Job 19

¹ In whos hond the soule is of ech lyuynge thing, and the spirit, that is, resonable soule, of ech fleisch of man. 2 Whether the eere demeth not wordis, and the chekis of the etere demen sauour? 3 Wisdom is in elde men, and prudence is in myche tyme. 4 Wisdom and strengthe is at God; he hath counsel and vndurstondyng. 5 If he distrieth, no man is that bildith; if he schittith in a man, noon is that openith. ⁶ If he holdith togidere watris, alle thingis schulen be maad drie; if he sendith out tho watris, tho schulen distrie the erthe. ⁷ Strengthe and wisdom is at God; he knowith bothe hym that disseyueth and hym that is disseyued. ⁸ And he bryngith conselours in to a fonned eende, and iugis in to wondryng, ethir astonying. ⁹ He vnbindith the girdil of kyngis, and girdith her reynes with a coorde. ¹⁰ He ledith her prestis with out glorie, and he disseyueth the principal men, ethir counselours; 11 and he chaungith the lippis of sothefast men, and takith awei the doctrine of elde men. 12 He schedith out dispisyng on princes, and releeueth hem, that weren oppressid. 13 Which schewith depe thingis fro derknessis; and bryngith forth in to liyt the schadewe of deeth. 14 Which multiplieth folkis, and leesith hem, and restorith hem destried in to the hool. 15 Which chaungith the herte of princes of the puple of erthe; and disseyueth hem, that thei go in veyn out of the weie. 16 Thei schulen grope, as in derknessis, and not in liyt; and he schal make hem to erre as drunken men. 18 Lo! myn iye siy alle thingis, and myn eere herde; and Y vndurstood alle thingis. 19 Euene with youre kunnyng also Y kan, and Y am not lowere than ye. 20 But netheles Y schal speke to Almyyti God, and Y coueite to dispute with God; 21 and firste Y schewe you makeris of leesyng, and louyeris of weyward techyngis. 22 And Y wolde that ye weren stille, that ye weren gessid to be wise men. ²³ Therfor here ye my chastisyngis; and perseyue ye the doom of my lippis. ²⁴ Whether God hath nede to youre leesyng, that ye speke gilis for hym? ²⁵ Whether ye taken his face, and enforsen to deme for God? ²⁶ Ethir it schal plese hym, fro whom no thing mai be hid? Whether he as a man schal be disseyued with youre falsnessis? ²⁷ He schal repreue you; for ye taken his face in hiddlis. ²⁸ Anoon as he schal stire hym, he schal disturble you; and his drede schal falle on you. ²⁹ Youre mynde schal be comparisound to aische; and youre nollis schulen be dryuun in to clei.