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¹ Forsothe Joob answeride, and seide,² Y wolde, that my synnes, bi whiche Y `desseruede ire, and the wretchidnesse which Y suffre, weren peisid in a balaunce.<sup>3</sup> As the grauel of the see, this wretchidnesse schulde appere greuousere; wherfor and my wordis ben ful of sorewe.<sup>4</sup> For the arowis of the Lord ben in me, the indignacioun of whiche drynkith vp my spirit; and the dredis of the Lord fiyten ayens me.<sup>5</sup> Whether a feeld asse schal rore, whanne he hath gras? Ethir whether an oxe schal lowe, whanne he stondith byfor a `ful cratche?⁶ Ether whethir a thing vnsauery may be etun, which is not maad sauery bi salt? Ether whether ony man may taaste a thing, which tastid bryngith deeth? For whi to an hungri soule, yhe, bittir thingis semen to be swete; ⁷ tho thingis whiche my soule nolde touche bifore, ben now my meetis for angwisch.

⁸ Who yyueth, that myn axyng come; and that God yyue to me that, that Y abide?⁹ And he that bigan, al to-breke me; releesse he his hond, and kitte me doun?¹⁰ And `this be coumfort to me, that he turmente me with sorewe, and spare not, and that Y ayenseie not the wordis of the hooli.<sup>11</sup> For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?<sup>12</sup> Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.<sup>13</sup> Lo! noon help is to me in me; also my meyneal frendis `yeden awey fro me.

¹⁴ He that takith awei merci fro his frend, forsakith the drede of the Lord.¹⁵ My britheren passiden me, as a stronde doith, that passith ruschyngli in grete valeis.¹⁶ Snow schal come on hem, that dreden frost.¹⁷ In the tyme wherynne thei ben scaterid, thei schulen perische; and as thei ben hoote, thei schulen be vnknyt fro her place.¹⁸ The pathis of her steppis ben wlappid; thei schulen go in veyn, and schulen perische.¹⁹ Biholde ye the pathis of Theman, and the weies of Saba; and abide ye a litil.²⁰ Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.²¹ Now ye ben comun, and now ye seen my wounde, and dreden.

²² Whether Y seide, Brynge ye to me, and yiue ye of youre catel to me? ethir,²³ Delyuere ye me fro the hond of enemy, and rauysche ye me fro the hond of stronge men?²⁴ Teche ye me, and Y schal be stille; and if in hap Y vnknew ony thing, teche ye me.²⁵ Whi han ye depraued the wordis of trewthe? sithen noon is of you, that may repreue me.²⁶ Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.²⁷ Ye fallen in on a fadirles child, and enforsen to peruerte youre frend.²⁸ Netheles fille ye that, that ye han bigunne; yyue ye the eere, and se ye, whether Y lie.²⁹ Y biseche, answere ye with out strijf, and speke ye, and deme ye that, that is iust.³⁰ And ye schulen not fynde wickidnesse in my tunge, nethir foli schal sowne in my chekis.