Job 6

¹Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,

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

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

⁴For 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.

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

⁶Ether 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? 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.

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

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

¹⁰And `this be coumfort to me, that he turmente me with sorewe, and spare not, and that Y ayenseie not the wordis of the hooli.

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁶Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Job 6

¹But Job answered and said,

²Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

³For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

⁵Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

⁶Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁷The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

⁸Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

⁹Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

¹⁰Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

¹¹What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

¹²Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

¹³Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

¹⁴To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

¹⁶Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

¹⁷What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

¹⁸The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

¹⁹The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

²⁰They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

²¹For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

²²Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

²³Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

²⁴Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

²⁵How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

²⁶Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

²⁷Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

²⁸Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

²⁹Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

³⁰Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?