Job 6

1 Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,

But Job answered and said,

2 Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.

Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!

3 As the grauel of the see, this wretchidnesse schulde appere greuousere; wherfor and my wordis ben ful of sorewe.

And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.

4 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.

For the arrows of the Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.

5 Whether a feeld asse schal rore, whanne he hath gras? Ethir whether an oxe schal lowe, whanne he stondith byfor a `ful cratche?

What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has a fodder?

6 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?

Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?

7 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.

For my wrath can’t cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.

8 Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?

For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!

9 And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?

Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.

10 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.

Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leaped: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.

11 For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?

For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?

12 Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13 Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.

Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.

14 He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.

Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.

15 My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.

My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.

16 Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.

They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.

17 In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.

When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.

18 The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.

Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.

19 Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.

Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.

20 Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.

They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.

21 Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.

But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.

22 Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,

What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,

23 Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?

to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?

24 Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.

Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.

25 Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.

But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.

26 Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.

Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.

27 Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.

Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.

28 Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.

But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.

29 Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.

Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.

30 And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.

For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?