Job · Chapter 23

[ edit] 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.