The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,

CAP. III.

[verse 1] Forsothe the soulis of iust men ben in the hond of God; and the turment of deth [of deth; that is, of helle. Lire here. C.] schal not touche hem. [verse 2] Thei sem|yden to the iȝen of vnwise men to die; and turment was demed the outgoyng of hem. [verse 3] And fro iust weie [And fro iust weie, etc.; that is, fro the weie of riȝtfulnesse, that they helden truly in this world. in to dis|triyng; bi the errour of vn|wise men. Lire here. C.] thei ȝeden in to distriyng, and that that [Om. C.] is of vs the weie of distriyng [wey of distri|yng; that is, bi the errour, that seith, that men that dien, ben distried outirli. Lire here. C.] ; but thei ben in pees. [verse 4] Thouȝ thei sufriden turmentis bifore men, the hope of hem is ful of vndeedlynesse. [verse 5] Thei weren trauelid in a fewe thingis, and thei schulen be disposid wel in many thingis; for whi God asaiede hem, and foond hem worthi to hym silf. [verse 6] He preu|ede hem as gold in a furneis, and he took hem as the offryng of brent sacrifice; and the biholdyng of hem schal be in tyme of ȝelding. [verse 7] Iust men schulen schyne, and [and thei I.] schulen renne aboute as sparclis in a place of rehed. [verse 8] Thei schulen deme na|ciouns, and [and thei I.] schulen be lordis of puplis; and the Lord of hem schal regne with outen ende. [verse 9] Thei that trusten on hym, schulen vnderstonde treuthe; and feithful men in loue schulen assente to hym; for whi ȝifte [ȝifte; of grace in present tyme. and pees; in tyme to comynge. Lire here. C.] and pees is to hise chosun men. [verse 10] But wickid men, bi tho thingis

that thei thouȝten, schulen haue punysch|yng; whiche dispisiden [dispisiden, etc.; that is, nolden do iust werkis. vnhabitable; that is, vnable to dwelle ynne. alowing; that is, excus|ing of her yuels. in the dai of knowing; that is, of ge|neral doom. of hard end|ing; that is, of hard dampn|yng to the peyne of helle. Lire here. C.] iust thing, and ȝeden awei fro the Lord. [verse 11] For he that castith awei wisdom and lore, is cursid; and the hope of wickid men is voide, and her trauels ben without fruyt, and her werkis ben vnhabitable [vnable for to dwelle I.] , and vnprofit|able. [verse 12] The wymmen of hem ben vnwitti, and the sones of hem ben ful weiward. [verse 13] The creature of hem is cursid; for whi a [the I.] womman bareyn and vndefoulid is blessid, that `knew not [hath not knowen the I.] bed in trespas; sche schal haue fruyt in the biholdyng of holy soulis. [verse 14] And a man vnmyȝti to gendre [gete I.] is blessid, that `wrouȝte not [hath not wrouȝt I.] wickidnesse bi hise hondis, nether thouȝte moost weiward thingis aȝens the Lord; for whi a chosun ȝifte of feith schal be ȝouun to hym, and a most acceptable eritage in the temple of God. [verse 15] For whi the fruyt of good trauels is gloriouse, and the roote of wisdom that fallith not doun. [verse 16] But the sones of avow|treris schulen be in distriyng, and the seed of a wickid bed schal be destried. [verse 17] And sotheli thouȝ thei schulen be of long lijf, thei schulen be arettid in to nouȝt; and the laste eelde of hem schal be withouten onour. [verse 18] And if thei ben deed swiftliere, thei schulen not haue hope, nether alow|yng in the dai of knowyng. [verse 19] Forsothe wickide naciouns ben of hard ending.