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Ther was a man in the lond of Hus, Job by name; and that man was simple, and riȝt, and dredende God, and goende awei fro euel. And ther ben born to hym seue sones, and thre douȝtris; and his possessioun was seuen thousend of shep, and thre thousend of camailis, also fiue hundrid ȝokis of oxen, and fiue hundryd assis, and ful myche meyne; and that man was gret among alle the men of the est. And his sones wenten, and maden festis bi housis, eche in his day; and sendende thei clepeden ther thre sistris, that thei shulden ete, and drinke win with hem. And whan the daȝes of the feste hadden passid aboute, Job sente to them, and haliwide them, and risende erli, offride brent sacrifise bi alle. Forsothe he seide, Lest perauenture my sonys synnen, and blisse to God in ther hertis. So Job dide alle daȝis. On a dai forsothe, whan the sones of God wer come, that thei shulde stonde neeȝ before God, was neeȝ among hem and Sathan. To whom seide the Lord, Whennus comest thou? The whiche answerende seith, I haue enuyround the erthe, and thurȝ gon it. And the Lord seide to hym, Whether hast thou not beholde my seruaunt Job, that ther be not lic to hym in the erthe, a man simple, and riȝt, and dredende God, and goende awei fro euel. To whom answerde Sathan, Whether in vein Job dredith God? Whether hast thou not strengthid hym, and his hous, and al his substaunce bi enuyroun? To the werkis of his hondis thou hast blissid, and his possessioun wex in the erthe. But strecche out a litil thin hond, and touche alle thingus that he weldeth; but in the face he blesse to thee. Thanne the Lord seide to Sathan, Lo! alle thingus, that he hath, in thin hond ben; onli in hym ne strecche thou out thin hond. And Sathan is gon out fro the face of the Lord. Whan forsothe on a dai the sones and his doȝtris shulden ete, and drinke win in the hous of ther firste gote brother, a messager cam to Job, that shulde sein, Oxen ereden, and she assis weren fed beside them; and Sabeis feerly fellen to, and token alle thingis, and smyte the childer with swerd; and I alone scapide that I shulde telle to thee. And whan ȝit he spac, cam an other, and seide, The fyr of God cam doun fro heuene, and the shep touchid, and the childer wastide; and I alone fleiȝ awei that I telle to thee. But ȝit hym spekende, cam and an other, and seide, Caldeis maden thre cumpanyes, and asailiden the camailis, and token hem, also and the childer thei smyten with swerd; and I alone fleiȝ awei that I telle to thee. And ȝit he spac, and lo! an other cam inne, and seide, Thi sones and doȝtris etende, and drinkende win in the hous of ther firste goten brother, feerli an hidous wind fel in fro the regioun of desert, and smot togidere the foure corneres of the hous, the whiche fallende opresside thi fre childer, and ben deade; and I alone fleiȝ awei that I telle to thee. Thanne Job ros, and kutte his clothis, and his hed shauen fel in to the erthe, and honourede, and seide, Nakid I wente out fro the wombe of my moder, and nakid I shal gon aȝeen thider; the Lord ȝaf, the Lord toc awei; as to the Lord pleside, so it is do; be the name of the Lord blissid. In alle thes thingus Job synnede not with his lippis, ne any foli thing aȝen God spac.
It is do forsothe, whan on a dai hadden comen the sones of God, and stoden before the Lord, and Sathan hadde comen among hem, and stod in his siȝt, that the Lord seide to Sathan, Whennes comest thou? The whiche answerende seith, I haue gon aboute the erthe, and thurȝ passid it. And the Lord seide to Sathan, Whether hast thou beholde my seruaunt Job, that ther be not to hym lic in the erthe, a man simple, and riȝt, and dredende God, and goende awei fro euel, and ȝit withholdende innocence? Thou forsothe hast stirid me aȝen hym, that I scourge hym in vein. To whom answerde Sathan, and seith, Fel for fel, and alle thingus that a man hath he shulde ȝiue for his soule; ellis put thin hond, and touche his bon and flesh, and thanne thou shalt see, that in to the face he blisse to thee. Thanne the Lord seide to Sathan, Lo! in thin hond he is; nerthelater his lif kep. Thanne Sathan, gon out fro the face of the Lord, he smot Job with the werste stinkende bleyne fro the sole of the fot vnto the nol; the whiche with a sherd scrapide awei the quyture, sittende in the dunghil. His wif forsothe seide to hym, Ȝit forsothe thou abidist stille in thi symplete. Blisse to God, and die. The whiche seith to hir, As oon of the fool wymmen thou speeke; if goodis wee han taken of the hond of the Lord, euelis forsothe why shulde wee not suffre? In alle these thingis Job synnede not with his lippis. Thanne thre frendus of Job, herende al the euel that hadde fallen to hym, alle camen fro ther place, Elifath Themanites, and Baldach Suytes, and Sofar Naamatites; forsothe thei hadden seid togidere to themself, that comende togidere thei shulden visiten hym, and coumforten. And whan thei hadden rerid up aferr ther eȝen, thei knewen hym not; and criende out thei wepten, and, the clothis kitt, thei sprengden poudre vpon ther hed in to heuene. And thei seten with hym in the erthe seuen daȝis and seuen nyȝt, and no man spac to hym woord; forsothe thei seȝen the sorewe to ben hydous.
Aftir these thingus Job openede his mouth, and curside to his dai, and seide, Pershe the dai in the whiche I am born, and the nyȝt in the whiche it is seid, A man is conceyued. That dai be turned in to dercnessis; God seche it not from aboue, and be it not in recording, ne be it liȝtid with liȝt. Dercnesses dercne it, and the shadewe of deth ocupie it in dercnesse; and be it with inne wrappid with bitternesse. A derc whirlewind welde that nyȝt; and be it not countid in the daȝes of the ȝer, ne noumbrid in monethis. Be that nyȝt solitarie, and not preise wrthi. Curse thei to it, that cursen to the dai, that ben redi to rere Leuiethan. The sterris be thei derkid with the dercnesse of it; abide it liȝt, and se not, ne the springing of the risende morwetid. For it closide not the doris of the wombe, that bar me, ne toc awei euelis fro myn eyen. Whi not in the wombe I am dead? gon out of the wombe not anoon I pershide? Whi taken out of the knes? whi soukid the tetis? Now forsothe slepende I sholde holde my pes, and with my slep resten, with kingus and counseileris of the erthe, that bilden to hem solitarie dwellingus; or with princis that welde gold, and fulfillen ther housis with siluer; or as abortif hid I shulde not abide, or that conceyued seȝen not liȝt. There vnpitous men cesiden fro noise, and there resteden the wery in strengthe. And sum time togidere ioyned withoute gref thei herden not the vois of the askere with strif. Litil and gret ther ben, and seruaunt and fre man fro ther lord. Whi to the wrecche is ȝiue liȝt, and lif to hem that ben in bitternesse of soule? The whiche abiden deth, and cometh not; as men deluende out tresor and ioȝen hugely, whan thei finde the sepulcre? To the man whos weie is hid, and God hath cumpassid hym with dercnessis? Er I shul ete, I siȝhe; and as of flowende water, so my roring. For the drede, that I dradde, ys ful out come to me; and that I shamede of, is falle. Whether I feynede not? whether I heeld not my pes? whether I restide not? and ther is comen vp on me indignacioun.
Answerende forsothe Elifath Themanythes seide, If wee begynne to speke to thee, perauenture greuously thou shalt taken; but the conceiuede woord who shal moun holde? Lo! thou hast taȝt manye men, and thou hast strengthid the weri hondis. Thi woordis han maad stable the vnstedefast, and the tremblende knes thou hast coumfortid. Now forsothe is comen vp on thee veniaunce, and thou hast failid; it hath touchid thee, and thou art disturbid. Wher is thi drede, thi strengthe, and thi pacience, and the perfeccioun of thi weies? Recorde, I beseche thee, who euere innocent pershide, or whanne riȝtwis men ben don awei? But rathere I haue seen hem, that werken wickidnesse, and sowen sorewis, and repen hem, God blowende, to han pershid, and thurȝ the spirit of his wrathe to be wastid. The roring of a leoun, and the vois of a leounesse, and the teth of leoun whelpis ben tobrosid. The tigre pershide, forthi that he hadde no prei; and the leoun whelpis ben scaterid. But to me is seid a woord hid, and as theefli myn ere toc the veynes of his gruching. In the orroure of the nyȝt siȝte, whan slep is wont to ocupie men, inward drede heeld me, and trembling; and alle my bones ben agast. And whan the spirit me present shulde passe, inwardli griseden the heris of my flesh. Ther stod oon, whos chere I knew not, an ymage befor myn eȝen; and a vois as of a softe eir I herde. Whethir a man of God shal be iustified bi comparisoun; and a man shal be more clene than his Makere? Lo! that seruen to hym ben not stable; and in his aungelis he fond shreudenesse. Myche more these that dwellen cleyene housis, that han an erthely foundement, shul be wastid as of a moȝhe. Fro morutid vnto euen thei shul ben hewe doun; and for no man vnderstondith, with outen ende thei shul pershe. Thei forsothe, that weren lafte, shul be taken awei fro hem, and dien, and not in wisdam.
Clep thanne, if ther is that answere to thee, and turne to summe of the seintis. Wrathe sleth a man fol, and enuye sleth a litil child. I saȝ a fool with a stable roote, and I curside to his fairnesse anoon. Aferr shul be maade his sones fro helthe, and shul be to-treden in the ȝate, and ther shal not be that deliuere. Whos rep the hungri shal ete, and hym shal raueshe the armed, and the thristi men shul drinke his richessis. No thing in the erthe is maad withoute cause, and of the erthe shal not gon out sorewe. A man to trauaile is born, and a brid to fleen. For what thing I shal preȝe the Lord, and to my God I shal putte my speche. That doth grete thingus, and vnserchable, and merueilouse thingus withoute noumbre. That ȝiueth reyn vpon the face of the erthe, and moysteth with watris alle thingus. That setteth meke men in to heiȝte, and weilende men rereth with helthe. That scatereth the thoȝtis of euele men, that ther hondis moun not fulfille that thei begunne. That caccheth wise men in ther felnesse, and the counseil of shrewis scattereth. Bi the dai thei shul renne in to dercnessis, and as in nyȝt so thei shul graspen in mydday. But saf he shal make the nedi fro the swerd of the mouth of hem, and fro the hond doende violence the pore man. And he shal be to the nedi man hope, wickidnesse forsothe shal drawe togidere his mouth. Blisful the men that is chastisid of the Lord; thanne the blamyng of the Lord ne repreue thou. For he woundeth, and lecheth; smyteth, and his hondis shuln helen. In sixe tribulaciouns he shal deliuere thee, and in the seuenthe shal not touche thee euel. In hungir he shal deliuere thee fro deth, and in bataile fro the hond of swerd. Fro the scourge of tunge thou shalt ben hid, and thou shalt not drede wrecchidnesse, whan it cometh. In wastite and hunger thou shalt laȝwhin, and beste of the erthe thou shalt not dreden. But with stones of regiouns thi couenaunt, and the bestis of erthe shul be pesible to thee. And thou shalt wite, that thi tabernacle haue pes, and visitende thi kinde thou shalt not synne. And thou shalt wite also, for manyfold shal be thi sed, and thi progenye as the erbe of the erthe. Thou shalt go in to the sepulcre in plenteuousnessis, as is born in an hep off whete in his tyme. Lo! this, as wee han enserchid, so is; that is herd, in mynde thurȝ trete.
Answerende forsothe Job seith, Wolde God, my synnes weren weȝed, bi the whiche wrathe I deseruede; and the wrecchidnesse that I suffre, in a balaunce. As the grauel of the se this more greuous shulde seme; wherfore and my woordis ben ful of sorewe. For the arwis of the Lord ben in me, of the whiche the indignacioun drinketh vp my spirit; and the gastnessis of the Lord fiȝten aȝen me. Whethir an asse shal roren, whan he hath erbe? Or an oxe shul loowen, whan befor the fulle cracche he shal stonde? Or shal moun ben eten vnsauere thing, that is not with salt poudrid? Or shal a man moun taste, that tastid bringeth deth? Forsothe to the hungrende lif, also bitter thingis semen to be sweete; that beforn my soule wolde not touche, now for anguysh ben my metis. Who ȝeue, that myn asking come; and that I abijde, ȝelde to me God? And that began, he me to-trede; lose his hond, and hewe me doun? And this be to me a coumfort, that the tormentende me with sorewe pershe not, ne withseie to the woordis of a seint. What forsothe is my strengthe, that I suffre? or what myn ende, that I pacientli do? Ne the strengthe of stones my strengthe, ne my flesh is brasene. Lo! ther is not helpe to me in me; also my necessarie men wenten awei fro me. He that taketh awei fro his frend mercy, the drede of the Lord forsaketh. My brethern passeden biside me, as a strem that raueshe meel passeth in valeis. That dreden frost, snowȝ shal falle vpon hem. The time that thei wer scaterid, thei shul pershe; and as thei enchaufe, thei shul be losid fro ther place. Withinne wrappid ben the sties of ther goingus; thei shul gon in vein, and pershen. Beholdeth the sties of Theman, the weies of Saba; and abidith a litil while. Thei ben confoundid, for I hopide; thei camen also to me, and with shame thei ben ouercouered. Now ȝee han comen, and now seande my veniaunce ȝee dreden. Whether I seide, Bringeth to me, and of ȝoure substaunce ȝiueth to me? or, Deliuere me fro the hond of the enemy, and fro the hond of stronge men pullith out me? Techeth me, and I shal be stille; and if any thing perauenture I haue vnknowen, enformeth me. Whi han ȝee bacbitid to the woordis of treuthe? whan of ȝou no man be, that mai vndernyme me. To blamen onli spechis ȝee ordeynyn, and aȝen wind woordis ȝee speken. Vpon the faderles child ȝee fallen on, and enforsen ȝoure frend to turne vp so doun. Nerthelater that ȝee han begunne, fulfillith; ȝiueth ere, and seeth, whether I lie. Answerth, I beseche, withoute strif, and spekende that, that is riȝtwis, shewith. And ȝee shul not finde in my tunge wickidnesse, ne in my chekis folie shal thurȝ soune.
Kniȝthod is the lif of man vpon erthe, and as the daȝes of an hirid man, the daȝis of hym. As an hert desireth shadewe, and as an hirid man abideth the ende of his werc; so and I hadde voide monethis, and trauailous nyȝtis I noumbride out to me. If I shul slepen, I shal sey, Whanne shal I rise? and eft I shal abide the euetid, and I shal be fulfild with sorewis vnto dercnessis. My flesh is clad with roting, and with filthis of pouder; my fel driede, and is drawen togidere. My daȝes swiftliere passiden than of the weuere the web is kut of; and thei ben wastid withoute any hope. Haue mynde, for wind is my lif, and myn eȝe shal not be turned aȝeen, that I see goodis. Ne the siȝte of man shal beholde me; but thin eȝen in me, and I shal not stonden. As a cloude is wastid, and passeth, so that goth doun to helle, shal not steȝen vp; ne shal turne aȝeen more in to his hous, ne his place shal more ouer knowen hym. Wherfore and I shal not spare to my mouth; I shal speke in the tribulacioun of my spirit, and I shal talke with the bitternesse of my soule. Whether am I the se, or a whal, for ȝee han enuyround me with a prisoun? If I shal seyn, My bed shal coumforte me, and I shal be releued spekende with me in my bed; thou shalt fere me bi sweuenys, and bi viseouns; thurȝ orrour thou shalt smyte me to gidere. Wherfore my soule ches hangyng vp, and my bones deth. I despeirede, now I shal no mor liue; spare to me, Lord, no thing forsothe ben my daȝes. What is a man, for thou magnefiest hym? or what thou settis to aȝen hym thin herte? Thou visitist hym the morutid, and feerli thou prouest hym. Hou longe thou sparist not to me, ne letist me, that I swolewe my spotele? I haue synned; what shal I don to thee, O! kepere of men? Whi hast thou put me contrarie to thee, and am maad to myself heuy? Whi takist thou not awei my synne, and whi dost thou not awei my wickidnesse? Lo! nowe in pouder I slepe, and if erli thou seche me, I shal not stonde stille.
Answerende forsothe Baldach Suythes seide, Hou longe shalt thou speke suche thingus? Ther is a manyfold spirit of the woord of thi mouth. Whether God supplauntith dom, and the Almyȝti turneth vpso doun, that is riȝtwis? Also if thi sonys synneden to hym, and lafte them the hond of ther wickidnesse; in thou nerthelatere, if thou erli to gidere risist to God, and the Almyȝti haddest preȝid, if clene and riȝtwis thou gost, anoon he shal waken out to thee, and maad pesible the dwelling place of thi riȝtwisnesse he shal ȝelde; in so myche that thi rathermore weren litle, and thi laste thingis shuln be multiplied ful myche. Forsothe aske the rathermor ieneracioun, and bisili enserche the mynde of the faders. Forsothe wee ben as ȝisterdai born, and wee han vnkunnyng; for as shadewe oure daȝis ben vp on erthe. And thei shul teche thee, and speke to thee, and fro thin herte shul bringe forth spechis. Whether a resshe may liuen withoute humour? or reeddi place growe with oute water? Whanne ȝit it be in flour, and be it not taken with hond, beforn alle erbis it waxeth drie. So the weies of alle men, that forȝeten God; and the hope of an ipocrite shal pershe. To hym shal not plese his couwardise, and as the web of attercoppis, his trost. He shal lene vp on his hous, and it shal not stonde; he shal vnder setten it, and it shal not rise. Moiste semeth the resshe, befor the sunne come; and in his springing the buriownyng of it shal gon out. Vp on an hep of stones his rootis shul be maad thicke, and among the stonys it shal dwelle. And if it pulle it vp fro his place, it shal denyen hym, and seyn, I knew not thee. This forsothe is the gladnesse of his weie, that eft fro the erthe othere be buriouned. God shal not throwen aferr the symple, ne putten hond to shrewis; to the time that thi mouth be fulfild with laȝhing, and thi lippis with ioȝe. Thei that hateden thee shul be clad with confusioun; and the tabernacle of vnpitouse men shal not stonde stille.
Answerende Job seith, Verreli I wot, that so it is, and that a man comparisoun to God shal not be iustified. If he wile striue with hym, he shal not moun answere to hym oon for a thousend. Wis in herte he is, and strong in strengthe; who withstod to hym, and pes hadde? That translatide hillis, and these wisten not; whom he turnede vpso doun in his wodnesse. That stirith the erthe fro his place, and his pileris shul be smyte togidere. That comaundith to the sunne, and springeth not; and closeth the sterris, as vnder a sel. The whiche alone streccheth out heuenes, and goth vp on the flodis of the se. That maketh the sterris, that is clepid Arthurus, and Orionas, and Iadas, and the innermor of the south. That maketh grete thingus and vnserchable, and merueilouse thingus, of whiche is no noumbre. If he come to me, I shal not seen hym; if he go awei, I shal not vnderstonde. If feerli he aske, who shal answere to hym? or who may sein to hym, Whi dost thou thus? God, to whos wrathe no man mai withstonde; vnder whom ben bowid, that bern the world. Hou myche am I, that I answere to hym, and speke in my woordus with hym? The whiche also, if I shul han any thing riȝt, shal not answern; but my domys man I shal preȝen. And whan he hereth me inwardli clepende, I leue not, that he shal here my vois. In a whirlewind forsothe he shal to-brose me, and multiplien my woundis also withoute cause. He graunteth not my spirit to resten, and he fulfillith me with bitternessis. If strengthe is soȝt, he is most strong; if euenenesse of dom, no man shal ben hardi for me to ȝelde witnesse. If I wile iustefie me, my mouth shal condempne me; if innocent I shal shewe me, a shrewe he shal proue me. Also iff symple I shul be, that same my soule shal vnknowe; and it shal noȝe me of my lif. O thing is, that I spac, also the innocent and the vnpitous he shal waste. If he scourgeth, sle he onys, and not of the peynes of innocentis laȝhe. The erthe is ȝiue in to the hondis of the vnpitous; his dom couereth the chere; that if he is not, who thanne is? My daȝis swiftere weren than a corour; thei floun, and thei seȝen no good. Thei passeden as shipis berende appelis, as an egle fleende to mete. Whan I shal sei, Nai, thus I shal speke; I chaunge my face, and with sorewe I am tormentid. I shamede alle my werkis, witende that thou shuldist not spare to the giltende. If forsothe and so I am vnpitous, whi in vein haue I trauailid? If I shul be wasshe as with watris of snowȝ, and myn hondis as most clene shyneden, nerthelatere with filthis thou shalt weete me, and my clothis shul wlaten me. Ne forsothe to the man that is lic me, I shal answern; ne that with me in dom euenli mai ben herd. Ther is not, that either mai vndernyme, and putten his hond in bothe. Do he awei fro me his ȝerde, and his inward drede fere me not. I shal speke, and I shal not dreden hym; ne forsothe I mai dredende answern.
It noȝeth me of my lif; I shal leten aȝen me my speche, I shal speke in bitternesse to my soule. I shal sei to God, Wile thou not me condempne; shew to me, whi me so thou demest. Whether good to thee it semeth, if thou chalenge and opresse me, the werk of thin hondis; and the counseil of vnpitous men thou helpe? Whether fleshly eȝen ben to thee, or as seeth a man, and thou shalt seen? Whether as the daȝis of man, thi daȝes, and thi ȝeris ben as mannys tymes; that thou seche my wickidnesse, and my synne thou serche? And wite thou, for no thing vnpitous I dide; sithen ther is no man, that of thin hond mai deliuere? Thin hondis maden me, and formeden me al in enuyroun; and so feerli thou puttist me doun. Haue mynde, I beseche, that as clei thou madist me, and in to pouder thou shalt aȝeen bringe me. Whether not as mylc thou hast mylkid me, and as chese thou hast crudded me? With fel and flesh thou hast clad me; with bones and senewis thou hast togidere ioyned me. Lif and mercy thou hast ȝiue to me, and thi visiting kepte my spirit. Al be it that these thingus thou hidist in thin herte, nerthelatere I wot, for of alle thingus thou hast mynde. If I synnede, and at an houre thou sparedest to me; whi fro my wickidnesse thou suffrist not me to be clene? And if a wickid man I shal be, wo is to me; and if riȝtwis, I shal not reren vp the hed, fulfild with affliccioun and wrecchidnesse. And for pride as a leounesse thou shalt take me; and turned aȝeen, merueilously thou tormentist me. Thou restorist thi witnessis aȝen me, and thou multipliest thi wrathe aȝen me; and peynes fiȝten in me. Whi of the wombe thou broȝtist me out? That wolde God I hadde be wastid, that eȝe shulde not seen me. I hadde ben as I were not, fro the wombe translatid to the toumbe. Whether not the fewenesse of my daȝis shal ben endid in short? Let me thanne, that I weile a litil while my sorewe, er I go, and turne not aȝeen, to the derke erthe, and couered with the dercnesse of deth the erthe of wrecchidnesse and of dercnessis; wher shadewe of deth, and noon order, but fulli indwellith euere durende orrour.
Answerende forsothe Sofar Naamatithes seide, Whether he, that manye thingus spekith, whether and he shal heren? or a man ful of woordis shal be iustefied? To thee alone men shul holde ther pes? and whan other men thou scornest, of no man thou shalt be confoundid? Thou forsothe seidist, Pure is my woord, and clene I am in thi siȝte. And wolde God, God shulde speke with thee, and openen his lippis to thee; that he shulde shewe to thee the priuytes of wisdam, and that manyfold is his lawe, and thou shuldest vnderstonde, that manye lasse thingus thou art askid of hym, than deserueth thi wickidnesse. Perauenture the steppis of God thou shalt holde, and vnto perfit the Almyȝti thou shalt finde. Heiȝere than heuene he is, and what shalt thou do? deppere than helle, and whennys shalt thou knowen? Lengere than the erthe the mesure of hym, and braddere than the se. If he turne vpso doun alle thingus, or in to oon drawe togidere, who shal aȝensein to hym? Or who shal moun sey to hym, Whi dost thou so? He forsothe knewȝ the vanyte of men; and seande wickidnesse whether he beholde not? A veyn man in to pride is rerid; and as a colt of an asse, he weeneth hymself born free. Thou forsothe hast fastned thin herte, and hast sprad out to hym thin hondis. If the wickidnesse, that is in thin hond, thou takest awei fro thee, and vnriȝtwisnesse abideth not stille in thi tabernacle, thanne thou shalt moun rere thi face with oute wem, and thou shalt be stable, and not dreden. Of wrecchenesse also thou shalt forȝete, and, as of watris that passeden, thou shalt not recorde. And as myddai liȝting it shal rise to thee at euen; and whan thee wastid thou wenest, thou shalt springe as the dai sterre. And thou shalt han trost, purposid to thee hope; and doun dolue, siker thou shalt slepe. Thou shalt reste, and ther shal not be that fere thee; and manye shul preȝe thi face. The eȝen forsothe of vnpitous men shul faile; and out fliȝt shal pershe fro hem, and the hope of hem abhomynacioun of soule.
Answerende forsothe Job seide, Thanne ȝee ben men alone, that with ȝou dwelle wisdam? And to me is an herte, as and to ȝou, ne lowere I am than ȝee; who forsothe these thingis, that ȝee knowen, vnknoweth? Who is scorned of his frend, as I, inwardli shal clepe God, and he shal heren hym; forsothe the symplenesse of the riȝtwise is scorned. A laumpe despisid anent the thoȝtis of riche men, maad redi to the ordeyned time. The tabernaclis of reueres abounden; and hardili thei terren God, whan he ȝiueth alle thingus in to the hondis of hem. No wunder, aske the bestis, and thei shul teche thee; and the foulis of heuene, and thei shul shewe to thee. Spec to the erthe, and it shal answer to thee; and the fisshis of the se shul telle tho thingis. Who vnknoweth, that alle these thingis the hond of the Lord made? In whos hond the soule of alle lyuynge, and the spirit of alle flesh of man. Whether not the ere demeth woordis, and the chekis of the etere sauour? In olde men is wisdam, and in myche time prudence. Anent hym is wisdam and strengthe; he hath counseil and vnderstonding. If he destroȝe, no man is that bilde vp; if he inclose a man, no man is that opene. If he holde togidere watris, alle thingus shul be maad drie; if he out sende them, thei shul turne vpsodoun the erthe. Anent hym is strengthe and wisdam; he knew and the begilere and hym that is begilid. And he bringeth forth the counseileris in to a fool ende, and domesmen in to stoneing. The girdil of kingus he looside, and girte with a corde the reenes of hem. He bringeth the prestis of hem vnglorious, and the beste men of wrshipe he supplauntith; chaungende the lippe of trewe men, and the teching of olde men doende awei. He heeldeth out despising vp on princis, and hem, that weren opressid, releueth. That sheweth vp depe thingis fro dercnessis; and bringeth forth in to liȝt the shadewe of deth. That multeplieth Jentilis, and leesith hem, and turned vpso doun in to the hoole restoreth. That withinne chaungeth the herte of the prince of the puple of the erthe; and desceyueth hem, that in vein thei go bi withoute weie. Thei shul graspen, as in dercnessis, and not in liȝt; and he shal make them to erren as drunken.
Lo! alle thingus saȝ myn eȝe, and myn ere herde; and I vnderstod alle thingus. Aftyr ȝoure kunnyng and I knewȝ, ne the nethere of ȝou I am. But nerthelater to the Almyȝty I shal speke, and to dispute with God I coueite; rathere shewende ȝou forgeris of lesingus, and herieris of shreude techingis. And wolde God, ȝee heelde ȝoure pes, that ȝee weren weened wise men to ben. Hereth thanne my correcciouns; and to the dom of my lippis taketh heede to. Whether God nedeth ȝoure lesing, that for hym ȝee speke treccheries? Whether his face ȝee taken, and for God ȝee enforcen to deme? Or it shal plese to hym, whom hide no thing mai? Or he shal be desceiued, as a man, with oure gilis? He ȝou shal vndernyme; for in hydelis his face ȝee take. Anoon as he stereth hymself, he shal disturbe ȝou; and his drede shal falle vp on ȝou. Ȝoure mynde shal be comparisound to askis; and ȝoure nollis shul be broȝt aȝeen in to clei. Beth stille a litil while, that I speke, what euere thing to me the mynde moue to. Whi to-tere I my flesh with my teth, and my soule I bere in myn hondis? Also if he sle me, in hym I shal hope; nerthelatere my weies in his siȝte I shal vndernyme. And he shal be my sauyoure; forsothe ther shal not come in his siȝt eche ipocrite. Hereth my woord, and the derke speches parceyneth with ȝoure eris. If I shul be demed, I wot that riȝtwis I shal be founde. Who is he that be demed with me? Come he; whi beende stille I am wastid? Two thingus onli ne do thou to me; and thanne fro thi face I shal not ben hid. Thin hond fer do fro me; and thi ferd gaste not me. Clep me, and I shal answeren to thee; or certis I shal speke, and thou answere to me. Hou fele haue I wickidnessis and synnes? Myn hidous trespasis and giltis sheu to me. Whi thi face thou hidist, and demest me thin enemy? Aȝen a lef, that is raueshid with the wind, thou shewist thi myȝt; and drie stobil thou pursuest. Forsothe thou writist aȝen me bitternessis; and waste me thou wilt with synnes of my waxende ȝouthe. Thou hast putte in the stoc my foot, and thou hast waitid alle my pathis; and the steppis of my feet thou hast beholde. The whiche as rotenesse am to be wastid, and as clothing that is eten of a mowȝhe.
A man born of a womman, short time liuende, is fulfild with many wrecchidnessis. That as a flour goth out, and is totreden; and fleth as shadewe, and neuere in the same state abit stille. And wrthi thou bringist vpon such a man to opene thin eȝen; and to bringe hym with thee in to dom? Who mai make clene the conceyued of vnclene sed? Whether not thou, that art alone? Shorte ben the daȝis of man, the noumbre of his monethis is anent thee; thou hast ordeyned his termes, that shul not moun be passid ouer. Go awei thanne a litil fro hym, that he reste; to the time that the desirid dai come, and as of an hirid man the dai of hym. A tree hath hope, if it be kut of; eft it waxeth grene, and his braunchis springen. If his roote waxe old in the erthe, and in pouder were out dead; his stoc at the smel of water shal burioune, and shal make an hep of leues, as whan first it is plauntid. A man forsothe whan he shal be dead, and nakid, and wastid; wher, I beseche, is he? What maner if watris gon awei fro the se, and flod voided waxe drie, so a man, whan he slepeth, shal not rise, to the time that he be totreden; heuene shal not wake out, ne he shal rise fro his slep. Who ȝeue to me that, that in helle thou defende me, and hide me, to the time thi wodnesse ouerpasse; and sette to me a time, in whiche thou recorde of me? Whether weenest thou not a dead man eft liue? Alle the daȝis, in whiche now I fiȝte, I abide, to the time myn inward chaunging come. Thou shalt clepe me, and I shal answere to thee; to the werc of thin hondis thou shalt putte forth the riȝt hond. Thou forsothe hast noumbrid my goingis; but spare to my synnes. Thou hast selid as in a litil sac my giltis, but thou hast kurid my wickidnesse. A fallende hil flowith doun, and a ston is born ouer fro his place. Watris therlen out stones, and of smyting of watris the erthe litle mele is wastid; thanne men lic maner thou shalt leese. Thou hast strengthid hym a litil, that in to euermor he shulde passe; thou shalt inchaungen his face, and thou shalt senden hym out. If forsothe noble shul ben his sonys, or vnnoble, he shal not vnderstonde. Nerthelatere his flesh whil it liueth, shal sorewen, and his soule vp on himself shal weilen.
Answerende forsothe Elifath Themanythes seide, Whether a wis man shal answere, as spekende in to wind, and he shal fulfille with brennyng his stomac? Thou vndernemyst hym with woordis, that is not euene to thee, and thou spekist, that spedeth not to thee. As myche as in thee is, thou hast voidid drede; and taken awei preȝeeris befor God. Forsothe thi wickidnesse tauȝte thi mouth, and thou folewist a tunge of blasfemende men. Thi mouth shal condempne thee, and not I, and thi lippis shul answer to thee. Whether the firste man thou art born, and beforn alle hillis formed? Whether the counseil of God thou hast herd, and lowere than thou shalt ben his wisdam? What knewe thou, that wee vnknowen? What vnderstondes thou, that wee wite not? And men of the laste age and of manye ȝeeris ben in vs, myche eldere than thi fadris. Whether gret it is, that God coumforte thee? But thi shreude woordis forfenden that. What rereth thee thin herte, and as grete thingis thenkende thou hast stoneȝid eȝen? What aȝen God swelleth thi spirit, that thou speke of thi mouth suche maner woordis? What is a man, that he be vndefoulid, and riȝtwis seme born of a womman? Lo! among his seintus noon is vnchaungable, and heuenes ben not clene in his siȝt. Hou myche more an abhominable and an vnprofitable man, that drinketh as watris wickidnesse? I shal shewe to thee, here me; that I saȝ, I shal telle to thee. Wise men knoulechen, and shul not hide ther faders. To whom alone is ȝiue the erthe, and ther shal not passe an alien bi hem. Alle his daȝis the vnpitous man proudeth; and the noumbre of ȝeris of his tiraundise is vncertein. The soun of ferd euermore in the eris of hym, and whan pes is, he euermor troweth aspies. He beleueth not that he mai be turned aȝeen fro dercnesses vnto liȝt, beholdende swerd on alle sides aboute. Whan he moueth hymself to sechen bred, he knew, that dai of dercnessis is maad redi in his hond. Tribulacioun shal gasten hym, and anguysh shal enuyroune hym, as a king that is beforn maad redi to bataile. Forsothe he bende his hond aȝen God, and aȝen the Almyȝti he is strengthid. He ran aȝen God the necke vpriȝt, and he is armed with a fat nol. Fatnesse couerde his face, and of his sides grece hangeth. He shall dwelle in desolat cites, and in desert housis, that ben broȝt in to toumbis. He shal not be maad riche, ne his substaunce shal abide stille; and he shal not putte in the erthe his roote, ne gon awei fro dercnessis. His braunchis flaume shal make drie, and he shal be take awei thurȝ the spirit of his mouth. Trowe he not in vein bi errour desceyued, that for any pris he is to ben aȝeen boȝt. Er his daȝis ben fulfild, he shal pershe, and his hondis shul waxe drie; he shal ben hurt as a vine, in the firste flour his cluster, and as an oliue throwende awei his flour. Forsothe the gedering of an ipocrite barein, and fyr shal deuoure ther tabernaclis, that gladli taken ȝiftis. He conceyuede sorewe, and bar wickidnesse, and his wombe befor makith redi treccheries.
Answerende forsothe Job seide, I haue herd ofte sithes suche thingus; alle ȝee ben heuye coumfortoures. Whethir windi woordis shul not han ende? or any thing is greuous to thee, if thou spekist? And I myȝte lic thingis of ȝou speken, and wolde God ȝoure lif were for my lif; and I shulde coumforte ȝou with woordis, and moue myn hed vp on ȝou; I shulde strengthe ȝou with my mouth, and moue the lippis as sparende to ȝou. But what shal I do? If I shal speke, my sorewe shal not reste; and if I shul holde my pes, it shal not go fro me awei. Now forsothe my sorewe hath opressid me, and alle my lymes ben turned in to noȝt. My ryuelis seyn witnesse aȝen me, and the false seiere is rered vp aȝen my face, withseiende to me. He gederede his wodnesse in me, and thretende to me gnastide vp on me with his teth; myn enemy with grisli eȝen me beheld. Thei openeden ther mouthis vp on me, and mysseiende smyten my cheke; thei ben fulfild with my peynes. God hath closid me anent the wicke, and to the hondis of vnpitouse toc me. And I he sum time plenteuouse, feerli am sorewid; he hath holde my nol; he hath to-brosid me, and put me as in to a marke. He hath enuyround me with his speris, he woundede my leendis to gidere; he sparide not, and he dalf out in to the erthe my bowelis. And he heewȝ me with wounde vp on wounde; and he fel in to me as a ieaunt. I souwide a sac vpon my skin; and I couerede my flesh with askis. My face to-swal for weping, and myn eȝe lidis daswiden. These thingus I suffride withoute wickidnesse of myn hond, whan I hadde to God clene preȝeeris. Erthe, ne couere thou my blod, ne my cry finde in thee place of lurking. Lo! forsothe in heuene is my witnesse; am I knowere of myself in heiȝtis? My woordi frendis, myn eȝe droppith to God. And wolde God, so a man shulde be demed with God, hou the sone of man is demed with his felawe. Lo! forsothe shorte ȝeris passen, and the sty, bi the whiche I shal not be turned aȝeen, I go.
My spirit shal be maad thynne; my daȝis shul be shortid, and onli to me leueth ouer a sepulcre. I synnede not, and in bittirnessis abideth myn eȝe. Lord, deliuere me, and put me beside thee; and whos euere hond thou wilt, fiȝte aȝen me. The herte of hem thou hast maad aferre fro discipline; therfore thei shul not ben enhauncid. A prei he behotith to felawis, and his sones eȝen shul failen. He putte me as in to a prouerbe of the comun, and his exsaumple beforn hem. At the indignacioun daswide myn eȝe; and my lymes as vnto noȝt ben broȝt. Riȝtwis men shul stoneȝen vp on that; and the innocent aȝen the ipocrite shal be stirid vp. And the riȝtwis shal holden his weie, and with clene hondis adde strengthe. Thanne alle ȝee beth conuertid, and cometh; and I shal not finde in ȝou any wis man. My daȝis passeden; my thoȝtis ben scatered, tormentende myn herte. Nyȝt thei turneden in to dai; and eft aftir dercnessis I hope liȝt. If I shul sustene, helle is myn hous; and in dercnessis I beddede my bed. To stinc I seide, Thou art my fader; My moder and my sister, to wermes. Wher is thanne now myn abiding? and my pacience who beholdeth? In to the most deppest helle shul falle doun alle myne; wenest thou nameli, whethir there shal ben reste to me?
Answerende forsothe Baldath Suythes seide, In to what ende woordis thou shalt boste? Vnderstond rathere, and so speke wee. Whi be wee holden as bestis, and wee han waxe foul before thee? What lesist thou thi soule in thi wodnesse? Whether for thee the erthe shal be forsaken, and rochis shal be translatid fro ther placis? Whether the liȝt of the wycke man shal not be quenchid; ne the flaume of his fyr shal shyne? Liȝt shal waxe derk in his tabernacle; and the lanterne that is vpon hym shal be quenchid. The goingis of his vertue shul be streitid; and his counseyl shal putten hym doun. Forsothe he putte in his feet in to the nett; and in his filthis he goth. His sole shal ben holde with a grene; and thrist shal brenne out aȝen hym. His foot grene is hid in the erthe, and his desceyuende gyn vp on the sty. Al aboute feris shul gasten hym, and withinne wrappen his feet. His strengthe shal ben feblid with hunger; and scarsnesse of mete asaile his ribbis. Deuoure it the fairnesse of hys skin; the firste goten deth waste the armys of hym. His trost be pullid vp fro his tabernacle; and deth trede vp on hym, as a king al aboue. Dwellen his felawis in the tabernacle of hym that is not; brumston be sprengd in his tabernacle. Doun be dried his rootis; aboue forsothe be totreden his rip. The mynde of hym pershe fro the erthe; and his name be not maad solempne in stretis. He shal putten hym out fro liȝt in to dercnessis; and fro the roundnesse ouerbern hym. His sed ne progenye shal ben in his puple, ne any remnaunt in the regiouns of hym. In his daȝes the laste men shul stoneȝen; and grising shal asaile the firste. These thanne ben the tabernaclis of the wicke man; and this his place, that vnknowith God.
Answerende forsothe Job seide, Hou longe ȝee tormente my lif, and pownen me with woordis? Lo! ten sithes ȝee confounde me, and ȝee shame not, opressende me. Forsothe if I am vnknowende, with me it shal be, myn vnkunnyng. And ȝee aȝen me ben rerid, and vndernyme me with my repreues. Nameli now vnderstondeth, for God not with euene dom tormentith me, and with his scourgis girdith me. Lo! I shal crie sufferende fors, and no man shal here; I shal crien out, and ther is not that deme. My sty he heggide aboute, and I mai not gon ouer; and in my path he putte dercnesses. He spoilide me my glorie, and he toc awei the croune fro myn hed. He destroȝide me al aboute, and I pershe; and as to a pullid vp tree he toc awey myn hope. His wodnesse is wroth aȝen me; and so me he hadde as his enemy. His theues camen togidere, and maden to hem a weie bi me; and besegiden in enuyroun my tabernacle. He made a ferr my brethren fro me; and my knowen as alienes wenten awei fro me. My neȝh men forsoken me; and that me hadden knowe forȝete me. The comelingus of myn hous and myn hond wymen as an alien hadden me; and as a pilgrim I was in the eȝen of hem. My seruaunt I clepide, and he answerde not to me; with my propre mouth I preȝede hym. My wif agriside my breth; and I preȝede the sones of my wombe. Foolys also despisiden me; and whan I hadde gon awei fro them, thei bacbiten to me. Sum time my counseyleris wlateden me; and whom I most loouede withstod me. My bon cleuede to my skin, the flesh wastid; and onli the lippis ben lafte aboute my teth. Haueth reuthe of me, haueth reuthe of me, nameli, ȝee my frendis; for the hond of the Lord hath touchid me. Whi pursue ȝee me, as God; and with my flesh ȝee be fulfild? Who ȝiueth to me, that my woordis be writen? Who ȝiueth to me that thei be grauen in a boc with an iren pointel, or with a pece of led; or with a chisell thei be grauen in flint? Forsothe I wot, that myn aȝeenbiere liueth, and in the laste dai I am to rise fro the erthe; and eft shal ben enuyround with my skin, and in my flesh I shal se God, my sauere. Whom I myself am to seen, and myn eȝen ben to beholden, and noon other. This myn hope is led vp in my bosum. Whi thanne now sey ȝee, Pursue wee hym, and the roote of woord finde wee aȝen hym? Fleeth thanne fro the face of swerd; for vengere of wickidnesse is the swerd, and witeth dom to be.
Answerende forsothe Sofar Naamatites, seide, Therfore my thoȝtis diuers comyn after other to them; and my mynde in to diuers thingus is raueshid. The doctrine that thou vndernemest me, I shal heren; and the spirit of myn vnderstonding shal answern to me. That I wot fro the begynnyng, sithen a man is sett vp on erthe, that the preising of vnpitous men is short, and the ioȝe of an ipocrite at the licnesse of a point. If his pride steȝe vp in to heuene, and the cloude touche his hed, as a dunghil, in the ende he shal ben lost; and thei that hadden seen hym, shul sein, Wher is he? As a sweuene fleende awei he shal not be founde; he shal passe as the nyȝt siȝte. The eȝe that hym saȝ shal not seen; and his place no mor shal beholden hym. His sones shul be to-trede with nede; and the hondis of hym shul ȝelde to hym his sorewe. The bones of hym shul be fulfild with vicis of his waxende ȝouthe; and with hym in pouder thei shul slepe. Whan forsothe euel were sweete in his mouth, he hidde it vnder his tunge. He shal spare to it, and not forsaken it; and hiden in his throte. The bred of hym in his wombe shal be turned in to galle of edderes withinneforth. The richessis that he deuourede, he shal spewen out; and of his wombe God shal drawe them out. The hed of edderes shal rise; and the tunge of the serpent shal slen hym. See he not the litle ryueres of the flod, of the strem of hony, and of buttere. He shal abie alle thingus that he dide, and nerthelatere he shal not be wastid; aftir the multitude of his findingus, so and he shal suffre. For brekende togidere he nakide the hous of the pore man; raueshide, and not bilde it. And his wombe is not fulfild; and whan he shal han, that he hadde coueitid, he shal not moun welde. Ther lafte not of his mete; and therfore no thing shal leue of his goodus. Whan he shal be fulfild, he shal be streyned, and brenne; and alle sorewe shal falle in to hym. Wolde God his wombe be fulfild, that he sende out in to hym the wrathe of his wodnesse, and reyne vp on hym his bataile. He shal fleen iren armys; and he shal falle in to the brasene bowe. Broȝt out, and goende out fro his shethe, and leitinge in to his bitternesse; thei shul go, and come vp on hym alle grisful. Hid dercnessis be in his priue thingus; fyr shal deuoure hym, that shal not be brend vp; laft in his tabernacle he shal be tormentid. Heuenys shul shewen his wickidnesse; and erthe shal rise aȝen hym. The buriounyng of his hous shal ben opened; it shal be to drawen awei in the dai of the wodnesse of the Lord. This is the part of the vnpitous man fro God, and the eritage of his woordis fro the Lord.
Answerende forsothe Job seide, Hereth, I beseche, my woordis, and doth penaunce. Suffreth me, and I shal speke; and after my woordus, if it shul be seen, laȝheth. Whethir aȝen man is my disputesoun, that thurȝ desert I owe not to be maad sory? Taketh heede to me, and becometh doumbe; and puttith vpon the finger to ȝoure mouth. And whan I shal recorde, drede and trembling shal smyte togidere my flesh. Whi thanne vnpitous men liuen, and ben rered vp, and coumfortid with richessis? The sed of hem abit stille beforn hem; and the cumpanye of neeȝh men, and of cosynes in the siȝte of hem. The housis of hem ben sikere, and pesible; and the ȝerde of God is not vp on hem. The oxe of hem conceyuede, and bar not abortif; the kow bar, and is not priued the frut. The litle childer of hem gon out as flockis; and the fauntis of hem gladen out with pleies. They holden the timbre, and the harpe; and ioȝen at the soun of the orgne. Thei leden in goodis ther daȝis; and in a point to hellis thei go doun. The whiche seiden to God, Go awei fro vs; the kunnyng of thi weies wee wiln not. Who is the Almyȝti, that wee serue to hym? and what profiteth to vs, if wee preȝen hym? Nerthelater for ther goodis ben not in the hond of hem, the counseil of vnpitous men be aferr fro me. Hou ofte sithes the lanterne of vnpitouse men shal be quenchid, and flowing ouercam to them, and deuidede the sorewis of his wodnesse? Thei shul ben as chaf befor the face of wind; and as a sparke, that the cole scatereth. God shal kepe to the sones of hym the sorewe of the fader; and whan he shal ȝelde, thanne he shal knowen. His eȝen shul seen his slaȝter; and of the wodnesse of the Almyȝti he shal drinke. What forsothe to hym perteneth of his hous aftir hym, and if the noumbre of his monethis shal come to the half? Whethir any man shal teche God kunnyng, that demeth heȝe men? This dieth stronge and hol, riche and welsun. His bowelis ben ful of talȝ; and the bones of hym ben moistid with marȝ. Another forsothe dieth in the bitternesse of his soule, withoute any richessis. And nerthelater togidere in pouder thei shul slepe, and wermes shul couere them. Certis I haue knowe ȝoure thoȝtis, and ȝoure wicke sentencis aȝen me. Ȝee seyn forsothe, Wher is the hous of the prince? and where the tabernaclis of vnpitous men? Asketh any man of the weie goeris; and these same thingis ȝee shul knowe hym to vnderstonde. For the euele man shal be kept in to the dai of perdicioun, and to the dai of wodnesse he shal be broȝt. Who shal vndernyme beforn hym his weyes? and what he dide, who shal ȝelde to hym? He shal be broȝt to the sepulcris; and in the hipil of deade men shal wake. He was sweete to the greet of helle flod; and after hym alle men he droȝ, and beforn hym vnnoumbrable. Hou thanne coumforte ȝee me in vein, whan ȝoure answeris ben shewid to repugne to the treuthe?
Answerende forsothe Elifath Temanites seide, Whether to God mai a man ben comparisound, also whan he shal be of perfit kunnyng? What profitith to God, if thou shul be riȝtwis? or what to hym bringist thou, if thi lif were vndefoulid? Whether dredende he shal vndernyme thee, and come with thee in to dom, and not for thi myche malice, and thi wickidnessis vnendid? Forsothe thou hast take awei the wed of thi brethern with oute cause; and nakid men thou hast spoilid fro clothis. Water to the weri thou ȝeue not; and to the hungri thou withdrowe bred. In the strengthe of thin arm thou weldedest the erthe; and most myȝti thou heelde it. Widewis thou laftist voide; and the brawnes of moderles childer thou to-brosidist. Therfore thou art enuyround with granes; and feerli drede disturbide thee. Thou wendest thee not to seen dercnessis; and thurȝ bire of rennynge watris not to ben opressid. Whether thenkest thou, that God be heȝere than heuene, and ouer the cop of sterres he be heȝed? And thou seist, What forsothe the Lord knewȝ? and, As bi dercnesse he demeth? A cloude his hidelis, ne oure thingus he beholdeth, and aboute the vttermostis of heuene he goth. Whether the sti of worldis thou coueitist to kepe, the whiche wicke men treden? The whiche ben rerid befor ther time, and flod turnede vp so doun the foundement of hem. The whiche seiden to God, Go awei fro vs; and as the Almyȝti miȝte do no thing, thei eymeden hym, whan he hadde fulfild ther housis with goodis; whos sentence ferr be fro me. Riȝtwis men shul seen, and be glad; and the innocent shal scorne them. Whether is nott hewe doun the rering vp of hem, and fyr shall deuoure ther relikis? Assente thanne to hym, and haue pes; and bi these thingus thou shalt han best frutis. Tac of his mouth the lawe, and put his woordis in thin herte. If thou shul be turned aȝeen to the Almyȝti, thou shalt be bild vp; and aferr thou shalt make the wickidnesse fro thi tabernacle. He shal ȝiue for the erthe flint, and for the flint goldene stremes. And the Almyȝti shal ben aȝen thin enemys; and seluer shal ben hepid to thee. Thanne vp on the Almyȝti delicis thou shalt flowen; and thou shalt reren vp to God thi face. Thou shalt preȝen hym, and he shal here thee; and thi vouwis thou shalt ȝelde. Thou shalt beholden a thing, and it shal come to thee; and in thi weies liȝt shal shyne. He forsothe that shal be mekid, shal ben in glorie; and he that bowith his eȝen, shal be saued. The innocent shal be saued; forsothe he shal be saued bi the clennesse of hyse hondys.
Answerende forsothe Job seide, Now also in bitternesse is my woord, and the hond of my veniaunce is agreggid vp on my weiling. Who to me ȝeue, that I knowe, and finde hym, and come vnto the seet of hym? I shal setten beforn hym dom, and my mouth I shal fille with blamyngis; that I wite the woordis, that he answerth to me, and vnderstonde what he speke to me. I wil not with myche strengthe he striue with me, ne with the peis of his mykilnesse he bere me doun. He purpose euenenesse aȝen me, and myn dom come to victorie. If to the est I shal go, he apereth not; if to the west, I shal not vnderstonde hym; if to the lift, what shal I do? I shal not otake hym; if I turne me to the riȝt, I shal not seen hym. He forsothe wot my weie, and shal proue me as gold, that thurȝ the fyr passeth. My foot folewide his steppis; his weie I kepte, and I bowide not doun fro it. Fro the hestis of his lippis I wente not awei; and in my bosum I hidde the woordis of his mouth. He forsothe is alone, and no man mai turne awey his thoȝtis; and his soule what thing euere it wolde, that it dide. Whan it shal fulfille in me his wil, and othere manye lic thingus ben redi to hym. And therfore fro the face of hym I am disturbid, and beholdende hym with drede I am bisy. God temprede myn herte, and the Almyȝti disturbide me. Forsothe I pershide not for the aboue comende dercnessis; and dusknesse couerede my face.
Fro the Almyȝti ben not hid the times; thei forsothe that knewen hym, vnknowen his daȝis. Othere men translateden termes, breeken atwynne the flockis, and fedden hem. Thei dryuen awei the asse of moderles childer, and token awei for a wed the oxe of the widewe. Thei turneden vp so doun the weie of pore men, and opresseden togidere the debonere men of erthe. Othere men as assis in desert gon out to ther werc; and wakende at the prey, greithe bred to fre childer. The feld not thers thei destroȝen, and his vine, whom bi violence thei opresseden, thei kutte the grapis. Nakid thei leue men, takende awei clothis, to whom is no koueryng in cold; whom wederes of hillis moisten, and not hauende wrielys clippe stones. Fors thei diden robbende moderles childer; and the comun of pore men thei spoileden. To the nakide, and to the goende withoute clothing, and to the hungri thei token awei eris. Among the hipilis of hem thei resteden in mydday, the whiche thresten, the pressoures tredid. They maden men of citees to weilen, and the liues of woundid men shul crien; and God suffreth not vnuengid to gon awey. Thei weren rebel to liȝt; thei knewen not his weies, ne thei be turned aȝeen bi his sties. Erli first riseth the mansleere, and he sleth the nedy, and the pore; bi the nyȝt forsothe he shal ben as a thef. The eȝe of the auoutrer waiteth derknesse, seiende, The eȝe shal not see me; and he shal coueren his chere. Thei breeken thurȝ housis in dercnesses, as in the dai thei hadde seid togidere to themself; and thei vnknewe liȝt. If feerli apere the morutid, thei deme the shadewe of deth; and so in dercnessis thei gon as in liȝt. Liȝt he is vp on the face of the water; cursid be his part in the erthe, ne go he bi the weie of vines. To ful myche hete he shal passen fro the watris of snowis, and vnto helle the synne of hym. His mercy be forȝeten; his swetnesse a werm; be he not in recording, but be totrede as a tree vnfructuous. Forsothe he fedde the barein, that bar not child, and to the widewe he dide not wel. He droȝ doun the stronge men in ther strengthe; and whan he shulde stonde, he shall not trowe to his lif. God to hym a place of penaunce ȝaf, and he mysuseth it in to pride; forsothe the eȝen of hym ben in his weies. Thei ben rerid at a litil, and thei shul not stonde stille; and thei shul be mekid as alle thinges, and be do awey; and as the oouermostis of corn eris thei shul ben to-broosid. That if it is not so, who may me vndernyme to han lowen, and to putte beforn God my woordys?
Answerende forsothe Baldac Suytes seide, Power and fere anent hym is, that maketh acord in ther heȝe put thingus. Whether is ther noumbre of the knyȝtis of hym? and vp on whom shyneth not the liȝt of hym? Whether mai a man be iustified comparisoun to God, or seme clene born of a womman? Lo! also the mone shineth not, and the sterris ben not clene in the siȝte of hym; myche more a man stink, and the sone of a man a werm.
Answerende forsothe Job seide, Whos helpere art thou? whether feble, and sustenest the arm of hym, that is not strong? To whom hast thou ȝiue counseil? Perauenture to hym that hath no wisdam; and myche prudence thou hast shewid. Or whom woldest thou techen? whether not hym, that made space of brething? Lo! ieauntis weilen vnder watris, and that duellen with hem. Nakid is helle beforn hym, and no coueryng is to perdicioun. He that streccheth out the north vp on vein, and hangeth vp the erthe vp on noȝt. That bindeth watris in his cloudis, that thei breke not out togidere dounward. That holdeth the chere of his sete, and streccheth out vp on it his cloude. The terme he enuyrounde with watris, vn to the time that ben fynysht liȝt and dercnessis. The pileris of heuene togidere quaken, and dreden at his bek. In the strengthe of hym feerli ses ben gedered, and the prudence of hym smot the proude man. His spirit ournede heuenes, and his hond liȝtli ledende out, the eche side krokende eddere is led out. Lo! a part ben seid of his weies; and whan vnnethe a litil drope of his woord wee han herd, who shal moun the thunder of his gretnesse beholde?
Also Job addede, takende his parable, and seith, God liueth, that toc awei my dom, and the Almyȝti, that to bitternesse broȝte my lif. For whil ther leueth breth in me, and the spirit of God in my nose therlis, my lippis shul not speke wickidnesse, ne my tunge shal bethenke lesing. Ferr be fro me, that I deme ȝou to be riȝtwise; to the time I faile, I shal not gon awei fro myn innocence. My iustifiyng, that I haue begunne to holde, I shal not forsake; ne forsothe myn herte repreuede me in al my lif. As vnpitous myn enemye; myn aduersarie as wicke. What is forsothe the hope of an ipocrite, if auerously he take, and God deliuere not his soule? Whether God shal here the cri of hym, whan shal come vp on hym anguysh? or shal moun in the Almyȝti delite, and inwardly clepe God in alle tyme? I shal teche ȝou bi the hond of God, what thingus the Almyȝti hath; and I shal not hide. Lo! alle ȝee han knowe, and what withoute cause veyne thingis ȝee speken? This is the part of the vnpitous man anent God, and the eritage of the violent men, that of the Almyȝti thei shul take. If his sones be multeplied, thei shul be in swerd; and his sones sones shul not be fulfild with bred. That shul be laft of hym, shul be biried in deth; and his widewis shul not wepe. If he shul bere togidere as erthe siluer, and as clei make redi clothis; he greithede forsothe, but the riȝtwise shal be clad with them, and the innocent shall deuyde the siluer. He bilde vp his hous as a mowȝhe, and as a kepere he made an hilet. The riche man, whan he shal slepe, no thing with hym shal bern; he shal opene his eȝen, and no thing he shal finde. Mysese shal cacchen hym as water; in the nyȝt shal opresse hym tempest. Brennende wind shal take hym, and don awei; and as a whirlewind shal raueshen hym fro his place. He shal senden out vp on hym, and not sparen; fro his hond fleende he shal flee. He shal streyne vp on hym his hondis, and whistlen vpon hym, beholdende his place.
Siluer hath the principlis of his veynes; and to gold is a place, in the whiche it is blowe togidere. Iren fro the erthe is taken, and a ston losid bi hete, in to bras is turned. Tyme he putte to dercnessis, and the ende of alle thingus he beholdeth. Also the strem deuydeth the ston of duscnesse, and the shadewe of deth, fro the puple pilgrimagende; hem, whom the foot of the nedi man forȝat, in to men withoute weies. The erthe, of the whiche bred cam of in his place, with fyr is turned vpsodoun. Place of a safyr is stones, and the gluggis of hym gold. The brid vnknewȝ the sty, ne the eȝe of the gripe beheeld it. The sones of marchaundis treeden it not, ne the leounesse thurȝ passide bi it. To the flint he straȝte out his hond; he turnede vpsodoun fro the rootis the hillis. In stones riueres he heewȝ out; and alle precious thing saȝ his eȝe. The depe thingus also of flodis he enserchide; and hid thingus he broȝte in to liȝt. Wisdam forsothe, wher is it founde, and what is the place of vndirstonding? A man wot not the pris of it, ne it is founde in the lond of sweteli lyuende men. The depnessis of watris seith, It is not in me; and the se speketh, It is not with me. Shynende gold shal not be ȝiue for it, ne siluer shal be peisid in the chaffaring of it. It shal not be comparisound to the steyned coloures of Ynde, ne to the most precious sardenyk ston, or safyr. Ne shal be maad euene to it gold, or glas; ne for it shul be chaungid vesselis of gold, heȝe and ouerstondende, ne shul be remembrid in the comparisoun of it. Wisdam forsothe is drawen of hidde thingis; ne ther shal be maad euene to it topasie of Ethiope, ne to the most clene steynyng shal be comparisound. Whennes thanne wisdam shal come, and what is the place of vnderstonding? It is hid fro the eȝen of alle liuende men; also to the foulis of heuene it is vnknowen. Perdicioun and deth seiden, With oure eris wee han herd the fame of it. God vnderstant the weie of it, and he knewȝ the place of it. He forsothe looketh the endis of the world; and alle thingus that ben vnder heuene he beholdeth. That made to windis peis, and watris heeng vp in mesure. Whan he putte to reynes lawe, and weie to sounende tempestis; thanne he saȝ it, and tolde out, and made redi beforn, and enserchide. And he seide to man, Lo! the drede of God, it is wisdam; and to gon awei fro euel, vnderstonding.
Also Job addede, takende to his parable, and seide, Who ȝeue to me, that I be after the rathere monethis, after the daȝes in the whiche God kepte me? Whanne shynede his lanterne vp on myn hed, and at his liȝt I wente in dercnessis. As I was in the daȝes of my waxende ȝouthe, whan priueli God was in my tabernacle. Whan the Almyȝti was with me, and in myn enuyroun my childer; whan I wesh my feet with buttere, and the ston helde to me ryueres of oile; whan I wente forth to the ȝate of the cite, and in the strete thei maden redy a chaȝer to me. Ȝunge men seȝen me, and weren hid, and olde men risende stoden; princis ceseden to speken, and finger putten vpon to ther mouth; dukis withdrowen ther vois, and the tunge of hem to ther throte cleuede. The herende ere blisful maade me, and the seande eȝe witnesse ȝeld to me; forthi that I hadde delyuered the pore man criende out, and the moderles child, to the whiche was noon helpere. The blessing of hym, that was to pershen, vp on me cam, and the herte of the widewe I coumfortide. riȝtwisnesse I am clad; and I clothide me as a vestyment, and with a diademe with my dom. An eȝe I was to blinde, and a foot to the halte. Fader I was of pore men; and the cause that I knew not, most diligentli I enserchide. I tobroside the chaulis of the wicke man, and fro his teth I toc awei the prey. And I seide, Die I in my litle nest; and as a palme I shal multiplie daȝis. My roote is opened beside watris, and deu shal abide in my reping. My glorie euermore shal be newid, and my bowe in myn hond shal be reparailid. That herden me, abiden my sentence; and takende heede thei heelde stille at my counseil. To my woordis no thing to adden thei weren hardi; and vpon hem droppide my speche. Thei biden as reyn my speche; and mouth thei openeden as to the late comende weder. If any time I loowȝ to them, thei leeueden not; and the liȝt of my chere fel not in to the erthe. If I wolde go to them, I sat first; and whan I sat as a king, the ost aboute stondende, I was neuerthelatere of dreri men the coumfortere.
Now forsothe scorne me the ȝungere in time, of whom I deynede not the fadris to sitte with the hondis of my floc. Of whom the vertue of hondis to me was for noȝt, and thei weren trowid vnwrthi that lif. And thurȝ nede and hunger barein; that gnowen in wildernesse, waxende foul with wrecchidnesse and sorewe. And thei eeten erbis, and the rindis of trees; and the roote of iunypere trees was the mete of hem. The whiche of the valeis these thingus takende; whan alle thingus thei hadde founde, with cri thei runne to thoo thingus. In desertis of stremys thei dwelten, and in dennes of the erthe, or vp on grauel. The whiche among such thingus gladeden, and to ben vnder busshis counteden delicis. The sonus of foolis and of vnnoble men, and in the lond not fulli perende. Now forsothe I am turned in to the song of hem, and I am maad to hem a prouerbe. Thei wlaten me, and ferr floun fro me, and to spute my face they shame not. Forsothe his arwe girdil he openede, and tormentide me, and he putte a bridil in to my mouth. At the riȝt of the est my wrecchenesses anoon risen; thei turneden vpsodoun my feet, and opresseden as with flodis bi ther sties. Thei scatereden my weies, and waiteden to me, and hadden the ouere hond; and ther was not that broȝte helpe. As the wal broken and the ȝate opened thei fellen in on me, and to my wrecchidnessis thei ben myche boowid to. I am broȝt in to noȝt; as the wind he hath taken awei my desyr, and as a cloude passide myn helthe. Now forsothe in myself welewith my lif, and welde me the daȝis of tormentinge. In the nyȝt my mouth is thirlid thurȝ with sorewis; and that eten me, slepen not. In the multitude of hem my clothing is wastid, and as with a coler of a kote thei girten me. I am comparisound to clei, and am licned to a sparke and to askis. I shal crie to thee, and thou shalt not heren; I stonde, and thou beholdest not me. Thou art chaungid to me in to cruel, and in the hardnesse of thin hond thou art aduersarie to me. Thou hast rered me, and as vp on wind settende thou hast hurtlid me doun myȝtili. I wot, for thou shalt take me to deth, wher is sett an hous to alle liuende. Nerthelatere not to the wasting of hem thou puttist out thin hond; and if thei falle, thou thi self shalt saue. I wepte sum time vp on hym that was tormentid, and my soule hadde compassioun to the pore. I abod goodis, and ther camen to me euelis; I abod liȝt, and ther breeken oute dercnessis. Myn entrailis brenden out with oute any reste; befor wente me the daȝes of torment. Dreri I wente withoute wodnesse, risende in the puple I criede. Brother I was of dragouns, and felawe of the half beste half foul. My skin is bleckid vp on me, and my bones drieden for hete. Myn harpe is turned in to weiling, and myn orgne in to the vois of weperis.
I couenauntide a pes couenaunt with myn eȝen, that forsothe I shulde not thenke of a maiden. What forsothe part God fro aboue shulde han in me, and the Almyȝti eritage fro heȝe thingus. Whethir not perdicioun is to the wicke, and alienyng to men werkende wickenesse? Whether he beholdeth not my weies, and alle my goingis noumbreth? If I ȝide in vanyte, and my foot heeȝide in treccherie, peise he me in a riȝtwis balauns, and wite God my symplenesse. If my going bowide doun fro the weie; if myn eȝe folewide myn herte, and a spot cleuede to myn hondis; I shal sowen, and an other ete, and my progenye be drawe vp bi the roote. If myn herte is desceyued vp on a womman, and if at the dore of my frend I sette spies; the strumpet of an other be my wif, and vpon hir othere men be thei crookid. This forsothe is vnleeful, and most wickidnesse. Fyr is deuouring vnto wasting, and pullende vp bi the roote alle buriounyngus. If I dispiside to gon vnder dom with my seruaunt and hond maiden, whan thei shulden pleten aȝen me. What forsothe shal I do, whan God shal rise to deme? and whan he shal aske, what shal I answern to hym? Whether not in the wombe he made me, the whiche and hym wroȝte, and oon formede me in the wombe? If I denyede to pore men that thei wolden, and made the eȝen of a widewe to abide; if I eet my morsel alone, and the moderles child eet not of it; for fro my ȝouthe doing of mercy wex with me, and fro the wombe of my moder wente out with me; if I dispiside the goere beside, for thi that he hadde not clothing, and the pore withoute coueryng; if his sidis blessiden not to me, and of the flees of my shep he is chaufid; if I rerede vp on the moderles child myn hond, also whan I saȝ me in the ȝate the ouerheȝere; my shulder falle fro his ioynt, and myn arm with his bones be to-brosid. Forsothe euermor as flodis swellende vp on me, I dredde God; and his peis I myȝte not bern. If I wende gold my strengthe, and to the shynende gold I seide, My trost; if I gladede vp on my manye richessis, and for myn hond fond manye thingis; if I saȝ the sunne, whan it shulde shyne, and the mone goende clerli; and myn herte is gladid in hid thing, and kiste myn hond fro my mouth; the whiche is the moste wickidnesse, and denyyng aȝen the heȝest God; if I ioȝide at his falling, that hatide me, and ful out ioȝide, that euel hadde founden hym; forsothe I ȝaf not my throte to synne, that I shulde abide cursende his soule; if the men of my tabernacle seiden not, Who ȝiueth of his fleshe, that we be fulfild? without forth abod not the pilgrim; my dore was open to the weie goere; if I hidde as a man my synne, and hilede in my bosum my wickenesse; if I dradde at the moste multitude, and dispising of neeȝh men ferede me; and not more I heeld my pes, and wente not out the dore; who ȝeue to me an auditour, that my desyr heere the Almyȝti? that he that demeth write the boc, that in my shulder I bere it, and enuyroune it as a crowne to me? Bi alle my grees I shal pronouncen it, and as to a prince I shal offre it. If aȝen me myn erthe crie, and with it his forewis bewepen; if his frutis I eet with oute monee, and the soule of his erthe tilieris I tormentide; for whete be sprunge to me a brimbil, and for barli a thorne.
These thre men laften forsothe to answern to Job, forthi that riȝtwis he is seen to them. And Elyu, the sone of Barachiel Busites, of the kynrede of Ram, ys wroth, and endeyned; he is wroth aȝen Job, forthi that he shulde sein hymself to be riȝtwis befor God. But aȝen the thre frendis of hym he dedeynede, forthi that thei hadden not founde a resounable answere, but onely thei shulden han condempned Job. Thanne Eliu abod Job spekende, forthi that eldere thei weren, that speken. Whan forsothe he hadde seen, that the thre myȝten not answern, he wrathede hugeli. And answerende Elyu, the sone of Barachiel Busites, seide, I am ȝungere in time, ȝee forsothe eldere; therfore the hed leid doun I am shamed to shewe to ȝou my sentence. I hopede forsothe that the lengere age shulde speke, and the multitude of ȝeeris shulde techen wisdam. But as I see, spirit is in men, and the inbrething of the Almyȝti ȝiueth vnderstonding. Wise men ben not longe liuende, ne olde men vnderstonde dom. Therfore I shal seyn, Hereth me, and also I shal shewe to ȝou my kunnyng. Forsothe I haue abide ȝoure woordis, herde ȝoure prudence, whil ȝee striuen in ȝoure woordis. And whil I wende ȝou any thing to seyn, I beheeld; but as I see, ther is not, that mai vnderneme Job, and answern of ȝou to his woordis; lest perauenture ȝee seyn, Wee han founde wisdam; God hath throwen hym afeerr, and not man. No thing he hath spoke to me, and I after ȝoure woordis shal not answere to hym. Thei myche dradden, and answerden no more, and token awey speche fro themself. Thanne for I haue abide, and thei speken not, stoden, and answerden no more; shal and I answere my partie, and shewen my kunnyng. Forsothe I am ful of woordis, and the spirit of my wombe artith me. Lo! my wombe as must withoute venting, that breketh newe litle win vesselys. I shal speke, and brethen aȝeen a litil; I shal opene my lippis, and answern. I shal not taken persone of man, and God to man I shal not euenen. I wot neuere forsothe hou longe I shal stonde stille, and if after a litil take me my Makere.
Here thanne, Job, my spechis, and alle my woordis hercne. Lo! I haue opened my mouth; my tunge in my chekis shal speke. With symple herte my woordis, and pure sentence my lippis shul speke. The spirit of God made me, and the brething space of the Almyȝti quykenede me. If thou maist, answere to me, and stond stille aȝen my face. Lo! me as and thee made God; and of the same cley I also am formed. Nerthelatere my miracle fere thee not, and my faire speche be not to thee heuy. Thou seidest thanne in myn eris, and the vois of thi woordis I herde; Clene I am, and withoute gilte, vnwemmed, and ther is not wickidnesse in me. For pleintis in me he fond, therfore he demede me enemy to hym. He putte in the stockis my feet, and kepte alle my sties. This is thanne, in the whiche thou art not iustified; I shal answer to thee, for God is more than man. Aȝen God thou striuest, that to alle woordis he shal not answer to thee. Ones God shal speke, and the secounde that same he shal not eft seyn. Bi sweuene in nyȝt siȝte, whan falle slep vp on men, and thei slepen in the litle bed. Thanne he openeth the eris of men, and enformende them techith discipline; that he turne awei a man fro tho thingus that he dide, and deliuere hym fro pride; and takende awei his soule fro corupcioun, and his lif, that he go not in to swerd. He blameth also bi sorewe in the litle bed, and alle his bones maketh to become drie. Abhomynable to hym bred is maad in his lif, and to the soule of hym mete beforn desirable. His flesh shal become roten, and the bones, that weren couered, shul be maad nakid. The soule of hym shal neȝhe to corupcioun, and his lif to thingus berende deth. If ther were for hym an aungil spekende oon of the lic thingis, that he telle the equite of man, he shal han reuthe, and sein, Delyuere hym, that he go not doun in to corupcioun; I haue founde in what I be plesid to hym. His flesh is wastid of tormentis; be he turned aȝeen to the daȝes of his waxende ȝouthe. He shal preȝe God, and be plesable to hym; and seen his face in ioȝe, and ȝelde to man his riȝtwisnesse. He shal beholde men, and sein, I haue synned, and vereli I haue trespasid; and as I was worthi, I haue not resceyued. Forsothe he hath deliuered his soule, that he go not in to deth, but lyuende liȝt he shal seen. Lo! alle these thingus wercheth God thre sithes bi alle men; that he aȝeen clepe the soulis of hem fro corupcioun, and liȝtne in the liȝt of liuende men. Tac heede, Job, and here me, and be stille, whil I speke. If forsothe thou hast what thou speke, answere to me, spec; I wile forsothe thee to apere riȝtwis. That if thou haue not, here me; be still, and I shal teche thee wisdam.
Tellende forth forsothe Elyu, thes thingis also spac, Hereth, wise men, my woordis, and taȝt, herkneth me; the ere forsothe woordis proueth, and the throte metis bi tast demeth. Dom chese we to vs; and among vs see wee what is betere. For thou seidist, Job, Riȝtwis I am, and God turnede vp so doun my dom. In demyng forsothe me is lesing, and violent is myn arewe withoute any synne. Who is a man, as is Job, that drinketh scornyng as water? that goth with men wirkende wickidnesse, and wendeth with vnpytous men? Forsothe he seide, A man shal not plese to God, also if he shul renne with hym. Therfore, herty men, hereth me; ferr be fro God vnpitousnesse, and fro the Almyȝti wickenesse. Forsothe the werk of man he shal ȝelde to hym; and after the weies of echone he shal quite to them. Vereli forsothe God shal not condempne in veyn; ne the Almyȝti shal turne vpsodoun dom. Whom other sette he vp on erthe? or whom putte he vp on the world, that he forgide? If he shul dresse to it his herte, the spirit of it and blast he shal drawe to hym. Al flesh shal faile to gidere; and a man into askis shal be turned aȝeen. If thou hast thanne vndirstondinge, here that is seid, and herkne the vois of my speche. Whether he that looueth not dom mai ben helid? and hou thou hym, that is riȝtwis, in so myche condempnest? That seith to the king, Apostata; that clepeth dukys vnpitous. That taketh not the persones of princis, ne knewȝ the tiraunt, whan he shulde striuen aȝen the pore; forsothe the werk of his hondis ben alle men. Feerli thei shul die, and in mydnyȝt puplis shul be boowid; and passen, and taken awei the violent withoute hond. Forsothe the eȝen of hym vp on the weies of men, and alle the goingus of hem he beholdeth. Ther ben not dercnessis, and ther is not shadewe of deth, that ther ben hid there that werken wickidnessis; ne forsothe more ouer in mannys power is, that he come to God in to dom. He shal to-trede manye and vnnoumbrable; and make to stonden othere men for hem. Forsothe he knew the werkis of hem; and therfore he shal bringe in nyȝt, and thei shul be to-trede. As vnpitous, he smot hem in the place of men seende. The whiche as bi studie wente awei fro hym, and alle his weies thei wolde not vnderstonde. That thei make to come to hym the cri of the nedi, and he here the vois of pore men. Hym forsothe grauntende pes, who is that condempneth? Sithen he hath hid his chere, who is that beholdeth hym? And vpon Jentilis and vpon alle men, the whiche maketh to regne an ipocrite man, for the synnes of the puple. Thanne for I spac to God, thee also I shal not forfende. If I haue errid, thou teche me; if wickidnesse I spac, I shal adde no mor. Whether God of thee asketh it out, for he displeside to thee? Thou forsothe begunne to speke, and not I; that if any thing thou knewe betere, spec. Vnderstondende men, speke thei to me; and a wis man, here he me. Job forsothe folily spac, and the woordis of hym soune not disciplyne. Fader myn, be preued Job vnto the ende; ne leue thou fro a man of wickidnesse, that addeth vp on his synnes blasfemye. Amongis vs euere among be he streyned; and thanne at the dom terre he God with his woordis.
Thanne Eliu these thingus eft spac, Whethir euene to thee seme thi thoȝt, that thou shuldest seyn, I am mor riȝtwis than God? Thou seidest forsothe, It pleseth not to thee, that is good; or what to thee shal profite, if I shul synnen? Also I shal answern to thi woordis, and to thi frendis with thee. Behold heuene, and loke, and myndefulli see the cloudis, that is heȝere than thou. If thou shalt synnen, what shalt thou noȝe to hym? and if thi wickidnesses be multiplied, what shalt thou don aȝen hym? But if thou shalt do riȝtwisli, what shalt thou ȝiue to hym; or what of thin hond he shal take? To man that is lic thee, thin vnpitousnesse shal noȝe; and the sone of man thi riȝtwisnesse shal helpe. For the multitude of chalengeres thei shul crie, and ȝelle out for the fors of the arm of tirauntis. And he seide not, Where is God, that made me, and that ȝaf ditees in the nyȝt? That techeth vs ouer the bestis of the erthe, ouer the foulis of heuene shal lernen vs. There thei shul crie, and he shal not heren, for the pride of euele men. Forsothe not in veyn God shal heren, and the Almyȝti beholde shal the causis of alle men. Also whan thou shal sein, He beholdith not; be thou demed beforn hym, and abid hym. Now forsothe he bringeth not in his wodnesse, ne the hydous gilte is vengid gretli. Thanne Job in vein openede his mouth, and withoute kunnynge woordis multiplieth.
Also Eliu addende these thingus spac, Sustene me a litil while, and I shal shewen to thee; ȝit forsothe I haue that for God I speke. I shal aȝeen aske my kunnyng fro the bygynnyng; and my werkere I shal proue riȝtwis. Verili forsothe and withoute lesing my woordus, and perfit kunnyng shal be preued to thee. God myȝti men throwith not awei, sithen he is myȝti; but he saueth not vnpitous men, and dom to pore men he ȝyueth. He shal not take awei fro the riȝtwis his eȝen; and kingis in sete he setteth in to euermor, and thider thei ben rerid vp. And if thei shul ben in cheynes, and ben bounde with cordis of porenesse, he shal shewe to them ther werkis, and ther hidous giltis; for cruel they weren. Also he shal opene the ere of hem, that he chastise; and he shal speke, that thei be turned aȝeen fro wickidnesse. If thei shuln here, and kepe wel, thei shul fille ther daȝes in goode, and ther ȝeris in glorie. If forsothe thei shul not heren, they shul passe bi swerd, and be wastid in folie. Feyneres and felle men terren the wrathe of God; and thei shul not crie, whan thei shul be bounden. The soule of hem shal die in tempest; and the lif of hem among wommanysh men. He shal deliuere the pore man fro his anguysh; and he shal opene his ere in tribulacioun. Therfore he shal saue thee fro the streite mouth most widly, not hauende a ground vnder itself; the reste forsothe of thi bord shal be full of fatnesse. Thi cause as of an vnpitous man is demed; forsothe thi cause and dom thou shalt finde. Thanne ouercome thee not wrathe, that any man thou opresse; ne the multitude of ȝiftis bowe thee. Do doun thi mykilnesse withoute tribulacioun, and alle the stronge men in strengthe. Ne drawe thou along the nyȝt, that puplis steȝen vp for hem. Be war, ne bowe thou to wickidnesse; that forsothe thou hast begunne to folewe aftyr wrecchidnesse. Lo! heȝe God in his strengthe, and noon to hym lic in lawe ȝiueres. Who shall moun serchen his weies? or who is hardy to sei to hym, Thou wroȝtist wickidnesse? Ha mynde, that thou vnknowist the werk of hym, of whiche men writen. Alle men seen hym; eche shal beholde aferr. Lo! God gret, ouercomende oure kunnyng; the noumbre of the ȝeris of hym vneymable. That doth awei the dropis of rein; and heeldeth out wederes at the licnesse of swolewis, that of the cloudis flowen, that before weuen alle thingus theraboue. If he wile strecche out cloudis as his tent, and leitne with his liȝt fro aboue, also the vtmost of the se he shal couere. Bi these thingis forsothe he demeth puplis, and ȝiueth mete to manye deadli thingus. In the hond he hideth liȝt; and comaundeth to it, that eft it come to. He tellith of it to his frend, that his possessioun it be; and to it he mai steȝen vp.
Vpon that mych dradde myn herte, and is moued out fro his place. He shal heren heringe in gastnesse of his vois, and the soun goende out of the mouth of hym. Ouer alle heuenys he beholdeth; and the liȝt of hym vp on the termes of the erthe. After hym shal rore sounyng, he shal thunder with the vois of his mykilnesse; and he shal not ben enserchid, whan shal ben herd the vois of hym. God shal thundre in his vois merueilously, that doth grete thingus and vnserchable. That comaundeth to the snowȝ, that it come doun vp on erthe, and to reynes of winter, and to wederes of his strengthe. That marketh in the hond of alle men, that alle men arowe shulden knowen his werkis. The beste shal go in to his lurking place, and in his dich he shal abide. Fro the innermor shal gon out tempest, and fro the north sterre cold. God blowende, waxeth togidere frost; and eft moost wide ben shed out watris. Whete desirith cloudis; and cloudis sprengen ther liȝt. That gon alle thingus bi enuyroun, whider euere thou gost, the wil of the gouernere shal lede, to alle thingus that he shal comaunde to them vp on the face of the roundnesse of erthis; or in o lynage, or in his erthe, or in what euere place of his mercy hem he shal comaunde to be founde. Hercne these thingus, Job; and stond, and behold the merueilis of God. Whether thou wost, whan God comaundide to reynes, that thei shulden shewe the liȝt of the cloudis of hym? Whether thou hast knowen the sties of the cloudis, grete and parfit kunnyngis? Whether thi clothis ben not hote, whan the erthe shal be blowe thurȝ with the south? Thou perauenture with hym forgedist heuenes, that most sad, as with bras, ben foundid. Shewȝ to vs, what wee seyn to hym; wee forsothe ben wrappid in dercnessis. Who shal telle to hym, that I speke? also if a man shal speke, he shal be deuourid. And now thei see not liȝt; feerli the eir shal be wroȝt togidere in to cloudis, and ouergoende wind shal driue them. Fro the north shal come gold, and fro God dredful preising. Wrthili hym finde wee moun not; gret in strengthe, and dom, and riȝtwisnesse, that he mai not be told out. Therfore men shul dreden hym; and alle that to themself ben sen to be wise, shuln not ben hardy to beholden.
Answerende forsothe the Lord to Job fro the whirlewind seide, Who is this, wrappende in sentencis with woordis vnwise? Gird as a man thi leendis; I shal aske thee, and thou answere to me. Wher were thou, whan I sette the foundemens of the erthe? sheu to me, if thou hast vnderstonding. Who putte the mesuris of it, if thou hast knowen? or who straȝte vp on it a line? Vp on what the feet of it ben sad? who dide doun the corner ston of it, whan me shulden preise togidere the morutid sterris, and alle the sones of God shulden ioȝen? Who closede the se with doris, whan it brac out as goende forth of the wombe? Whan I shuld setten the cloude his clothing, and with dercnesse it, as with clothis of vnspekende childhed, I wrappide aboute. I enuyrounde it with my termes, and sette the heenglis, and doris; and seide, Vnto hider thou shalt come, and no ferthere gon; and heer thou shalt breke togidere thi swellende flodis. Whether aftir thi rising thou comaundedist to the morutid, and hast shewid to the dai spring his place? Whethir thou hast holde smytende togidere the vtmostis of the erthe, and hast smyten out the vnpitous men of it? The litle marke shal be restorid as cley, and shal stonde as clothing. His liȝt shal be take awei fro the vnpitous, and the heȝe arm shal be broke togidere. Whether thou wentist in the depthe of the se, and in the laste thingus of the derke depthe of the se thou hast ful go? Whether to thee ben opened the ȝatis of deth, and the derke doris thou hast seen? Whether thou hast beholde the breede of the erthe? Sheu to me, if thou hast knowen alle thingis, in what weie liȝt dwellith, and of dercnessis what is the place; that thou lede eche man to hys termes, and vnderstonde the sties of his hous. Thou wistist thanne, that thou were to be born, and the noumbre of thi daȝes thou haddest knowe? Whether wentist thou in to the tresoris of snowȝ, or the tresoris of hail thou hast beholde? that I haue maad redi in to the time of the enemy, in to the dai of fiȝt, and of bataile. Bi what weie is sprengd liȝt, deuyded is hete vp on erthe? Who ȝaf to the most hidous weder cours, and weie of the sounende thunder? That it shulde reyne vp on erthe withoute man, in desert wher noon of dedly men dwelleth? That he shulde fulfille the space withoute wei and desolat, and bringe forth grene erbis? Who is the fader of reyn, or who gat dropis of deu? Fro whos wombe wente out iys, and frost fro heuene who gat? In the licnesse of a ston watris ben hardid, and the vtmost of the se is streyned togidere. Whether thou art strong to ioyne the shynende seuen sterres, or thou shalt moun scatere the cumpas of the north sterre? Whether thou bringist forth the dai sterre in his time, and the euetid sterre vp on the sones of the erthe thou makist to rise? Whether thou hast knowe the ordre of heuene, and shalt putte his resoun in the erthe? Whether thou shalt rere thi vois in to a lytil cloude, and the bure of watris shal couere thee? Whether thou shalt sende leitis, and thei shul go, and turnende aȝeen thei shul sey to thee, Wee be neeȝh? Who putte in the entrailis of a man wisdam, and who ȝaf to the cok vnderstonding? Who shal tellen out the resoun of heuenus, and the singing of heuene who shal make to slepe? Whanne was pouder held in the erthe, and clottis weren clunge togidere? Whether thou shalt take the prei of the leounesse, and the soule of hir whelpis thou shalt fulfille, whan thei lyn in dichis, and in dennus thei aspien? Who maketh redi to the crowe his mete, whan his briddis crie to God, hider and thider waggende, forthi that thei han no metis?
Whether thou hast knowen the time of the berthe of wilde capretis in stonys, or thou hast waitid hindis berende calf? Thou hast noumbrid the monethis of conceyuyng of hem, and thou hast knowe the time of the birthe of hem? Thei ben bowid to the frut of kinde, and beren; and roringus thei senden out. The sones of hem ben seuered, and go to the feding; thei gon out, and ben not turned aȝeen to them. Who lafte the asse fre, and his bondis who looside? To whom I ȝaf in wildernesse an hous, and his tabernaclis in the lond of bareynte. He despiseth the multitude of the cite; the cry of the pletere he hereth not. He beholdeth aboute the hillis of hys leswe, and alle grene growende thingis he secheth. Whether the vnycorn shal wiln serue to thee, or shal dwelle at thi cracche? Whether shalt thou tie to eren the vnycorn with thi bridil, or he shal breke clottis of valeis after thee? Whether trost thou shalt han in the grete strengthe of hym, and leuen to hym thi trauailis? Whether takist thou to hym, that seed he ȝeelde to thee, and thi corn flor he gedere? The fether of a strucioun is lic to the fetheris of a ierfakoun, and of a goshauk; that leueth hir eiren in the erthe, thou perauenture in pouder shalt make them hot. She forȝet, that the foot to-trede them, or beste of the feeld to-brose. She is maad hard to hir sones, as thoȝ thei be not hiris; in veyn she trauailide, no drede constreynende. God forsothe priuede hir wisdam, and ȝaf not to hir vnderstonding. Whan time were, in heiȝte she rerede out hir weengis; scorneth the hors, and the steȝere vp of it. Whether shalt thou ȝiue to the hors strengthe, or don aboute his necke neyenge? Whether shalt thou reren hym as locustis? The glorie of his nese therlis ferd. The erthe the houe delueth, hardili he gladeth out; in to the aȝencomyng he goth to the armed. He dispisith dreede, and he ȝiueth not stede to the swerd. Vp on hym the arewe girdil shal sounen; the spere and the sheeld shal braundishen. Feruent and gnastende he soupeth the erthe; and rewarde he not to the trumpe sounende trumping. Where he shal here the trumpe, he shal seyn, Fy! aferr he smellith bataile; the cleping to of dukis, and ȝelling of the ost. Whether bi thi wisdam waxeth fetherid the goshauk, strecchende out his weengus to the south? Whether at thi comaundement shal be rerid the egle, and in heȝe thingus shal putten his nest? In stones he dwellith, and in heȝe sett scarri flintis he bideth, and in rochis hard to come to. Thennes he behalt mete, and fro a ferr his eȝen beholden. His briddes licken blod, and wher euere shal be the careyn, anoon he is neeȝh.
And the Lord addede, and spac to Job, Whether he that striueth with God, so liȝtli shal reste? Forsothe he, that vndernemeth God, owith to answere to hym. Answerende forsothe Job to the Lord seide, I that liȝtli spac, what may I answern? Myn hond I shal putte vp on my mouth. O thing I spac, that wolde God I hadde not seid; and an other, to the whiche thingus I shal adden no more. Answerende forsothe the Lord to Job fro the whirlewind, seide, Gird as a man thi leendis, and I shal aske thee, and sheu thou to me. Whether vein thou shalt make my dom, and condempne me, that thou be iustified? And if thou hast an arm as God, and with lic vois thundrist, do aboute to thee fairnesse, and in to an heiȝ be thou rerid, and be glorious, and be thou clad with faire clothis. Scatere proude men in thi wodnesse, and beholdende eche enhaunsende hymself meke thou. Behold alle proude men, and confounde hem; and to-brose vnpitouse men in ther place. Hijd hem in pouder togidere, and the facis of hem drenche in the diche. And I shal knouleche, that thi riȝthond mai saue thee. Lo! bemoth, that I made with thee, hey as an oxe he shal ete. His strengthe in his leendis, and his vertue in the nauele of his wombe. He streyneth his tail as a ceder; and the senewis of his ballokis ben wrappid togidere. His bones as pipis of bras; his gristil as irene platis. He is the begynyng of the weies of God; that made hym, shal lei to his swerd. To this hillis bern erbis; alle the bestis of the feld pleien there. Vnder shadewe he slepith, in the priue place of reed, in moiste placis. Shadewis coueren his vmbre; withiene trees of the strem enuyrounen hym. He shal soupen vp the flod, and he shal not wndre; he hath trost, that Jordan flowe in to the mouth of hym. In the eȝen of hym, as with an hoc, he shal taken hym; and in stakys he shal thirle thurȝ his nose therlis.
Whether maist thou drawen out leuyethan with an hoc, and with a corde thou shalt binde his tunge? Whethir thou shalt putte a sercle in his nose therlis, or with a ring thou shalt therle thurȝ his cheke bon? Whether he shal multiplie to thee preȝeeris, or speke to thee softe thingus? Whether he shal smyte with thee couenaunt, and thou shalt take hym euermor seruaunt? Whether thou shalt begile to hym as to a brid, or binden hym with litle hokis? Frendis shul hewen hym, marchaundis shul deuyden hym? Whether thou shalt fille nettis with his skyn, and the lep of fisshis with the hed of hym? Put vp on hym thin hond; haue mynde of bataile, and adde thou to speke no more. Lo! the hope of hym shal maken hym veyn; and alle men seende he shal ben kast doun. Not as cruel I shal reren hym; who forsothe mai withstonde to my chere? And who befor ȝaf to me, that I ȝeelde to hym? Alle thingus, that ben vnder heuene, ben myne. I shal not spare to hym bi myȝti woordis, and to preȝe sett togidere. Who shal shewe the face of his clothing, and in to the myddel of his mouth who shal gon in? The ȝatis of his chere who shal opene? bi cumpas of his teth drede. His body as ȝoten sheeldis, and threst togidere with scalis threstende doun hemself. Oon to oon is ioyned; and lest brething place forsothe go in bi them. Oon shal cleue to the tother, and holdende hemselue shul not ben seuered. His nesing shynyng of fyr, and his eȝen as eȝelidis of the morutid. Of his mouth laumpis gon forth, as tend brondus of fyr. Of his nose therlis goth forth smoke, as of a tend pot and boilende. His breth maketh colis to brenne, and flaume goth out of hys mouth. In his necke shal dwelle strengthe, and nede shal go beforn his face. The membris of his flesh cleuende to themself; he shal senden aȝen hym flodis, and to an other place thei shul not be born. His herte shal ben inwardli harded as a ston; and shal be streyned as the stithie of an hamer betere. Whan he shal be taken awei, aungelis shul drede; and ferd thei shul be purgid. Whan he shal cacchen hym, swerd shal not moun stonde, ne spere, ne brest plate. Forsothe he shal telle bi iren as chaf, and bras as rotun tree. The man archer shal not driuen hym; in to stobil ben turned to hym the stones of the slinge. As stobil he shal eyme the hamer; and scorne the man shakende a spere. Vnder hym shul be the bemes of the sunne; and he shal leyn vp gold to hym as clei. He shal make the depthe of the se to boilen as a pot; and sette, as whan oynemens boilen. Aftir hym the sty shal ȝiue liȝt; and he shal eymen the se as an oldli man. Ther is not vp on erthe power, that be comparisound to hym; that is maad, that no man he shulde drede. Alle heiȝ thing he seeth; and he ys king vpon alle the sones of pride.
Answerende forsothe Job to the Lord, seide, I wot, for alle thingus thou maist, and no thoȝt is vnknowe to thee. Who is this, that hilith counseil withoute kunnyng? Therfore vnwisly I spak, and tho thingus that ouer maner shulden passe my kunnyng. Heere thou, and I shal speke; I shal aske thee, and answere thou to me. Bi hering of ere I herde thee, now forsothe myn eȝe seeth thee. Therfore I myself repreue me, and do penaunce in dead cole and askis. Aftir forsothe that the Lord spac these woordis to Job, he seide to Elifath Themanythen, My wodnesse is wroth in to thee, and in to thi two frendis; for ȝee han not spoke befor me riȝt, as my seruaunt Job. Taketh therfore to ȝou seuen bolis, and seuen wetheris; and goth to my seruaunt Job, and offreth for ȝou brent sacrifise. Job forsothe, my seruaunt, shal preȝen for ȝou; his face I shal take, that folie be nott witid to ȝou; ne forsothe ȝee han spoken befor me riȝt, as my seruaunt Job. Thanne Elyfath Themanythes, and Baldach Suythes, and Sofar Naamatites, wenten, and diden, as the Lord hadde spoke to them; and the Lord toc the face of Job. The Lord also is turned to the penaunce of Job, whan he shulde preȝe for his frendis. And the Lord ȝaf to alle thingus, that euere weren of Job, double. And ther camen to hym alle his brethern, and alle his sistris, and alle that hadden knowen hym beforn; and thei eete with hym bred in his hous, and moueden vpon hym the hed; and coumforteden hym vp on al the euel, that the Lord hadde broȝt in vp on hym; and thei ȝeue to hym eche a shep, and a golden ere ring. The Lord forsothe blisside to the laste thingus of Job, more than to his begynnyng; and ther ben maad to hym fourtene thousend of shep, and sixe thousend of camailis, and a thousend ȝokis of oxen, and a thousend she assis. And ther weren to hym seue sones, and thre doȝtris; and he clepide the name of the ton Diem, and the name of the seconde Cassiam, and the name of the thridde Cornu tibij. Ther ben not forsothe founde so faire wymmen, as the doȝtris of Job, in al the lond; and ther fader ȝaf to hem eritage among ther brethern. Forsothe Job lyuede aftir these scourgis an hundrid and fourti ȝeer, and saȝ his sones, and the sones of his sones, in to the ferthe ieneracioun; and he diede old, and ful of daȝis.
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