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Thei ben schent, for Y hopide; and thei camen `til to me, and thei ben hilid with schame.

Ye maken redi spechis oneli for to blame, and ye bryngen forth wordis in to wynde.

God, haue thou mynde, for my lijf is wynde, and myn iye schal not turne ayen, that it se goodis.

Whether Y am the see, ethir a whal, for thou hast cumpassid me with prisoun?

`Y dispeiride, now Y schal no more lyue; Lord, spare thou me, for my daies ben nouyt.

What is a man, for thou `magnifiest hym? ether what settist thou thin herte toward hym?

For whi, axe thou the formere generacioun, and seke thou diligentli the mynde of fadris.

For we ben men of yistirdai, and `kunnen not; for oure daies ben as schadewe on the erthe.

For this is the gladnesse of his weie, that eft othere ruschis springe out of the erthe.

If he wole stryue with God, he may not answere to God oon for a thousynde.

For in a whirlewynd he schal al to-breke me, and he schal multiplie my woundis, yhe, without cause.

If strengthe is souyt, `he is moost strong; if equyte of doom is souyt, no man dar yelde witnessynge for me.

Y schal speke, and Y schal not drede hym; for Y may not answere dredynge.

And if Y reise `the heed for pride, thou schalt take me as a lionesse; and thou turnest ayen, and turmentist me wondirli.

For thou seidist, My word is cleene, and Y am cleene in thi siyt.

For he knowith the vanyte of men; and whether he seynge byholdith not wickidnesse?

And to me is an herte, as and to you, and Y am not lowere than ye; for who knowith not these thingis, whiche ye knowen?

He that is scorned of his frend, as Y am, schal inwardli clepe God, and God schal here hym; for the symplenesse of a iust man is scorned.

Whether God hath nede to youre leesyng, that ye speke gilis for hym?

Whether ye taken his face, and enforsen to deme for God?