Job 30
1 But now yongere men in tyme scornen me, whos fadris Y deynede not to sette with the doggis of my flok.
“But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
2 Of whiche men the vertu of hondis was for nouyt to me, and thei weren gessid vnworthi to that lijf.
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men in whom ripe age has perished?
3 Thei weren bareyn for nedynesse and hungur; that gnawiden in wildirnesse, and weren pale for pouert and wretchidnesse;
They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
4 and eeten eerbis, aud the ryndis of trees; and the roote of iunyperis was her mete.
They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom tree are their food.
5 Whiche men rauyschiden these thingis fro grete valeis; and whanne thei hadden foundun ony of alle, thei runnen with cry to tho.
They are driven out from among men. They cry after them as after a thief,
6 Thei dwelliden in deseertis of strondis, and in caues of erthe, ethir on grauel, `ethir on cley.
so that they live in frightful valleys, and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 Whiche weren glad among siche thingis, and arettiden delices to be vndur buschis.
They bray among the bushes. They are gathered together under the nettles.
8 The sones of foolis and of vnnoble men, and outirli apperynge not in erthe.
They are children of fools, yes, children of wicked men. They were flogged out of the land.
9 But now Y am turned in to the song of hem, and Y am maad a prouerbe to hem.
“Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
10 Thei holden me abhomynable, and fleen fer fro me, and dreden not to spete on my face.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11 For God hath openyd his arowe caas, and hath turmentid me, and hath set a bridil in to my mouth.
For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me; and they have thrown off restraint before me.
12 At the riytside of the eest my wretchidnessis risiden anoon; thei turneden vpsedoun my feet, and oppressiden with her pathis as with floodis.
On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet. They cast their ways of destruction up against me.
13 Thei destrieden my weies; thei settiden tresoun to me, and hadden the maistri; and `noon was that helpide.
They mar my path. They promote my destruction without anyone’s help.
14 Thei felden in on me as bi a brokun wal, and bi yate openyd, and weren stretchid forth to my wretchidnessis.
As through a wide breach they come. They roll themselves in amid the ruin.
15 Y am dryuun in to nouyt; he took awei my desir as wynd, and myn helpe passide awei as a cloude.
Terrors have turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
16 But now my soule fadith in my silf, and daies of turment holden me stidfastly.
“Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 In nyyt my boon is persid with sorewis; and thei, that eten me, slepen not.
In the night season my bones are pierced in me, and the pains that gnaw me take no rest.
18 In the multitude of tho my cloth is wastid, and thei han gird me as with coler of a coote.
My garment is disfigured by great force. It binds me about as the collar of my tunic.
19 Y am comparisound to cley, and Y am maad lijk to a deed sparcle and aisch.
He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.
20 Y schal cry to thee, and thou schalt not here me; Y stonde, and thou biholdist not me.
I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.
21 Thou art chaungid in to cruel to me, and in the hardnesse of thin hond thou art aduersarie to me.
You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
22 Thou hast reisid me, and hast set as on wynd; and hast hurtlid me doun strongli.
You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.
23 Y woot, that thow schalt bitake me to deeth, where an hows is ordeyned to ech lyuynge man.
For I know that you will bring me to death, to the house appointed for all living.
24 Netheles thou sendist not out thin hond to the wastyng of hem; and if thei fallen doun, thou schalt saue.
“However does not one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
25 Y wepte sum tyme on him, that was turmentid, and my soule hadde compassioun on a pore man.
Did not I weep for him who was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26 Y abood goodis, and yuelis ben comun to me; Y abood liyt, and derknessis braken out.
When I looked for good, then evil came. When I waited for light, darkness came.
27 Myn ynnere thingis buyliden out with outen my reste; daies of turment camen bifor me.
My heart is troubled, and does not rest. Days of affliction have come on me.
28 Y yede morenynge, and Y roos with out woodnesse in the cumpenye, and criede.
I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29 Y was the brother of dragouns, and the felow of ostrigis.
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.
30 My skyn was maad blak on me, and my boonys drieden for heete.
My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burned with heat.
31 Myn harpe is turned in to morenyng, and myn orgun in to the vois of weperis.
Therefore my harp has turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.
