Job 31

1 Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.

I made couenaunt with myn iyen, that Y schulde not thenke of a virgyn.

2 Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper, et hæreditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?

For what part schulde God aboue haue in me, and eritage Almyyti God of hiye thingis?

3 Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus injustitiam?

Whether perdicioun is not to a wickid man, and alienacioun of God is to men worchynge wickidnesse?

4 Nonne ipse considerat vias meas, et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?

Whether he biholdith not my weies, and noumbrith alle my goyngis?

5 Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus,

If Y yede in vanyte, and my foot hastide in gile,

6 appendat me in statera justa, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.

God weie me in a iust balaunce, and knowe my symplenesse.

7 Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhæsit macula,

If my step bowide fro the weie; if myn iye suede myn herte, and a spotte cleuede to myn hondis;

8 seram, et alius comedat, et progenies mea eradicetur.

sowe Y, and another ete, and my generacioun be drawun out bi the root.

9 Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,

If myn herte was disseyued on a womman, and if Y settide aspies at the dore of my frend; my wijf be the hoore of anothir man,

10 scortum alterius sit uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.

and othir men be bowid doun on hir.

11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.

For this is vnleueful, and the moost wickidnesse.

12 Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans, et omnia eradicans genimina.

Fier is deourynge `til to wastyng, and drawynge vp bi the roote alle generaciouns.

13 Si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me:

If Y dispiside to take doom with my seruaunt and myn hand mayde, whanne thei stryueden ayens me.

14 quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus? et cum quæsierit, quid respondebo illi?

What sotheli schal Y do, whanne God schal rise to deme? and whanne he schal axe, what schal Y answere to hym?

15 Numquid non in utero fecit me, qui et illum operatus est, et formavit me in vulva unus?

Whether he, that wrouyte also hym, made not me in the wombe, and o God formede me in the wombe?

16 Si negavi quod volebant pauperibus, et oculos viduæ expectare feci;

If Y denyede to pore men that, that thei wolden, and if Y made the iyen of a wydewe to abide;

17 si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea

if Y aloone eet my mussel, and a faderles child eet not therof;

18 (quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio, et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum);

for merciful doyng encreesside with me fro my yong childhed, and yede out of my modris wombe with me;

19 si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem;

if Y dispiside a man passynge forth, for he hadde not a cloth, and a pore man with out hilyng;

20 si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est;

if hise sidis blessiden not me, and was not maad hoot of the fleeces of my scheep;

21 si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem:

if Y reiside myn hond on a fadirles child, yhe, whanne Y siy me the hiyere in the yate;

22 humerus meus a junctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.

my schuldre falle fro his ioynt, and myn arm with hise boonys be al to-brokun.

23 Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum, et pondus ejus ferre non potui.

For euere Y dredde God, as wawis wexynge gret on me; and `Y myyte not bere his birthun.

24 Si putavi aurum robur meum, et obrizo dixi: Fiducia mea;

If Y gesside gold my strengthe, and if Y seide to purid gold, Thou art my trist;

25 si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea;

if Y was glad on my many ritchessis, and for myn hond foond ful many thingis;

26 si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare,

if Y siy the sunne, whanne it schynede, and the moone goynge clereli;

27 et lætatum est in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo:

and if myn herte was glad in priuyte, and if Y kisside myn hond with my mouth;

28 quæ est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.

which is the moost wickidnesse, and deniyng ayens hiyeste God;

29 Si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat, et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum:

if Y hadde ioye at the fallyng of hym, that hatide me, and if Y ioide fulli, that yuel hadde founde hym;

30 non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus.

for Y yaf not my throte to do synne, that Y schulde asaile and curse his soule;

31 Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei: Quis det de carnibus ejus, ut saturemur?

if the men of my tabernacle seiden not, Who yyueth, that we be fillid of hise fleischis? a pilgryme dwellide not with outforth;

32 foris non mansit peregrinus: ostium meum viatori patuit.

my dore was opyn to a weiegoere;

33 Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum, et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam;

if Y as man hidde my synne, and helide my wickidnesse in my bosum;

34 si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me: et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.

if Y dredde at ful greet multitude, and if dispisyng of neyyboris made me aferd; and not more Y was stille, and yede not out of the dore;

35 Quis mihi tribuat auditorem, ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens, et librum scribat ipse qui judicat,

who yyueth an helpere to me, that Almyyti God here my desire? that he that demeth,

36 ut in humero meo portem illum, et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?

write a book, that Y bere it in my schuldre, and cumpasse it as a coroun to me?

37 Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum, et quasi principi offeram eum.

Bi alle my degrees Y schal pronounce it, and Y schal as offre it to the prynce.

38 Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent:

If my lond crieth ayens me, and hise forewis wepen with it;

39 si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum ejus afflixi:

if Y eet fruytis therof with out money, and Y turmentide the soule of erthetileris of it;

40 pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina. Finita sunt verba Job.

a brere growe to me for wheete, and a thorn for barli.