Bible (Early Wycliffe)/Job

Þe Prolog in Þe Bok of Job

Incipit prologus in libro Job.

I am conſtreyned bi alle þe bokis of Godis ſcripture to anſwern to þe euele ſawis of aduerſaries, þat ſinfulli putten to me, þat my remenyng I ſhulde make into þe vndernymyng of þe Seuenti remenoures; as þoȝ, anent þe Grekis, Aquila, Simacus, and Theodocian, or woord of woord, or ſens of ſens, or of eiþer mengd, and tempred maner of mene tranſlacioun tolden out; and Origenes alle þe volumes of þe Olde Teſtament markide wiþ ſigne of a ȝerde, and wiþ ſigne of a ſterre, þe whiche or addid, or taken of Theodocian, ſette in to þe olde tranſlacioun, prouende to han failid þat is added. Þanne lerne my bacbiteres to reſceyuen in þe hoole, þat in parcelis þei reſceyueden, or to ſhauen awey my remenyng wiþ þer ſterre ſignes. Ne forſoþe it may be do, þat whom þey beheelde manye þingus to han lafte of, not þe ſame men alſo in ſumme þingus to han errid þei knowlechen, nameli, in Job, to þe whiche þat if þo þingus, þat vnder ſterre ſigne ben addid, þou wiþdrawe, þe moſt part of þi volume ſhal be kut of; and þat only anent þe Grekis. But and anent þe Latynes, befor þat tranſlacioun, þat vnder ſterre ſignes and ȝerde ſignes not ȝore we maden out, ſeuene hundrid almeſt or eiȝte hundrid vers failen; wiþ þe whiche þe boc ſhortid, and to-torn and to-bite, ſheweþ openli to þe rederes his foule defaute. Þis forſoþe tranſlacioun non remenour of þe olde folewiþ, but of þat Ebru and Arabik woord, and oþer while Cire, now woordis, now ſens, now eiþer togidere ſhal tellen out. Alſo forſoþe al þe boc anent þe Ebrues is ſeid derc and ſlidery, and þat þe cheef ſpekeris of Grekis clepen defaute of comun maner of ſpeche, whil oþer þing is ſpoken and oþer þing is don; as if þou woldeſt an eel or a laumprun holde wiþ ſtreite hondis, how myche ſtrengerli þou þriſtis, ſo myche þe ſunnere it ſhal ſliden awey. I haue remembrid me, Liddium, a maner doctour, þat anent þe Ebruis þe firſte was weened to ben had, for þe vnderſtonding of þis volume not wiþ fewe penys to han hirid, wiþ whos doctrine if any þing I profitede, I wot neuere; þis oon I wot wel, me not to han moȝt remene, but þat before I hadde vnderſtonde. And ſo fro þe begynnyng of þe volume vnto þe woordis of Job, anent þe Ebruys þe enditing is proſe; but fro þe woordis of Job, in þe whiche he ſeiþ, Perſhe þe dai in þe whiche I am born, and þe nyȝt, in whiche it is ſeid, a man is conſeiued, vnto þat place wher befor þe end of þe volume it is write, Þerfor I myſelf reproue, and do penaunce in colis and aſken, ben vers of ſixe feet, rennende wiþ dactile and ſponde feet, and for þe langage of þe tunge ofte takende and oþere feet, not of þe ſame ſilablis, but of þe ſame times. Oþerwhile alſo þat ſweete rym and ſweteli ſounende is told wiþ noumbris looſid wiþ lawe; þe whiche þing verſifioures more þan a ſymple redere vnderſtonden. Fro þe foreſeide vers forſoþe vnto þe ende of þe boc, þe litle diſtinccioun þat leueþ wiþ proſe enditing is wouen. Þe whiche þing if to any man is ſeen vntrouable, metre, þat is, to be anent þe Ebrues, and in maner of oure Flacci, and Graccy, Pindarie, and Alchei, and Saffo, þat weren Grek poetis, or þe Sauter, or þe Lamentaciouns of Jeremie, or alle almeſt þe Kanticulis of ſcripturis to ben comprehendid, þat is to ſeye, in metre, rede he Filonem, Joſefum, Origenem, Ceſarienſem Euſebeum, and bi þe witneſſe of hem he ſhal proue me to ſey ſoþ. Here þerfore myn houndis, þerfore me in þis volume to han trauailid, not þat þe olde remenyng I repreue, but þat þo þingis, þat in it or ben derc, or ben laft of, or certis bi þe vice of writeres depraued, ſhulden be maad more open bi oure remenyng; þe whiche and þe Ebrues ſermoun a parti wee han lerned, and in Latin fulli fro þe cradelis among gramarienes, and retorikis, and filoſofres wee ben defoulid. Þat if anent þe Grekis, aftir þe making of þe Seuenti, now þe euangelie of Criſt ſhynende, Jew Aquila, and Simacus, and Theodocian, Jewinge eretikis, ben founde, þat manye myſterijs of þe Saueour bi treccherous remenyng hidden, and nerþelatere in ſixe exaumpleris ben had anent þe chirches, and ben expouned of chirchemen; myche more I, a Criſtene man, born of fader and moder Criſtene, and þe baner of þe cros in my forhed berende, whos ſtudie was to telle aȝeen laft of þingus, and to amende þe depraued, and þe ſacramens of þe chirche wiþ pure and trewe ſermounes to openen, or of proude men or of ſhreude reders I aȝte not to be repreued. Haue þat wiln olde bokis, and in rede ſkynnes wiþ gold and ſiluer writen, or wiþ capital lettris, as comunli men ſein, chargis grauen out more þan bokis, ſo þat to me and to myne þei ſuffre to han pore ſcrowis, and not as myche faire bokis as amendid. Eiþir forſoþe tranſlacioun, and þe Seuenti after Grekis, and myn after þe Ebrues, in Latin bi my trauaile is tranſlatid; cheſe eche man þat he wile, and proue he hymſelf more ſtudious þan euel willid.

AnoÞir prolog

If forſoþe a iunket wiþ reſſhe I ſhulde make, or þe leues of palmys I ſhulde platte, þat in þe ſwot of my chere I ſhulde ete bred, and þe werc of þe wombe wiþ beſi mynde treten, no man ſhulde bite, no man ſhulde repreue. Now forſoþe for after þe ſentence of þe Saueour, I wile werke þe mete þat perſheþ not, þe olde weie of Godys volumys to purgen fro þornes and buſſhis, double errour is piȝt in to me; a fals corectour of vices I am clepid, and erroures not to taken awei, but to ſowen. So myche forſoþe is þe cuſtum of oldneſſe, þat alſo oþer while confeſid vicis pleſen, whil more faire bokis þey wiln han þan amendid. Wherfore, O! mooſt looued breþern, oon exſaumpler of noblehed for þe werelis, lepis, baſketis, and litle ȝiftis of munkis, þeſe ſpirituel and ȝiftis to dwelle takeþ; and blisful Job, þat ȝit anent Latynes lai in þe drit, and wiþ wermes of erroures brac out, hool and wiþoute wem ioȝeþ. What maner forſoþe, after prouyng and victorie, double to hym alle þingus ben ȝolden, ſo I in to ȝoure tunge, þat hardili I ſpeke, haue maad hym to han þat he hadde loſt. Þerfor and ȝou and eche redere I warne to gidere wiþ beſy before telling, and in þe begynnyngus of bokis þe ſame þingus euermor ioynende, I preȝe, þat wher euermor litle ȝerdis goende beforn ȝee ſhul ſee, witeþ þo þingis þat ben vnder leid in Ebru volumys not to ben had; but wher þe image of a ſterre ſhyneþ beforn, of Ebru in oure ſermoun ben added. Alſo and þoo þingus weren ſeen to ben had in Grek, and ſo weren corupt, þat þe wit to þe reders þei token awei, ȝou preȝende, wiþ gret trauaile I amendide; wenende more what profitable þing to comyn of myn hate to þe chirchis of Criſt, þan of oþer mennys beſineſſe.

Here endeþ þe prolog of Job, and now bigynneþ þe book.

Incipit liber Job.

Capitulum I.

Ther was a man in þe lond of Hus, Job by name; and þat man was ſimple, and riȝt, and dredende God, and goende awei fro euel. And þer ben born to hym ſeue ſones, and þre douȝtris; and his poſſeſſioun was ſeuen þouſend of ſhep, and þre þouſend of camailis, alſo fiue hundrid ȝokis of oxen, and fiue hundryd aſſis, and ful myche meyne; and þat man was gret among alle þe men of þe eſt. And his ſones wenten, and maden feſtis bi houſis, eche in his day; and ſendende þei clepeden þer þre ſiſtris, þat þei ſhulden ete, and drinke win wiþ hem. And whan þe daȝes of þe feſte hadden paſſid aboute, Job ſente to þem, and haliwide þem, and riſende erli, offride brent ſacrifiſe bi alle. Forſoþe he ſeide, Leſt perauenture my ſonys ſynnen, and bliſſe to God in þer hertis. So Job dide alle daȝis. On a dai forſoþe, whan þe ſones of God wer come, þat þei ſhulde ſtonde neeȝ before God, was neeȝ among hem and Saþan. To whom ſeide þe Lord, Whennus comeſt þou? Þe whiche anſwerende ſeiþ, I haue enuyround þe erþe, and þurȝ gon it. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, Wheþer haſt þou not beholde my ſeruaunt Job, þat þer be not lic to hym in þe erþe, a man ſimple, and riȝt, and dredende God, and goende awei fro euel. To whom anſwerde Saþan, Wheþer in vein Job drediþ God? Wheþer haſt þou not ſtrengþid hym, and his hous, and al his ſubſtaunce bi enuyroun? To þe werkis of his hondis þou haſt bliſſid, and his poſſeſſioun wex in þe erþe. But ſtrecche out a litil þin hond, and touche alle þingus þat he weldeþ; but in þe face he bleſſe to þee. Þanne þe Lord ſeide to Saþan, Lo! alle þingus, þat he haþ, in þin hond ben; onli in hym ne ſtrecche þou out þin hond. And Saþan is gon out fro þe face of þe Lord. Whan forſoþe on a dai þe ſones and his doȝtris ſhulden ete, and drinke win in þe hous of þer firſte gote broþer, a meſſager cam to Job, þat ſhulde ſein, Oxen ereden, and ſhe aſſis weren fed beſide þem; and Sabeis feerly fellen to, and token alle þingis, and ſmyte þe childer wiþ ſwerd; and I alone ſcapide þat I ſhulde telle to þee. And whan ȝit he ſpac, cam an oþer, and ſeide, Þe fyr of God cam doun fro heuene, and þe ſhep touchid, and þe childer waſtide; and I alone fleiȝ awei þat I telle to þee. But ȝit hym ſpekende, cam and an oþer, and ſeide, Caldeis maden þre cumpanyes, and aſailiden þe camailis, and token hem, alſo and þe childer þei ſmyten wiþ ſwerd; and I alone fleiȝ awei þat I telle to þee. And ȝit he ſpac, and lo! an oþer cam inne, and ſeide, Þi ſones and doȝtris etende, and drinkende win in þe hous of þer firſte goten broþer, feerli an hidous wind fel in fro þe regioun of deſert, and ſmot togidere þe foure corneres of þe hous, þe whiche fallende opreſſide þi fre childer, and ben deade; and I alone fleiȝ awei þat I telle to þee. Þanne Job ros, and kutte his cloþis, and his hed ſhauen fel in to þe erþe, and honourede, and ſeide, Nakid I wente out fro þe wombe of my moder, and nakid I ſhal gon aȝeen þider; þe Lord ȝaf, þe Lord toc awei; as to þe Lord pleſide, ſo it is do; be þe name of þe Lord bliſſid. In alle þes þingus Job ſynnede not wiþ his lippis, ne any foli þing aȝen God ſpac.

Capitulum II.

It is do forſoþe, whan on a dai hadden comen þe ſones of God, and ſtoden before þe Lord, and Saþan hadde comen among hem, and ſtod in his ſiȝt, þat þe Lord ſeide to Saþan, Whennes comeſt þou? Þe whiche anſwerende ſeiþ, I haue gon aboute þe erþe, and þurȝ paſſid it. And þe Lord ſeide to Saþan, Wheþer haſt þou beholde my ſeruaunt Job, þat þer be not to hym lic in þe erþe, a man ſimple, and riȝt, and dredende God, and goende awei fro euel, and ȝit wiþholdende innocence? Þou forſoþe haſt ſtirid me aȝen hym, þat I ſcourge hym in vein. To whom anſwerde Saþan, and ſeiþ, Fel for fel, and alle þingus þat a man haþ he ſhulde ȝiue for his ſoule; ellis put þin hond, and touche his bon and fleſh, and þanne þou ſhalt ſee, þat in to þe face he bliſſe to þee. Þanne þe Lord ſeide to Saþan, Lo! in þin hond he is; nerþelater his lif kep. Þanne Saþan, gon out fro þe face of þe Lord, he ſmot Job wiþ þe werſte ſtinkende bleyne fro þe ſole of þe fot vnto þe nol; þe whiche wiþ a ſherd ſcrapide awei þe quyture, ſittende in þe dunghil. His wif forſoþe ſeide to hym, Ȝit forſoþe þou abidiſt ſtille in þi ſymplete. Bliſſe to God, and die. Þe whiche ſeiþ to hir, As oon of þe fool wymmen þou ſpeeke; if goodis wee han taken of þe hond of þe Lord, euelis forſoþe why ſhulde wee not ſuffre? In alle þeſe þingis Job ſynnede not wiþ his lippis. Þanne þre frendus of Job, herende al þe euel þat hadde fallen to hym, alle camen fro þer place, Elifaþ Themanites, and Baldach Suytes, and Sofar Naamatites; forſoþe þei hadden ſeid togidere to þemſelf, þat comende togidere þei ſhulden viſiten hym, and coumforten. And whan þei hadden rerid up aferr þer eȝen, þei knewen hym not; and criende out þei wepten, and, þe cloþis kitt, þei ſprengden poudre vpon þer hed in to heuene. And þei ſeten wiþ hym in þe erþe ſeuen daȝis and ſeuen nyȝt, and no man ſpac to hym woord; forſoþe þei ſeȝen þe ſorewe to ben hydous.

Capitulum III.

Aftir þeſe þingus Job openede his mouþ, and curſide to his dai, and ſeide, Perſhe þe dai in þe whiche I am born, and þe nyȝt in þe whiche it is ſeid, A man is conceyued. Þat dai be turned in to dercneſſis; God ſeche it not from aboue, and be it not in recording, ne be it liȝtid wiþ liȝt. Dercneſſes dercne it, and þe ſhadewe of deþ ocupie it in dercneſſe; and be it wiþ inne wrappid wiþ bitterneſſe. A derc whirlewind welde þat nyȝt; and be it not countid in þe daȝes of þe ȝer, ne noumbrid in moneþis. Be þat nyȝt ſolitarie, and not preiſe wrþi. Curſe þei to it, þat curſen to þe dai, þat ben redi to rere Leuieþan. Þe ſterris be þei derkid wiþ þe dercneſſe of it; abide it liȝt, and ſe not, ne þe ſpringing of þe riſende morwetid. For it cloſide not þe doris of þe wombe, þat bar me, ne toc awei euelis fro myn eyen. Whi not in þe wombe I am dead? gon out of þe wombe not anoon I perſhide? Whi taken out of þe knes? whi ſoukid þe tetis? Now forſoþe ſlepende I ſholde holde my pes, and wiþ my ſlep reſten, wiþ kingus and counſeileris of þe erþe, þat bilden to hem ſolitarie dwellingus; or wiþ princis þat welde gold, and fulfillen þer houſis wiþ ſiluer; or as abortif hid I ſhulde not abide, or þat conceyued ſeȝen not liȝt. Þere vnpitous men ceſiden fro noiſe, and þere reſteden þe wery in ſtrengþe. And ſum time togidere ioyned wiþoute gref þei herden not þe vois of þe aſkere wiþ ſtrif. Litil and gret þer ben, and ſeruaunt and fre man fro þer lord. Whi to þe wrecche is ȝiue liȝt, and lif to hem þat ben in bitterneſſe of ſoule? Þe whiche abiden deþ, and comeþ not; as men deluende out treſor and ioȝen hugely, whan þei finde þe ſepulcre? To þe man whos weie is hid, and God haþ cumpaſſid hym wiþ dercneſſis? Er I ſhul ete, I ſiȝhe; and as of flowende water, ſo my roring. For þe drede, þat I dradde, ys ful out come to me; and þat I ſhamede of, is falle. Wheþer I feynede not? wheþer I heeld not my pes? wheþer I reſtide not? and þer is comen vp on me indignacioun.

Capitulum IIII.

Anſwerende forſoþe Elifaþ Themanyþes ſeide, If wee begynne to ſpeke to þee, perauenture greuouſly þou ſhalt taken; but þe conceiuede woord who ſhal moun holde? Lo! þou haſt taȝt manye men, and þou haſt ſtrengþid þe weri hondis. Þi woordis han maad ſtable þe vnſtedefaſt, and þe tremblende knes þou haſt coumfortid. Now forſoþe is comen vp on þee veniaunce, and þou haſt failid; it haþ touchid þee, and þou art diſturbid. Wher is þi drede, þi ſtrengþe, and þi pacience, and þe perfeccioun of þi weies? Recorde, I beſeche þee, who euere innocent perſhide, or whanne riȝtwis men ben don awei? But raþere I haue ſeen hem, þat werken wickidneſſe, and ſowen ſorewis, and repen hem, God blowende, to han perſhid, and þurȝ þe ſpirit of his wraþe to be waſtid. Þe roring of a leoun, and þe vois of a leouneſſe, and þe teþ of leoun whelpis ben tobroſid. Þe tigre perſhide, forþi þat he hadde no prei; and þe leoun whelpis ben ſcaterid. But to me is ſeid a woord hid, and as þeefli myn ere toc þe veynes of his gruching. In þe orroure of þe nyȝt ſiȝte, whan ſlep is wont to ocupie men, inward drede heeld me, and trembling; and alle my bones ben agaſt. And whan þe ſpirit me preſent ſhulde paſſe, inwardli griſeden þe heris of my fleſh. Þer ſtod oon, whos chere I knew not, an ymage befor myn eȝen; and a vois as of a ſofte eir I herde. Wheþir a man of God ſhal be iuſtified bi compariſoun; and a man ſhal be more clene þan his Makere? Lo! þat ſeruen to hym ben not ſtable; and in his aungelis he fond ſhreudeneſſe. Myche more þeſe þat dwellen cleyene houſis, þat han an erþely foundement, ſhul be waſtid as of a moȝhe. Fro morutid vnto euen þei ſhul ben hewe doun; and for no man vnderſtondiþ, wiþ outen ende þei ſhul perſhe. Þei forſoþe, þat weren lafte, ſhul be taken awei fro hem, and dien, and not in wiſdam.

Capitulum V.

Clep þanne, if þer is þat anſwere to þee, and turne to ſumme of þe ſeintis. Wraþe ſleþ a man fol, and enuye ſleþ a litil child. I ſaȝ a fool wiþ a ſtable roote, and I curſide to his fairneſſe anoon. Aferr ſhul be maade his ſones fro helþe, and ſhul be to-treden in þe ȝate, and þer ſhal not be þat deliuere. Whos rep þe hungri ſhal ete, and hym ſhal raueſhe þe armed, and þe þriſti men ſhul drinke his richeſſis. No þing in þe erþe is maad wiþoute cauſe, and of þe erþe ſhal not gon out ſorewe. A man to trauaile is born, and a brid to fleen. For what þing I ſhal preȝe þe Lord, and to my God I ſhal putte my ſpeche. Þat doþ grete þingus, and vnſerchable, and merueilouſe þingus wiþoute noumbre. Þat ȝiueþ reyn vpon þe face of þe erþe, and moyſteþ wiþ watris alle þingus. Þat ſetteþ meke men in to heiȝte, and weilende men rereþ wiþ helþe. Þat ſcatereþ þe þoȝtis of euele men, þat þer hondis moun not fulfille þat þei begunne. Þat caccheþ wiſe men in þer felneſſe, and þe counſeil of ſhrewis ſcattereþ. Bi þe dai þei ſhul renne in to dercneſſis, and as in nyȝt ſo þei ſhul graſpen in mydday. But ſaf he ſhal make þe nedi fro þe ſwerd of þe mouþ of hem, and fro þe hond doende violence þe pore man. And he ſhal be to þe nedi man hope, wickidneſſe forſoþe ſhal drawe togidere his mouþ. Blisful þe men þat is chaſtiſid of þe Lord; þanne þe blamyng of þe Lord ne repreue þou. For he woundeþ, and lecheþ; ſmyteþ, and his hondis ſhuln helen. In ſixe tribulaciouns he ſhal deliuere þee, and in þe ſeuenþe ſhal not touche þee euel. In hungir he ſhal deliuere þee fro deþ, and in bataile fro þe hond of ſwerd. Fro þe ſcourge of tunge þou ſhalt ben hid, and þou ſhalt not drede wrecchidneſſe, whan it comeþ. In waſtite and hunger þou ſhalt laȝwhin, and beſte of þe erþe þou ſhalt not dreden. But wiþ ſtones of regiouns þi couenaunt, and þe beſtis of erþe ſhul be peſible to þee. And þou ſhalt wite, þat þi tabernacle haue pes, and viſitende þi kinde þou ſhalt not ſynne. And þou ſhalt wite alſo, for manyfold ſhal be þi ſed, and þi progenye as þe erbe of þe erþe. Þou ſhalt go in to þe ſepulcre in plenteuouſneſſis, as is born in an hep off whete in his tyme. Lo! þis, as wee han enſerchid, ſo is; þat is herd, in mynde þurȝ trete.

Capitulum VI.

Anſwerende forſoþe Job ſeiþ, Wolde God, my ſynnes weren weȝed, bi þe whiche wraþe I deſeruede; and þe wrecchidneſſe þat I ſuffre, in a balaunce. As þe grauel of þe ſe þis more greuous ſhulde ſeme; wherfore and my woordis ben ful of ſorewe. For þe arwis of þe Lord ben in me, of þe whiche þe indignacioun drinkeþ vp my ſpirit; and þe gaſtneſſis of þe Lord fiȝten aȝen me. Wheþir an aſſe ſhal roren, whan he haþ erbe? Or an oxe ſhul loowen, whan befor þe fulle cracche he ſhal ſtonde? Or ſhal moun ben eten vnſauere þing, þat is not wiþ ſalt poudrid? Or ſhal a man moun taſte, þat taſtid bringeþ deþ? Forſoþe to þe hungrende lif, alſo bitter þingis ſemen to be ſweete; þat beforn my ſoule wolde not touche, now for anguyſh ben my metis. Who ȝeue, þat myn aſking come; and þat I abijde, ȝelde to me God? And þat began, he me to-trede; loſe his hond, and hewe me doun? And þis be to me a coumfort, þat þe tormentende me wiþ ſorewe perſhe not, ne wiþſeie to þe woordis of a ſeint. What forſoþe is my ſtrengþe, þat I ſuffre? or what myn ende, þat I pacientli do? Ne þe ſtrengþe of ſtones my ſtrengþe, ne my fleſh is braſene. Lo! þer is not helpe to me in me; alſo my neceſſarie men wenten awei fro me. He þat takeþ awei fro his frend mercy, þe drede of þe Lord forſakeþ. My breþern paſſeden biſide me, as a ſtrem þat raueſhe meel paſſeþ in valeis. Þat dreden froſt, ſnowȝ ſhal falle vpon hem. Þe time þat þei wer ſcaterid, þei ſhul perſhe; and as þei enchaufe, þei ſhul be loſid fro þer place. Wiþinne wrappid ben þe ſties of þer goingus; þei ſhul gon in vein, and perſhen. Beholdeþ þe ſties of Theman, þe weies of Saba; and abidiþ a litil while. Þei ben confoundid, for I hopide; þei camen alſo to me, and wiþ ſhame þei ben ouercouered. Now ȝee han comen, and now ſeande my veniaunce ȝee dreden. Wheþer I ſeide, Bringeþ to me, and of ȝoure ſubſtaunce ȝiueþ to me? or, Deliuere me fro þe hond of þe enemy, and fro þe hond of ſtronge men pulliþ out me? Techeþ me, and I ſhal be ſtille; and if any þing perauenture I haue vnknowen, enformeþ me. Whi han ȝee bacbitid to þe woordis of treuþe? whan of ȝou no man be, þat mai vndernyme me. To blamen onli ſpechis ȝee ordeynyn, and aȝen wind woordis ȝee ſpeken. Vpon þe faderles child ȝee fallen on, and enforſen ȝoure frend to turne vp ſo doun. Nerþelater þat ȝee han begunne, fulfilliþ; ȝiueþ ere, and ſeeþ, wheþer I lie. Anſwerþ, I beſeche, wiþoute ſtrif, and ſpekende þat, þat is riȝtwis, ſhewiþ. And ȝee ſhul not finde in my tunge wickidneſſe, ne in my chekis folie ſhal þurȝ ſoune.

Capitulum VII.

Kniȝþod is þe lif of man vpon erþe, and as þe daȝes of an hirid man, þe daȝis of hym. As an hert deſireþ ſhadewe, and as an hirid man abideþ þe ende of his werc; ſo and I hadde voide moneþis, and trauailous nyȝtis I noumbride out to me. If I ſhul ſlepen, I ſhal ſey, Whanne ſhal I riſe? and eft I ſhal abide þe euetid, and I ſhal be fulfild wiþ ſorewis vnto dercneſſis. My fleſh is clad wiþ roting, and wiþ filþis of pouder; my fel driede, and is drawen togidere. My daȝes ſwiftliere paſſiden þan of þe weuere þe web is kut of; and þei ben waſtid wiþoute any hope. Haue mynde, for wind is my lif, and myn eȝe ſhal not be turned aȝeen, þat I ſee goodis. Ne þe ſiȝte of man ſhal beholde me; but þin eȝen in me, and I ſhal not ſtonden. As a cloude is waſtid, and paſſeþ, ſo þat goþ 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 mouþ; I ſhal ſpeke in þe tribulacioun of my ſpirit, and I ſhal talke wiþ þe bitterneſſe of my ſoule. Wheþer am I þe ſe, or a whal, for ȝee han enuyround me wiþ a priſoun? If I ſhal ſeyn, My bed ſhal coumforte me, and I ſhal be releued ſpekende wiþ me in my bed; þou ſhalt fere me bi ſweuenys, and bi viſeouns; þurȝ orrour þou ſhalt ſmyte me to gidere. Wherfore my ſoule ches hangyng vp, and my bones deþ. I deſpeirede, now I ſhal no mor liue; ſpare to me, Lord, no þing forſoþe ben my daȝes. What is a man, for þou magnefieſt hym? or what þou ſettis to aȝen hym þin herte? Þou viſitiſt hym þe morutid, and feerli þou proueſt hym. Hou longe þou ſpariſt not to me, ne letiſt me, þat I ſwolewe my ſpotele? I haue ſynned; what ſhal I don to þee, O! kepere of men? Whi haſt þou put me contrarie to þee, and am maad to myſelf heuy? Whi takiſt þou not awei my ſynne, and whi doſt þou not awei my wickidneſſe? Lo! nowe in pouder I ſlepe, and if erli þou ſeche me, I ſhal not ſtonde ſtille.

Capitulum VIII.

Anſwerende forſoþe Baldach Suyþes ſeide, Hou longe ſhalt þou ſpeke ſuche þingus? Þer is a manyfold ſpirit of þe woord of þi mouþ. Wheþer God ſupplauntiþ dom, and þe Almyȝti turneþ vpſo doun, þat is riȝtwis? Alſo if þi ſonys ſynneden to hym, and lafte þem þe hond of þer wickidneſſe; in þou nerþelatere, if þou erli to gidere riſiſt to God, and þe Almyȝti haddeſt preȝid, if clene and riȝtwis þou goſt, anoon he ſhal waken out to þee, and maad peſible þe dwelling place of þi riȝtwiſneſſe he ſhal ȝelde; in ſo myche þat þi raþermore weren litle, and þi laſte þingis ſhuln be multiplied ful myche. Forſoþe aſke þe raþermor ieneracioun, and biſili enſerche þe mynde of þe faders. Forſoþe wee ben as ȝiſterdai born, and wee han vnkunnyng; for as ſhadewe oure daȝis ben vp on erþe. And þei ſhul teche þee, and ſpeke to þee, and fro þin herte ſhul bringe forþ ſpechis. Wheþer a reſſhe may liuen wiþoute humour? or reeddi place growe wiþ oute water? Whanne ȝit it be in flour, and be it not taken wiþ hond, beforn alle erbis it waxeþ drie. So þe weies of alle men, þat forȝeten God; and þe hope of an ipocrite ſhal perſhe. To hym ſhal not pleſe his couwardiſe, and as þe 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 ſemeþ þe reſſhe, befor þe ſunne come; and in his ſpringing þe buriownyng of it ſhal gon out. Vp on an hep of ſtones his rootis ſhul be maad þicke, and among þe ſtonys it ſhal dwelle. And if it pulle it vp fro his place, it ſhal denyen hym, and ſeyn, I knew not þee. Þis forſoþe is þe gladneſſe of his weie, þat eft fro þe erþe oþere be buriouned. God ſhal not þrowen aferr þe ſymple, ne putten hond to ſhrewis; to þe time þat þi mouþ be fulfild wiþ laȝhing, and þi lippis wiþ ioȝe. Þei þat hateden þee ſhul be clad wiþ confuſioun; and þe tabernacle of vnpitouſe men ſhal not ſtonde ſtille.

Capitulum IX.

Anſwerende Job ſeiþ, Verreli I wot, þat ſo it is, and þat a man compariſoun to God ſhal not be iuſtified. If he wile ſtriue wiþ hym, he ſhal not moun anſwere to hym oon for a þouſend. Wis in herte he is, and ſtrong in ſtrengþe; who wiþſtod to hym, and pes hadde? Þat tranſlatide hillis, and þeſe wiſten not; whom he turnede vpſo doun in his wodneſſe. Þat ſtiriþ þe erþe fro his place, and his pileris ſhul be ſmyte togidere. Þat comaundiþ to þe ſunne, and ſpringeþ not; and cloſeþ þe ſterris, as vnder a ſel. Þe whiche alone ſtreccheþ out heuenes, and goþ vp on þe flodis of þe ſe. Þat makeþ þe ſterris, þat is clepid Arþurus, and Orionas, and Iadas, and þe innermor of þe ſouþ. Þat makeþ grete þingus and vnſerchable, and merueilouſe þingus, 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 þou þus? God, to whos wraþe no man mai wiþſtonde; vnder whom ben bowid, þat bern þe world. Hou myche am I, þat I anſwere to hym, and ſpeke in my woordus wiþ hym? Þe whiche alſo, if I ſhul han any þing riȝt, ſhal not anſwern; but my domys man I ſhal preȝen. And whan he hereþ me inwardli clepende, I leue not, þat he ſhal here my vois. In a whirlewind forſoþe he ſhal to-broſe me, and multiplien my woundis alſo wiþoute cauſe. He graunteþ not my ſpirit to reſten, and he fulfilliþ me wiþ bitterneſſis. If ſtrengþe 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 mouþ ſhal condempne me; if innocent I ſhal ſhewe me, a ſhrewe he ſhal proue me. Alſo iff ſymple I ſhul be, þat ſame my ſoule ſhal vnknowe; and it ſhal noȝe me of my lif. O þing is, þat I ſpac, alſo þe innocent and þe vnpitous he ſhal waſte. If he ſcourgeþ, ſle he onys, and not of þe peynes of innocentis laȝhe. Þe erþe is ȝiue in to þe hondis of þe vnpitous; his dom couereþ þe chere; þat if he is not, who þanne is? My daȝis ſwiftere weren þan a corour; þei floun, and þei ſeȝen no good. Þei paſſeden as ſhipis berende appelis, as an egle fleende to mete. Whan I ſhal ſei, Nai, þus I ſhal ſpeke; I chaunge my face, and wiþ ſorewe I am tormentid. I ſhamede alle my werkis, witende þat þou ſhuldiſt not ſpare to þe giltende. If forſoþe and ſo I am vnpitous, whi in vein haue I trauailid? If I ſhul be waſſhe as wiþ watris of ſnowȝ, and myn hondis as moſt clene ſhyneden, nerþelatere wiþ filþis þou ſhalt weete me, and my cloþis ſhul wlaten me. Ne forſoþe to þe man þat is lic me, I ſhal anſwern; ne þat wiþ me in dom euenli mai ben herd. Þer is not, þat eiþer mai vndernyme, and putten his hond in boþe. Do he awei fro me his ȝerde, and his inward drede fere me not. I ſhal ſpeke, and I ſhal not dreden hym; ne forſoþe I mai dredende anſwern.

Capitulum X.

It noȝeþ 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 þou not me condempne; ſhew to me, whi me ſo þou demeſt. Wheþer good to þee it ſemeþ, if þou chalenge and opreſſe me, þe werk of þin hondis; and þe counſeil of vnpitous men þou helpe? Wheþer fleſhly eȝen ben to þee, or as ſeeþ a man, and þou ſhalt ſeen? Wheþer as þe daȝis of man, þi daȝes, and þi ȝeris ben as mannys tymes; þat þou ſeche my wickidneſſe, and my ſynne þou ſerche? And wite þou, for no þing vnpitous I dide; ſiþen þer is no man, þat of þin hond mai deliuere? Þin hondis maden me, and formeden me al in enuyroun; and ſo feerli þou puttiſt me doun. Haue mynde, I beſeche, þat as clei þou madiſt me, and in to pouder þou ſhalt aȝeen bringe me. Wheþer not as mylc þou haſt mylkid me, and as cheſe þou haſt crudded me? Wiþ fel and fleſh þou haſt clad me; wiþ bones and ſenewis þou haſt togidere ioyned me. Lif and mercy þou haſt ȝiue to me, and þi viſiting kepte my ſpirit. Al be it þat þeſe þingus þou hidiſt in þin herte, nerþelatere I wot, for of alle þingus þou haſt mynde. If I ſynnede, and at an houre þou ſparedeſt to me; whi fro my wickidneſſe þou 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 þe hed, fulfild wiþ affliccioun and wrecchidneſſe. And for pride as a leouneſſe þou ſhalt take me; and turned aȝeen, merueilouſly þou tormentiſt me. Þou reſtoriſt þi witneſſis aȝen me, and þou multiplieſt þi wraþe aȝen me; and peynes fiȝten in me. Whi of þe wombe þou broȝtiſt me out? Þat wolde God I hadde be waſtid, þat eȝe ſhulde not ſeen me. I hadde ben as I were not, fro þe wombe tranſlatid to þe toumbe. Wheþer not þe feweneſſe of my daȝis ſhal ben endid in ſhort? Let me þanne, þat I weile a litil while my ſorewe, er I go, and turne not aȝeen, to þe derke erþe, and couered wiþ þe dercneſſe of deþ þe erþe of wrecchidneſſe and of dercneſſis; wher ſhadewe of deþ, and noon order, but fulli indwelliþ euere durende orrour.

Capitulum XI.

Anſwerende forſoþe Sofar Naamatiþes ſeide, Wheþer he, þat manye þingus ſpekiþ, wheþer and he ſhal heren? or a man ful of woordis ſhal be iuſtefied? To þee alone men ſhul holde þer pes? and whan oþer men þou ſcorneſt, of no man þou ſhalt be confoundid? Þou forſoþe ſeidiſt, Pure is my woord, and clene I am in þi ſiȝte. And wolde God, God ſhulde ſpeke wiþ þee, and openen his lippis to þee; þat he ſhulde ſhewe to þee þe priuytes of wiſdam, and þat manyfold is his lawe, and þou ſhuldeſt vnderſtonde, þat manye laſſe þingus þou art aſkid of hym, þan deſerueþ þi wickidneſſe. Perauenture þe ſteppis of God þou ſhalt holde, and vnto perfit þe Almyȝti þou ſhalt finde. Heiȝere þan heuene he is, and what ſhalt þou do? deppere þan helle, and whennys ſhalt þou knowen? Lengere þan þe erþe þe meſure of hym, and braddere þan þe ſe. If he turne vpſo doun alle þingus, or in to oon drawe togidere, who ſhal aȝenſein to hym? Or who ſhal moun ſey to hym, Whi doſt þou ſo? He forſoþe knewȝ þe vanyte of men; and ſeande wickidneſſe wheþer he beholde not? A veyn man in to pride is rerid; and as a colt of an aſſe, he weeneþ hymſelf born free. Þou forſoþe haſt faſtned þin herte, and haſt ſprad out to hym þin hondis. If þe wickidneſſe, þat is in þin hond, þou takeſt awei fro þee, and vnriȝtwiſneſſe abideþ not ſtille in þi tabernacle, þanne þou ſhalt moun rere þi face wiþ oute wem, and þou ſhalt be ſtable, and not dreden. Of wreccheneſſe alſo þou ſhalt forȝete, and, as of watris þat paſſeden, þou ſhalt not recorde. And as myddai liȝting it ſhal riſe to þee at euen; and whan þee waſtid þou weneſt, þou ſhalt ſpringe as þe dai ſterre. And þou ſhalt han troſt, purpoſid to þee hope; and doun dolue, ſiker þou ſhalt ſlepe. Þou ſhalt reſte, and þer ſhal not be þat fere þee; and manye ſhul preȝe þi face. Þe eȝen forſoþe of vnpitous men ſhul faile; and out fliȝt ſhal perſhe fro hem, and þe hope of hem abhomynacioun of ſoule.

Capitulum XII.

Anſwerende forſoþe Job ſeide, Þanne ȝee ben men alone, þat wiþ ȝou dwelle wiſdam? And to me is an herte, as and to ȝou, ne lowere I am þan ȝee; who forſoþe þeſe þingis, þat ȝee knowen, vnknoweþ? Who is ſcorned of his frend, as I, inwardli ſhal clepe God, and he ſhal heren hym; forſoþe þe ſympleneſſe of þe riȝtwiſe is ſcorned. A laumpe deſpiſid anent þe þoȝtis of riche men, maad redi to þe ordeyned time. Þe tabernaclis of reueres abounden; and hardili þei terren God, whan he ȝiueþ alle þingus in to þe hondis of hem. No wunder, aſke þe beſtis, and þei ſhul teche þee; and þe foulis of heuene, and þei ſhul ſhewe to þee. Spec to þe erþe, and it ſhal anſwer to þee; and þe fiſſhis of þe ſe ſhul telle þo þingis. Who vnknoweþ, þat alle þeſe þingis þe hond of þe Lord made? In whos hond þe ſoule of alle lyuynge, and þe ſpirit of alle fleſh of man. Wheþer not þe ere demeþ woordis, and þe chekis of þe etere ſauour? In olde men is wiſdam, and in myche time prudence. Anent hym is wiſdam and ſtrengþe; he haþ counſeil and vnderſtonding. If he deſtroȝe, no man is þat bilde vp; if he incloſe a man, no man is þat opene. If he holde togidere watris, alle þingus ſhul be maad drie; if he out ſende þem, þei ſhul turne vpſodoun þe erþe. Anent hym is ſtrengþe and wiſdam; he knew and þe begilere and hym þat is begilid. And he bringeþ forþ þe counſeileris in to a fool ende, and domeſmen in to ſtoneing. Þe girdil of kingus he looſide, and girte wiþ a corde þe reenes of hem. He bringeþ þe preſtis of hem vnglorious, and þe beſte men of wrſhipe he ſupplauntiþ; chaungende þe lippe of trewe men, and þe teching of olde men doende awei. He heeldeþ out deſpiſing vp on princis, and hem, þat weren opreſſid, releueþ. Þat ſheweþ vp depe þingis fro dercneſſis; and bringeþ forþ in to liȝt þe ſhadewe of deþ. Þat multeplieþ Jentilis, and leeſiþ hem, and turned vpſo doun in to þe hoole reſtoreþ. Þat wiþinne chaungeþ þe herte of þe prince of þe puple of þe erþe; and deſceyueþ hem, þat in vein þei go bi wiþoute weie. Þei ſhul graſpen, as in dercneſſis, and not in liȝt; and he ſhal make þem to erren as drunken.

Capitulum XIII.

Lo! alle þingus ſaȝ myn eȝe, and myn ere herde; and I vnderſtod alle þingus. Aftyr ȝoure kunnyng and I knewȝ, ne þe neþere of ȝou I am. But nerþelater to þe Almyȝty I ſhal ſpeke, and to diſpute wiþ God I coueite; raþere ſhewende ȝou forgeris of leſingus, and herieris of ſhreude techingis. And wolde God, ȝee heelde ȝoure pes, þat ȝee weren weened wiſe men to ben. Hereþ þanne my correcciouns; and to þe dom of my lippis takeþ heede to. Wheþer God nedeþ ȝoure leſing, þat for hym ȝee ſpeke treccheries? Wheþer his face ȝee taken, and for God ȝee enforcen to deme? Or it ſhal pleſe to hym, whom hide no þing mai? Or he ſhal be deſceiued, as a man, wiþ oure gilis? He ȝou ſhal vndernyme; for in hydelis his face ȝee take. Anoon as he ſtereþ 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. Beþ ſtille a litil while, þat I ſpeke, what euere þing to me þe mynde moue to. Whi to-tere I my fleſh wiþ my teþ, and my ſoule I bere in myn hondis? Alſo if he ſle me, in hym I ſhal hope; nerþelatere my weies in his ſiȝte I ſhal vndernyme. And he ſhal be my ſauyoure; forſoþe þer ſhal not come in his ſiȝt eche ipocrite. Hereþ my woord, and þe derke ſpeches parceyneþ wiþ ȝoure eris. If I ſhul be demed, I wot þat riȝtwis I ſhal be founde. Who is he þat be demed wiþ me? Come he; whi beende ſtille I am waſtid? Two þingus onli ne do þou to me; and þanne fro þi face I ſhal not ben hid. Þin hond fer do fro me; and þi ferd gaſte not me. Clep me, and I ſhal anſweren to þee; or certis I ſhal ſpeke, and þou anſwere to me. Hou fele haue I wickidneſſis and ſynnes? Myn hidous treſpaſis and giltis ſheu to me. Whi þi face þou hidiſt, and demeſt me þin enemy? Aȝen a lef, þat is raueſhid wiþ þe wind, þou ſhewiſt þi myȝt; and drie ſtobil þou purſueſt. Forſoþe þou writiſt aȝen me bitterneſſis; and waſte me þou wilt wiþ ſynnes of my waxende ȝouþe. Þou haſt putte in þe ſtoc my foot, and þou haſt waitid alle my paþis; and þe ſteppis of my feet þou haſt beholde. Þe whiche as roteneſſe am to be waſtid, and as cloþing þat is eten of a mowȝhe.

Capitulum XIIII.

A man born of a womman, ſhort time liuende, is fulfild wiþ many wrecchidneſſis. Þat as a flour goþ out, and is totreden; and fleþ as ſhadewe, and neuere in þe ſame ſtate abit ſtille. And wrþi þou bringiſt vpon ſuch a man to opene þin eȝen; and to bringe hym wiþ þee in to dom? Who mai make clene þe conceyued of vnclene ſed? Wheþer not þou, þat art alone? Shorte ben þe daȝis of man, þe noumbre of his moneþis is anent þee; þou haſt ordeyned his termes, þat ſhul not moun be paſſid ouer. Go awei þanne a litil fro hym, þat he reſte; to þe time þat þe deſirid dai come, and as of an hirid man þe dai of hym. A tree haþ hope, if it be kut of; eft it waxeþ grene, and his braunchis ſpringen. If his roote waxe old in þe erþe, and in pouder were out dead; his ſtoc at þe ſmel of water ſhal burioune, and ſhal make an hep of leues, as whan firſt it is plauntid. A man forſoþe whan he ſhal be dead, and nakid, and waſtid; wher, I beſeche, is he? What maner if watris gon awei fro þe ſe, and flod voided waxe drie, ſo a man, whan he ſlepeþ, ſhal not riſe, to þe time þat he be totreden; heuene ſhal not wake out, ne he ſhal riſe fro his ſlep. Who ȝeue to me þat, þat in helle þou defende me, and hide me, to þe time þi wodneſſe ouerpaſſe; and ſette to me a time, in whiche þou recorde of me? Wheþer weeneſt þou not a dead man eft liue? Alle þe daȝis, in whiche now I fiȝte, I abide, to þe time myn inward chaunging come. Þou ſhalt clepe me, and I ſhal anſwere to þee; to þe werc of þin hondis þou ſhalt putte forþ þe riȝt hond. Þou forſoþe haſt noumbrid my goingis; but ſpare to my ſynnes. Þou haſt ſelid as in a litil ſac my giltis, but þou haſt kurid my wickidneſſe. A fallende hil flowiþ doun, and a ſton is born ouer fro his place. Watris þerlen out ſtones, and of ſmyting of watris þe erþe litle mele is waſtid; þanne men lic maner þou ſhalt leeſe. Þou haſt ſtrengþid hym a litil, þat in to euermor he ſhulde paſſe; þou ſhalt inchaungen his face, and þou ſhalt ſenden hym out. If forſoþe noble ſhul ben his ſonys, or vnnoble, he ſhal not vnderſtonde. Nerþelatere his fleſh whil it liueþ, ſhal ſorewen, and his ſoule vp on himſelf ſhal weilen.

Capitulum XV.

Anſwerende forſoþe Elifaþ Themanyþes ſeide, Wheþer a wis man ſhal anſwere, as ſpekende in to wind, and he ſhal fulfille wiþ brennyng his ſtomac? Þou vndernemyſt hym wiþ woordis, þat is not euene to þee, and þou ſpekiſt, þat ſpedeþ not to þee. As myche as in þee is, þou haſt voidid drede; and taken awei preȝeeris befor God. Forſoþe þi wickidneſſe tauȝte þi mouþ, and þou folewiſt a tunge of blasfemende men. Þi mouþ ſhal condempne þee, and not I, and þi lippis ſhul anſwer to þee. Wheþer þe firſte man þou art born, and beforn alle hillis formed? Wheþer þe counſeil of God þou haſt herd, and lowere þan þou ſhalt ben his wiſdam? What knewe þou, þat wee vnknowen? What vnderſtondes þou, þat wee wite not? And men of þe laſte age and of manye ȝeeris ben in vs, myche eldere þan þi fadris. Wheþer gret it is, þat God coumforte þee? But þi ſhreude woordis forfenden þat. What rereþ þee þin herte, and as grete þingis þenkende þou haſt ſtoneȝid eȝen? What aȝen God ſwelleþ þi ſpirit, þat þou ſpeke of þi mouþ ſuche maner woordis? What is a man, þat 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, þat drinkeþ as watris wickidneſſe? I ſhal ſhewe to þee, here me; þat I ſaȝ, I ſhal telle to þee. Wiſe men knoulechen, and ſhul not hide þer faders. To whom alone is ȝiue þe erþe, and þer ſhal not paſſe an alien bi hem. Alle his daȝis þe vnpitous man proudeþ; and þe noumbre of ȝeris of his tiraundiſe is vncertein. Þe ſoun of ferd euermore in þe eris of hym, and whan pes is, he euermor troweþ aſpies. He beleueþ not þat he mai be turned aȝeen fro dercneſſes vnto liȝt, beholdende ſwerd on alle ſides aboute. Whan he moueþ hymſelf to ſechen bred, he knew, þat dai of dercneſſis is maad redi in his hond. Tribulacioun ſhal gaſten hym, and anguyſh ſhal enuyroune hym, as a king þat is beforn maad redi to bataile. Forſoþe he bende his hond aȝen God, and aȝen þe Almyȝti he is ſtrengþid. He ran aȝen God þe necke vpriȝt, and he is armed wiþ a fat nol. Fatneſſe couerde his face, and of his ſides grece hangeþ. He ſhall dwelle in deſolat cites, and in deſert houſis, þat ben broȝt in to toumbis. He ſhal not be maad riche, ne his ſubſtaunce ſhal abide ſtille; and he ſhal not putte in þe erþe his roote, ne gon awei fro dercneſſis. His braunchis flaume ſhal make drie, and he ſhal be take awei þurȝ þe ſpirit of his mouþ. Trowe he not in vein bi errour deſceyued, þat 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 þe firſte flour his cluſter, and as an oliue þrowende awei his flour. Forſoþe þe gedering of an ipocrite barein, and fyr ſhal deuoure þer tabernaclis, þat gladli taken ȝiftis. He conceyuede ſorewe, and bar wickidneſſe, and his wombe befor makiþ redi treccheries.

Capitulum XVI.

Anſwerende forſoþe Job ſeide, I haue herd ofte ſiþes ſuche þingus; alle ȝee ben heuye coumfortoures. Wheþir windi woordis ſhul not han ende? or any þing is greuous to þee, if þou ſpekiſt? And I myȝte lic þingis of ȝou ſpeken, and wolde God ȝoure lif were for my lif; and I ſhulde coumforte ȝou wiþ woordis, and moue myn hed vp on ȝou; I ſhulde ſtrengþe ȝou wiþ my mouþ, and moue þe 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 forſoþe my ſorewe haþ opreſſid me, and alle my lymes ben turned in to noȝt. My ryuelis ſeyn witneſſe aȝen me, and þe falſe ſeiere is rered vp aȝen my face, wiþſeiende to me. He gederede his wodneſſe in me, and þretende to me gnaſtide vp on me wiþ his teþ; myn enemy wiþ griſli eȝen me beheld. Þei openeden þer mouþis vp on me, and myſſeiende ſmyten my cheke; þei ben fulfild wiþ my peynes. God haþ cloſid me anent þe wicke, and to þe hondis of vnpitouſe toc me. And I he ſum time plenteuouſe, feerli am ſorewid; he haþ holde my nol; he haþ to-broſid me, and put me as in to a marke. He haþ enuyround me wiþ his ſperis, he woundede my leendis to gidere; he ſparide not, and he dalf out in to þe erþe my bowelis. And he heewȝ me wiþ 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 wiþ aſkis. My face to-ſwal for weping, and myn eȝe lidis daſwiden. Þeſe þingus I ſuffride wiþoute wickidneſſe of myn hond, whan I hadde to God clene preȝeeris. Erþe, ne couere þou my blod, ne my cry finde in þee place of lurking. Lo! forſoþe in heuene is my witneſſe; am I knowere of myſelf in heiȝtis? My woordi frendis, myn eȝe droppiþ to God. And wolde God, ſo a man ſhulde be demed wiþ God, hou þe ſone of man is demed wiþ his felawe. Lo! forſoþe ſhorte ȝeris paſſen, and þe ſty, bi þe whiche I ſhal not be turned aȝeen, I go.

Capitulum XVII.

My ſpirit ſhal be maad þynne; my daȝis ſhul be ſhortid, and onli to me leueþ ouer a ſepulcre. I ſynnede not, and in bittirneſſis abideþ myn eȝe. Lord, deliuere me, and put me beſide þee; and whos euere hond þou wilt, fiȝte aȝen me. Þe herte of hem þou haſt maad aferre fro diſcipline; þerfore þei ſhul not ben enhauncid. A prei he behotiþ to felawis, and his ſones eȝen ſhul failen. He putte me as in to a prouerbe of þe comun, and his exſaumple beforn hem. At þe indignacioun daſwide myn eȝe; and my lymes as vnto noȝt ben broȝt. Riȝtwis men ſhul ſtoneȝen vp on þat; and þe innocent aȝen þe ipocrite ſhal be ſtirid vp. And þe riȝtwis ſhal holden his weie, and wiþ clene hondis adde ſtrengþe. Þanne alle ȝee beþ conuertid, and comeþ; and I ſhal not finde in ȝou any wis man. My daȝis paſſeden; my þoȝtis ben ſcatered, tormentende myn herte. Nyȝt þei 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, Þou art my fader; My moder and my ſiſter, to wermes. Wher is þanne now myn abiding? and my pacience who beholdeþ? In to þe moſt deppeſt helle ſhul falle doun alle myne; weneſt þou nameli, wheþir þere ſhal ben reſte to me?

Capitulum XVIII.

Anſwerende forſoþe Baldaþ Suyþes ſeide, In to what ende woordis þou ſhalt boſte? Vnderſtond raþere, and ſo ſpeke wee. Whi be wee holden as beſtis, and wee han waxe foul before þee? What leſiſt þou þi ſoule in þi wodneſſe? Wheþer for þee þe erþe ſhal be forſaken, and rochis ſhal be tranſlatid fro þer placis? Wheþer þe liȝt of þe wycke man ſhal not be quenchid; ne þe flaume of his fyr ſhal ſhyne? Liȝt ſhal waxe derk in his tabernacle; and þe lanterne þat is vpon hym ſhal be quenchid. Þe goingis of his vertue ſhul be ſtreitid; and his counſeyl ſhal putten hym doun. Forſoþe he putte in his feet in to þe nett; and in his filþis he goþ. His ſole ſhal ben holde wiþ a grene; and þriſt ſhal brenne out aȝen hym. His foot grene is hid in þe erþe, and his deſceyuende gyn vp on þe ſty. Al aboute feris ſhul gaſten hym, and wiþinne wrappen his feet. His ſtrengþe ſhal ben feblid wiþ hunger; and ſcarſneſſe of mete aſaile his ribbis. Deuoure it þe fairneſſe of hys ſkin; þe firſte goten deþ waſte þe armys of hym. His troſt be pullid vp fro his tabernacle; and deþ trede vp on hym, as a king al aboue. Dwellen his felawis in þe tabernacle of hym þat is not; brumſton be ſprengd in his tabernacle. Doun be dried his rootis; aboue forſoþe be totreden his rip. Þe mynde of hym perſhe fro þe erþe; and his name be not maad ſolempne in ſtretis. He ſhal putten hym out fro liȝt in to dercneſſis; and fro þe roundneſſe ouerbern hym. His ſed ne progenye ſhal ben in his puple, ne any remnaunt in þe regiouns of hym. In his daȝes þe laſte men ſhul ſtoneȝen; and griſing ſhal aſaile þe firſte. Þeſe þanne ben þe tabernaclis of þe wicke man; and þis his place, þat vnknowiþ God.

Capitulum XIX.

Anſwerende forſoþe Job ſeide, Hou longe ȝee tormente my lif, and pownen me wiþ woordis? Lo! ten ſiþes ȝee confounde me, and ȝee ſhame not, opreſſende me. Forſoþe if I am vnknowende, wiþ me it ſhal be, myn vnkunnyng. And ȝee aȝen me ben rerid, and vndernyme me wiþ my repreues. Nameli now vnderſtondeþ, for God not wiþ euene dom tormentiþ me, and wiþ his ſcourgis girdiþ me. Lo! I ſhal crie ſufferende fors, and no man ſhal here; I ſhal crien out, and þer is not þat deme. My ſty he heggide aboute, and I mai not gon ouer; and in my paþ he putte dercneſſes. He ſpoilide me my glorie, and he toc awei þe 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 wroþ aȝen me; and ſo me he hadde as his enemy. His þeues camen togidere, and maden to hem a weie bi me; and beſegiden in enuyroun my tabernacle. He made a ferr my breþren fro me; and my knowen as alienes wenten awei fro me. My neȝh men forſoken me; and þat me hadden knowe forȝete me. Þe comelingus of myn hous and myn hond wymen as an alien hadden me; and as a pilgrim I was in þe eȝen of hem. My ſeruaunt I clepide, and he anſwerde not to me; wiþ my propre mouþ I preȝede hym. My wif agriſide my breþ; and I preȝede þe ſones of my wombe. Foolys alſo deſpiſiden me; and whan I hadde gon awei fro þem, þei bacbiten to me. Sum time my counſeyleris wlateden me; and whom I moſt loouede wiþſtod me. My bon cleuede to my ſkin, þe fleſh waſtid; and onli þe lippis ben lafte aboute my teþ. Haueþ reuþe of me, haueþ reuþe of me, nameli, ȝee my frendis; for þe hond of þe Lord haþ touchid me. Whi purſue ȝee me, as God; and wiþ my fleſh ȝee be fulfild? Who ȝiueþ to me, þat my woordis be writen? Who ȝiueþ to me þat þei be grauen in a boc wiþ an iren pointel, or wiþ a pece of led; or wiþ a chiſell þei be grauen in flint? Forſoþe I wot, þat myn aȝeenbiere liueþ, and in þe laſte dai I am to riſe fro þe erþe; and eft ſhal ben enuyround wiþ 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 oþer. Þis myn hope is led vp in my boſum. Whi þanne now ſey ȝee, Purſue wee hym, and þe roote of woord finde wee aȝen hym? Fleeþ þanne fro þe face of ſwerd; for vengere of wickidneſſe is þe ſwerd, and witeþ dom to be.

Capitulum XX.

Anſwerende forſoþe Sofar Naamatites, ſeide, Þerfore my þoȝtis diuers comyn after oþer to þem; and my mynde in to diuers þingus is raueſhid. Þe doctrine þat þou vndernemeſt me, I ſhal heren; and þe ſpirit of myn vnderſtonding ſhal anſwern to me. Þat I wot fro þe begynnyng, ſiþen a man is ſett vp on erþe, þat þe preiſing of vnpitous men is ſhort, and þe ioȝe of an ipocrite at þe licneſſe of a point. If his pride ſteȝe vp in to heuene, and þe cloude touche his hed, as a dunghil, in þe ende he ſhal ben loſt; and þei þat hadden ſeen hym, ſhul ſein, Wher is he? As a ſweuene fleende awei he ſhal not be founde; he ſhal paſſe as þe nyȝt ſiȝte. Þe eȝe þat hym ſaȝ ſhal not ſeen; and his place no mor ſhal beholden hym. His ſones ſhul be to-trede wiþ nede; and þe hondis of hym ſhul ȝelde to hym his ſorewe. Þe bones of hym ſhul be fulfild wiþ vicis of his waxende ȝouþe; and wiþ hym in pouder þei ſhul ſlepe. Whan forſoþe euel were ſweete in his mouþ, he hidde it vnder his tunge. He ſhal ſpare to it, and not forſaken it; and hiden in his þrote. Þe bred of hym in his wombe ſhal be turned in to galle of edderes wiþinneforþ. Þe richeſſis þat he deuourede, he ſhal ſpewen out; and of his wombe God ſhal drawe þem out. Þe hed of edderes ſhal riſe; and þe tunge of þe ſerpent ſhal ſlen hym. See he not þe litle ryueres of þe flod, of þe ſtrem of hony, and of buttere. He ſhal abie alle þingus þat he dide, and nerþelatere he ſhal not be waſtid; aftir þe multitude of his findingus, ſo and he ſhal ſuffre. For brekende togidere he nakide þe hous of þe pore man; raueſhide, and not bilde it. And his wombe is not fulfild; and whan he ſhal han, þat he hadde coueitid, he ſhal not moun welde. Þer lafte not of his mete; and þerfore no þing 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, þat he ſende out in to hym þe wraþe of his wodneſſe, and reyne vp on hym his bataile. He ſhal fleen iren armys; and he ſhal falle in to þe braſene bowe. Broȝt out, and goende out fro his ſheþe, and leitinge in to his bitterneſſe; þei ſhul go, and come vp on hym alle grisful. Hid dercneſſis be in his priue þingus; fyr ſhal deuoure hym, þat ſhal not be brend vp; laft in his tabernacle he ſhal be tormentid. Heuenys ſhul ſhewen his wickidneſſe; and erþe ſhal riſe aȝen hym. Þe buriounyng of his hous ſhal ben opened; it ſhal be to drawen awei in þe dai of þe wodneſſe of þe Lord. Þis is þe part of þe vnpitous man fro God, and þe eritage of his woordis fro þe Lord.

Capitulum XXI.

Anſwerende forſoþe Job ſeide, Hereþ, I beſeche, my woordis, and doþ penaunce. Suffreþ me, and I ſhal ſpeke; and after my woordus, if it ſhul be ſeen, laȝheþ. Wheþir aȝen man is my diſputeſoun, þat þurȝ deſert I owe not to be maad ſory? Takeþ heede to me, and becomeþ doumbe; and puttiþ vpon þe finger to ȝoure mouþ. And whan I ſhal recorde, drede and trembling ſhal ſmyte togidere my fleſh. Whi þanne vnpitous men liuen, and ben rered vp, and coumfortid wiþ richeſſis? Þe ſed of hem abit ſtille beforn hem; and þe cumpanye of neeȝh men, and of coſynes in þe ſiȝte of hem. Þe houſis of hem ben ſikere, and peſible; and þe ȝerde of God is not vp on hem. Þe oxe of hem conceyuede, and bar not abortif; þe kow bar, and is not priued þe frut. Þe litle childer of hem gon out as flockis; and þe fauntis of hem gladen out wiþ pleies. Þey holden þe timbre, and þe harpe; and ioȝen at þe ſoun of þe orgne. Þei leden in goodis þer daȝis; and in a point to hellis þei go doun. Þe whiche ſeiden to God, Go awei fro vs; þe kunnyng of þi weies wee wiln not. Who is þe Almyȝti, þat wee ſerue to hym? and what profiteþ to vs, if wee preȝen hym? Nerþelater for þer goodis ben not in þe hond of hem, þe counſeil of vnpitous men be aferr fro me. Hou ofte ſiþes þe lanterne of vnpitouſe men ſhal be quenchid, and flowing ouercam to þem, and deuidede þe ſorewis of his wodneſſe? Þei ſhul ben as chaf befor þe face of wind; and as a ſparke, þat þe cole ſcatereþ. God ſhal kepe to þe ſones of hym þe ſorewe of þe fader; and whan he ſhal ȝelde, þanne he ſhal knowen. His eȝen ſhul ſeen his ſlaȝter; and of þe wodneſſe of þe Almyȝti he ſhal drinke. What forſoþe to hym perteneþ of his hous aftir hym, and if þe noumbre of his moneþis ſhal come to þe half? Wheþir any man ſhal teche God kunnyng, þat demeþ heȝe men? Þis dieþ ſtronge and hol, riche and welſun. His bowelis ben ful of talȝ; and þe bones of hym ben moiſtid wiþ marȝ. Anoþer forſoþe dieþ in þe bitterneſſe of his ſoule, wiþoute any richeſſis. And nerþelater togidere in pouder þei ſhul ſlepe, and wermes ſhul couere þem. Certis I haue knowe ȝoure þoȝtis, and ȝoure wicke ſentencis aȝen me. Ȝee ſeyn forſoþe, Wher is þe hous of þe prince? and where þe tabernaclis of vnpitous men? Aſkeþ any man of þe weie goeris; and þeſe ſame þingis ȝee ſhul knowe hym to vnderſtonde. For þe euele man ſhal be kept in to þe dai of perdicioun, and to þe 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 þe ſepulcris; and in þe hipil of deade men ſhal wake. He was ſweete to þe greet of helle flod; and after hym alle men he droȝ, and beforn hym vnnoumbrable. Hou þanne coumforte ȝee me in vein, whan ȝoure anſweris ben ſhewid to repugne to þe treuþe?

Capitulum XXII.

Anſwerende forſoþe Elifaþ Temanites ſeide, Wheþer to God mai a man ben compariſound, alſo whan he ſhal be of perfit kunnyng? What profitiþ to God, if þou ſhul be riȝtwis? or what to hym bringiſt þou, if þi lif were vndefoulid? Wheþer dredende he ſhal vndernyme þee, and come wiþ þee in to dom, and not for þi myche malice, and þi wickidneſſis vnendid? Forſoþe þou haſt take awei þe wed of þi breþern wiþ oute cauſe; and nakid men þou haſt ſpoilid fro cloþis. Water to þe weri þou ȝeue not; and to þe hungri þou wiþdrowe bred. In þe ſtrengþe of þin arm þou weldedeſt þe erþe; and moſt myȝti þou heelde it. Widewis þou laftiſt voide; and þe brawnes of moderles childer þou to-broſidiſt. Þerfore þou art enuyround wiþ granes; and feerli drede diſturbide þee. Þou wendeſt þee not to ſeen dercneſſis; and þurȝ bire of rennynge watris not to ben opreſſid. Wheþer þenkeſt þou, þat God be heȝere þan heuene, and ouer þe cop of ſterres he be heȝed? And þou ſeiſt, What forſoþe þe Lord knewȝ? and, As bi dercneſſe he demeþ? A cloude his hidelis, ne oure þingus he beholdeþ, and aboute þe vttermoſtis of heuene he goþ. Wheþer þe ſti of worldis þou coueitiſt to kepe, þe whiche wicke men treden? Þe whiche ben rerid befor þer time, and flod turnede vp ſo doun þe foundement of hem. Þe whiche ſeiden to God, Go awei fro vs; and as þe Almyȝti miȝte do no þing, þei eymeden hym, whan he hadde fulfild þer houſis wiþ goodis; whos ſentence ferr be fro me. Riȝtwis men ſhul ſeen, and be glad; and þe innocent ſhal ſcorne þem. Wheþer is nott hewe doun þe rering vp of hem, and fyr ſhall deuoure þer relikis? Aſſente þanne to hym, and haue pes; and bi þeſe þingus þou ſhalt han beſt frutis. Tac of his mouþ þe lawe, and put his woordis in þin herte. If þou ſhul be turned aȝeen to þe Almyȝti, þou ſhalt be bild vp; and aferr þou ſhalt make þe wickidneſſe fro þi tabernacle. He ſhal ȝiue for þe erþe flint, and for þe flint goldene ſtremes. And þe Almyȝti ſhal ben aȝen þin enemys; and ſeluer ſhal ben hepid to þee. Þanne vp on þe Almyȝti delicis þou ſhalt flowen; and þou ſhalt reren vp to God þi face. Þou ſhalt preȝen hym, and he ſhal here þee; and þi vouwis þou ſhalt ȝelde. Þou ſhalt beholden a þing, and it ſhal come to þee; and in þi weies liȝt ſhal ſhyne. He forſoþe þat ſhal be mekid, ſhal ben in glorie; and he þat bowiþ his eȝen, ſhal be ſaued. Þe innocent ſhal be ſaued; forſoþe he ſhal be ſaued bi þe clenneſſe of hyſe hondys.

Capitulum XXIII.

Anſwerende forſoþe Job ſeide, Now alſo in bitterneſſe is my woord, and þe hond of my veniaunce is agreggid vp on my weiling. Who to me ȝeue, þat I knowe, and finde hym, and come vnto þe ſeet of hym? I ſhal ſetten beforn hym dom, and my mouþ I ſhal fille wiþ blamyngis; þat I wite þe woordis, þat he anſwerþ to me, and vnderſtonde what he ſpeke to me. I wil not wiþ myche ſtrengþe he ſtriue wiþ me, ne wiþ þe peis of his mykilneſſe he bere me doun. He purpoſe eueneneſſe aȝen me, and myn dom come to victorie. If to þe eſt I ſhal go, he apereþ not; if to þe weſt, I ſhal not vnderſtonde hym; if to þe lift, what ſhal I do? I ſhal not otake hym; if I turne me to þe riȝt, I ſhal not ſeen hym. He forſoþe wot my weie, and ſhal proue me as gold, þat þurȝ þe fyr paſſeþ. My foot folewide his ſteppis; his weie I kepte, and I bowide not doun fro it. Fro þe heſtis of his lippis I wente not awei; and in my boſum I hidde þe woordis of his mouþ. He forſoþe is alone, and no man mai turne awey his þoȝtis; and his ſoule what þing euere it wolde, þat it dide. Whan it ſhal fulfille in me his wil, and oþere manye lic þingus ben redi to hym. And þerfore fro þe face of hym I am diſturbid, and beholdende hym wiþ drede I am biſy. God temprede myn herte, and þe Almyȝti diſturbide me. Forſoþe I perſhide not for þe aboue comende dercneſſis; and duſkneſſe couerede my face.

Capitulum XXIIII.

Fro þe Almyȝti ben not hid þe times; þei forſoþe þat knewen hym, vnknowen his daȝis. Oþere men tranſlateden termes, breeken atwynne þe flockis, and fedden hem. Þei dryuen awei þe aſſe of moderles childer, and token awei for a wed þe oxe of þe widewe. Þei turneden vp ſo doun þe weie of pore men, and opreſſeden togidere þe debonere men of erþe. Oþere men as aſſis in deſert gon out to þer werc; and wakende at þe prey, greiþe bred to fre childer. Þe feld not þers þei deſtroȝen, and his vine, whom bi violence þei opreſſeden, þei kutte þe grapis. Nakid þei leue men, takende awei cloþis, to whom is no koueryng in cold; whom wederes of hillis moiſten, and not hauende wrielys clippe ſtones. Fors þei diden robbende moderles childer; and þe comun of pore men þei ſpoileden. To þe nakide, and to þe goende wiþoute cloþing, and to þe hungri þei token awei eris. Among þe hipilis of hem þei reſteden in mydday, þe whiche þreſten, þe preſſoures tredid. Þey maden men of citees to weilen, and þe liues of woundid men ſhul crien; and God ſuffreþ not vnuengid to gon awey. Þei weren rebel to liȝt; þei knewen not his weies, ne þei be turned aȝeen bi his ſties. Erli firſt riſeþ þe manſleere, and he ſleþ þe nedy, and þe pore; bi þe nyȝt forſoþe he ſhal ben as a þef. Þe eȝe of þe auoutrer waiteþ derkneſſe, ſeiende, Þe eȝe ſhal not ſee me; and he ſhal coueren his chere. Þei breeken þurȝ houſis in dercneſſes, as in þe dai þei hadde ſeid togidere to þemſelf; and þei vnknewe liȝt. If feerli apere þe morutid, þei deme þe ſhadewe of deþ; and ſo in dercneſſis þei gon as in liȝt. Liȝt he is vp on þe face of þe water; curſid be his part in þe erþe, ne go he bi þe weie of vines. To ful myche hete he ſhal paſſen fro þe watris of ſnowis, and vnto helle þe ſynne of hym. His mercy be forȝeten; his ſwetneſſe a werm; be he not in recording, but be totrede as a tree vnfructuous. Forſoþe he fedde þe barein, þat bar not child, and to þe widewe he dide not wel. He droȝ doun þe ſtronge men in þer ſtrengþe; and whan he ſhulde ſtonde, he ſhall not trowe to his lif. God to hym a place of penaunce ȝaf, and he myſuſeþ it in to pride; forſoþe þe eȝen of hym ben in his weies. Þei ben rerid at a litil, and þei ſhul not ſtonde ſtille; and þei ſhul be mekid as alle þinges, and be do awey; and as þe oouermoſtis of corn eris þei ſhul ben to-brooſid. Þat if it is not ſo, who may me vndernyme to han lowen, and to putte beforn God my woordys?

Capitulum XXV.

Anſwerende forſoþe Baldac Suytes ſeide, Power and fere anent hym is, þat makeþ acord in þer heȝe put þingus. Wheþer is þer noumbre of þe knyȝtis of hym? and vp on whom ſhyneþ not þe liȝt of hym? Wheþer mai a man be iuſtified compariſoun to God, or ſeme clene born of a womman? Lo! alſo þe mone ſhineþ not, and þe ſterris ben not clene in þe ſiȝte of hym; myche more a man ſtink, and þe ſone of a man a werm.

Capitulum XXVI.

Anſwerende forſoþe Job ſeide, Whos helpere art þou? wheþer feble, and ſuſteneſt þe arm of hym, þat is not ſtrong? To whom haſt þou ȝiue counſeil? Perauenture to hym þat haþ no wiſdam; and myche prudence þou haſt ſhewid. Or whom woldeſt þou techen? wheþer not hym, þat made ſpace of breþing? Lo! ieauntis weilen vnder watris, and þat duellen wiþ hem. Nakid is helle beforn hym, and no coueryng is to perdicioun. He þat ſtreccheþ out þe norþ vp on vein, and hangeþ vp þe erþe vp on noȝt. Þat bindeþ watris in his cloudis, þat þei breke not out togidere dounward. Þat holdeþ þe chere of his ſete, and ſtreccheþ out vp on it his cloude. Þe terme he enuyrounde wiþ watris, vn to þe time þat ben fynyſht liȝt and dercneſſis. Þe pileris of heuene togidere quaken, and dreden at his bek. In þe ſtrengþe of hym feerli ſes ben gedered, and þe prudence of hym ſmot þe proude man. His ſpirit ournede heuenes, and his hond liȝtli ledende out, þe eche ſide krokende eddere is led out. Lo! a part ben ſeid of his weies; and whan vnneþe a litil drope of his woord wee han herd, who ſhal moun þe þunder of his gretneſſe beholde?

Capitulum XXVII.

Alſo Job addede, takende his parable, and ſeiþ, God liueþ, þat toc awei my dom, and þe Almyȝti, þat to bitterneſſe broȝte my lif. For whil þer leueþ breþ in me, and þe ſpirit of God in my noſe þerlis, my lippis ſhul not ſpeke wickidneſſe, ne my tunge ſhal beþenke leſing. Ferr be fro me, þat I deme ȝou to be riȝtwiſe; to þe time I faile, I ſhal not gon awei fro myn innocence. My iuſtifiyng, þat I haue begunne to holde, I ſhal not forſake; ne forſoþe myn herte repreuede me in al my lif. As vnpitous myn enemye; myn aduerſarie as wicke. What is forſoþe þe hope of an ipocrite, if auerouſly he take, and God deliuere not his ſoule? Wheþer God ſhal here þe cri of hym, whan ſhal come vp on hym anguyſh? or ſhal moun in þe Almyȝti delite, and inwardly clepe God in alle tyme? I ſhal teche ȝou bi þe hond of God, what þingus þe Almyȝti haþ; and I ſhal not hide. Lo! alle ȝee han knowe, and what wiþoute cauſe veyne þingis ȝee ſpeken? Þis is þe part of þe vnpitous man anent God, and þe eritage of þe violent men, þat of þe Almyȝti þei ſhul take. If his ſones be multeplied, þei ſhul be in ſwerd; and his ſones ſones ſhul not be fulfild wiþ bred. Þat ſhul be laft of hym, ſhul be biried in deþ; and his widewis ſhul not wepe. If he ſhul bere togidere as erþe ſiluer, and as clei make redi cloþis; he greiþede forſoþe, but þe riȝtwiſe ſhal be clad wiþ þem, and þe innocent ſhall deuyde þe ſiluer. He bilde vp his hous as a mowȝhe, and as a kepere he made an hilet. Þe riche man, whan he ſhal ſlepe, no þing wiþ hym ſhal bern; he ſhal opene his eȝen, and no þing he ſhal finde. Myſeſe ſhal cacchen hym as water; in þe 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.

Capitulum XXVIII.

Siluer haþ þe principlis of his veynes; and to gold is a place, in þe whiche it is blowe togidere. Iren fro þe erþe is taken, and a ſton loſid bi hete, in to bras is turned. Tyme he putte to dercneſſis, and þe ende of alle þingus he beholdeþ. Alſo þe ſtrem deuydeþ þe ſton of duſcneſſe, and þe ſhadewe of deþ, fro þe puple pilgrimagende; hem, whom þe foot of þe nedi man forȝat, in to men wiþoute weies. Þe erþe, of þe whiche bred cam of in his place, wiþ fyr is turned vpſodoun. Place of a ſafyr is ſtones, and þe gluggis of hym gold. Þe brid vnknewȝ þe ſty, ne þe eȝe of þe gripe beheeld it. Þe ſones of marchaundis treeden it not, ne þe leouneſſe þurȝ paſſide bi it. To þe flint he ſtraȝte out his hond; he turnede vpſodoun fro þe rootis þe hillis. In ſtones riueres he heewȝ out; and alle precious þing ſaȝ his eȝe. Þe depe þingus alſo of flodis he enſerchide; and hid þingus he broȝte in to liȝt. Wiſdam forſoþe, wher is it founde, and what is þe place of vndirſtonding? A man wot not þe pris of it, ne it is founde in þe lond of ſweteli lyuende men. Þe depneſſis of watris ſeiþ, It is not in me; and þe ſe ſpekeþ, It is not wiþ me. Shynende gold ſhal not be ȝiue for it, ne ſiluer ſhal be peiſid in þe chaffaring of it. It ſhal not be compariſound to þe ſteyned coloures of Ynde, ne to þe 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 þe compariſoun of it. Wiſdam forſoþe is drawen of hidde þingis; ne þer ſhal be maad euene to it topaſie of Eþiope, ne to þe moſt clene ſteynyng ſhal be compariſound. Whennes þanne wiſdam ſhal come, and what is þe place of vnderſtonding? It is hid fro þe eȝen of alle liuende men; alſo to þe foulis of heuene it is vnknowen. Perdicioun and deþ ſeiden, Wiþ oure eris wee han herd þe fame of it. God vnderſtant þe weie of it, and he knewȝ þe place of it. He forſoþe lookeþ þe endis of þe world; and alle þingus þat ben vnder heuene he beholdeþ. Þat made to windis peis, and watris heeng vp in meſure. Whan he putte to reynes lawe, and weie to ſounende tempeſtis; þanne he ſaȝ it, and tolde out, and made redi beforn, and enſerchide. And he ſeide to man, Lo! þe drede of God, it is wiſdam; and to gon awei fro euel, vnderſtonding.

Capitulum XXIX.

Alſo Job addede, takende to his parable, and ſeide, Who ȝeue to me, þat I be after þe raþere moneþis, after þe daȝes in þe whiche God kepte me? Whanne ſhynede his lanterne vp on myn hed, and at his liȝt I wente in dercneſſis. As I was in þe daȝes of my waxende ȝouþe, whan priueli God was in my tabernacle. Whan þe Almyȝti was wiþ me, and in myn enuyroun my childer; whan I weſh my feet wiþ buttere, and þe ſton helde to me ryueres of oile; whan I wente forþ to þe ȝate of þe cite, and in þe ſtrete þei 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 þer mouþ; dukis wiþdrowen þer vois, and þe tunge of hem to þer þrote cleuede. Þe herende ere blisful maade me, and þe ſeande eȝe witneſſe ȝeld to me; forþi þat I hadde delyuered þe pore man criende out, and þe moderles child, to þe whiche was noon helpere. Þe bleſſing of hym, þat was to perſhen, vp on me cam, and þe herte of þe widewe I coumfortide. riȝtwiſneſſe I am clad; and I cloþide me as a veſtyment, and wiþ a diademe wiþ my dom. An eȝe I was to blinde, and a foot to þe halte. Fader I was of pore men; and þe cauſe þat I knew not, moſt diligentli I enſerchide. I tobroſide þe chaulis of þe wicke man, and fro his teþ I toc awei þe 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. Þat herden me, abiden my ſentence; and takende heede þei heelde ſtille at my counſeil. To my woordis no þing to adden þei weren hardi; and vpon hem droppide my ſpeche. Þei biden as reyn my ſpeche; and mouþ þei openeden as to þe late comende weder. If any time I loowȝ to þem, þei leeueden not; and þe liȝt of my chere fel not in to þe erþe. If I wolde go to þem, I ſat firſt; and whan I ſat as a king, þe oſt aboute ſtondende, I was neuerþelatere of dreri men þe coumfortere.

Capitulum XXX.

Now forſoþe ſcorne me þe ȝungere in time, of whom I deynede not þe fadris to ſitte wiþ þe hondis of my floc. Of whom þe vertue of hondis to me was for noȝt, and þei weren trowid vnwrþi þat lif. And þurȝ nede and hunger barein; þat gnowen in wilderneſſe, waxende foul wiþ wrecchidneſſe and ſorewe. And þei eeten erbis, and þe rindis of trees; and þe roote of iunypere trees was þe mete of hem. Þe whiche of þe valeis þeſe þingus takende; whan alle þingus þei hadde founde, wiþ cri þei runne to þoo þingus. In deſertis of ſtremys þei dwelten, and in dennes of þe erþe, or vp on grauel. Þe whiche among ſuch þingus gladeden, and to ben vnder buſſhis counteden delicis. Þe ſonus of foolis and of vnnoble men, and in þe lond not fulli perende. Now forſoþe I am turned in to þe ſong of hem, and I am maad to hem a prouerbe. Þei wlaten me, and ferr floun fro me, and to ſpute my face þey ſhame not. Forſoþe his arwe girdil he openede, and tormentide me, and he putte a bridil in to my mouþ. At þe riȝt of þe eſt my wreccheneſſes anoon riſen; þei turneden vpſodoun my feet, and opreſſeden as wiþ flodis bi þer ſties. Þei ſcatereden my weies, and waiteden to me, and hadden þe ouere hond; and þer was not þat broȝte helpe. As þe wal broken and þe ȝate opened þei fellen in on me, and to my wrecchidneſſis þei ben myche boowid to. I am broȝt in to noȝt; as þe wind he haþ taken awei my deſyr, and as a cloude paſſide myn helþe. Now forſoþe in myſelf welewiþ my lif, and welde me þe daȝis of tormentinge. In þe nyȝt my mouþ is þirlid þurȝ wiþ ſorewis; and þat eten me, ſlepen not. In þe multitude of hem my cloþing is waſtid, and as wiþ a coler of a kote þei girten me. I am compariſound to clei, and am licned to a ſparke and to aſkis. I ſhal crie to þee, and þou ſhalt not heren; I ſtonde, and þou beholdeſt not me. Þou art chaungid to me in to cruel, and in þe hardneſſe of þin hond þou art aduerſarie to me. Þou haſt rered me, and as vp on wind ſettende þou haſt hurtlid me doun myȝtili. I wot, for þou ſhalt take me to deþ, wher is ſett an hous to alle liuende. Nerþelatere not to þe waſting of hem þou puttiſt out þin hond; and if þei falle, þou þi ſelf ſhalt ſaue. I wepte ſum time vp on hym þat was tormentid, and my ſoule hadde compaſſioun to þe pore. I abod goodis, and þer camen to me euelis; I abod liȝt, and þer breeken oute dercneſſis. Myn entrailis brenden out wiþ oute any reſte; befor wente me þe daȝes of torment. Dreri I wente wiþoute wodneſſe, riſende in þe puple I criede. Broþer I was of dragouns, and felawe of þe 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 þe vois of weperis.

Capitulum XXXI.

I couenauntide a pes couenaunt wiþ myn eȝen, þat forſoþe I ſhulde not þenke of a maiden. What forſoþe part God fro aboue ſhulde han in me, and þe Almyȝti eritage fro heȝe þingus. Wheþir not perdicioun is to þe wicke, and alienyng to men werkende wickeneſſe? Wheþer he beholdeþ not my weies, and alle my goingis noumbreþ? 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 þe weie; if myn eȝe folewide myn herte, and a ſpot cleuede to myn hondis; I ſhal ſowen, and an oþer ete, and my progenye be drawe vp bi þe roote. If myn herte is deſceyued vp on a womman, and if at þe dore of my frend I ſette ſpies; þe ſtrumpet of an oþer be my wif, and vpon hir oþere men be þei crookid. Þis forſoþe is vnleeful, and moſt wickidneſſe. Fyr is deuouring vnto waſting, and pullende vp bi þe roote alle buriounyngus. If I diſpiſide to gon vnder dom wiþ my ſeruaunt and hond maiden, whan þei ſhulden pleten aȝen me. What forſoþe ſhal I do, whan God ſhal riſe to deme? and whan he ſhal aſke, what ſhal I anſwern to hym? Wheþer not in þe wombe he made me, þe whiche and hym wroȝte, and oon formede me in þe wombe? If I denyede to pore men þat þei wolden, and made þe eȝen of a widewe to abide; if I eet my morſel alone, and þe moderles child eet not of it; for fro my ȝouþe doing of mercy wex wiþ me, and fro þe wombe of my moder wente out wiþ me; if I diſpiſide þe goere beſide, for þi þat he hadde not cloþing, and þe pore wiþoute coueryng; if his ſidis bleſſiden not to me, and of þe flees of my ſhep he is chaufid; if I rerede vp on þe moderles child myn hond, alſo whan I ſaȝ me in þe ȝate þe ouerheȝere; my ſhulder falle fro his ioynt, and myn arm wiþ his bones be to-broſid. Forſoþe euermor as flodis ſwellende vp on me, I dredde God; and his peis I myȝte not bern. If I wende gold my ſtrengþe, and to þe ſhynende gold I ſeide, My troſt; if I gladede vp on my manye richeſſis, and for myn hond fond manye þingis; if I ſaȝ þe ſunne, whan it ſhulde ſhyne, and þe mone goende clerli; and myn herte is gladid in hid þing, and kiſte myn hond fro my mouþ; þe whiche is þe moſte wickidneſſe, and denyyng aȝen þe heȝeſt God; if I ioȝide at his falling, þat hatide me, and ful out ioȝide, þat euel hadde founden hym; forſoþe I ȝaf not my þrote to ſynne, þat I ſhulde abide curſende his ſoule; if þe men of my tabernacle ſeiden not, Who ȝiueþ of his fleſhe, þat we be fulfild? wiþout forþ abod not þe pilgrim; my dore was open to þe weie goere; if I hidde as a man my ſynne, and hilede in my boſum my wickeneſſe; if I dradde at þe moſte multitude, and diſpiſing of neeȝh men ferede me; and not more I heeld my pes, and wente not out þe dore; who ȝeue to me an auditour, þat my deſyr heere þe Almyȝti? þat he þat demeþ write þe boc, þat 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 erþe crie, and wiþ it his forewis bewepen; if his frutis I eet wiþ oute monee, and þe ſoule of his erþe tilieris I tormentide; for whete be ſprunge to me a brimbil, and for barli a þorne.

Capitulum XXXII.

Theſe þre men laften forſoþe to anſwern to Job, forþi þat riȝtwis he is ſeen to þem. And Elyu, þe ſone of Barachiel Buſites, of þe kynrede of Ram, ys wroþ, and endeyned; he is wroþ aȝen Job, forþi þat he ſhulde ſein hymſelf to be riȝtwis befor God. But aȝen þe þre frendis of hym he dedeynede, forþi þat þei hadden not founde a reſounable anſwere, but onely þei ſhulden han condempned Job. Þanne Eliu abod Job ſpekende, forþi þat eldere þei weren, þat ſpeken. Whan forſoþe he hadde ſeen, þat þe þre myȝten not anſwern, he wraþede hugeli. And anſwerende Elyu, þe ſone of Barachiel Buſites, ſeide, I am ȝungere in time, ȝee forſoþe eldere; þerfore þe hed leid doun I am ſhamed to ſhewe to ȝou my ſentence. I hopede forſoþe þat þe lengere age ſhulde ſpeke, and þe multitude of ȝeeris ſhulde techen wiſdam. But as I ſee, ſpirit is in men, and þe inbreþing of þe Almyȝti ȝiueþ vnderſtonding. Wiſe men ben not longe liuende, ne olde men vnderſtonde dom. Þerfore I ſhal ſeyn, Hereþ me, and alſo I ſhal ſhewe to ȝou my kunnyng. Forſoþe I haue abide ȝoure woordis, herde ȝoure prudence, whil ȝee ſtriuen in ȝoure woordis. And whil I wende ȝou any þing to ſeyn, I beheeld; but as I ſee, þer is not, þat mai vnderneme Job, and anſwern of ȝou to his woordis; leſt perauenture ȝee ſeyn, Wee han founde wiſdam; God haþ þrowen hym afeerr, and not man. No þing he haþ ſpoke to me, and I after ȝoure woordis ſhal not anſwere to hym. Þei myche dradden, and anſwerden no more, and token awey ſpeche fro þemſelf. Þanne for I haue abide, and þei ſpeken not, ſtoden, and anſwerden no more; ſhal and I anſwere my partie, and ſhewen my kunnyng. Forſoþe I am ful of woordis, and þe ſpirit of my wombe artiþ me. Lo! my wombe as muſt wiþoute venting, þat brekeþ newe litle win veſſelys. I ſhal ſpeke, and breþen 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 forſoþe hou longe I ſhal ſtonde ſtille, and if after a litil take me my Makere.

Capitulum XXXIII.

Here þanne, Job, my ſpechis, and alle my woordis hercne. Lo! I haue opened my mouþ; my tunge in my chekis ſhal ſpeke. Wiþ ſymple herte my woordis, and pure ſentence my lippis ſhul ſpeke. Þe ſpirit of God made me, and þe breþing ſpace of þe Almyȝti quykenede me. If þou maiſt, anſwere to me, and ſtond ſtille aȝen my face. Lo! me as and þee made God; and of þe ſame cley I alſo am formed. Nerþelatere my miracle fere þee not, and my faire ſpeche be not to þee heuy. Þou ſeideſt þanne in myn eris, and þe vois of þi woordis I herde; Clene I am, and wiþoute gilte, vnwemmed, and þer is not wickidneſſe in me. For pleintis in me he fond, þerfore he demede me enemy to hym. He putte in þe ſtockis my feet, and kepte alle my ſties. Þis is þanne, in þe whiche þou art not iuſtified; I ſhal anſwer to þee, for God is more þan man. Aȝen God þou ſtriueſt, þat to alle woordis he ſhal not anſwer to þee. Ones God ſhal ſpeke, and þe ſecounde þat ſame he ſhal not eft ſeyn. Bi ſweuene in nyȝt ſiȝte, whan falle ſlep vp on men, and þei ſlepen in þe litle bed. Þanne he openeþ þe eris of men, and enformende þem techiþ diſcipline; þat he turne awei a man fro þo þingus þat he dide, and deliuere hym fro pride; and takende awei his ſoule fro corupcioun, and his lif, þat he go not in to ſwerd. He blameþ alſo bi ſorewe in þe litle bed, and alle his bones makeþ to become drie. Abhomynable to hym bred is maad in his lif, and to þe ſoule of hym mete beforn deſirable. His fleſh ſhal become roten, and þe bones, þat weren couered, ſhul be maad nakid. Þe ſoule of hym ſhal neȝhe to corupcioun, and his lif to þingus berende deþ. If þer were for hym an aungil ſpekende oon of þe lic þingis, þat he telle þe equite of man, he ſhal han reuþe, and ſein, Delyuere hym, þat 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 þe daȝes of his waxende ȝouþe. 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 worþi, I haue not reſceyued. Forſoþe he haþ deliuered his ſoule, þat he go not in to deþ, but lyuende liȝt he ſhal ſeen. Lo! alle þeſe þingus wercheþ God þre ſiþes bi alle men; þat he aȝeen clepe þe ſoulis of hem fro corupcioun, and liȝtne in þe liȝt of liuende men. Tac heede, Job, and here me, and be ſtille, whil I ſpeke. If forſoþe þou haſt what þou ſpeke, anſwere to me, ſpec; I wile forſoþe þee to apere riȝtwis. Þat if þou haue not, here me; be ſtill, and I ſhal teche þee wiſdam.

Capitulum XXXIIII.

Tellende forþ forſoþe Elyu, þes þingis alſo ſpac, Hereþ, wiſe men, my woordis, and taȝt, herkneþ me; þe ere forſoþe woordis proueþ, and þe þrote metis bi taſt demeþ. Dom cheſe we to vs; and among vs ſee wee what is betere. For þou ſeidiſt, Job, Riȝtwis I am, and God turnede vp ſo doun my dom. In demyng forſoþe me is leſing, and violent is myn arewe wiþoute any ſynne. Who is a man, as is Job, þat drinkeþ ſcornyng as water? þat goþ wiþ men wirkende wickidneſſe, and wendeþ wiþ vnpytous men? Forſoþe he ſeide, A man ſhal not pleſe to God, alſo if he ſhul renne wiþ hym. Þerfore, herty men, hereþ me; ferr be fro God vnpitouſneſſe, and fro þe Almyȝti wickeneſſe. Forſoþe þe werk of man he ſhal ȝelde to hym; and after þe weies of echone he ſhal quite to þem. Vereli forſoþe God ſhal not condempne in veyn; ne þe Almyȝti ſhal turne vpſodoun dom. Whom oþer ſette he vp on erþe? or whom putte he vp on þe world, þat he forgide? If he ſhul dreſſe to it his herte, þe 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 þou haſt þanne vndirſtondinge, here þat is ſeid, and herkne þe vois of my ſpeche. Wheþer he þat looueþ not dom mai ben helid? and hou þou hym, þat is riȝtwis, in ſo myche condempneſt? Þat ſeiþ to þe king, Apoſtata; þat clepeþ dukys vnpitous. Þat takeþ not þe perſones of princis, ne knewȝ þe tiraunt, whan he ſhulde ſtriuen aȝen þe pore; forſoþe þe werk of his hondis ben alle men. Feerli þei ſhul die, and in mydnyȝt puplis ſhul be boowid; and paſſen, and taken awei þe violent wiþoute hond. Forſoþe þe eȝen of hym vp on þe weies of men, and alle þe goingus of hem he beholdeþ. Þer ben not dercneſſis, and þer is not ſhadewe of deþ, þat þer ben hid þere þat werken wickidneſſis; ne forſoþe more ouer in mannys power is, þat he come to God in to dom. He ſhal to-trede manye and vnnoumbrable; and make to ſtonden oþere men for hem. Forſoþe he knew þe werkis of hem; and þerfore he ſhal bringe in nyȝt, and þei ſhul be to-trede. As vnpitous, he ſmot hem in þe place of men ſeende. Þe whiche as bi ſtudie wente awei fro hym, and alle his weies þei wolde not vnderſtonde. Þat þei make to come to hym þe cri of þe nedi, and he here þe vois of pore men. Hym forſoþe grauntende pes, who is þat condempneþ? Siþen he haþ hid his chere, who is þat beholdeþ hym? And vpon Jentilis and vpon alle men, þe whiche makeþ to regne an ipocrite man, for þe ſynnes of þe puple. Þanne for I ſpac to God, þee alſo I ſhal not forfende. If I haue errid, þou teche me; if wickidneſſe I ſpac, I ſhal adde no mor. Wheþer God of þee aſkeþ it out, for he diſpleſide to þee? Þou forſoþe begunne to ſpeke, and not I; þat if any þing þou knewe betere, ſpec. Vnderſtondende men, ſpeke þei to me; and a wis man, here he me. Job forſoþe folily ſpac, and þe woordis of hym ſoune not diſciplyne. Fader myn, be preued Job vnto þe ende; ne leue þou fro a man of wickidneſſe, þat addeþ vp on his ſynnes blasfemye. Amongis vs euere among be he ſtreyned; and þanne at þe dom terre he God wiþ his woordis.

Capitulum XXXV.

Thanne Eliu þeſe þingus eft ſpac, Wheþir euene to þee ſeme þi þoȝt, þat þou ſhuldeſt ſeyn, I am mor riȝtwis þan God? Þou ſeideſt forſoþe, It pleſeþ not to þee, þat is good; or what to þee ſhal profite, if I ſhul ſynnen? Alſo I ſhal anſwern to þi woordis, and to þi frendis wiþ þee. Behold heuene, and loke, and myndefulli ſee þe cloudis, þat is heȝere þan þou. If þou ſhalt ſynnen, what ſhalt þou noȝe to hym? and if þi wickidneſſes be multiplied, what ſhalt þou don aȝen hym? But if þou ſhalt do riȝtwiſli, what ſhalt þou ȝiue to hym; or what of þin hond he ſhal take? To man þat is lic þee, þin vnpitouſneſſe ſhal noȝe; and þe ſone of man þi riȝtwiſneſſe ſhal helpe. For þe multitude of chalengeres þei ſhul crie, and ȝelle out for þe fors of þe arm of tirauntis. And he ſeide not, Where is God, þat made me, and þat ȝaf ditees in þe nyȝt? Þat techeþ vs ouer þe beſtis of þe erþe, ouer þe foulis of heuene ſhal lernen vs. Þere þei ſhul crie, and he ſhal not heren, for þe pride of euele men. Forſoþe not in veyn God ſhal heren, and þe Almyȝti beholde ſhal þe cauſis of alle men. Alſo whan þou ſhal ſein, He beholdiþ not; be þou demed beforn hym, and abid hym. Now forſoþe he bringeþ not in his wodneſſe, ne þe hydous gilte is vengid gretli. Þanne Job in vein openede his mouþ, and wiþoute kunnynge woordis multiplieþ.

Capitulum XXXVI.

Alſo Eliu addende þeſe þingus ſpac, Suſtene me a litil while, and I ſhal ſhewen to þee; ȝit forſoþe I haue þat for God I ſpeke. I ſhal aȝeen aſke my kunnyng fro þe bygynnyng; and my werkere I ſhal proue riȝtwis. Verili forſoþe and wiþoute leſing my woordus, and perfit kunnyng ſhal be preued to þee. God myȝti men þrowiþ not awei, ſiþen he is myȝti; but he ſaueþ not vnpitous men, and dom to pore men he ȝyueþ. He ſhal not take awei fro þe riȝtwis his eȝen; and kingis in ſete he ſetteþ in to euermor, and þider þei ben rerid vp. And if þei ſhul ben in cheynes, and ben bounde wiþ cordis of poreneſſe, he ſhal ſhewe to þem þer werkis, and þer hidous giltis; for cruel þey weren. Alſo he ſhal opene þe ere of hem, þat he chaſtiſe; and he ſhal ſpeke, þat þei be turned aȝeen fro wickidneſſe. If þei ſhuln here, and kepe wel, þei ſhul fille þer daȝes in goode, and þer ȝeris in glorie. If forſoþe þei ſhul not heren, þey ſhul paſſe bi ſwerd, and be waſtid in folie. Feyneres and felle men terren þe wraþe of God; and þei ſhul not crie, whan þei ſhul be bounden. Þe ſoule of hem ſhal die in tempeſt; and þe lif of hem among wommanyſh men. He ſhal deliuere þe pore man fro his anguyſh; and he ſhal opene his ere in tribulacioun. Þerfore he ſhal ſaue þee fro þe ſtreite mouþ moſt widly, not hauende a ground vnder itſelf; þe reſte forſoþe of þi bord ſhal be full of fatneſſe. Þi cauſe as of an vnpitous man is demed; forſoþe þi cauſe and dom þou ſhalt finde. Þanne ouercome þee not wraþe, þat any man þou opreſſe; ne þe multitude of ȝiftis bowe þee. Do doun þi mykilneſſe wiþoute tribulacioun, and alle þe ſtronge men in ſtrengþe. Ne drawe þou along þe nyȝt, þat puplis ſteȝen vp for hem. Be war, ne bowe þou to wickidneſſe; þat forſoþe þou haſt begunne to folewe aftyr wrecchidneſſe. Lo! heȝe God in his ſtrengþe, and noon to hym lic in lawe ȝiueres. Who ſhall moun ſerchen his weies? or who is hardy to ſei to hym, Þou wroȝtiſt wickidneſſe? Ha mynde, þat þou vnknowiſt þe werk of hym, of whiche men writen. Alle men ſeen hym; eche ſhal beholde aferr. Lo! God gret, ouercomende oure kunnyng; þe noumbre of þe ȝeris of hym vneymable. Þat doþ awei þe dropis of rein; and heeldeþ out wederes at þe licneſſe of ſwolewis, þat of þe cloudis flowen, þat before weuen alle þingus þeraboue. If he wile ſtrecche out cloudis as his tent, and leitne wiþ his liȝt fro aboue, alſo þe vtmoſt of þe ſe he ſhal couere. Bi þeſe þingis forſoþe he demeþ puplis, and ȝiueþ mete to manye deadli þingus. In þe hond he hideþ liȝt; and comaundeþ to it, þat eft it come to. He telliþ of it to his frend, þat his poſſeſſioun it be; and to it he mai ſteȝen vp.

Capitulum XXXVII.

Vpon þat mych dradde myn herte, and is moued out fro his place. He ſhal heren heringe in gaſtneſſe of his vois, and þe ſoun goende out of þe mouþ of hym. Ouer alle heuenys he beholdeþ; and þe liȝt of hym vp on þe termes of þe erþe. After hym ſhal rore ſounyng, he ſhal þunder wiþ þe vois of his mykilneſſe; and he ſhal not ben enſerchid, whan ſhal ben herd þe vois of hym. God ſhal þundre in his vois merueilouſly, þat doþ grete þingus and vnſerchable. Þat comaundeþ to þe ſnowȝ, þat it come doun vp on erþe, and to reynes of winter, and to wederes of his ſtrengþe. Þat markeþ in þe hond of alle men, þat alle men arowe ſhulden knowen his werkis. Þe beſte ſhal go in to his lurking place, and in his dich he ſhal abide. Fro þe innermor ſhal gon out tempeſt, and fro þe norþ ſterre cold. God blowende, waxeþ togidere froſt; and eft mooſt wide ben ſhed out watris. Whete deſiriþ cloudis; and cloudis ſprengen þer liȝt. Þat gon alle þingus bi enuyroun, whider euere þou goſt, þe wil of þe gouernere ſhal lede, to alle þingus þat he ſhal comaunde to þem vp on þe face of þe roundneſſe of erþis; or in o lynage, or in his erþe, or in what euere place of his mercy hem he ſhal comaunde to be founde. Hercne þeſe þingus, Job; and ſtond, and behold þe merueilis of God. Wheþer þou woſt, whan God comaundide to reynes, þat þei ſhulden ſhewe þe liȝt of þe cloudis of hym? Wheþer þou haſt knowen þe ſties of þe cloudis, grete and parfit kunnyngis? Wheþer þi cloþis ben not hote, whan þe erþe ſhal be blowe þurȝ wiþ þe ſouþ? Þou perauenture wiþ hym forgediſt heuenes, þat moſt ſad, as wiþ bras, ben foundid. Shewȝ to vs, what wee ſeyn to hym; wee forſoþe ben wrappid in dercneſſis. Who ſhal telle to hym, þat I ſpeke? alſo if a man ſhal ſpeke, he ſhal be deuourid. And now þei ſee not liȝt; feerli þe eir ſhal be wroȝt togidere in to cloudis, and ouergoende wind ſhal driue þem. Fro þe norþ ſhal come gold, and fro God dredful preiſing. Wrþili hym finde wee moun not; gret in ſtrengþe, and dom, and riȝtwiſneſſe, þat he mai not be told out. Þerfore men ſhul dreden hym; and alle þat to þemſelf ben ſen to be wiſe, ſhuln not ben hardy to beholden.

Capitulum XXXVIII.

Anſwerende forſoþe þe Lord to Job fro þe whirlewind ſeide, Who is þis, wrappende in ſentencis wiþ woordis vnwiſe? Gird as a man þi leendis; I ſhal aſke þee, and þou anſwere to me. Wher were þou, whan I ſette þe foundemens of þe erþe? ſheu to me, if þou haſt vnderſtonding. Who putte þe meſuris of it, if þou haſt knowen? or who ſtraȝte vp on it a line? Vp on what þe feet of it ben ſad? who dide doun þe corner ſton of it, whan me ſhulden preiſe togidere þe morutid ſterris, and alle þe ſones of God ſhulden ioȝen? Who cloſede þe ſe wiþ doris, whan it brac out as goende forþ of þe wombe? Whan I ſhuld ſetten þe cloude his cloþing, and wiþ dercneſſe it, as wiþ cloþis of vnſpekende childhed, I wrappide aboute. I enuyrounde it wiþ my termes, and ſette þe heenglis, and doris; and ſeide, Vnto hider þou ſhalt come, and no ferþere gon; and heer þou ſhalt breke togidere þi ſwellende flodis. Wheþer aftir þi riſing þou comaundediſt to þe morutid, and haſt ſhewid to þe dai ſpring his place? Wheþir þou haſt holde ſmytende togidere þe vtmoſtis of þe erþe, and haſt ſmyten out þe vnpitous men of it? Þe litle marke ſhal be reſtorid as cley, and ſhal ſtonde as cloþing. His liȝt ſhal be take awei fro þe vnpitous, and þe heȝe arm ſhal be broke togidere. Wheþer þou wentiſt in þe depþe of þe ſe, and in þe laſte þingus of þe derke depþe of þe ſe þou haſt ful go? Wheþer to þee ben opened þe ȝatis of deþ, and þe derke doris þou haſt ſeen? Wheþer þou haſt beholde þe breede of þe erþe? Sheu to me, if þou haſt knowen alle þingis, in what weie liȝt dwelliþ, and of dercneſſis what is þe place; þat þou lede eche man to hys termes, and vnderſtonde þe ſties of his hous. Þou wiſtiſt þanne, þat þou were to be born, and þe noumbre of þi daȝes þou haddeſt knowe? Wheþer wentiſt þou in to þe treſoris of ſnowȝ, or þe treſoris of hail þou haſt beholde? þat I haue maad redi in to þe time of þe enemy, in to þe dai of fiȝt, and of bataile. Bi what weie is ſprengd liȝt, deuyded is hete vp on erþe? Who ȝaf to þe moſt hidous weder cours, and weie of þe ſounende þunder? Þat it ſhulde reyne vp on erþe wiþoute man, in deſert wher noon of dedly men dwelleþ? Þat he ſhulde fulfille þe ſpace wiþoute wei and deſolat, and bringe forþ grene erbis? Who is þe fader of reyn, or who gat dropis of deu? Fro whos wombe wente out iys, and froſt fro heuene who gat? In þe licneſſe of a ſton watris ben hardid, and þe vtmoſt of þe ſe is ſtreyned togidere. Wheþer þou art ſtrong to ioyne þe ſhynende ſeuen ſterres, or þou ſhalt moun ſcatere þe cumpas of þe norþ ſterre? Wheþer þou bringiſt forþ þe dai ſterre in his time, and þe euetid ſterre vp on þe ſones of þe erþe þou makiſt to riſe? Wheþer þou haſt knowe þe ordre of heuene, and ſhalt putte his reſoun in þe erþe? Wheþer þou ſhalt rere þi vois in to a lytil cloude, and þe bure of watris ſhal couere þee? Wheþer þou ſhalt ſende leitis, and þei ſhul go, and turnende aȝeen þei ſhul ſey to þee, Wee be neeȝh? Who putte in þe entrailis of a man wiſdam, and who ȝaf to þe cok vnderſtonding? Who ſhal tellen out þe reſoun of heuenus, and þe ſinging of heuene who ſhal make to ſlepe? Whanne was pouder held in þe erþe, and clottis weren clunge togidere? Wheþer þou ſhalt take þe prei of þe leouneſſe, and þe ſoule of hir whelpis þou ſhalt fulfille, whan þei lyn in dichis, and in dennus þei aſpien? Who makeþ redi to þe crowe his mete, whan his briddis crie to God, hider and þider waggende, forþi þat þei han no metis?

Capitulum XXXIX.

Wheþer þou haſt knowen þe time of þe berþe of wilde capretis in ſtonys, or þou haſt waitid hindis berende calf? Þou haſt noumbrid þe moneþis of conceyuyng of hem, and þou haſt knowe þe time of þe birþe of hem? Þei ben bowid to þe frut of kinde, and beren; and roringus þei ſenden out. Þe ſones of hem ben ſeuered, and go to þe feding; þei gon out, and ben not turned aȝeen to þem. Who lafte þe aſſe fre, and his bondis who looſide? To whom I ȝaf in wilderneſſe an hous, and his tabernaclis in þe lond of bareynte. He deſpiſeþ þe multitude of þe cite; þe cry of þe pletere he hereþ not. He beholdeþ aboute þe hillis of hys leſwe, and alle grene growende þingis he ſecheþ. Wheþer þe vnycorn ſhal wiln ſerue to þee, or ſhal dwelle at þi cracche? Wheþer ſhalt þou tie to eren þe vnycorn wiþ þi bridil, or he ſhal breke clottis of valeis after þee? Wheþer troſt þou ſhalt han in þe grete ſtrengþe of hym, and leuen to hym þi trauailis? Wheþer takiſt þou to hym, þat ſeed he ȝeelde to þee, and þi corn flor he gedere? Þe feþer of a ſtrucioun is lic to þe feþeris of a ierfakoun, and of a goſhauk; þat leueþ hir eiren in þe erþe, þou perauenture in pouder ſhalt make þem hot. She forȝet, þat þe foot to-trede þem, or beſte of þe feeld to-broſe. She is maad hard to hir ſones, as þoȝ þei be not hiris; in veyn ſhe trauailide, no drede conſtreynende. God forſoþe priuede hir wiſdam, and ȝaf not to hir vnderſtonding. Whan time were, in heiȝte ſhe rerede out hir weengis; ſcorneþ þe hors, and þe ſteȝere vp of it. Wheþer ſhalt þou ȝiue to þe hors ſtrengþe, or don aboute his necke neyenge? Wheþer ſhalt þou reren hym as locuſtis? Þe glorie of his neſe þerlis ferd. Þe erþe þe houe delueþ, hardili he gladeþ out; in to þe aȝencomyng he goþ to þe armed. He diſpiſiþ dreede, and he ȝiueþ not ſtede to þe ſwerd. Vp on hym þe arewe girdil ſhal ſounen; þe ſpere and þe ſheeld ſhal braundiſhen. Feruent and gnaſtende he ſoupeþ þe erþe; and rewarde he not to þe trumpe ſounende trumping. Where he ſhal here þe trumpe, he ſhal ſeyn, Fy! aferr he ſmelliþ bataile; þe cleping to of dukis, and ȝelling of þe oſt. Wheþer bi þi wiſdam waxeþ feþerid þe goſhauk, ſtrecchende out his weengus to þe ſouþ? Wheþer at þi comaundement ſhal be rerid þe egle, and in heȝe þingus ſhal putten his neſt? In ſtones he dwelliþ, and in heȝe ſett ſcarri flintis he bideþ, and in rochis hard to come to. Þennes he behalt mete, and fro a ferr his eȝen beholden. His briddes licken blod, and wher euere ſhal be þe careyn, anoon he is neeȝh.

Capitulum XL.

And þe Lord addede, and ſpac to Job, Wheþer he þat ſtriueþ wiþ God, ſo liȝtli ſhal reſte? Forſoþe he, þat vndernemeþ God, owiþ to anſwere to hym. Anſwerende forſoþe Job to þe Lord ſeide, I þat liȝtli ſpac, what may I anſwern? Myn hond I ſhal putte vp on my mouþ. O þing I ſpac, þat wolde God I hadde not ſeid; and an oþer, to þe whiche þingus I ſhal adden no more. Anſwerende forſoþe þe Lord to Job fro þe whirlewind, ſeide, Gird as a man þi leendis, and I ſhal aſke þee, and ſheu þou to me. Wheþer vein þou ſhalt make my dom, and condempne me, þat þou be iuſtified? And if þou haſt an arm as God, and wiþ lic vois þundriſt, do aboute to þee fairneſſe, and in to an heiȝ be þou rerid, and be glorious, and be þou clad wiþ faire cloþis. Scatere proude men in þi wodneſſe, and beholdende eche enhaunſende hymſelf meke þou. Behold alle proude men, and confounde hem; and to-broſe vnpitouſe men in þer place. Hijd hem in pouder togidere, and þe facis of hem drenche in þe diche. And I ſhal knouleche, þat þi riȝþond mai ſaue þee. Lo! bemoþ, þat I made wiþ þee, hey as an oxe he ſhal ete. His ſtrengþe in his leendis, and his vertue in þe nauele of his wombe. He ſtreyneþ his tail as a ceder; and þe ſenewis of his ballokis ben wrappid togidere. His bones as pipis of bras; his griſtil as irene platis. He is þe begynyng of þe weies of God; þat made hym, ſhal lei to his ſwerd. To þis hillis bern erbis; alle þe beſtis of þe feld pleien þere. Vnder ſhadewe he ſlepiþ, in þe priue place of reed, in moiſte placis. Shadewis coueren his vmbre; wiþiene trees of þe ſtrem enuyrounen hym. He ſhal ſoupen vp þe flod, and he ſhal not wndre; he haþ troſt, þat Jordan flowe in to þe mouþ of hym. In þe eȝen of hym, as wiþ an hoc, he ſhal taken hym; and in ſtakys he ſhal þirle þurȝ his noſe þerlis.

Capitulum XLI.

Wheþer maiſt þou drawen out leuyeþan wiþ an hoc, and wiþ a corde þou ſhalt binde his tunge? Wheþir þou ſhalt putte a ſercle in his noſe þerlis, or wiþ a ring þou ſhalt þerle þurȝ his cheke bon? Wheþer he ſhal multiplie to þee preȝeeris, or ſpeke to þee ſofte þingus? Wheþer he ſhal ſmyte wiþ þee couenaunt, and þou ſhalt take hym euermor ſeruaunt? Wheþer þou ſhalt begile to hym as to a brid, or binden hym wiþ litle hokis? Frendis ſhul hewen hym, marchaundis ſhul deuyden hym? Wheþer þou ſhalt fille nettis wiþ his ſkyn, and þe lep of fiſſhis wiþ þe hed of hym? Put vp on hym þin hond; haue mynde of bataile, and adde þou to ſpeke no more. Lo! þe hope of hym ſhal maken hym veyn; and alle men ſeende he ſhal ben kaſt doun. Not as cruel I ſhal reren hym; who forſoþe mai wiþſtonde to my chere? And who befor ȝaf to me, þat I ȝeelde to hym? Alle þingus, þat ben vnder heuene, ben myne. I ſhal not ſpare to hym bi myȝti woordis, and to preȝe ſett togidere. Who ſhal ſhewe þe face of his cloþing, and in to þe myddel of his mouþ who ſhal gon in? Þe ȝatis of his chere who ſhal opene? bi cumpas of his teþ drede. His body as ȝoten ſheeldis, and þreſt togidere wiþ ſcalis þreſtende doun hemſelf. Oon to oon is ioyned; and leſt breþing place forſoþe go in bi þem. Oon ſhal cleue to þe toþer, and holdende hemſelue ſhul not ben ſeuered. His neſing ſhynyng of fyr, and his eȝen as eȝelidis of þe morutid. Of his mouþ laumpis gon forþ, as tend brondus of fyr. Of his noſe þerlis goþ forþ ſmoke, as of a tend pot and boilende. His breþ makeþ colis to brenne, and flaume goþ out of hys mouþ. In his necke ſhal dwelle ſtrengþe, and nede ſhal go beforn his face. Þe membris of his fleſh cleuende to þemſelf; he ſhal ſenden aȝen hym flodis, and to an oþer place þei ſhul not be born. His herte ſhal ben inwardli harded as a ſton; and ſhal be ſtreyned as þe ſtiþie of an hamer betere. Whan he ſhal be taken awei, aungelis ſhul drede; and ferd þei ſhul be purgid. Whan he ſhal cacchen hym, ſwerd ſhal not moun ſtonde, ne ſpere, ne breſt plate. Forſoþe he ſhal telle bi iren as chaf, and bras as rotun tree. Þe man archer ſhal not driuen hym; in to ſtobil ben turned to hym þe ſtones of þe ſlinge. As ſtobil he ſhal eyme þe hamer; and ſcorne þe man ſhakende a ſpere. Vnder hym ſhul be þe bemes of þe ſunne; and he ſhal leyn vp gold to hym as clei. He ſhal make þe depþe of þe ſe to boilen as a pot; and ſette, as whan oynemens boilen. Aftir hym þe ſty ſhal ȝiue liȝt; and he ſhal eymen þe ſe as an oldli man. Þer is not vp on erþe power, þat be compariſound to hym; þat is maad, þat no man he ſhulde drede. Alle heiȝ þing he ſeeþ; and he ys king vpon alle þe ſones of pride.

Capitulum XLII.

Anſwerende forſoþe Job to þe Lord, ſeide, I wot, for alle þingus þou maiſt, and no þoȝt is vnknowe to þee. Who is þis, þat hiliþ counſeil wiþoute kunnyng? Þerfore vnwiſly I ſpak, and þo þingus þat ouer maner ſhulden paſſe my kunnyng. Heere þou, and I ſhal ſpeke; I ſhal aſke þee, and anſwere þou to me. Bi hering of ere I herde þee, now forſoþe myn eȝe ſeeþ þee. Þerfore I myſelf repreue me, and do penaunce in dead cole and aſkis. Aftir forſoþe þat þe Lord ſpac þeſe woordis to Job, he ſeide to Elifaþ Themanyþen, My wodneſſe is wroþ in to þee, and in to þi two frendis; for ȝee han not ſpoke befor me riȝt, as my ſeruaunt Job. Takeþ þerfore to ȝou ſeuen bolis, and ſeuen weþeris; and goþ to my ſeruaunt Job, and offreþ for ȝou brent ſacrifiſe. Job forſoþe, my ſeruaunt, ſhal preȝen for ȝou; his face I ſhal take, þat folie be nott witid to ȝou; ne forſoþe ȝee han ſpoken befor me riȝt, as my ſeruaunt Job. Þanne Elyfaþ Themanyþes, and Baldach Suyþes, and Sofar Naamatites, wenten, and diden, as þe Lord hadde ſpoke to þem; and þe Lord toc þe face of Job. Þe Lord alſo is turned to þe penaunce of Job, whan he ſhulde preȝe for his frendis. And þe Lord ȝaf to alle þingus, þat euere weren of Job, double. And þer camen to hym alle his breþern, and alle his ſiſtris, and alle þat hadden knowen hym beforn; and þei eete wiþ hym bred in his hous, and moueden vpon hym þe hed; and coumforteden hym vp on al þe euel, þat þe Lord hadde broȝt in vp on hym; and þei ȝeue to hym eche a ſhep, and a golden ere ring. Þe Lord forſoþe bliſſide to þe laſte þingus of Job, more þan to his begynnyng; and þer ben maad to hym fourtene þouſend of ſhep, and ſixe þouſend of camailis, and a þouſend ȝokis of oxen, and a þouſend ſhe aſſis. And þer weren to hym ſeue ſones, and þre doȝtris; and he clepide þe name of þe ton Diem, and þe name of þe ſeconde Caſſiam, and þe name of þe þridde Cornu tibij. Þer ben not forſoþe founde ſo faire wymmen, as þe doȝtris of Job, in al þe lond; and þer fader ȝaf to hem eritage among þer breþern. Forſoþe Job lyuede aftir þeſe ſcourgis an hundrid and fourti ȝeer, and ſaȝ his ſones, and þe ſones of his ſones, in to þe ferþe ieneracioun; and he diede old, and ful of daȝis.

Here endiþ þe book of Job, and here begynneþ þe prolog of þe Sawter.