Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said:
Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,
2 Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!
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 are my words broken.
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, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh up; the terrors of God do 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 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox 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 hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?
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 refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.
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, and that God would grant me 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 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for 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? and what is mine 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 brass?
Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
13 Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?
Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.
14 To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,
My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;
Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.
17 What time they wax warm, 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 paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.
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 ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.
Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.
21 For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.
Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.
22 Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of 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; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
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 what doth your arguing argue?
Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.
26 Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?
Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.
27 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.
Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, 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? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?
And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.
