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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.
[3]As the grauel of the see, this wretchidnesse schulde appere greuousere; wherfor and my wordis ben ful of sorewe.
[4]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.
[5]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; tho thingis whiche my soule nolde touche bifore, ben now my meetis for angwisch.
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[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.
[11]For whi, what is my strengthe, that Y suffre? ethir which is myn ende, that Y do pacientli?
[12]Nethir my strengthe is the strengthe of stoonus, nether my fleisch is of bras.
[13]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.
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