Job 31 WYC
Summary: Job delivers his climactic oath of innocence, systematically denying a long list of specific sins under a series of self-imprecations calling for punishment if any charge is true: lust after a virgin, deceit, adultery, mistreatment of servants, neglect of the poor, widow, or orphan, trust in wealth or idolatrous worship of sun and moon, secret gloating over an enemy's ruin, or hospitality withheld from strangers and travelers. He also denies hiding his sin like other men or fearing to expose his wrongdoing publicly, and denies exploiting his land or workers unjustly. Job signs his defense, as it were, longing for the Almighty to answer him and for an indictment written by his adversary, confident that he could present it proudly, and "the words of Job are ended" (v. 40).
1I made couenaunt with myn iyen, that Y schulde not thenke of a virgyn.
2For what part schulde God aboue haue in me, and eritage Almyyti God of hiye thingis?
3Whether perdicioun is not to a wickid man, and alienacioun of God is to men worchynge wickidnesse?
4Whether he biholdith not my weies, and noumbrith alle my goyngis?
5If Y yede in vanyte, and my foot hastide in gile,
6God weie me in a iust balaunce, and knowe my symplenesse.
7If my step bowide fro the weie; if myn iye suede myn herte, and a spotte cleuede to myn hondis;
8sowe Y, and another ete, and my generacioun be drawun out bi the root.
9If myn herte was disseyued on a womman, and if Y settide aspies at the dore of my frend; my wijf be the hoore of anothir man,
10and othir men be bowid doun on hir.
11For this is vnleueful, and the moost wickidnesse.
12Fier is deourynge `til to wastyng, and drawynge vp bi the roote alle generaciouns.
13If Y dispiside to take doom with my seruaunt and myn hand mayde, whanne thei stryueden ayens me.
14What sotheli schal Y do, whanne God schal rise to deme? and whanne he schal axe, what schal Y answere to hym?
15Whether he, that wrouyte also hym, made not me in the wombe, and o God formede me in the wombe?
16If Y denyede to pore men that, that thei wolden, and if Y made the iyen of a wydewe to abide;
17if Y aloone eet my mussel, and a faderles child eet not therof;
18for merciful doyng encreesside with me fro my yong childhed, and yede out of my modris wombe with me;
19if Y dispiside a man passynge forth, for he hadde not a cloth, and a pore man with out hilyng;
20if hise sidis blessiden not me, and was not maad hoot of the fleeces of my scheep;
21if Y reiside myn hond on a fadirles child, yhe, whanne Y siy me the hiyere in the yate;
22my schuldre falle fro his ioynt, and myn arm with hise boonys be al to-brokun.
23For euere Y dredde God, as wawis wexynge gret on me; and `Y myyte not bere his birthun.
24If Y gesside gold my strengthe, and if Y seide to purid gold, Thou art my trist;
25if Y was glad on my many ritchessis, and for myn hond foond ful many thingis;
26if Y siy the sunne, whanne it schynede, and the moone goynge clereli;
27and if myn herte was glad in priuyte, and if Y kisside myn hond with my mouth;
28which is the moost wickidnesse, and deniyng ayens hiyeste God;
29if Y hadde ioye at the fallyng of hym, that hatide me, and if Y ioide fulli, that yuel hadde founde hym;
30for Y yaf not my throte to do synne, that Y schulde asaile and curse his soule;
31if the men of my tabernacle seiden not, Who yyueth, that we be fillid of hise fleischis? a pilgryme dwellide not with outforth;
32my dore was opyn to a weiegoere;
33if Y as man hidde my synne, and helide my wickidnesse in my bosum;
34if Y dredde at ful greet multitude, and if dispisyng of neyyboris made me aferd; and not more Y was stille, and yede not out of the dore;
35who yyueth an helpere to me, that Almyyti God here my desire? that he that demeth,
36write a book, that Y bere it in my schuldre, and cumpasse it as a coroun to me?
37Bi alle my degrees Y schal pronounce it, and Y schal as offre it to the prynce.
38If my lond crieth ayens me, and hise forewis wepen with it;
39if Y eet fruytis therof with out money, and Y turmentide the soule of erthetileris of it;
40a brere growe to me for wheete, and a thorn for barli.
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