Job 9
1 Joob answeride, and seide, Verili Y woot, that it is so,
Then Job answered,
2 and that a man comparisound to God schal not be maad iust.
“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3 If he wole stryue with God, he may not answere to God oon for a thousynde.
If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
4 He is wiys in herte, and strong in myyt; who ayenstood hym, and hadde pees?
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5 Which bar hillis fro o place to anothir, and thei wisten not; whiche he distriede in his strong veniaunce.
He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 Which stirith the erthe fro his place, and the pilers therof schulen `be schakun togidere.
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 Which comaundith to the sunne, and it risith not; and he closith the sterris, as vndur a signet.
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and seals up the stars.
8 Which aloone stretchith forth heuenes, and goith on the wawis of the see.
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 Which makith Ariture, and Orionas, and Hiadas, `that is, seuene sterris, and the innere thingis of the south.
He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10 Which makith grete thingis, and that moun not be souyt out, and wondurful thingis, of whiche is noon noumbre.
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11 If he cometh to me, `that is, bi his grace, Y schal not se hym; if he goith awey, `that is, in withdrawynge his grace, Y schal not vndurstonde.
Behold, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
12 If he axith sodeynli, who schal answere to hym? ethir who may seie to hym, Whi doist thou so?
Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 `God is he, whos wraththe no man may withstonde; and vndur whom thei ben bowid, that beren the world.
“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14 Hou greet am Y, that Y answere to hym, and speke bi my wordis with hym?
How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
15 Which also schal not answere, thouy Y haue ony thing iust; but Y schal biseche my iuge.
Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16 And whanne he hath herd me inwardli clepynge, Y bileue not, that he hath herd my vois.
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he listened to my voice.
17 For in a whirlewynd he schal al to-breke me, and he schal multiplie my woundis, yhe, without cause.
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He grauntith not, that my spirit haue reste, and he fillith me with bittirnesses.
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If strengthe is souyt, `he is moost strong; if equyte of doom is souyt, no man dar yelde witnessynge for me.
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20 If Y wole make me iust, my mouth schal dampne me; if Y schal schewe me innocent, he schal preue me a schrewe.
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21 Yhe, thouy Y am symple, my soule schal not knowe this same thing; and it schal anoye me of my lijf.
I am blameless. I do not respect myself. I despise my life.
22 O thing is, which Y spak, he schal waste `bi deth also the innocent and wickid man.
“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 If he betith, sle he onys, and leiye he not of the peynes of innocent men.
If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24 The erthe is youun in to the hondis of the wickid; he hilith the face of iugis; that if he is not, who therfor is?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
25 Mi daies weren swiftere than a corour; thei fledden, and sien not good.
“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26 Thei passiden as schippis berynge applis, as an egle fleynge to mete.
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27 Whanne Y seie, Y schal not speke so; Y chaunge my face, and Y am turmentid with sorewe.
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
28 Y drede alle my werkis, witynge that thou `woldist not spare the trespassour.
I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 Sotheli if Y am also thus wickid, whi haue Y trauelid in veyn?
I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30 Thouy Y am waischun as with watris of snow, and thouy myn hondis schynen as moost cleene,
If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 netheles thou schalt dippe me in filthis, and my clothis, `that is, werkis, schulen holde me abhomynable.
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
32 Trewli Y schal not answere a man, which is lijk me; nether that may be herd euenli with me in doom.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 `Noon is, that may repreue euer eithir, and sette his hond in bothe.
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34 Do he awei his yerde fro me, and his drede make not me aferd.
Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35 Y schal speke, and Y schal not drede hym; for Y may not answere dredynge.
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
