Ecclesiastes 10 Cross References - Wycliffe

¹⁸ Betere is wisdom than armuris of batel; and he that synneth in o thing, schal leese many goodis. ¹ Flies `that dien, leesen the swetnesse of oynement. Litil foli at a tyme is preciousere than wisdom and glorie. ² The herte of a wijs man is in his riyt side; and the herte of a fool is in his left side. ³ But also a fool goynge in the weie, whanne he is vnwijs, gessith alle men foolis. ⁴ If the spirit of hym, that hath power, stieth on thee, forsake thou not thi place; for heeling schal make gretteste synnes to ceesse. ⁵ An yuel is, which Y siy vndur the sunne, and goith out as bi errour fro the face of the prince; a fool set in hiy dignyte, ⁶ and riche men sitte bynethe. ⁷ I siy seruauntis on horsis, and princes as seruauntis goynge on the erthe. ⁸ He that diggith a diche, schal falle in to it; and an eddre schal bite hym, that distrieth an hegge. ⁹ He that berith ouer stoonys, schal be turmentid in tho; and he that kittith trees, schal be woundid of tho. ¹⁰ If yrun is foldid ayen, and this is not as bifore, but is maad blunt, it schal be maad scharp with myche trauel; and wisdom schal sue aftir bisynesse. ¹¹ If a serpent bitith, it bitith in silence; he that bacbitith priueli, hath no thing lesse than it. ¹² The wordis of the mouth of a wijs man is grace; and the lippis of an vnwijs man schulen caste hym doun. ¹³ The bigynnyng of hise wordis is foli; and the laste thing of his mouth is the worste errour. ¹⁴ A fool multiplieth wordis; a man noot, what was bifore hym, and who mai schewe to hym that, that schal come aftir hym? ¹⁵ The trauel of foolis shal turment hem, that kunnen not go in to the citee. ¹⁶ Lond, wo to thee, whos kyng is a child, and whose princes eten eerli. ¹⁷ Blessid is the lond, whos kyng is noble; and whose princis eten in her tyme, to susteyne the kynde, and not to waste. ¹⁸ The hiynesse of housis schal be maad low in slouthis; and the hous schal droppe in the feblenesse of hondis. ¹⁹ In leiyyng thei disposen breed and wyn, that thei drynkynge ete largeli; and alle thingis obeien to monei. ²⁰ In thi thouyt bacbite thou not the kyng, and in the priuete of thi bed, curse thou not a riche man; for the briddis of heuene schulen bere thi vois, and he that hath pennys, schal telle the sentence.

³³ Now therfor puruey the kyng a wijs man and a redi, and make the kyng hym souereyn to the lond of Egipt, ³⁴ which man ordeyne gouernouris bi alle cuntreis, and gadere he in to bernys the fyuethe part of fruytis bi seuene yeer of plentee, ³⁵ that schulen come now; and al the wheete be kept vndur the power of Farao, and be it kept in citees, ³⁶ and be it maad redi to the hungur to comynge of seuene yeer that schal oppresse Egipt, and the lond be not wastid bi pouert. ³⁷ The counsel pleside Farao, ³⁸ and alle his mynystris, and he spak to hem, Wher we moun fynde sich a man which is ful of Goddis spirit? ³⁹ Therfor Farao seide to Joseph, For God hath schewid to thee alle thingis whiche thou hast spoke, wher Y mai fynde a wisere man and lijk thee?

³⁴ whanne the partis weren takun whiche thei hadden resseyued of him, and the more part cam to Beniamyn, so that it passide in fyue partis; and thei drunken, and weren fillid with him.

¹⁹ But here thou my wordis and counseils, and the Lord schal be with thee; be thou to the puple in these thingis that perteynen to God, that thou telle the thingis that ben seid to the puple; ²⁰ and schewe to the puple the cerymonyes, and custom of worschipyng, and the weie bi which `thei owen to go, and the werk which `thei owen to do. ²¹ Forsothe puruey thou of al the puple myyti men, and dredynge God, in whiche is treuthe, and whiche haten auarice; and ordeyne thou of hem tribunes, and centuriouns, and quinquagenaries, and deenys, ²² whiche schulen deme the puple in al tyme; sotheli what ever thing is grettere, telle thei to thee, and deme thei ooneli lesse thingis, and be it esiere to thee, whanne the burthun is departid in to othere men. ²³ If thou schalt do this, thou schalt fille the comaundement of God, and thou schalt mowe bere hise comaundementis; and al this puple schal turne ayen with pees to her places.

²⁸ Thou schalt not bacbyte goddis, and thou schalt not curse the prince of thi puple.

²⁵ and thou schalt make the hooly oile of anoyntyng, an oynement maad bi the werk of a `makere of oynement.

³⁴ Forsothe the Lord seide to Moises, Take to thee swete smellynge spyceries, stacten, and onyca, galban of good odour, and pureste encense, alle schulen be of euene weiyte. ³⁵ And thou schal make encence, maad by werk of oynement makere, meddlid diligentli, and pure, and moost worthi of halewyng.

²⁶ and thou schalt bie of the same money what euer thing plesith to thee, ethir of droues, ether of scheep; also thou schalt bie wyn, and sidur, and al thing that thi soule desirith; and thou schalt ete bifor thi Lord God, and thou schalt make feeste,

⁵ And he cam in to `the hows of his fadir in Ephra, and killide hise britheren the sones of Gerobaal, `seuenti men, on o stoon. And Joathan, the leste sone of Gerobaal, lefte, and was hid.

¹³ Which answeride, Whether Y may forsake my wyn, that gladith God and men, and be auaunsid among othere trees? ¹⁴ And alle trees seiden to the ramne, ether theue thorn, Come thou, and be lord on vs. ¹⁵ Whiche answeride to hem, If ye maken me verili kyng to you, come ye, and reste vndur my schadewe; sotheli, if ye nylen, fier go out of the ramne, and deuoure the cedris of the Liban. ¹⁶ Now therfor if riytfuli and without synne `ye han maad Abymelech kyng on you, and ye han do wel with Jerobaal, and with his hows, and ye han yolde while to the benefices of hym, <sup>17</sup> that fauyt for you, and yaf his lijf to perelis, that he schulde delyuere you fro the hond of Madian; <sup>18</sup> and ye han rise now ayens the hows of my fadir, and han slayn hyse sones, seuenti men, on o stoon, and `han maad Abymelech, sone of his handmayde, kyng on the dwelleris of Sichem, for he is youre brother; ¹⁹ therfor if ye han do riytfuli, and with out synne with Gerobaal and his hows, to dai be ye glad in Abymelech, and be he glad in you; but if ye han do weiwardli, ²⁰ fier go out `of hym, and waste the dwelleris of Sichem, and the citee of Mello; and fier go out of the men of Sichem, and of the citee of Mello, and deuoure Abymelech.

⁵³ o womman castide fro aboue a gobet of a mylnestoon, and hurtlide to `the heed of Abymelech, and brak his brayn. <sup>54</sup> And he clepide soone his squyer, and seide to hym, Drawe out thi swerd, and sle me, lest perauenture it be seid, that Y am slan of a womman. Which performede `the comaundementis, and `killide Abymelech; ⁵⁵ and whanne he was deed, alle men of Israel that weren with hym turneden ayen to her seetis. ⁵⁶ And God yeldide to Abymelech the yuel that he dide ayens his fadir, for he killide hise seuenti britheren. ⁵⁷ Also that thing was yoldun to men of Sichem, which thei wrouyten, and the curs of Joathan, sone of Jerobaal, cam on hem.

¹⁵ And whanne the seuenthe dai cam, thei seiden to `the wijf of Sampson, Glose thin hosebonde, and counseile hym, that he schewe to thee what the probleme signyfieth. That if thou nylt do, we schulen brenne thee and `the hous of thi fadir. Whether herfor ye clepiden vs to weddyngis, that ye schulden robbe vs?

²⁶ And Saul spak not ony thing in that dai; for he thouyte, that `in hap it bifelde to hym, that he was not clene `nether purified. ²⁷ And whanne the secounde dai aftir the calendis hadde schyned, eft the place of Dauid apperide voide. And Saul seide to Jonathas his sone, Whi cometh not the sone of Isai, nether yisterdai, nether to dai to ete? ²⁸ And Jonathas answeride to Saul, He preiede me mekeli, that he schulde go in to Bethleem; ²⁹ and he seide, Suffre thou me, for solempne sacrifice is in my citee; oon of my britheren clepide me; now therfor if Y foond grace `in thin iyen, Y schal go soone, and `Y schal se my britheren; for this cause he cometh not to the `table of the kyng. <sup>30</sup> Forsothe Saul was wrooth ayens Jonathas, and seide to hym, Thou sone of a womman `rauyschynge at her owne wille a man, whether Y woot not, that thou louest the sone of Ysay in to thi confusioun, and in to the confusioun of thi schendful modir? ³¹ For in alle the daies in whiche the sone of Isai lyueth on erthe, thou schalt not be stablischid, nether thi rewme; therfor `riyt now sende thou, and brynge hym to me, for he is the sone of deeth. ³² Sotheli Jonathas answeride to Saul his fadir, and seide, Whi schal he die? what hath he do? ³³ And Saul took the spere, that he schulde smyte hym, and Jonathas vndirstood, that it was determynd of his fadir, that Dauid schulde be slayn.

⁷ he seide to hise seruauntis that stoden nyy hym, The sones of Gemyny, here me now; whether the sone of Ysai schal yyue to alle you feeldis and vyneris, and schal make alle you tribunes and centuriouns? ⁸ For alle ye han swore, ether conspirid, togidere ayens me, and noon is that tellith to me; moost sithen also my sone hath ioyned boond of pees with the sone of Ysai; noon is of you, that sorewith `for my stide, nether that tellith to me, for my sone hath reisid my seruaunt ayens me, settynge tresoun to me `til to dai.

¹⁶ And the kyng seide, Achymelech, thou schalt die bi deeth, thou, and al the hows of thi fadir. ¹⁷ And the kyng seide to men able to be sent out, that stoden aboute hym, Turne ye, and sle the preestis of the Lord, for the hond of hem is with Dauid; and thei wisten that he fledde, and thei schewiden not to me. Sotheli the seruauntis of the kyng nolden holde forth her hond in to the preestis of the Lord. ¹⁸ And the kyng seide to Doech, Turne thou, and hurle in to the preestis of the Lord. And Doech of Ydumee turnede, and hurlide in to the preestis, and stranglide in that dai foure score and fyue men, clothid with `ephoth of lynnun cloth.

¹⁰ Forsoth Nabal answeride to the children of Dauid, and seide, Who is Dauith? and who is the sone of Isai? To dai seruauntis encreesiden that fleen her lords. ¹¹ Therfor schal Y take my looues and my watris, and the fleischis of beestis, whiche Y haue slayn to my schereris, and schal Y yyue to men, whiche Y knowe not of whennus thei ben?

²⁴ And sche felde doun to hise feet, and seide, My lord the kyng, this wickydnesse be in me; Y biseche, speke thin handmayden in thin eeris, and here thou the wordis of thi seruauntesse; ²⁵ Y preie, my lord the kyng, sette not his herte on this wickid man Nabal, for bi his name he is a fool, and foli is with hym; but, my lord, Y thin handmayde siy not thi children, whiche thou sentist. ²⁶ Now therfor, my lord, the Lord lyueth, and thi soule lyueth, which Lord forbeed thee, lest thou schuldist come in to blood, and he sauede thi soule to thee; and now thin enemyes, and thei that seken yuel to my lord, be maad as Nabal. ²⁷ Wherfor resseyue thou this blessyng, which thin handmaide brouyte to thee, my lord, and yyue thou to the children that suen thee, my lord. ²⁸ Do thou awey the wickidnesse of thi seruauntesse; for the Lord makynge schal make a feithful hows to thee, my lord, for thou, my lord, fiytist the batels of the Lord; therfor malice be not foundun in thee in alle dais of thi lijf. ²⁹ For if a man risith ony tyme, and pursueth thee, and sekith thi lijf, the lijf of my lord schal be kept as in a bundel of lyuynge trees, at thi Lord God; forsothe the soule of thin enemyes schal be hurlid round aboute as in feersnesse, and sercle of a slynge. ³⁰ Therfor whanne the Lord hath do to thee, my lord, alle these goode thingis, whiche he spak of thee, and hath ordeyned thee duyk on Israel, ³¹ this schal not be in to siyyng and in to doute of herte to thee, my lord, that thou hast sched out giltles blood, ether that thou hast vengid thee. And whanne the Lord hath do wel to thee, my lord, thou schalt haue mynde on thin handmaide, and thou schalt do wel to hir. ³² And Dauid seide to Abigail, Blessid be the Lord God of Israel, that sente thee to dai in to my comyng, and blessid be thi speche; ³³ and blessid be thou, that hast forbede me, lest Y yede to blood, and vengide me with myn hond; ³⁴ ellis the Lord God of Israel lyueth, which forbeed me, `lest Y dide yuel to thee, if thou haddist not soone come in to `metyng to me, a pissere to the wal schulde not haue left to Nabal til to the morewe liyt. ³⁵ Therfor Dauid resseyuede of hir hond alle thingis whiche sche hadde brouyt to hym; and he seide to hir, Go thou in pees in to thin hows; lo! Y herde thi vois, and Y onouride thi face. ³⁶ Forsothe Abigail cam to Nabal; and, lo! a feeste was to him in his hows, as the feeste of a kyng; and the herte of Nabal was iocounde, for he was `drunkun greetli; and sche schewide not to hym a word litil ether greet til the morewe.

³⁶ Forsothe Abigail cam to Nabal; and, lo! a feeste was to him in his hows, as the feeste of a kyng; and the herte of Nabal was iocounde, for he was `drunkun greetli; and sche schewide not to hym a word litil ether greet til the morewe. ³⁷ Forsothe in the morewtid, whanne Nabal hadde defied the wiyn, his wijf schewide to hym alle these wordis; and his herte was almest deed with ynne, and he was maad as a stoon. ³⁸ And whanne ten daies hadden passid, the Lord smoot Nabal, and he was deed. ³⁹ Which thing whanne Dauid hadde herd, Nabal deed, he seide, Blessid be the Lord God, that vengide the cause of my schenschip of the hond of Nabal, and kepte his seruaunt fro yuel, and the Lord yeldide the malice of Nabal in to the heed of hym. Therfor Dauid sente, and spak to Abigail, that he wolde take hir wijf to hym. ⁴⁰ And the children of Dauid camen to Abigail in to Carmele, and spaken to hir, and seiden, Dauid sente vs to thee, that he take thee in to wijf to hym. ⁴¹ And sche roos, and worschipide lowe to erthe, and seide, Lo! thi seruauntesse be in to an handmayde, that sche waische the feet of the seruauntis of my lord. ⁴² And Abigail hastide, and roos, and stiede on an asse; and fyue damesels, sueris of hir feet, yeden with hir, and sche suede the messangeris of Dauid, and was maad wijf to hym. ⁴³ But also Dauid took Achynoem of Jezrael, and euer eithir was wijf to hym; ⁴⁴ forsothe Saul yaf Mycol his douytir, wijf of Dauid, to Phalti, the sone of Lais, that was of Gallym.

¹⁶ And Dauid seide to hym, Thi blood be on thin heed; for thi mouth spak ayens thee, and seide, Y killide the crist of the Lord.

²⁸ Sotheli Absolon comaundide to hise children, and seide, Aspie ye, whanne Amon is drunkun of wyn, and Y seie to you, Smyte ye, and sle hym. Nyle ye drede, for Y am that comaunde to you; be ye strengthid, and be ye stronge men.

²³ Forsothe Achitofel siy, that his counsel was not doon, and he sadlide his asse, and roos, and yede in to his hows, and in to his citee; and whanne his hows was disposid, he perischide bi hangyng, and he was biried in the sepulcre of his fadir.

¹⁵ ten yonge squieris of Joab runnen, and smytiden, and killiden hym.

⁴¹ Therfor alle the men of Israel camen togidere to the king, and seiden to hym, Whi han oure britheren, the men of Juda, stole thee, and han led the kyng and his hows ouer Jordan, and alle the men of Dauid with hym?

⁹ Therfor thou schalt yyue to thi seruaunt an herte able to be tauyt, `that is, liytned of thee, that he may deme the puple, and iuge bitwixe good and yuel; for who may deme this puple, thi puple, this miche puple?

¹³ And the kyng answeride harde thingis to the puple, while the counsel of eldere men was forsakun, which thei hadden youe to hym; ¹⁴ and he spak to hem bi the counsel of yonge men, and seide, My fadir made greuouse youre yok, forsothe Y schal adde to youre yok; my fadir beet you with scourgis, forsothe Y schal bete you with scorpiouns.

⁴⁰ Sotheli while Y was troblid, and turnede me hidur and thidur, sodeynly he apperide not. And the kyng of Israel seide to hym, This is thi doom which thou hast demed. ⁴¹ And anoon he wipide awey the dust fro his face, and the kyng of Israel knew him, that he was of the prophetis. ⁴² Which seide to the kyng, The Lord seith these thingis, For thou deliueridist fro thin hond a man worthi the deeth, thi lijf schal be for his lijf, and thi puple `schal be for his puple.

¹² And oon of hise seruauntis seide, Nay, my lord the kyng, but Elisee, the prophete, which is in Israel, schewith to the kyng of Israel alle thingis, what euer thingis thou spekist in thi closet.

²⁷ Which seide, Nai, the Lord saue thee; wherof may Y saue thee? of cornfloor, ethir of pressour? And the kyng seide to hir, What wolt thou to thee?

³¹ And the kyng seide, God do to me these thingis, and adde these thingis, if the heed of Elise, sone of Saphat, schal stonde on hym to dai.

³² also of the sones of Ysacar, two hundrid princes, lernd men, that knewen ech tyme to comaunde what the puple of Israel ouyt to do; sotheli al the residue lynage suede the counseils of hem;

²⁴ And `Dauid the kyng seide to hym, It schal not be don so, but Y schal yyue siluer as myche as it is worth; for Y owe not take awei fro thee, and offre so to the Lord brent sacrifices freli youun.

² Sotheli Y in alle my myytis haue maad redi the costis of the hows of my God; gold to goldun vessels, siluer in to siluerne vessels, bras in to brasun vessels, irun in to irun vessels, tre in to trenun vessels, onychyn stonys, and stonys as of the colour of wymmens oynement, and ech precious stoon of dyuerse colouris, and marbil of dyuerse colouris, most plenteuously. ³ And ouer these thingis Y yyue gold and siluer in to the temple of my God, whiche Y offride of my propir catel in to the hows of my God, outakun these thingis whiche Y made redi in to the hooli hows, ⁴ thre thousynde talentis of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seuene thousynde of talentis of siluer most preuyd, to ouergilde the wallis of the temple; ⁵ and werkis be maad bi the hondis of crafti men, where euere gold is nedeful, of gold, and where euere siluer is nedeful, of siluer; and if ony man offrith bi his fre wille, fille he his hond to dai, and offre he that that he wole to the Lord. ⁶ Therfor the princes of meynees, and the duykis of the lynagis of Israel, and the tribunes, and the centuriouns, and the princes of the possessiouns of the kyng, bihiyten; ⁷ and thei yauen in to the werkis of the hows of the Lord, fyue thousynde talentis of gold, and ten thousynde schyllyngis; ten thousynde talentis of siluer, and eiytene thousynde talentis of bras, and an hundrid thousynde of talentis of irun. ⁸ And at whom euere stoonys were foundun, thei yauen in to the tresour of the hows of the Lord, bi the hond of Jehiel Gersonyte. ⁹ And the puple was glad, whanne thei bihiyten avowis bi her fre wille, for with al the herte thei offriden tho to the Lord. But also kyng Dauid was glad with greet ioye, and blesside the Lord bifor al the multitude,

⁷ And most veyn men and the sones of Belial weren gaderid to hym, and thei hadden myyt ayens Roboam, the sone of Salomon. Certis Roboam was buystuouse, `ether fonne, and of feerdful herte, and myyte not ayenstonde hem.

² Whom the profete Hieu, the sone of Ananye, mette, and seide to hym, Thou yyuest help to a wickid man, and thou art ioyned bi frendschip to hem that haten the Lord; and therfor sotheli thou deseruedist the wraththe of the Lord;

⁴ Therfor this is the word, which ye schulen do. ⁵ The thridde part of you that ben comun to the sabat, of preestis, and of dekenes, and of porterys, schal be in the yatis; sotheli the thridde part schal be at the hows of the kyng; and the thridde part schal be at the yate, which is clepid of the foundement. Forsothe al the tother comyn puple be in the large places of the hows of the Lord; ⁶ and noon other man entre in to the hows of the Lord, no but preestis, and thei that mynystren of the dekenes; oneli entre thei, that ben halewid, and al the tother comyn puple kepe the kepyngis of the Lord. ⁷ Forsothe the dekenes cumpasse the kyng, and ech man haue hise armuris; and if ony othere man entrith in to the temple, be he slayn; and be thei with the kyng entrynge and goynge out. ⁸ Therfor the dekenes and al Juda diden bi alle thingis, which Joiada, the bischop, hadde comaundid; and alle token the men, that weren with hem, and camen bi the ordre of sabat with hem, that hadden `fillid now the sabat, and schulen go out. <sup>9</sup> For Joiada, the bischop, suffride not the cumpenyes to go awei, that weren wont to come oon after `the tother bi ech wouke. And Joiada, the preest, yaf to the centuriouns speris, and scheeldis, and bokeleris of kyng Dauid, whiche he hadde halewid in to the hows of the Lord. ¹⁰ And he ordeynede al the puple, of hem `that helden swerdis, at the riyt side of the temple `til to the left side of the temple, bifor the auter and the temple, bi cumpas of the king. ¹¹ And thei ledden out the sone of the kyng, and settiden a diademe on hym; and thei yauen to hym in his hond the lawe to be holdun, and thei maden hym kyng. And Joiada, the bischop, and his sones anoyntiden hym; and thei preiden hertli, and seiden, The kyng lyue!

¹¹ And whanne it was tyme, that thei schulden bere the arke bifor the kyng bi the hondis of dekenes, for thei sien myche money, the clerk of the kyng entride, and he whom the firste preest hadde ordeynede, and thei schedden out the money, that was in the arke; sotheli thei baren ayen the arke to `his place. And so thei diden bi alle daies, and money with out noumbre was gaderid togidere; <sup>12</sup> which the kyng and Joiada yauen to hem that weren souereyns of the werkis of the hows of the Lord. And thei hiriden therof kitteris of stonys, and crafti men of alle werkis, that thei schulden reparele the hows of the Lord; also thei hiriden smythis of yrun, and of bras, that that thing schulde be vndurset, that bigan to falle. <sup>13</sup> Thei that wrouyten diden craftili, and the crasyng of the wallis was stoppid bi the hondis of hem; and thei reisiden the hows of the Lord in to the formere staat, and maden it to stonde stidfastli. <sup>14</sup> And whanne thei hadden fillid alle werkis, thei brouyten bifor the kyng and Joiada the tother part of the money, of which money vessels weren maad in to the seruyce of the temple, and to brent sacrifices; also viols, and othere vessels of gold and of siluer `weren maad therof. And brent sacrifices weren offrid in the hows of the Lord contynueli, in alle the daies of Joiada.

¹ Manasses was of twelue yeer, whanne he bygan to regne, and he regnyde in Jerusalem fyue and fifti yeer. ² Forsothe he dide yuel bifor the Lord bi abhomynaciouns of hethene men, whiche the Lord destriede bifor the sones of Israel. ³ And he turnede, and restoride the hiye places, whiche Ezechie, his fadir, hadde destried. And he bildide auteris to Baalym, and made wodis, and worschipide al the knyythod of heuene, and heriede it. ⁴ And he bildide auteris in the hows of the Lord, of which the Lord hadde seid, My name schal be in Jerusalem with outen ende. ⁵ Sotheli he bildide tho auteris to al the knyythod of heuene in the twei large places of the hows of the Lord. ⁶ And he made hise sones to passe thorouy the fier in the valei of Beennon; he kepte dremes; he suede fals diuynyng bi chiteryng of briddis; he seruyde witche craftis; he hadde with hym astronomyeris and enchaunteris, `ethir trigetours, that disseyuen mennus wittis, and he wrouyte many yuelis bifor the Lord to terre hym to wraththe. <sup>7</sup> Also he settide a grauun signe and a yotun signe in the hows of the Lord, of which hows God spak to Dauid, and to Salomon, his sone, and seide, Y schal sette my name with outen ende in this hows and in Jerusalem, which Y chees of alle the lynagis of Israel; <sup>8</sup> and Y schal not make the foot of Israel to moue fro the lond which Y yaf to her fadris, so oneli if thei kepen to do tho thingis whiche Y comaundide to hem, and al the lawe, and cerymonyes, and domes, bi the hond of Moises. <sup>9</sup> Therfor Manasses disseyuede Juda, and the dwelleris of Jerusalem, that thei diden yuel, more than alle hethene men, whiche the Lord hadde distriede fro the face of the sones of Israel. <sup>10</sup> And the Lord spak to hym, and to his puple; and thei nolden take heed. <sup>11</sup> Therfor the Lord brouyte on hem the princes of the oost of the kyng of Assiriens; and thei token Manasses, and bounden hym with chaynes, and stockis, and ledden hym in to Babiloyne. <sup>12</sup> And aftir that he was angwischid, he preiede `his Lord God, and dide penaunce gretli bifor the God of hise fadris. ¹³ And he preiede God, and bisechide ententifli; and God herde his preier, and brouyte hym ayen `in to Jerusalem in to his rewme; and Manasses knew, that the Lord hym silf is God. <sup>14</sup> Aftir these thingis he bildide the wal with out the citee of Dauid, at the west of Gion, in the valei, fro the entryng of the yate of fischis, bi cumpas `til to Ophel; and he reiside it gretli; and he ordeynede princes of the oost in alle the stronge citees of Juda. ¹⁵ And he dide awei alien goddis and symylacris fro the hows of the Lord; and he dide awei the auteris, whiche he hadde maad in the hil of the hows of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and he castide awei alle with out the citee. ¹⁶ Certis he restoride the auter of the Lord, and offride theronne slayn sacrifices, and pesible sacrifices, and preisyng; and he comaundide Juda to serue the Lord God of Israel. ¹⁷ Netheles the puple offride yit in hiy places to `her Lord God. <sup>18</sup> Forsothe the residue of dedis of Manasses, and his bisechyng to `his Lord God, and the wordis of profetis, that spaken to hym in the name of the Lord God of Israel, ben conteyned in the wordis of the kyngis of Israel. ¹⁹ And his preier, and the heryng, and alle synnes, and dispisyng, also the places in whiche he bildide hiy thingis, and made wodis and ymagis, bifor that he dide penaunce, ben writun in the bokis of Ozai. ²⁰ Forsothe Manasses slepte with hise fadris, and thei birieden hym in his hows; and Amon, his sone, regnyde for hym.

² Joachaz was of thre and twenti yeer, whanne he bigan to regne, and he regnede thre monethis in Jerusalem.

⁵ Joakym was of fyue and twenti yeer, whanne he bigan to regne, and he regnyde eleuene yeer in Jerusalem, and he dide yuel bifor `his Lord God.

⁹ Joachym was of eiyte yeer, whanne he bigan to regne, and he regnede thre monethis and ten daies in Jerusalem, and he dide yuel in the siyt of the Lord.

¹¹ Sedechie was of oon and twenti yeer, whanne he bigan to regne, and he regnede eleuene yeer in Jerusalem.

⁶ And alle men that weren `in cumpas helpiden the hondis of hem, in vesselis of siluer, and of gold, `in catel, in purtenaunce of houshold, and in alle werk beestis, outakun these thingis which thei offriden bi fre wille.

¹⁵ and that thou bere siluer and gold, which the kyng and hise counseleris han offrid bi fre wille to God of Israel, whos tabernacle is in Jerusalem. ¹⁶ And take thou freli al siluer and gold, which euer thou fyndist in al the prouynce of Babiloyne, and the puple wole offre, and of preestis that offriden bi fre wille to the hows of her God, which is in Jerusalem; ¹⁷ and bie thou bisili of this monei calues, rammes, lambren, and sacrifices, and moiste sacrifices of tho; and offre thou tho on the auter of the temple of youre God, which temple is in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ But also if ony thing plesith to thee, and to thi britheren, for to do of the residue siluer and gold, do ye bi the wille of youre God;

⁸ and Y seide to hem, As ye witen, we bi oure power ayenbouyten oure britheren Jewis, that weren seeld to hethene men; and ye therfor sillen youre britheren, and schulen we ayenbie hem? And thei holden silence, and founden not what thei schulen answere.

¹³ For he hadde take prijs, that Y schulde be aferd, and do, and that Y schulde do synne; and thei schulden haue yuel, which thei schulden putte to me with schenschip.

²⁶ and Y seide, Whether Salomon, the kyng of Israel, synnede not in siche a thing? And certis in many folkis was no kyng lijk hym, and he was loued of his God, and God settide hym kyng on al Israel, and therfor alien wymmen brouyten hym to synne.

¹ Aftir these thingis kyng Assuerus enhaunside Aaman, the sone of Amadathi, that was of the kynrede of Agag, and settide his trone aboue alle the princes whiche he hadde.

⁸ owith to be clothid with the kyngis clothis, and to be set on the hors which is of the kyngis sadel, and to take the kyngis diademe on his heed;

¹⁰ Therfor Aaman was hangid in the iebat, which he hadde maad redi to Mardochee, and the ire of the kyng restide.

⁵ And whanne the daies of feeste hadden passid in to the world, Joob sente to hem, and halewide hem, and he roos eerli, and offride brent sacrifices `bi alle. For he seide, Lest perauenture my sones do synne, and curse God in her hertis. Joob dide so in alle daies.

³ Lo! thou hast tauyt ful many men, and thou hast strengthid hondis maad feynt. ⁴ Thi wordis confermyden men doutynge, and thou coumfortidist knees tremblynge.

⁵ and Y wolde coumfort you by wordis, and Y wolde moue myn heed on you;

³⁷ `that addith blasfemye ouer hise synnes. Be he constreyned among vs in the meene tyme; and thanne bi hise wordis stire he God to the doom.

¹⁶ Therfor Joob openith his mouth in veyn, and multiplieth wordis with out kunnyng.

¹⁵ Lo! he conseyuede sorewe; he peynfuli brouyte forth vnriytfulnesse, and childide wickidnesse. ¹⁶ He openide a lake, and diggide it out; and he felde in to the dich which he made.

⁹ Thei ordeineden an yuel word ayens me; Whether he that slepith, schal not leie to, that he rise ayen? ¹⁰ For whi the man of my pees, in whom Y hopide, he that eet my looues; made greet disseit on me.

² Thei ben `corrupt, and maad abhomynable in her wickidnessis; noon is that doith good.

⁴ For lo! thei han take my soule; stronge men fellen in on me. ⁵ Nethir my wickidnesse, nether my synne; Lord, Y ran with out wickidnesse, and dresside `my werkis.

³ Here thou my preier; ech man schal come to thee.

⁸ which disturblist the depthe of the see, the soun of the wawis therof.

¹⁵ And he schal lyue, and me schal yyue to hym of the gold of Arabie; and thei schulen euere worschipe of hym, al dai thei schulen blesse hym. ¹⁶ Stidefastnesse schal be in the erthe, in the hiyeste places of mounteyns; the fruyt therof schal be enhaunsid aboue the Liban; and thei schulen blosme fro the citee, as the hey of erthe doith. ¹⁷ His name be blessid in to worldis; his name dwelle bifore the sunne. And all the lynagis of erthe schulen be blessid in hym; alle folkis schulen magnyfie hym. ¹⁸ Blessid be the Lord God of Israel; which aloone makith merueiylis.

¹⁵ Nile ye touche my cristis; and nyle ye do wickidli among my prophetis.

⁴ Lord, Y schal knouleche to thee among puplis; and Y schal seie salm to thee among naciouns.

⁷ That thi derlingis be delyuerid, make thou saaf with thi riythond, and here me; God spak in his hooli.

⁹ Which makith a bareyn womman dwelle in the hous; a glad modir of sones.

⁹ Kepe thou me fro the snare which thei ordeyneden to me; and fro the sclaundris of hem that worchen wickidnesse. Synneris schulen falle in the nett therof;

⁸ A wijs man schal resseyue comaundementis with herte; a fool is betun with lippis.

¹⁰ He that bekeneth with the iye, schal yyue sorewe; a fool schal be betun with lippis.

¹³ Wisdom is foundun in the lippis of a wise man; and a yerd in the bak of him that is nedi of herte. ¹⁴ Wise men hiden kunnyng; but the mouth of a fool is nexte to confusioun.

¹⁹ Synne schal not faile in myche spekyng; but he that mesurith hise lippis, is moost prudent. ²⁰ Chosun siluer is the tunge of a iust man; the herte of wickid men is for nouyt. ²¹ The lippis of a iust man techen ful manye men; but thei that ben vnlerned, schulen die in nedinesse of herte.

³¹ The mouth of a iust man schal bringe forth wisdom; the tunge of schrewis schal perische. ³² The lippis of a iust man biholden pleasaunt thingis; and the mouth of wickid men byholdith weiward thingis.

¹³ For the synnes of lippis `falling doun neiyeth to an yuel man; but a iust man schal scape fro angwisch. ¹⁴ Of the fruyt of his mouth ech man schal be fillid with goodis; and bi the werkis of hise hondis it schal be yoldun to him.

¹⁸ A man is that bihetith, and he is prickid as with the swerd of conscience; but the tunge of wise men is helthe.

²⁴ The hond of stronge men schal haue lordschip; but the hond that is slow, schal serue to tributis.

¹⁶ A fel man doith alle thingis with counsel; but he that is a fool, schal opene foli.

¹ A wijs womman bildith hir hous; and an unwijs womman schal distrie with hondis an hous bildid.

⁸ The wisdom of a fel man is to vndirstonde his weie; and the vnwarnesse of foolis errith.

² The tunge of wise men ourneth kunnyng; the mouth of foolis buylith out foli.

²³ A man is glad in the sentence of his mouth; and a couenable word is best.

²¹ He that is wijs in herte, schal be clepid prudent; and he that is swete in speche, schal fynde grettere thingis. ²² The welle of lijf is the lernyng of him that weldith; the techyng of foolis is foli. ²³ The herte of a wijs man schal teche his mouth; and schal encreesse grace to hise lippis. ²⁴ Wordis wel set togidere is a coomb of hony; helthe of boonys is the swetnesse of soule.

¹⁶ What profitith it to a fool to haue richessis, sithen he mai not bie wisdom? He that makith his hous hiy, sekith falling; and he that eschewith to lerne, schal falle in to yuels.

² A fool resseyueth not the wordis of prudence; `no but thou seie tho thingis, that ben turned in his herte.

⁶ The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues.

⁶ The lippis of a fool medlen hem silf with chidyngis; and his mouth excitith stryues. ⁷ The mouth of a fool is defoulyng of hym; and hise lippis ben the fallynge of his soule. ⁸ The wordis of a double tungid man ben as symple; and tho comen `til to the ynnere thingis of the wombe. Drede castith doun a slowe man; forsothe the soulis of men turned in to wymmens condicioun schulen haue hungur.

²¹ Deth and lijf ben in the werkis of tunge; thei that louen it, schulen ete the fruytis therof.

⁵ A fals witnesse schal not be vnpunyschid; and he that spekith leesingis, schal not ascape.

¹⁰ Delices bicomen not a fool; nether `it bicometh a seruaunt to be lord of princes.

¹ Wiyn is a letcherouse thing and drunkenesse is ful of noise; who euere delitith in these, schal not be wijs. ² As the roryng of a lioun, so and the drede of the kyng; he that territh hym to ire, synneth ayens his owne lijf.

⁴ A slow man nolde ere for coold; therfor he schal begge in somer, and me schal not yyue to hym.

²⁵ Desiris sleen a slow man; for hise hondis nolden worche ony thing.

¹¹ He that loueth the clennesse of herte, schal haue the kyng a freend, for the grace of hise lippis.

¹⁷ My sone, bowe doun thin eere, and here thou the wordis of wise men; but sette thou the herte to my techyng. ¹⁸ That schal be fair to thee, whanne thou hast kept it in thin herte, and it schal flowe ayen in thi lippis.

²¹ For men yyuynge tent to drinkis, and yyuyng mussels togidere, schulen be waastid, and napping schal be clothid with clothis.

³⁰ I passide bi the feeld of a slow man, and bi the vyner of a fonned man; and, lo! ³¹ nettlis hadden fillid al, thornes hadden hilid the hiyere part therof, and the wal of stoonys with out morter was distried. ³² And whanne Y hadde seyn this thing, Y settide in myn herte, and bi ensaumple Y lernyde techyng. ³³ Hou longe slepist thou, slow man? whanne schalt thou ryse fro sleep? Sotheli thou schalt slepe a litil, thou schalt nappe a litil, thou schalt ioyne togidere the hondis a litil, to take reste; ³⁴ and thi nedynesse as a currour schal come to thee, and thi beggerie as an armed man.

¹¹ A goldun pomel in beddis of siluer is he, that spekith a word in his time. ¹² A goldun eere ryng, and a schinynge peerle is he, that repreueth a wijs man, and an eere obeiynge.

¹⁵ A prince schal be maad soft bi pacience; and a soft tunge schal breke hardnesse.

⁹ As if a thorn growith in the hond of a drunkun man; so a parable in the mouth of foolis.

²⁷ He that delueth a diche, schal falle in to it; and if a man walewith a stoon, it schal turne ayen to hym.

² For the synnes of the lond ben many princis therof; and for the wisdom of a man, and for the kunnyng of these thingis that ben seid, the lijf of the duyk schal be lengere. ³ A pore man falsli calengynge pore men, is lijk a grete reyn, wherynne hungur is maad redi.

¹² In enhaunsing of iust men is miche glorie; whanne wickid men regnen, fallyngis of men ben.

²⁸ Whanne vnpitouse men risen, men schulen be hid; whanne tho `vnpitouse men han perischid, iust men schulen be multiplied.

² The comynalte schal be glad in the multipliyng of iust men; whanne wickid men han take prinshod, the puple schal weyle.

⁹ If a wijs man stryueth with a fool; whether he be wrooth, `ether he leiyith, he schal not fynde reste.

²² bi a seruaunt, whanne he regneth; bi a fool, whanne he is fillid with mete;

⁴ A! Lamuel, nyle thou yiue wyn to kingis; for no pryuete is, where drunkenesse regneth. ⁵ Lest perauenture thei drynke, and foryete domes, and chaunge the cause of the sones of a pore man.

²⁶ Sche openyde hir mouth to wisdom; and the lawe of merci is in hir tunge.

¹ Therfor Y seide in myn hertez, Y schal go, and Y schal flowe in delicis, and Y schal vse goodis; and Y siy also that this was vanyte. ² And leiyyng Y arrettide errour, and Y seide to ioye, What art thou disseyued in veyn?

¹⁶ I siy vndur sunne vnfeithfulnesse in the place of doom; and wickidnesse in the place of riytfulnesse.

²² And Y perseyuede that no thing is betere, than that a man be glad in his werk, and that this be his part; for who schal brynge hym, that he knowe thingis that schulen come after hym?

¹ I turnede me to othere thingis, and Y siy fals chalengis, that ben don vndur the sunne, and the teeris of innocentis, and no man coumfortour; and that thei forsakun of the help of alle men, moun not ayenstonde the violence of hem.

⁷ I bihelde and foond also another vanytee vndir the sunne;

¹ Speke thou not ony thing folily, nether thin herte be swift to brynge forth a word bifore God; for God is in heuene, and thou art on erthe, therfor thi wordis be fewe.

⁷ If thou seest false chalengis of nedi men, and violent domes, and that riytfulnesse is distried in the prouynce, wondre thou not on this doyng; for another is hiyere than an hiy man, and also othere men ben more hiye aboue these men;

¹³ For thei perischen in the worste turment; he gendride a sone, that schal be in souereyn nedynesse.

¹ Also another yuel is, which Y siy vndur the sunne; and certis it is oft vsid anentis men.

¹ What nede is it to a man to seke grettere thingis than hym silf; sithen he knowith not, what schal bifalle to hym in his lijf, in the noumbre of daies of his pilgrimage, and in the tyme that passith as schadowe? ether who may schewe to hym, what thing vndur sunne schal come aftir hym?

² A good name is betere than preciouse oynementis; and the dai of deth is betere than the dai of birthe. ³ It is betere to go to the hous of morenyng, than to the hous of a feeste; for in that hous `of morenyng the ende of alle men is monestid, and a man lyuynge thenkith, what is to comynge. ⁴ Yre is betere than leiyyng; for the soule of a trespassour is amendid bi the heuynesse of cheer. ⁵ The herte of wise men is where sorewe is; and the herte of foolis is where gladnesse is. ⁶ It is betere to be repreued of a wijs man, than to be disseyued bi the flateryng of foolis;

¹¹ Seie thou not, What gessist thou is of cause, that the formere tymes weren betere than ben now? for whi siche axyng is fonned. ¹² Forsothe wisdom with richessis is more profitable, and profitith more to men seynge the sunne.

²¹ Forsothe no iust man is in erthe, that doith good, and synneth not. ²² But also yyue thou not thin herte to alle wordis, that ben seid; lest perauenture thou here thi seruaunt cursynge thee;

³ Haste thou not to go awei fro his face, and dwelle thou not in yuel werk. For he schal do al thing, that he wole;

⁷ for he knowith not thingis passid, and he mai not knowe bi ony messanger thingis to comynge.

³ This thing is the worste among alle thingis, that ben don vndur the sunne, that the same thingis bifallen to alle men; wherfor and the hertis of the sones of men ben fillid with malice and dispisyng in her lijf; and aftir these thingis thei schulen be led doun to hellis.

⁷ Therfor go thou, iust man, and ete thi breed in gladnesse, and drynke thi wiyn with ioie; for thi werkis plesen God.

¹⁰ Worche thou bisili, what euer thing thin hond mai do; for nether werk, nether resoun, nethir kunnyng, nether wisdom schulen be at hellis, whidir thou haastist.

¹⁵ And a pore man and a wijs was foundun ther ynne; and he delyuerede the citee bi his wisdom, and no man bithouyte aftirward on that pore man. ¹⁶ And Y seide, that wisdom is betere than strengthe; hou therfor is the wisdom of a pore man dispisid, and hise wordis ben not herd? ¹⁷ The wordis of wise men ben herd in silence, more than the cry of a prince among foolis.

³ But also a fool goynge in the weie, whanne he is vnwijs, gessith alle men foolis.

⁶ and riche men sitte bynethe. ⁷ I siy seruauntis on horsis, and princes as seruauntis goynge on the erthe.

¹⁰ If yrun is foldid ayen, and this is not as bifore, but is maad blunt, it schal be maad scharp with myche trauel; and wisdom schal sue aftir bisynesse.

¹⁴ A fool multiplieth wordis; a man noot, what was bifore hym, and who mai schewe to hym that, that schal come aftir hym? ¹⁵ The trauel of foolis shal turment hem, that kunnen not go in to the citee.

⁴ And Y schal yyue children the princes of hem, and men of wymmens condiciouns schulen be lordis of hem. ⁵ And the puple schal falle doun, a man to a man, ech man to his neiybore; a child schal make noyse ayens an eld man, and an vnnoble man ayens a noble man.

¹² The wrongful axeris of my puple robbiden it, and wymmen weren lordis therof. Mi puple, thei that seien thee blessid, disseyuen thee, and distrien the weie of thi steppis.

¹¹ Wo to you that risen togidere eerli to sue drunkennesse, and to drinke `til to euentid, that ye brenne with wyn.

¹¹ Wo to you that risen togidere eerli to sue drunkennesse, and to drinke `til to euentid, that ye brenne with wyn. ¹² Harpe, and giterne, and tympan, and pipe, and wyn ben in youre feestis; and ye biholden not the werk of the Lord, nether ye biholden the werkis of hise hondis.

²¹ And it schal passe bi that, and it schal falle doun, and it schal hungre. And whanne it schal hungre, it schal be wrooth, and schal curse his kyng and his God, and it schal biholde vpward.

¹⁸ And the marchaundies therof and the meedis therof schulen be halewid to the Lord; tho schulen not be hid, nethir schulen be leid vp; for whi the marchaundie therof schal be to hem that dwellen bifore the Lord, that thei ete to fulnesse, and be clothid `til to eldnesse.

¹¹ Cry schal be on wyn in streetis, al gladnesse is forsakun, the ioie of erthe is `takun awei.

⁷ But also thei knewen not for wyn, and erriden for drunkenesse; the preest and profete knewen not for drunkenesse; thei weren sopun up of wyn, thei erriden in drunkenesse; thei knewen not a profete, thei knewen not doom. ⁸ For whi alle bordis weren fillid with spuyng and filthis, so that ther was no more place.

⁸ and it schal be clepid an hooli weie, he that is defoulid schal not passe therbi; and this schal be a streiyt weie to you, so that foolis erre not therbi. ⁹ A lioun schal not be there, and an yuel beeste schal not stie therbi, nether schal be foundun there. ¹⁰ And thei schulen go, that ben delyuered and ayenbouyt of the Lord; and thei schulen be conuertid, and schulen come in to Sion with preisyng; and euerlastynge gladnesse schal be on the heed of hem; thei schulen haue ioie and gladnesse, and sorewe and weilyng schulen fle awei.

¹² A smith wrouyte with a file; he fourmyde it in coolis, and in hameris, and he wrouyte with the arm of his strengthe. He schal be hungri, and he schal faile; he schal not drynke watre, and he schal be feynt. ¹³ A carpenter stretchide forth a reule, he fourmyde it with an adese; he made it in the corner places, and he turnede it in cumpas; and he made the ymage of a man, as a fair man, dwellynge in the hous. ¹⁴ He kittide doun cedris, he took an hawthorn, and an ook, that stood among the trees of the forest; he plauntide a pyne apple tre, which he nurschide with reyn, ¹⁵ and it was maad in to fier to men. He took of tho, and was warmed, and he brente, and bakide looues; but of the residue he wrouyte a god, and worschipide it, and he made a grauun ymage, and he was bowid bifore that. ¹⁶ He brente the myddil therof with fier, and of the myddil therof he sethide fleischis, and eet; he sethide potage, and was fillid; and he was warmed, and he seide, Wel! ¹⁷ Y am warmed; Y siy fier. Forsothe the residue therof he made a god, and a grauun ymage to hym silf; he is bowide bifore that, and worschipith that, and bisechith, and seith, Delyuere thou me, for thou art my god.

¹² Stonde thou with thin enchauntours, and with the multitude of thi witchis, in whiche thou trauelidist fro thi yongthe; if in hap thei profiten ony thing to thee, ether if thou maist be maad the strongere. ¹³ Thou failidist in the multitude of thi councels; the false dyuynours of heuene stonde, and saue thee, whiche bihelden staris, and noumbriden monethis, that thei schulden telle bi tho thingis to comynge to thee.

² Whi peisen ye siluer, and not in looues, and youre trauel, not in fulnesse? Ye herynge here me, and ete ye good, and youre soule schal delite in fatnesse.

¹ A iust man perischith, and noon is, that thenkith in his herte; and men of merci ben gaderid togidere, for noon is that vndurstondith; for whi a iust man is gaderid fro the face of malice.

¹⁷ For lo! Y schal sende to you the werste serpentis, to whiche is no charmyng; and thei schulen bite you, seith the Lord.

¹² The Lord seith these thingis, Deme ye eerli doom, and delyuere ye hym that is oppressid bi violence fro the hond of the fals chalenger; lest perauenture myn indignacioun go out as fier, and be kyndlid, and noon be that quenche, for the malice of youre studies.

²¹ And the duyk therof schal be of it, and a prince schal be brouyt forth of the myddis therof; and Y schal applie hym, and he schal neiye to me; for who is this, that schal applie his herte, that he neiye to me? seith the Lord.

⁴ In tho daies, and in that tyme, seith the Lord, the sones of Israel schulen come, thei and the sones of Juda togidere, goynge and wepynge; thei schulen haaste, and seke her Lord God in Sion, ⁵ and thei schulen axe the weie. Hidur the faces of hem schulen come, and thei schulen be set to the Lord with boond of pees euerlastynge, which schal not be don awei by ony foryetyng.

¹ Balthasar, the kyng, made a greet feeste to hise beste men a thousynde, and ech man drank aftir his age. ² Forsothe the kyng thanne drunkun comaundide, that the goldun and siluerne vessels schulden be brouyt forth, whiche Nabugodonosor, his fadir, hadde borun out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, that the kyng, and hise beste men, hise wyues, and councubyns schulden drynke in tho vessels. ³ Thanne the goldun vessels and siluerne, whiche he hadde borun out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, weren brouyt forth; and the kyng, and hise beste men, and hise wyues, and concubyns, drunken in tho vessels. ⁴ Thei drunken wyn, and herieden her goddis of gold, and of siluer, of bras, and of irun, and of tree, and of stoon. ⁵ In the same our fyngris apperiden, as of the hond of a man, writynge ayens the candilstike, in the pleyn part of the wal of the kyngis halle; and the kyng bihelde the fyngris of the hond writynge. ⁶ Thanne the face of the kyng was chaungid, and hise thouytis disturbliden hym; and the ioyncturis of hise reynes weren loosid, and hise knees weren hurtlid to hem silf togidere. ⁷ Therfor the kyng criede strongli, that thei schulden brynge yn astronomyens, Caldeis, and dyuynouris bi lokyng of auteris. And the kyng spak, and seide to the wise men of Babiloyne, Who euer redith this scripture, and makith opyn the interpretyng therof to me, schal be clothid in purpur; and he schal haue a goldun bie in the necke, and he schal be the thridde in my rewme. ⁸ Thanne alle the wise men of the kyng entriden, and miyten not rede the scripture, nether schewe to the kyng the interpretyng therof. ⁹ Wherof kyng Balthasar was disturblid ynow, and his cheer was chaungid, but also hise beste men weren disturblid. ¹⁰ Forsothe the queen entride in to the hous of feeste, for the thing that hadde bifeld to the king, and beste men; and sche spak, and seide, Kyng, lyue thou withouten ende. Thi thouytis disturble not thee, and thi face be not chaungid. ¹¹ A man is in thi rewme, that hath the spirit of hooli goddis in hym silf, and in the daies of thi fadir kunnyng and wisdom weren foundun in hym; for whi and Nabugodonosor, thi fadir, made him prince of astronomyens, of enchaunteris, of Caldeis, and of dyuynouris bi lokyng on auteris; sotheli thi fadir, thou kyng, dide this; ¹² for more spirit, and more prudent, and vndurstondyng, and interpretyng of dremes, and schewyng of priuytees, and assoilyng of boundun thingis weren foundun in hym, that is, in Danyel, to whom the kyng puttide the name Balthasar. Now therfor Daniel be clepid, and he schal telle the interpretyng. Therfor Daniel was brouyt in bifor the kyng. To whom the forseid kyng seide,

⁵ The dai of oure kyng; the princis bigunnen to be wood of wyn; he stretchide forth his hoond with scorneris. ⁶ For thei applieden her herte as an ouene, whanne he settide tresoun to hem. Al the niyt he slepte bakynge hem, in the morewtid he was maad hoot, as the fier of flawme. ⁷ Alle weren maad hoot as an ouene, and thei deuouriden her iugis. Alle the kyngis of hem fellen doun, and noon is among hem that crieth to me.

¹⁹ As if a man renne fro the face of a lioun, and a bere renne to hym; and he entre in to the hous, and lene with his hond on the wal, and a serpent dwellynge in schadewe bite hym.

³ And if thei schulen be hid in the cop of Carmele, fro thennus Y sekynge schal do awei hem; and if thei schulen hide hem silf fro myn iyen in the depnesse of the see, there Y shal comaunde to a serpente, and it schal bite hem.

⁶ Whether not alle these puplis schulen take a parable on hym, and the speking of derk sentencis of hym? And it schal be seid, Wo to hym that multiplieth thingis not his owne; hou longe, and he aggreggith ayens hym silf thicke clei? ⁷ Thanne Eroude clepide pryueli the astromyens, and lernyde bisili of hem the tyme of the sterre that apperide to hem. ⁸ And he sente hem in to Bethleem, and seide, Go ye, and axe ye bisili of the child, and whanne yee han foundun, telle ye it to me, that Y also come, and worschipe hym.

¹⁶ Thanne Eroude seynge that he was disseyued of the astromyens, was ful wrooth; and he sente, and slowe alle the children, that weren in Bethleem, and in alle the coostis therof, fro two yeer age and with inne, aftir the tyme that he had enquerid of the astromyens.

¹³ Ye ben salt of the erthe; that if the salt vanysche awey, whereynne schal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth ouere, no but that it be cast out, and be defoulid of men. ¹⁴ Ye ben liyt of the world; a citee set on an hil may not be hid; ¹⁵ ne me teendith not a lanterne, and puttith it vndur a busschel, but on a candilstike, that it yyue liyt to alle that ben in the hous. ¹⁶ So schyne youre liyt befor men, that thei se youre goode werkis, and glorifie youre fadir that is in heuenes.

¹⁶ Lo! Y sende you as scheep in the myddil of wolues; therfor be ye sliy as serpentis, and symple as dowues.

²⁸ Alle ye that traueilen, and ben chargid, come to me, and Y schal fulfille you. ²⁹ Take ye my yok on you, and lerne ye of me, for Y am mylde and meke in herte; and ye schulen fynde reste to youre soulis. ³⁰ `For my yok is softe, and my charge liyt.

³⁵ A good man bryngith forth good thingis of good tresoure, and an yuel man bringith forth yuel thingis of yuel tresoure.

²¹ Jhesus seith to hym, If thou wolt be perfite, go, and sille alle thingis that thou hast, and yyue to pore men, and thou schalt haue tresoure in heuene; and come, and sue me.

²² And alle men yauen witnessyng to hym, and wondriden in the wordis of grace, that camen forth of his mouth. And thei seiden, Whether this is not the sone of Joseph?

² And summe of the Farisees seiden to hem, What doon ye that, that is not leeueful in the sabotis?

¹¹ And thei weren fulfillid with vnwisdom, and spaken togidir, what thei schulden do of Jhesu.

³ and Joone, the wijf of Chuse, the procuratoure of Eroude, and Susanne, and many othir, that mynystriden to hym of her ritchesse.

⁴⁰ But Martha bisiede aboute the ofte seruyce. And sche stood, and seide, Lord, takist thou no kepe, that my sistir hath left me aloone to serue? therfor seie thou to hir, that sche helpe me.

³⁸ And the Farisee bigan to seie, gessynge with ynne hym silf, whi he was not waschen bifor mete.

⁵³ And whanne he seide these thingis to hem, the Farisees and wise men of lawe bigunnen greuousli to ayenstonde, and stoppe his mouth of many thingis, ⁵⁴ aspiynge hym, and sekynge to take sum thing of his mouth, to accuse hym.

² For no thing is hilid, that schal not be schewid; nether hid, that schal not be wist. ³ For whi tho thingis that ye han seid in derknessis, schulen be seid in liyt; and that that ye han spokun in eere in the couchis, schal be prechid in roofes.

¹⁸ And he seith, This thing Y schal do; Y schal throwe doun my bernes, and Y schal make gretter, and thidir Y schal gadir alle thingis that growen to me, and my goodis. ¹⁹ And Y schal seie to my soule, Soule, thou hast many goodis kept in to ful many yeeris; rest thou, ete, drynke, and make feeste.

¹⁹ And Y schal seie to my soule, Soule, thou hast many goodis kept in to ful many yeeris; rest thou, ete, drynke, and make feeste. ²⁰ And God seide to hym, Fool, in this nyyt thei schulen take thi lijf fro thee. And whos schulen tho thingis be, that thou hast arayed?

²⁸ For who of you willynge to bilde a toure, whether he `first sitte not, and countith the spensis that ben nedeful, if he haue to perfourme? ²⁹ Lest aftir that he hath set the foundement, and mowe not perfourme, alle that seen, bigynnen to scorne hym, and seie, For this man bigan to bilde, ³⁰ and myyte not make an ende. ³¹ Or what kyng that wole go to do a bataile ayens anothir kyng, whether he sittith not first, and bithenkith, if he may with ten thousynde go ayens hym that cometh ayens hym with twenti thousynde? ³² Ellis yit while he is afer, he sendynge a messanger, preieth tho thingis that ben of pees.

⁹ And Y seie to you, make ye to you freendis of the ritchesse of wickidnesse, that whanne ye schulen fayle, thei resseyue you in to euerlastynge tabernaclis.

²² He seith to hym, Wickid seruaunt, of thi mouth Y deme thee. Wistist thou, that Y am `a sterne man, takynge awei that thing that Y settide not, and repyng ethat thing that Y sewe not?

⁴⁰ And he seide to hem, Y seie to you, for if these ben stille, stoonus schulen crye.

¹⁰ But the princis of prestis thouyten to sle Lazarus,

⁴⁵ Thei selden possessiouns and catel, and departiden tho thingis to alle men, as it was nede to ech.

²⁸ and seiden, In comaundement we comaundiden you, that ye schulden not teche in this name, and lo! ye han fillid Jerusalem with youre teching, and ye wolen bringe on vs the blood of this man. ²⁹ And Petre answeride, and the apostlis, and seiden, It bihoueth to obeie to God, more than to men. ³⁰ God of oure fadris reiside Jhesu, whom ye slowen, hangynge in a tre. ³¹ God enhaunside with his riythond this prince and sauyour, that penaunce were yyue to Israel, and remyssioun of synnes. ³² And we ben witnessis of these wordis, and the Hooli Goost, whom God yaf to alle obeischinge to him. ³³ Whanne thei herden these thingis, thei weren turmentid, and thouyten to sle hem.

¹ But in tho daies, whanne the noumbre of disciplis encreesside, the Grekis grutchiden ayens the Ebrews, for that her widewis weren dispisid in euery daies mynystryng. ² And the twelue clepiden togidere the multitude of disciplis, and seiden, It is not ryytful, that we leeuen the word of God, and mynystren to boordis. ³ Therfor, britheren, biholde ye men of you of good fame, ful of the Hooli Goost and of wisdom, whiche we schulen ordeyne on this werk; ⁴ for we schulen be bisi to preier, and preche the word of God. ⁵ And the word pleside bifor al the multitude; and thei chesiden Styuen, a man ful of feith and of the Hooli Goost, and Filip, and Procore, and Nycanor, and Tymon, and Parmanam, and Nycol, a comelyng, a man of Antioche. ⁶ Thei ordeyneden these bifor the siyt of apostlis, and thei preyeden, and leiden hoondis on hem. ⁷ And the word of the Lord wexide, and the noumbre of the disciplis in Jerusalem was myche multiplied; also myche cumpany of preestis obeiede to the feith. ⁸ And Steuen, ful of grace and of strengthe, made wondris and grete signes in the puple. ⁹ But summe rysen of the synagoge, that was clepid of Libertyns, and Cirenensis, and of men of Alisaundre, and of hem that weren of Cilice and of Asie, and disputiden with Steuene.

⁹ But summe rysen of the synagoge, that was clepid of Libertyns, and Cirenensis, and of men of Alisaundre, and of hem that weren of Cilice and of Asie, and disputiden with Steuene. ¹⁰ And thei miyten not withstonde the wisdom and the spirit, that spak. ¹¹ Thanne thei priueli senten men, that schulden seie, that thei herden hym seiynge wordis of blasfemye ayens Moises and God.

⁵⁴ And thei herden these thingis, and weren dyuersli turmentid in her hertis, and grenneden with teeth on hym. ⁵⁵ But whanne Steuene was ful of the Hooli Goost, he bihelde in to heuene, and say the glorie of God, and Jhesu stondinge on the riythalf of the vertu of God. And he seide, Lo! Y se heuenes openyd, and mannus sone stondynge on the riythalf of the vertu of God. ⁵⁶ And thei crieden with a greet vois, and stoppiden her eris, and maden with o wille an assauyt in to hym. ⁵⁷ And thei brouyten hym out of the citee, and stonyden. And the witnessis diden of her clothis, bisidis the feet of a yong man, that was clepid Saule. ⁵⁸ And thei stonyden Steuene, that clepide God to help, seiynge, Lord Jhesu, resseyue my spirit. ⁵⁹ And he knelide, and criede with a greet vois, and seide, Lord, sette not to hem this synne. And whanne he hadde seid this thing, he diede.

²⁹ And alle the disciplis purposiden, after that ech hadde, for to sende in to mynysterie to britheren that dwelliden in Judee.

² Therfor whanne ther was maad not a litil discencioun to Poul and Barnabas ayens hem, thei ordeyneden, that Poul and Barnabas, and summe othere of hem, schulden go vp to the apostlis and preestis in Jerusalem, on this questioun. ³ And so thei weren led forth of the chirche, and passiden bi Fenyce and Samarie; and thei telden the conuersacioun of hethene men, and thei maden greet ioie to alle the britheren. ⁴ And whanne thei camen to Jerusalem, thei weren resseyued of the chirche and of the apostlis, and of the eldre men, and telden, hou greet thingis God dide with hem. ⁵ But summe of the erise of Fariseis, that bileueden, risen vp, and seiden, That it bihoueth hem to be circumsidid, and to comaunde to kepe also the lawe of Moises. ⁶ And the apostlis and eldre men camen togidre, to se of `this word. <sup>7</sup> And whanne there was maad a greet sekyng herof, Petre roos, and seide to hem, Britheren, ye witen, that of elde daies in you God chees bi my mouth hethene, to here the word of the gospel, and to bileue; <sup>8</sup> and God, that knewe hertis, bar witnessing, and yaf to hem the Hooli Goost, as also to vs; <sup>9</sup> and no thing diuerside bitwixe vs and hem, `and clenside the hertis of hem bi feith. ¹⁰ Now thanne what tempten ye God, to putte a yok on the necke of the disciplis, which nether we, nether oure fadris miyten bere? ¹¹ But bi the grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist we bileuen to be saued, as also thei. ¹² And al the multitude helde pees, and herden Barnaban and Poul, tellinge hou grete signes and wondris God dide bi hem in hethene men. ¹³ And aftir that thei helden pees, James answeride, and seide, Britheren, here ye me. ¹⁴ Symount telde, hou God visitide, first to take of hethene men a puple to his name. ¹⁵ And the wordis of prophetis acorden to him, ¹⁶ as it is writun, Aftir this Y schal turne ayen, and bilde the tabernacle of Dauid, that felle doun; and Y schal bilde ayen the cast doun thingis of it, and Y schal reise it; ¹⁷ that other men seke the Lord, and alle folkis on which my name is clepid to helpe; the Lord doynge this thing, seith. ¹⁸ Fro the world, the werk of the Lord is knowun to the Lord. ¹⁹ For which thing Y deme hem that of hethene men ben conuertid to God, ²⁰ to be not disesid, but to write to hem, that thei absteyne hem fro defoulingis of maumetis, and fro fornicacioun, and stranglid thingis, and blood. ²¹ For Moyses of elde tymes hath in alle citees hem that prechen him in synagogis, where bi ech sabat he is red.

²⁴ For a man, Demetrie bi name, a worcher in siluer, makide siluer housis to Diane, and yaf to crafti men myche wynnyng; ²⁵ which he clepide togidere `hem that weren suche maner werkmen, and seide, Men, ye witen that of this craft wynnyng is to vs; ²⁶ and ye seen and heren, that this Poul counseilith and turneth awei myche puple, not oonli of Effesie, but almest of al Asie, and seith, that thei ben not goddis, that ben maad with hoondis. ²⁷ And not oonli this part schal be in perel to vs, to come in to repreef, but also the temple of the greet Dian schal be acountid in to nouyt; yhe, and the maieste of hir schal bigynne to be destried, whom al Asie and the world worschipith. ²⁸ Whanne these thingis weren herd, thei weren fillid with ire, and crieden, and seiden, Greet is the Dian of Effesians.

⁵ And Poul seide, Britheren, Y wiste not, that he is prince of preestis; for it is writun, Thou schalt not curse the prince of thi puple.

¹⁹ But youre obedience is pupplischid in to euery place, therfor Y haue ioye in you. But Y wole that ye be wise in good thing, and symple in yuel.

²⁰ Britheren, nyle ye be maad children in wittis, but in malice be ye children; but in wittis be ye parfit.

¹² For bifor that ther camen summen fro James, he eete with the hethene men; but whanne thei weren comun, he withdrowy, and departide hym, dredinge hem that weren of circumcisioun. ¹³ And the othere Jewis assentiden to his feynyng, so that Barnabas was drawun of hem in to that feynyng. ¹⁴ But whanne Y sawy, that thei walkiden not riytli to the treuthe of the gospel, Y seide to Petre bifor alle men, If thou, that art a Jew, lyuest hethenlich, and not Jewelich, hou constreynest thou hethene men to bicome Jewis?

²⁹ Ech yuel word go not of youre mouth; but if ony is good to the edificacioun of feith, that it yyue grace to men that heren.

¹⁵ Therfor, britheren, se ye, hou warli ye schulen go; ¹⁶ not as vnwise men, but as wise men, ayenbiynge tyme, for the daies ben yuele. ¹⁷ Therfor nyle ye be maad vnwise, but vndurstondynge which is the wille of God. ¹⁸ And nyle ye be drunkun of wyn, in which is letcherie, but be ye fillid with the Hooli Goost; and speke ye to you silf in salmes, ¹⁹ and ymnes, and spiritual songis, syngynge and seiynge salm in youre hertis to the Lord;

¹⁵ For and ye, Filipensis, witen, that in the bigynnyng of the gospel, whanne Y wente forth fro Macedonye, no chirche comynede with me in resoun of thing youun and takun, but ye aloone. ¹⁶ Whiche senten to Tessalonyk onys and twies also in to vss to me. ¹⁷ Not for Y seke yifte, but Y requyre fruyt aboundinge in youre resoun. ¹⁸ For Y haue alle thingis, and abounde; Y am fillid with tho thingis takun of Epafrodite, whiche ye senten in to the odour of swetnesse, a couenable sacrifice, plesynge to God. ¹⁹ And my God fil alle youre desire, by hise richessis in glorie in Crist Jhesu.

⁵ Walke ye in wisdom to hem that ben with outen forth, ayenbiynge tyme. ⁶ Youre word be sauered in salt eueremore in grace; that ye wite, hou it bihoueth you to answere to ech man.

¹⁷ Amen. Comaunde thou to the riche men of this world, that thei vndurstonde not hiyli, nether that thei hope in vncerteynte of richessis, but in the lyuynge God, that yyueth to vs alle thingis plenteuously to vse; ¹⁸ to do wel, to be maad riche in good werkis, liytli to yyue, ¹⁹ to comyne, to tresoure to hem silf a good foundement in to tyme to comynge, that thei catche euerlastinge lijf.

¹¹ And we coueiten that ech of you schewe the same bisynesse to the fillyng of hope in to the ende;

⁵ And if ony of you nedith wisdom, axe he of God, which yyueth to alle men largeli, and vpbreidith not; and it schal be youun to hym.

³ and if ye biholden in to hym that is clothid with clere clothing, and if ye seie to hym, Sitte thou here wel; but to the pore man ye seien, Stonde thou there, ethir sitte vndur the stool of my feet; whether ye demen not anentis you silf, ⁴ and ben maad domesmen of wickid thouytis? ⁵ Heere ye, my moost dereworthe britheren, whethir God chees not pore men in this world, riche in feith, and eiris of the kyngdom, that God bihiyte to men that louen him?

⁶ And oure tunge is fier, the vniuersite of wickidnesse. The tunge is ordeyned in oure membris, which defoulith al the bodi; and it is enflawmed of helle, and enflawmeth the wheel of oure birthe.

¹³ And who art thou, that demest thi neiybore? Lo! now ye, that seien, To dai ethir to morewe we schulen go in to thilke citee, and there we schulen dwelle a yeer, and we schulen make marchaundise, and we schulen make wynning; ¹⁴ whiche witen not, what is to you in the morewe.

³ For the time that is passid is ynow to the wille of hethene men to be endid, whiche walkiden in letcheries, and lustis, in myche drinking of wyn, in vnmesurable etyngis, and drynkyngis, and vnleueful worschiping of mawmetis. ⁴ In whiche now thei ben astonyed, in which thing thei wondren, for ye rennen not togidere `in to the same confusioun of letcherie, and blasfemen.

⁵ And bringe ye in alle bisynesse, and mynystre ye in youre feith vertu, and `in vertu kunnyng; ⁶ in kunnyng abstinence, in abstynence pacience, in pacience pitee; ⁷ in pitee, love of britherhod, and in loue of britherhod charite. ⁸ For if these ben with you, and ouercomen, thei schulen not make you voide, nethir with out fruyt, in the knowyng of oure Lord Jhesu Crist. ⁹ But to whom these ben not redi, he is blynd, and gropith with his hoond, and foryetith the purgyng of his elde trespassis. ¹⁰ Wherfor, britheren, be ye more bisi, that by goode werkis ye make youre clepyng and chesyng certeyn;