who is he that is demed with me? Come he; whi am Y stille, and am wastid?

For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?

20 Do thou not to me twei thingis oneli; and thanne Y schal not be hid fro thi face.

But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face.

21 Make thin hond fer fro me; and thi drede make not me aferd.

Withhold [thine] hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me.

22 Clepe thou me, and Y schal answere thee; ethir certis Y schal speke, and thou schalt answere me.

Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.

23 Hou grete synnes and wickidnessis haue Y? Schewe thou to me my felonyes, and trespassis.

How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

24 Whi hidist thou thi face, and demest me thin enemy?

Wherefore hidest thou thyself from me, and deemest me thine enemy?

25 Thou schewist thi myyt ayens a leef, which is rauyschid with the wynd; and thou pursuest drye stobil.

Wilt thou be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?

26 For thou writist bitternessis ayens me; and wolt waste me with the synnes of my yong wexynge age.

for thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth.

27 Thou hast set my foot in a stok, and thou hast kept alle my pathis; and thou hast biholde the steppis of my feet.

And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated my heels.

28 And Y schal be wastid as rot, and as a cloth, which is etun of a mouyte.

[I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.