sparynge ȝou. [verse 7] But what schal Y do? If Y speke, my sorewe restith not; and if Y am stille, it goith not awei fro me. [verse 8] But now my sorewe hath oppressid me, and alle my lymes ben dryuun in to nouȝt. [verse 9] My [The IS.] ryuelyngis [ryuelyngis of my face IS.] seien witnessyng aȝens me, and a fals spekere [a fals spek|ere; that is, the deuel, which is a liere, and the fadir of leesing. aȝen seith me; bi my frendis, whiche he hath excitid aȝenus me. Lire here. C.] is reisid [reisid up IS.] aȝens my face, and aȝenseith me [bi mi frendis V marg.] . [verse 10] He gaderide [hath gadrid IS.] to|gidere his woodnesse in [aȝens in S.] me, and he ma|naasside me, and [and he IS.] gnastide aȝens me with his teeth; myn enemye bihelde [hath biholde IS.] me with ferdful iȝen. [verse 11] Thei openyden [they openyden; that is, the deuel and my frendis stirid bi him; the deuel, in defamynge me bifor God, as in i. co. and my frendis, in condemnynge me falsly. smytiden my cheke; that is, dispisiden me opinly, as he is dispisid, that is smytun in the face. Lire here. C.] her mouthis on [upon IS.] me, and thei seiden schenschip [schenship to me IS.] , and [and thei IS.] smytiden [smeten I. smyten S.] my cheke; and thei ben fillid with my peynes. [verse 12] God hath closid me togidere at [anentis I.] the [a IS.] wickid [wickid man IS.] , and hath [he hath IS.] ȝoue me to the hondis of wickid men. [verse 13] Y thilke riche man and famouse [of greet fame IS.] sum tyme, am al to brokun sudeynli; `he helde [the Lord hath holden IS.] my nol; he [and he IS.] hath broke me [me togidre IS.] , and hath [he hath IS.] set me as in to a signe [token IS.] . [verse 14] He [And he IS.] hath cumpasside me with hise speris, he woundide [hath woundid IS.] togidere my leendis; he sparide not [hath not sparid me IS.] , and schedde [he hath sched IS.] out myn entrails in to the erthe. [verse 15] He beet [hath bete IS.] me with wounde on [upon IS.] wounde; he [and he IS.] as a giaunt felde [hath fallen IS.] in on [upon IS.] me. [verse 16] Y sewide to|gidere a sak on [upon IS.] my skyn; and Y hilide my fleisch with aische. [verse 17] My face bolnyde of wepynge, and myn iȝeliddis [myn iȝeliddis, etc.; that is, myn iȝen con|teyned bitwixe the iȝelidis; for siȝt is maad derk, by greet and contynuel weping. Lire here. C.] wexiden derke. [verse 18] Y suffride these thingis with out wickidnesse of myn hond, `that is, werk [Om. I. or werk S.] , whanne Y hadde cleene preieris to God. [verse 19] Erthe, hile thou not [Erthe, hile thou not etc.; Joob clepide erthe hise frendis, that settiden blis in erthely pros|perite. Thus seith Austin; If thou louest gold, thou art gold, if thou louest erthe, thou art erthe. Thei enforsiden to hile the blood of Joob and his turment, and seiden, that he was punysched for his gilt, and so Joob hadde iust title to playne herof bi|for God, to the declaring of his innocense. Lire here. C.] my blood, and my cry fynde [fynde it IS.] not in thee a place of hidyng. [verse 20] `For, lo [Forsothe IS.] ! my witnesse is in heuene; and the knowere of my consience is in hiȝe places. [verse 21] A [O IS.] ! my frendis, ful of wordis, myn iȝe droppith to God. [verse 22] And `Y wolde, that a man were [whi ne were a man S.] demed so with God, as the sone of man is demed with his felowe. [verse 23] `For lo [Lo! certis IS.] ! schorte ȝeeris passen, and Y go a path, bi which Y schal not turne aȝen.
