1Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide, Hou long turmente ye my soule,

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2and al to-breken me with wordis?

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3Lo! ten sithis ye schenden me, and ye ben not aschamed, oppressynge me.

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4Forsothe and if Y `koude not, myn vnkynnyng schal be with me.

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5And ye ben reisid ayens me, and repreuen me with my schenschipis.

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6Nameli now vndurstonde ye, that God hath turmentid me not bi euene doom, and hath cumpassid me with hise betyngis.

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7Lo! Y suffrynge violence schal crye, and no man schal here; Y schal crye loude, and `noon is that demeth.

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8He bisette aboute my path, and Y may not go; and he settide derknessis in my weie.

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9He hath spuylid me of my glorye, and hath take awey the coroun fro myn heed.

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10He hath distried me on ech side, and Y perischide; and he hath take awei myn hope, as fro a tre pullid vp bi the roote.

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11His stronge veniaunce was wrooth ayens me; and he hadde me so as his enemye.

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12Hise theues camen togidere, and `maden to hem a wei bi me; and bisegiden my tabernacle in cumpas.

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13He made fer my britheren fro me; and my knowun as aliens yeden awei fro me.

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14My neiyboris forsoken me; and thei that knewen me han foryete me.

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15The tenauntis of myn hows, and myn handmaydis hadden me as a straunger; and Y was as a pilgrym bifor her iyen.

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16Y clepide my seruaunt, and he answeride not to me; with myn owne mouth Y preiede hym.

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17My wijf wlatide my breeth; and Y preiede the sones of my wombe.

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18Also foolis dispisiden me; and whanne Y was goon awei fro hem, thei bacbitiden me.

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19Thei, that weren my counselouris sum tyme, hadden abhomynacioun of me; and he, whom Y louede moost, was aduersarie to me.

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20Whanne fleischis weren wastid, my boon cleuyde to my skyn; and `oneli lippis ben left aboute my teeth.

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21Haue ye merci on me, haue ye merci on me, nameli, ye my frendis; for the hond of the Lord hath touchid me.

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22Whi pursuen ye me, as God pursueth; and ben fillid with my fleischis?

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23Who yyueth to me, that my wordis be writun? Who yyueth to me,

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24that tho be writun in a book with an yrun poyntil, ethir with a plate of leed; ethir with a chisel be grauun in a flynt?

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25For Y woot, that myn ayenbiere lyueth, and in the laste dai Y schal rise fro the erthe;

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26and eft Y schal be cumpassid with my skyn, and in my fleisch Y schal se God, my sauyour.

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27Whom Y my silf schal se, and myn iyen schulen biholde, and not an other man. This myn hope is kept in my bosum.

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28Whi therfor seien ye now, Pursue we hym, and fynde we the roote of a word ayens hym?

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29Therfor fle ye fro the face of the swerd; for the swerd is the vengere of wickidnessis, and wite ye, that doom schal be.

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