Job 23

1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,

Then Job answered and said,

2 Now also my word is in bitternesse, and the hond of my wounde is agreggid on my weilyng.

Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Who yyueth to me, that Y knowe, and fynde hym, and come `til to his trone?

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 Y schal sette doom bifor hym, and Y schal fille my mouth with blamyngis;

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 that Y kunne the wordis, whiche he schal answere to me, and that Y vnderstonde, what he schal speke to me.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 Y nyle, that he stryue with me bi greet strengthe, nether oppresse me with the heuynesse of his greetnesse.

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 Sette he forth equite ayens me, and my doom come perfitli to victorie.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

8 If Y go to the eest, God apperith not; if Y go to the west, Y schal not vndurstonde hym; if Y go to the left side,

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 what schal Y do? Y schal not take hym; if Y turne me to the riyt side, Y schal not se hym.

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 But he knowith my weie, and he schal preue me as gold, that passith thorouy fier.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 My foot suede hise steppis; Y kepte his weie, and Y bowide not awey fro it.

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 Y yede not awei fro the comaundementis of hise lippis; and Y hidde in my bosum the wordis of his mouth.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 For he is aloone, and no man may turne awei hise thouytis; and what euer thing he wolde, his wille dide this thing.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 Whanne he hath fillid his wille in me, also many othere lijk thingis ben redi to hym.

15 And therfor Y am disturblid of his face, and Y biholdynge hym am anguyschid for drede.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 God hath maad neische myn herte, and Almyyti God hath disturblid me.

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 For Y perischide not for derknessis neiyynge; nethir myist hilide my face.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.