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

ECCLESIASTICUS.

[Prologue to Ecclesiasticus.]

WISDOM is schewid to us of fele and greet bi the lawe, and prophetis, whiche folewide hem. In which thingis it bihou|eth to preise Israel, bi cause of doctrine and wisdom; for not which it is neces|sarie thilke spekers to be wise, but also straungers mouȝe, and reders and writers, be also imade best itauȝte. My graun|fadir Jhesus, bisiloker to diligence of red|yng of the lawe, and prophetis, and of othir bokes, that beth of oure fadris itake to us, thanne wolde he write sum thing here of, which that perteynid to doctrine and wisdom, as desires to lerne and of hem to be made wijs, more and more in biholdyng in inwitt, and to be confermed to laweful lyf. Therfore I warne ȝou to come with goode wille with the more bisili stodie the lesson to make, and haue in hem forȝeuenesse, in which as semeth folwynge the ymage of wisdom, and lack|ide compassioun of wordis. For Ebrewe wordis lackide, whanne thei weren trans|latid to an alien tunge. Not oonli thei, but also the self lawe, and the prophetis, and othre thingis of bokis, haueth not a litil difference, whanne thei ben ispoken bi|twixe hemself. For the eiȝte and the thrittenthe ȝeer of the tyme of Tolomeye Euergete king, aftir that he came in to Egipt, and I hadde there abide longe

tyme, I fonde there bokes ilefte not of schrewid, neithir of dispiseable doctrine. So I thouȝte good and necessarie to putte therto diligence and labour to expowne these bokes, and with grete wakyng I brouȝte the doctrine, in the space of tyme to thilke thingis that ledeth to the eend to ȝeue this boke, to hem that wolen ȝeue her inwitt, and lerne hou it bihoueth to lerne vertues, the which purposide to lede her lyf aftir the Lordis lawe [This prologue is taken from R.] .

[Here bigynneth the book of Ecclesiastici [From EGPY. Ecclesasticus. R. No initial rubric in the other MSS.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] Al wisdom [wisdom; that is, Goddis Sone, that conteyneth ful hiȝli alle maneris of wis|dom maad, is of the Fadir, and cometh forth of him, with out bi|gynnyng. Lire here. C.] is of the Lord God, and was euere with hym, and is bifore the world. [verse 2] Who noumbride the grauel of the see, and the dropis of reyn, and the daies of the world? Who mesuride the hiȝ|nesse of heuene, and the breed of erthe, and the depthe of the see? [verse 3] Who enserch|ide [deth enserchide C pr. m. HU. hath enserchide A sup. ras. doth encerche EY. doth encerchede P.] the wisdom of God, that goith bifore alle thingis? [verse 4] Wisdom was formed [was formyd; that is, brouȝt forth bi euer|lastinge gene|racioun. Lire here. C.] firste of alle thingis, and the vndurstonding of prudence, fro the world [world withouten ende V.] [fro the world; that is, fro without bigyn|nyng. Lire here. C.] . [verse 5] The welle of wisdom [The welle of wisdom; that is, wherof the werk of wisdom is spred forth as streemes. in hiȝe thingis; for it flowith to hooli aungels, and aftirward to othere crea|turis. the en|tring; the en|tringis of wis|dom to men ben seid reue|laciouns therof. Lire here. C.] is the sone of God in hiȝ thingis; and the entryng of that wisdom is euer|lastynge comaundementis [euerlastinge comaunde|mentis; in the hil of Synay God ȝaf co|maundementis that ben seid euerlastinge, for tho ben weye to come to euerlastynge liyf. the roote of wisdom schew|id; that is, knowun per|fitly, as if he seye, to no crea|ture. schewid and maad opyn; that is, perfitly know|un, as if he seye, to no creature. Lire here. C.] . [verse 6] To whom was the roote of wisdom schewid? and who knewe the sutilites therof? [verse 7] To whom was the lore of wisdom shewid, and maad opyn? and who vndurstood the multi|pliyng

of the entryng therof [of the entring therof; that is, of the werk therof. Lire here. C.] ? [verse 8] Oon is the hiȝeste creatour of alle thingis, almyȝti, and a myȝti kyng, and worthi to be dred ful miche, sittynge on the trone of that wisdom, and God hauynge lordschipe. [verse 9] He fourmyde [He fourmyde; he, that is, the Fadir mesuride. on ech fleisch; that is, on ech man. Lire here. C.] `that wisdom [it I.] in the Hooli Ghost, and he siȝ, and noumbride, and he mesuride. [verse 10] And he schedde out it on alle hise werkis, and on ech fleisch [fleisch ether man V.] bi his ȝifte; he ȝyueth it to hem that louen hym. [verse 11] The drede of the Lord is glorie [The drede of Lord is glorie; for bi it a man disseruyth glo|rie. Lire here. C.] , and gloriyng, and gladnesse, and a coroun of ful out ioiyng. [verse 12] The [Om. I.] drede of the Lord schal delite the herte; and schal [it schal I.] ȝyue gladnesse and ioie in to lengthe of daies [lengthe of dayes; that is, with outen ende. Lire here. C.] . [verse 13] To hym that dredith God, it schal be wel in the laste thingis [daies I.] ; and he schal be blessid in the dai of his deth. [verse 14] Forsothe thei to whiche [whom I.] wisdom apperith in siȝt [apperith in siȝt; that is, bi reuelacioun of profesie. Lire here. C.] , louen [that is louen V.] it in siȝt, and in knowyng of hise grete thingis. [verse 15] The loue of God is onour|able wisdom. [verse 16] The bigynnyng of wisdom is the [Om. I.] drede of the Lord; and it is formyd togidere in the wombe [in the wombe; that is, in bap|tym, which is goostly gene|racioun, in whiche the grace of the Hooly Goost is ȝouun. Lire here. C.] with feithful men, and it goith with chosun wymmen, and is [it is I.] knowun with iust men and feithful. [verse 17] The [Om. I.] drede of the Lord is religiouste [The drede of the Lord is religiouste; that is, bynd|ing of kun|nyng about God, lest it flete doun, for to loue vnduly delitable thingis of the world. myrthe; in pre|sent tyme, bi clennesse of consience. and ioie; in tyme to com|ynge, bi the geting of glorie. schal be wel; for in heuene schal be noon yuel. schal be blessid; of God and aungels. of his coum|fort; that is, of blisful vsing in heuene. The fulnesse of wis|dom is for to drede God; for it ledith to glo|rie, wherynne is fulnesse of wisdom in blisful siȝt. Lire here. C.] of kun|nyng. [verse 18] Religiouste schal kepe, and schal [Om. I.] iustifie the herte; and schal ȝyue myrthe and ioie. [verse 19] It schal be wel to hym that dredith God; and he schal be blessid in the daies of his coumfort. [verse 20] The fulnesse of wisdom is for to drede God; and ful|nesse is of the fruytis therof. [verse 21] It schal fille ech ȝifte [schal fille ech ȝifte; for whi the ȝiftis of God ben fillid in heuenly cuntrey, to which the drede of God bryngith. and reseitis; that is, myȝtis of the soule, that schulen be fillid with souereyn perfeccioun in heuene. Lire here. C.] of hym of generaciouns, and reseitis of the tresouris therof. [verse 22] The coroun of wisdom is the drede of the Lord, and fillith pees, and the fruyt of heelthe. [verse 23] And he siȝ, and noumbride it; forsothe euer eithir [euer either; that is, wisdom and drede. Lire here. C.] ben [that is, wijsdom and drede ben V.] the ȝiftis of God. [verse 24] Wisdom schal departe the kunnyng and vndurstondyng of prudence; and it en|haunsith

the glorie of hem, that holden it. [verse 25] The roote of wisdom is for to drede God; forsothe the [Om. K.] braunchis [braunchis, that is, vertues V.] therof [the braunchis therof; that is, vertues, that comen forth of wisdom. Lire here. C.] ben longe durynge. [verse 26] Vndurstonding, and re|ligiouste of kunnyng ben in the tresouris of wisdom; but wisdom is abhomynacioun to synners. [verse 27] The [Om. I.] drede of the Lord put|tith [verse 28] awei synne, for he that is with out drede [with out drede; of God. Lire here. C.] , mai not be iustified; for whi the wrathfulnesse of his pride is the destriyng of hym. [verse 29] A pacient man schal suffre [a pacient man schal suf|fre; the disesis of a proud man. of myrthe; for the mede of glorie schal be ȝoldun to a pacient man, and the peyne of helle to a proude man. good wit; that is, a man of good discre|cioun. schal hide the wordis of him; that is, of a proud man and ouer|thewert, in beynge stille paciently til in to a couena|ble tyme. the wit of him; that suffrith paciently, as it is opyn of Dauith, whos wit many men comenden, for he herd pa|ciently the wordis of Se|mey doynge ouerthewertly aȝenus hym. In the tresours of wisdom; that is, among pre|ciouse thingis therof. signefiyng of kunnyng; bi which a man suffrith pa|ciently disesis, as the scourgis of God, as of a fadir chastis|inge. worschip|ing of God; which is wor|schipid bi feith, hope, and cha|rite, as Austyn seith in En|cheridion. Lire here. C.] til in to tyme; and aftirward schal [ther schal I.] be ȝeld|ing of mirthe. [verse 30] Good wit schal hide the wordis of hym til in to a tyme; and the lippis of many men schulen telle out the wit of hym. [verse 31] In the tresouris of wisdom [verse 32] is signefiyng of kunnyng; but the wor|schipyng of God is abhomynacioun to a synnere. [verse 33] A! sone, coueitynge wisdom, kepe thou riȝtfulnesse, and God schal ȝyue it to thee. [verse 34] For whi the [Om. I.] drede of the Lord is wisdom, and kunnyng, and that [verse 35] that is wel plesaunt to hym is feith and myldenesse; and God schal fille the tres|sours of hym [the tresouris; of goostly goodis. of hym; that dredith God. Lire here. C.] . [verse 36] Be thou not rebel, and vnbileueful to the drede of the Lord; and neiȝe thou not to hym in double herte. [verse 37] Be thou not an ypocrite in the siȝt of men; and be thou not sclaundrid in thi lippis. [verse 38] Take thou kepe to tho, lest thou falle, and brynge disonour to thi soule; [verse 39] and lest God schewe thi priuytees, and hurtle thee doun in the myddis of the [verse 40] synagoge [the synagoge; that is, of gadering togidere of feithful men. Lire here. C.] ; for thou neiȝidist wickidli to the Lord, and thin herte was ful of gile and of falsnesse.

CAP. II.

[verse 1] Sone, neiȝynge to the seruyce of God, stonde thou in riȝtfulnesse, and drede; and make redi thi soule to temptacioun. [verse 2] Bere doun thin herte [bere doun thyn herte; in refreyninge the stiringis of vnpatience. Lire here. C.] , and suffre, and

bowe doun thin eere, and take the wordis of vndirstonding, and haaste thou not in to the tyme of deeth [haste thou not in to the tyme of deth; that is, be thou not brokun for the lengthe of aduersite, and desire deth. Suffre thou the susteynyngis of God; that is, suffre paciently aduersites, in whiche God schal susteyne thee. haue thou pacience in thi lownesse; that is, temporal casting doun. he schal re|kyuere thee; fro temporal turment to euerlastinge coumfort. Lire here. C.] . [verse 3] Suffre thou the susteynyngis of God; be thou ioyned to God, and abide thou, that thi lijf wexe in the last tyme. [verse 4] Take thou alle thing that is set to thee, and suffre thou in sorewe, and haue thou pacience in thi lownesse. [verse 5] For whi gold and siluer is preued in fier; forsothe men worthi to be resseyued ben preued in the chymeney of lownesse. [verse 6] Bileue thou to God, and he schal rekeuere thee; and dresse thou thi weie, and hope thou in to hym. Kepe thou his drede, and wexe thou eld ther ynne. [verse 7] Ȝe that dreden the Lord, abide [abideth I.] his merci, and boowe ȝe not awei fro hym, lest ȝe falle doun. [verse 8] Ȝe that dreden the Lord, bileue to hym, and ȝoure mede schal not be auoidid. [verse 9] Ȝe that dreden the Lord, hope [hopeth I.] into hym, and merci [his merci C.] schal come to ȝou into delityng. [verse 10] Ȝe that dreden the Lord, loue [loueth I.] hym, and ȝoure hertis schulen be liȝtned. [verse 11] Sones, biholde ȝe the naciouns [biholde ȝe the naciouns, etc.; biholding of hooly bokis, in whiche the dedis of fadris, that is, of Abra|ham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, and othere men ben writun. Lire here. C.] of men, and wite ȝe, that no man hopide in the Lord, and [verse 12] was schent; noon dwellide in hise heestis, and was forsakun; ether who inwardli clepide hym, and he despiside hym `that clepide [Om. I.] ? [verse 13] For whi God is pitouse, and merciful, and he schal forȝyue synnes in the dai of tribulacioun; and he is de|fendere to alle men, that seken hym in treuthe. [verse 14] Woo to the `man with [Om. I.] double [double in I.] herte, and with cursid lippis, and mis|doynge hondys; and to a synnere en|trynge in to the lond bi twei [two I passim.] weies. [verse 15] Wo to hem that ben dissolute [that ben dis|solute; that is, whos herte is vnboundun and departid fro God, bi vnfeith|fulnesse. Lire here. C.] of herte, that bileuen not to God; and therfor thei schu|len not be defendid of him. [verse 16] Wo to hem that han lost pacience, and that han for|sake riȝtful weies, and han turned awei in to schrewid weies. [verse 17] And what schulen thei do, whanne the Lord schal bigynne to biholde [to biholde; that is, to pu|nysche; the Lord is seid to biholde synnes, whanne he pu|nyschith tho. Lire here. C.] ? [verse 18] Thei that dreden the Lord,

schulen not be vnbileueful to his word; and thei that louen hym, schulen kepe his weie. [verse 19] Thei that dreden the Lord, schulen enquere tho thingis, that ben wel plesaunt to hym; and thei that louen him, schulen be fillid with his lawe. [verse 20] Thei that dreden the Lord, schulen make redi her hertis, and schulen halewe her soulis in his siȝt. [verse 21] Thei that dreden the Lord, schulen kepe hise comaundementis, and [and thei I.] schulen haue [verse 22] pacience til to the biholdyng [haue pacience til to the bihold|ing; thanne God biholdith pacient men, whanne he de|lyuerith hem, and makith hem ioyeful. If we doen not penaunce; for synnes, fro whiche a man may not be al vngilti in present tyme. in to the hondis of the Lord; that is, in to Goddis pu|nysching ful greuouse. bi the greetnesse of hym; that is, his power to punysch hem, that ben ob|stynat in synne. his mersi; in sparinge hem, that doen pe|naunce. with him; for whi euer either is the same thing with Goddis being. of wis|dom; that is, of God, which is wisdom, thorou beyng ether kynde. obedience and loue; as a man liberal excel|ently is seid not onely li|beral, but also liberalte. Lire here. C.] of hym; and schulen seie, If we doon not penaunce, we schulen falle in to the hondis of the Lord, and not in to the hondis of men. [verse 23] For bi the greetnesse of hym, so and his merci is [Om. N.] with hym.

CAP. III.

[verse 1] The sones of wisdom ben the chirche of iust men, and the [Om. C.] nacioun of hem is obedience and loue. [verse 2] Dereworthe sones, here ȝe the [Om. I.] doom of the fadir; and do ȝe so, that ȝe be saaf. [verse 3] For whi God onouride the fadir [God onouride the fadir; that is, comaundide, that the fadir be onourid bi sones. sekith; for he sekith stidefastly the keperis of this heest, to re|warde hem, and the tres|passours, to punysche hem. Lire here. C.] in sones, and he sekith, and hath maad stidfast the doom of the [Om. ceteri.] modir in to sones. [verse 4] He that loueth God, schal preie for synnes, and he schal ab|steyne hym silf fro tho, and he schal be herd in the preier of daies. [verse 5] And as he that tresourith, so and [Om. I.] he that onourith his modir. [verse 6] He that onourith his fadir, schal be maad myrie in sones, and he schal be herd in the dai of his preier. [verse 7] He that onourith his fadir, schal lyue bi lengere lijf; and he that obeieth to the fader, schal refreische the modir [modir, that is, shal coumforte hir V.] [the modir; that is, schal coumforte hir. Lire here. C.] . [verse 8] He that dredith the Lord, onourith fadir and modir; and he schal serue in werk, and word, [verse 9] and al [in al E.] pacience to hem that gendriden [bigaten I.] hym as to lordis. [verse 10] Onoure thi fadir, that the blessyng of God come to thee; and his blessing dwellith [dwelle ca.] in the laste. [verse 11] The bless|yng of the fadir makith stidfast the housis of sones; but the cursyng of the modir drawith out the [Om. I.] foundementis. [verse 12] Haue

thou not glorie in the dispisyng of thi fadir; for it is not glorie to thee, but con|fusioun. [verse 13] For whi the glorie of a man is of the onour of his fadir; and the schen|schip of the sone is a fadir with out onour. [verse 14] Sone, resseyue the elde of thi fadir, and [verse 15] make thou not hym sori in his lijf; and if he failith in wit [if he failith in wit; for it is not his synne, but kyndeli defaute. almes of the fadir; that is, ȝouun for the soule of the fadir. synne of the modir; that is, almes ȝouun in to remys|sioun of her synne. Lire here. C.] , ȝyue thou forȝyue|nesse, and dispise thou not hym in thi vertu; for whi the almes of the fadir schal not be forȝetyng. [verse 16] For whi good schal be restorid to thee for the synne of [verse 17] the modir, and bildyng schal be maad to thee in riȝtfulnesse; and it schal remembre of thee in dai [the dai A pr. m.] of tribulacioun, and thi synnes schulen be releessid, as iys in clere|nesse [clerenesse, ether heete CEFGHIMNPQRSUVXYç.] of the sunne. [verse 18] He is of ful yuel fame, that forsakith the fadir; and he that wraththith [or whettith I marg.] the [his I.] modir, is cursid of God. [verse 19] Sone, performe thi werkis in mylde|nesse, and thou schalt be loued ouer the glorie of men. [verse 20] In as myche as thou art greet [art greet; in power, kun|nyng, ether vertu. Seke thou not, etc.; as ben the priuytes of Godhed. Lire here. C.] , make thee meke in alle thingis, and thou schalt fynde grace bifore God; [verse 21] for whi the power of God aloon is greet, and he is onourid of meke men. [verse 22] Seke thou not hiȝere thingis than thou, and enquere thou not strongere thingis than thou; but euere thenke thou tho thingis, whiche God comaundide to thee; and be thou not curiouse [be thou not curiouse, etc.; for in siche is more vanyte than profit. Lire here. C.] in ful many werkis of hym. [verse 23] For it is not nedeful to thee to se with thin iȝen tho thingis, that ben hid. [verse 24] In superflu thingis nyle thou seke many|fold; and be thou not curiouse in many [verse 25] werkis of hym; for whi ful many thingis aboue the wit of men [many thingis aboue the wit of men; that is, tho that weren schewid to the hooly profetis, to the helthe of men, to whiche it is to assente mekely or stidefastly. suspicioun; for they that presumen of her wit, sup|posen that they moun come to the knowing of alle hiȝe thingis. in vanyte; for bi this thei felden in to errours, and eresies. An herd herte; that aȝenstond|ith Goddis stir|ing to good. in the laste tyme; for, as Austyn seith, in a sermoun of the Inno|centis, a syn|nere is smytun bi this pu|nysching, that whanne he dieth, he for|ȝete him silf, which the while he lyu|ede, forȝat God. loueth perel; that is, occa|siouns of synnes. Lire here. C.] ben schewid to thee. [verse 26] For the suspecioun of many men hath disseyued hem, and withhelde her wittis in vanytee. [verse 27] An hard herte schal haue yuel in the laste tyme; and he that loueth perel, schal perische ther ynne. [verse 28] An herte that entrith bi tweie weies [bi tweie weyes; that is, that hath the knowing of good in vndurstonding, and malice in wille. Lire here. C.] , schal not haue prosperitees, ether reste; and a

man of schrewid herte schal be sclaundrid in tho. [verse 29] A wickid herte schal be greuyd in sorewis; and a synnere schal `hepe to do [adde to to I.] synne. [verse 30] Helthe schal not be [Helthe schal not be; that is, goostly helthe, that stondith in good dispo|sicioun of ver|tues. wode; that is, al excu|sacioune lous|ing synne. Lire here. C.] to the synagoge [synage I.] of proude men; for whi the thicke wode of synne schal be drawun out bi the roote in hem, and it schal not be vndurstondun [it schal not be vndurstondun; of synneris that nylen thenke on Goddis domes. Lire here. C.] . [verse 31] The herte of a wise man is vndurstondun in wisdom, and a good eere schal here wisdom with al co|ueitise. [verse 32] A wijs herte and able to vndur|stonde schal absteyne it silf fro synnes, and schal [it schal I.] haue prosperitees in the werkis of riȝtfulnesse. [verse 33] Watir quenchith fier bren|nynge, and almes aȝenstondith synnes. [verse 34] And God, the biholdere of hym that ȝeldith grace [that ȝeldith grace; that is, doith almes, of the goodis ȝouun of God to hise mem|bris. hath mynde; in en|creessinge his good. in the tyme of his fal; that is, of his deth, for as Austyn seith, mersi aloone is the felow of deed men. defraude thou not the almes of a pore man; in withholdinge to thee that, that is bitakun to ȝyue to pore men, ether in denyinge of thyn owne good in the tyme of nede, in which it is due to a pore man. Lire here. C.] , hath mynde aftirward; and he schal fynde stidefastnesse in the [Om. I.] tyme of his fal.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] Sone, defraude thou not the almes of a pore man, and turne not ouere thin iȝen [turne not ouer thyn iȝen; that is, that thouȝ thou maist not ȝyue almes bi the hond, thou ȝyue namely the wille, and be|nygne loking. Lire here. C.] fro a pore man. [verse 2] Dispise thou not an hungri man, and wraththe thou not a pore man in his nedynesse. [verse 3] Turmente thou not the herte of a nedi man, and tarie thou not the ȝifte to a man that is set in angwisch. [verse 4] Caste thou not awei the preiyng of a man set in tribulacioun, and turne not awei thi face fro a nedi man. [verse 5] Turne not awei thin iȝen fro a pore man for ire [Turne not awei thin iȝen fro a pore man for ire; that is, thouȝ he wraththide thee bifore, leeue thou not herfore to do good to him. cursith; that is, wischith to thee yuel of peyne, that ȝyueth vndurstonding to him to whom it is wischid, that so bi his owne turment he be stirid to haue compassioun of othere men. Lire here. C.] , and ȝyue not occasioun to men axynge to curse thee byhynde. [verse 6] For the preyer of hym that cursith thee in the [Om. I.] bitternesse of soule, schal be herd; for|sothe he that made hym, schal here hym. [verse 7] Make thee eesi to speke to the congrega|cioun of pore men, and make meke thi soule to a preest [to a preest; that is, do thou du reuerence to an eld man. Lire here. CV.] , and make meke thin

heed to a greet man. [verse 8] Boowe doun with out sorewe thin eere to a pore man, and ȝelde thi debt, and answere thou pesibli in myldenesse. [verse 9] Delyuere thou hym that suffrith wrong fro the hond of a proude man, and bere thou not heuyli in thi soule. [verse 10] In demynge be thou merciful as a fadir to fadirles children, and be thou for an [verse 11] hosebonde to the modir of hem; and thou schalt be as an obedient sone of the hiȝ|este, and he schal haue merci on thee more than a modir `hath merci [Om. I.] on hir child. [verse 12] Wisdom [Wisdom; vnmaad, that is, Goddis Sone. enspirith liyf; that is, purpos and desir of betere lyif, bi his teching. and resseyueth men sekinge him; in en|creessinge to hem the ȝifte of wisdom. go bifore in the weye; of riȝtfulnesse, in schewynge it. Lire here. C.] enspirith lijf to hise sones, and resseyueth men sekinge hym, and schal [it schal I.] go bifore in the wei of riȝtfulnesse; [verse 13] and he that loueth that wisdom, loueth lijf, and thei that waken to it [thei that waken to it; bi studie of reding, and of preyer. holden it; bi hert and werk. liyf; of grace and of glorie. that biholdith; that is, bi hooly meditacioun. Lire here. C.] , schulen biclipe the pesiblenesse, ether swetnesse [the swetnesse G.] , therof. [verse 14] Thei that holden it, schulen en|herite lijf; and whidir it schal entre, God schal blesse. [verse 15] Thei that seruen it, schulen be obeiynge to the hooli; and God loueth hem, that louen it. [verse 16] He that herith it, demeth folkis; and he that biholdith it [it bi hooli meditacioun V.] , schal dwelle tristili. [verse 17] If a man bileueth to it, he schal dwelle, and enherite it; and the creaturis of hem schulen be in conferm|yng [in conferm|yng; that is, the werkis of hem schulen be confermed in good. Lire here. C.] . [verse 18] For in temptacioun it goith with hym, and among the firste it chesith hym [it chesith hym; that is, arettith him with chosun men, that ben the firste and beste anentis God. drede; of offence, and feer of helle. brynge in; that is, schal suffre to be brouȝt in for his good. tempte him; that is, make knowun to othere men the goodnesse of his soule. Lire here. C.] . [verse 19] It schal brynge in on hym drede, and feer, and preuyng, and it schal tur|mente hym in the tribulacioun of his doc|tryn, til it tempte hym in hise thouȝtis, and bileue to his soule [and bileue to his soule; that is, make that credence be ȝouun to hise wordis; that comen forth of the conseit of soule. and schal bringe, etc.; that is, schal bringe him to riȝt weie. schal make nakid, etc.; that is, schal schewe the priuytes of his kunnyng. kunnyng and vndurstonding of riȝtfulnesse; that he kunne dresse him silf and othere men in to the weye of riȝtfulnesse. schame that bringith synne; that is, schame bi which a techere ceess|ith to seye truthe, lest he suffre schame of grettere pre|latis in the siȝt of men. schame that bryngith glorie and grace; that is, schame, which is suffrid pa|ciently for truthe. Lire here. C.] . [verse 20] And it schal make hym stidefast, and schal brynge riȝt weie to hym, and it schal make hym glad; [verse 21] and schal [it schal I.] make nakid hise priuytees to hym, and schal tresore on hym kunnyng, and vndurstondyng of riȝtfulnesse. [verse 22] For|sothe if he errith, God schal forsake hym, and schal bitake hym in to [Om. I.] the hondis of his enemy. [verse 23] Sone, kepe thou tyme, and

eschewe [ethchewe I.] thou fro yuel. [verse 24] Be thou not aschamed for thi lijf [Be thou not aschamed for thi liyf; to be set forth to deth. Lire here. C.] to seie treuthe; for whi ther is schame that bryngith synne, [verse 25] and ther is schame that bryngith glorie and grace. [verse 26] Take thou not a face aȝens thi face [aȝenus thi face; that is, aȝenus thi soule. Lire here. C.] , nethir a leesyng aȝens thi soule. [verse 27] Schame thou not thi neiȝbore in his fal, [verse 28] nether withholde thou a word in the tyme of helthe. Hide not thi wisdom [Hide not thi wisdom; in makinge derk the truthe bi curiouse wordis. Lire here. C.] in the [verse 29] fairnesse therof; for whi wisdom is knowun in tunge, and wit, and kunnyng, and tech|yng in the word of a wijs man; and stid|fastnesse is in the werkis of riȝtfulnesse. [verse 30] Aȝenseie thou not the word of treuthe in ony maner; and be thou aschamed of the leesyng of thi mislernyng. [verse 31] Be thou not aschamed to knouleche thi synnes [thi synnes; to him that can and may ȝyue remedy. to ech man for synne; to be curid, but onely to him that kan and may sette re|medy. of the myȝti; that is, of God. of the flood; that is, of Goddis riȝt|fulnesse, aȝenus which they withstonden, that ben ob|stynat in synnes. Lire here. C.] ; and make thee not suget to ech man for synne. [verse 32] Nyle thou stonde aȝens the face of the myȝti, nethir enforse thou aȝens the strok of the flood. [verse 33] For riȝtfulnesse fiȝte thou for thi soule [for thi soule; that is, for the helthe of thi soule. til to deth; for good deth is worthi to be chosun more than the trespassing of riȝtfulnesse. swift in thi tunge; that is, heedly to bringe forth sentence. slak in thi werkis; that is, in parfourm|ynge the sen|tence ȝouun iustly. Lire here. C.] , and til to the deth stryue thou for riȝtfulnesse; and God schal ouer|come thin enemyes for thee. [verse 34] Nyle thou be swift in thi tunge, and vnprofitable and slak in thi werkis. [verse 35] Nyle thou be as a lioun in thin hous, turnynge vpsedoun thi meneals, and oppressynge hem that ben sugetis [suget CNV.] to thee. [verse 36] Thin hond be not redi to take [to take; ȝiftis vniustly, ether vnonestly. Lire here. C.] , and closid togidere to ȝyue.

CAP. V.

[verse 1] Nile thou take heed to wickid posses|siouns, and seie thou not, Sufficient lijf [Sufficient liyf, etc.; that is, long is to comynge to me, therfor Y must gete many thingis. Lire here. C.] is to me; for it schal no thing profite in the tyme of veniaunce, and of failynge, ether deth [of deth G.] . [verse 2] Sue thou not the coueitise of [verse 3] thin herte in thi strengthe, and seie thou not, As Y myȝte [As. Y myȝte; vndurstonde thou, so Y schal be myȝty aftirward. Lire here. C.] , ether who schal make me suget for my dedis? For whi God veng|ynge schal venge. [verse 4] Seie thou not, Y haue

synned, and what sorewful thing bifelle to me? For the hiȝeste is a pacient ȝeldere. [verse 5] Of the forȝyuenesse of synnes, nyle thou be without drede [nyle thou be with out drede; for thou woost not wher the penaunce is sufficient, and thouȝ it is sufficient to remouyng of synne, netheles not of al peyne. Lire here. C.] , nether heepe thou synne on [vpon I.] synne. [verse 6] And seie thou not, The merciful doyng of God is greet; he schal haue merci on the multitude of my synnes. [verse 7] For whi merci and ire neiȝeth soone fro hym, and his ire biholdith on synneris. [verse 8] Tarie thou not to be conuertid to the Lord, and dilaie thou not fro dai in to dai. [verse 9] For whi his ire schal come sodeynli, and he schal leese thee in the time of ven|iaunce. [verse 10] Nyle thou be angwischid in vn|iust richessis [richessis; to be getun yuele, ether to with|holdun yuele. Lire here. C.] ; for tho schulen not profite in the dai of failing, ether of [Om. S.] deth [deed V.] , and of veniaunce. [verse 11] Wyndewe [Wyndewe, etc.; in tech|ing boostfully and presumptu|ously. in to ech weye; that is, in rehersynge ech opynyoun, and cleuynge now to this, now to another. in double tunge; in techinge now the truthe, and now afferm|ynge the con|trarie of truthe, whiche thing techeris doubt|inge ether vn|stidefast in feith, ben wont to do. in the weye of the Lord; as to feith. in the truthe, and kunnyng of thi wit; that is, in the stiring of kyndly re|soun as to ver|tues. Lire here. C.] thee not in to ech wynd, and go thou not in to ech weie; for so a synnere is preued in double tunge. [verse 12] Be thou stidfast in the weie of the Lord, and in treuthe and kunnyng of thi wit; and the word of pees and of riȝtfulnesse sue thee perfitli. [verse 13] Be thou mylde to here the word of God [to here the word of God; in heringe swetly an axing of feith, ether of vertues, set forth to thee. that thou vn|durstonde; the entent of the axere. Lire here. C.] , that thou vndurstonde, and with wisdom brynge thou forth a trewe answere. [verse 14] If thou hast vndirstond|yng, answere thi neiȝbore; ellis thin hond be on thi mouth, lest thou be takun in a word vnwiseli tauȝt, and be aschamed. [verse 15] Onour and glorie is in the word of a wijs man; but the tunge of an vnprudent man is his distriyng. [verse 16] Be thou not clepid a preuy yuel spekere in thi lijf, and be thou not takun in thi tunge, and be aschamed. [verse 17] Schame and penaunce is on a theef, and worst [ful yuel I.] schenschip [schenschip, ether cursyng C et ceteri.] is on a man of double tunge. Forsothe hatrede and enemytee and dispisyng is to a preuy bacbitere. [verse 18] Iustifie thou a litil man and a greet man in lijk maner.

CAP. VI.

[verse 1] Nile thou for a freend be maad enemye to the [thi I.] neiȝbore; for whi an yuele man schal enherite vpbreidyng [edwityng C et ceteri.] and dispisyng, and ech synnere enuyouse and double tungid. [verse 2] Enhaunse thee not in the [Om. C.] thouȝt of thi soule, as a bole doith; lest thi vertu [thi vertu; that is, sutilte of thi wit. bi foli; that is, bi mysusing of thi kunnyng; and this foli ete thi leeues; that is, distrie thi faire wordis. Lire here. C.] [verse 3] be hurtlid doun bi foli, and it ete thi leeues, and leese thi fruytis, and thou be left as a drye tree in deseert. [verse 4] Forsothe a wickid soule schal leese hym that hath it, and it ȝyueth hym in to the [Om. I.] ioie of the enemye, and it schal leede forth in to the part of wickid men [in to the part of wickid men; that is, in to helle, which is the eritage of wickid men. C.] . [verse 5] A swete word mul|tiplieth frendis, and swagith enemyes; and a tunge wel graciouse schal be plenteuouse in a good man. [verse 6] Many pesible men be to thee, and oon of a thousynde be a coun|selour to thee. [verse 7] If thou hast a frend, haue hym in temptacioun [haue him in temptacioun; that is, preue thou him in thyn aduersite. bitake, etc.; in schewinge thi priuytes to him, bifor that thou haue preued him. bi his tyme; that is, tyme of pros|perite, coue|nable to his wynnyng. Lire here. C.] , and bitake not liȝtli thi silf to hym. [verse 8] For ther is a frend bi his time, and he schal not dwelle in the dai of tribulacioun. [verse 9] And ther is a frend which is turned to enemytee; and ther is a freend, that schal schewe opynli hatrede, and chiding, and dispisyngis. [verse 10] Forsothe ther is a frend, felowe [to felowe C.] of table, and dwell|ith not in the dai of nede. [verse 11] If a frend dwellith stidfast [If a frend dwellith stide|fast; with thee in frenschip to God. mekith him; that is, consentith with thee in alle goodis. hidith hym; in pro|curinge thi good more in thyn absence than in pre|sence. Lire here. C.] , he schal be as a man euene with thee, and he schal do tristili in thi meyneal [memoreal C.] thingis. [verse 12] If he mekith hym silf bifore thee, and hidith hym [hym silf A pr. m.] fro thi face, thou schalt haue good frendschip of oon acord. [verse 13] Be thou departid fro thin enemyes, and take heede of thi frendis. [verse 14] A feithful frend is a strong defendyng; forsothe he that fyndith him, fyndith tre|sour. [verse 15] No comparisoun is to a feithful frend; weiyng of gold and of siluer is not worthi aȝens the goodnesse of his feithful|nesse. [verse 16] A feithful frend is medicyn of lijf [is medecyn of lyif; for he loueth bi cha|rite, and pro|curith to his frend the goodis of grace, that quykeneth goostly, and bryngith to vndedlynesse of glorie. C.] , and of vndeedlynesse; and thei that dreden the Lord, schulen fynde hym. [verse 17] He

that dredith the Lord, schal haue euenli good frendschip; for whi his frend schal be at the licnesse of hym. [verse 18] Sone, fro thi ȝongthe take thou doctryn, and til to hoor heeris thou schalt fynde wisdom. [verse 19] As he that erith, and that sowith, neiȝe thou to it, and abide thou the goode fruytis therof. [verse 20] For thou schalt trauele a litil in the werk therof, and thou schalt ete soone of the generaciouns therof. [verse 21] Wisdom is ouer [ful C et ceteri.] scharp to vntauȝt men, and an hertles man [an hertles man, etc.; that is, a man with outen herte, which is necgli|gent in the geting of wis|dom. the vertu of a stoon; that is, weiȝte. to the siȝt of God; in ledinge hem to the staat of glorie. Lire here. C.] schal not dwelle there ynne. [verse 22] As the vertu of a stoon, preuyng schal be in hem; and thei schulen not tarie to caste awei it. [verse 23] Forsothe the wisdom of techyng is bi the name therof, and it is not opyn to many men; but it dwellith with hem, of whiche [whom I.] it is knowun, til to the siȝt of God. [verse 24] Sone, here thou, and take the counsel of vndur|stondyng [of vndur|stonding; that is, bi which thou schalt rede with ynne thee, good to sue it, and yuel to fle it. thi foot; that is, affec|cioun, ether desir. in to the stockis therof; that is, of wis|dom, in cleu|ynge to it with|out departing. and thi necke; that is, bere gladly, and without anoy, trauel in the geting of wis|dom. in al thi soule; in appli|ynge al thyn vndirstonding and loue to wisdom. in al thi vertu; that is, good werk. the stockis therof, etc.; that is, vnse|parable cleu|yng with wis|dom. in defence of strengthe; for he that stondith on wisdom, is not brokun bi ad|uersite. the bie therof; that is, the teching of wisdom, which is formed in the throote. Lire here. C.] , and caste thou not awei my counsel. [verse 25] Set in thi foot in to the stockis therof, and thi necke in to the bies therof. [verse 26] Make suget thi schuldir, and bere it, and be thou not anoied in the boondis therof. [verse 27] In al thi wille go to it, and in al thi vertu kepe the weies therof. [verse 28] Enquere thou it, and it schal be maad opyn to thee; and thou made holdinge wisdom forsake not it. [verse 29] For in the laste thingis thou schalt fynde reste ther ynne, and it schal turne to thee in to deliting. [verse 30] And the stockis therof schulen be to thee in defence of strengthe, and the foundementis of vertu, and the bie therof in a stoole of glorie [a stoole of glorie; for whi, double glorie of bodi and of soule is getun bi wisdom. Lire here. C.] . [verse 31] For whi the fairnesse of lijf is in wisdom, and the boondis therof ben heelful [heltheful C.] bynd|yng. [verse 32] Thou schalt `were it as a [clothe it in a C pr. m. E. clothe it a HPUVY. clothe, ether weere it in a C sec. m. GKMNQRSXaç. clothe it as a I text. or were I marg. were it a F.] stoole of glorie, and thou schalt sette on thee a coroun of thankyng. [verse 33] Sone, if thou takist heede to me, thou schalt lerne wisdom; and if thou ȝyuest thi wille, thou schalt be wijs. [verse 34] If thou bowist doun thin eere, thou schalt take teching; and if thou louest for to here, thou schalt be wijs. [verse 35] Stonde

thou in the multitude of prudent [of prudent; bi this ben ex|cludid vnwise elde men and faylinge in ver|tues; for whi othere vertues ben knyt to prudence. prestis; that is, elde men; and this may be expowned of good prestis, that ben hold|un to kunne Goddis lawe, and teche it. Lire here C.] preestis, and be thou ioyned of herte to the wisdom of hem; that thou maist here ech telling of God, and the prouerbis of preisyng fle not awey fro thee. [verse 36] And if thou seest a wijs man, wake thou to hym, and thi foot trede on the greeces [grees I.] of his doris. [verse 37] Haue thou thouȝt in the comaundementis of God, and be thou most bisi in his heestis; and he schal ȝyue to thee herte [ȝyue to thee herte; to vn|durstonde and worche tho. Lire here. C.] , and coueitise of wisdom schal be ȝouun to thee.

CAP. VII.

[verse 1] Nile thou do yuels, and tho schulen not take thee. [verse 2] Departe thou fro wickidnesse, and yuels schulen faile fro thee. [verse 3] Sowe thou not yuels in the forewis [in the forew|is; that is, ȝyue thou not ensaumple of yuel doing to men enclyn|aunt herto. not repe tho; in peyne to be ȝouun to thee seuenfold, that is, manyfold; for whi to hou many men a man is cause of synne, bi so many peynes he schal be punyschid, bi the ordre of riȝtfulnesse. Nyle thou seke of a man led|ing; that is, that thou be maad ledere of othere men in goostly thingis, ether temporal thingis; for whi vertues owen to be more excelent in souereyns; but it is pre|sumptuouse thing, that a man arette him silf to be more vertuouse than othere, and therfor it is viciouse to coueite, ether to seke prinse|hed outirly; netheles it is leueful and good to take it in the tyme of nede, as Austin seith. Lire here. C.] of vnriȝt|fulnesse, and thou schalt not repe tho in seuene fold. [verse 4] Nyle thou seke of a man ledyng, nethir of a kyng the chaier of onour. [verse 5] Iustifie thou not thee bifore God, for he is the [Om. I.] knowere of the herte; and nyle thou wilne to be seyn wijs anentis the king. [verse 6] Nile thou seke to be maad a iuge, no [Om. I.] but thou maist breke wickid|nessis bi vertu; lest thou drede the face of a myȝti man, and sette sclaundre [and sette sclaundir; that is, sclaundre the puple bi thyn vnstidfastnesse. nether sende thee, etc.; in consentinge to it in yuel. Lire here. C.] in [to I.] thi swiftnesse. [verse 7] Do thou not synne in the multitude of a cytee, nether sende thee [verse 8] in to the puple; nether bynde thou double synnes [double synnes; that is, thi synne, with the synne of the puple. gilteles; of peyne, but thou schalt be punyschid for euer either, for a iuge is holdun to lette the dede of the puple in siche thingis. Nyle thou be coward, etc.; as if he seye, Be thou not so bisy of the gouernail of the puple, that thou dispise to do the helthe of thi soule, bi preyeris and werkis of mersi. in the multitude of my ȝiftis; in so myche, that he schal not punysche my synnes; for whi this is fals. Greg. seith, he that ȝyueth mete ether clothis to a pore man, and is netheles defoulid bi wickidnesse of soule, ether of bodi, ȝyueth hise goodis to God, and him silf to the deuel. Lire here. C.] , for thou schalt not be giltles in oon. [verse 9] Nyle thou be a coward in thi soule, [verse 10] to preie; and dispise thou not to do almes. [verse 11] Seie thou not, God schal biholde in the multitude of my ȝiftis; and whanne Y schal offre to God alther hiȝeste, he schal take my ȝiftis. [verse 12] Scorne thou not a man in the bitternesse of soule; for whi God is the biholdere, that makith meke, and en|haunsith.

[verse 13] Nyle thou loue a leesyng aȝens thi brother; nether do thou in lijk maner aȝens a frend. [verse 14] Nyle thou wilne to lie ony leesing; for whi the contynuaunce therof is not good. [verse 15] Nyle thou be a ianglere in the multitude of preestis; and reherse thou not a word in thi preier [in thi preyer; preier may be takun here for an axing maad to wise men, and this owith to be set forth so distinctly and reasonably, that it bihoueth not it to be re|hersid; ether thus, preier owith not to be maad to God in myche speche, in bi|leuynge that it is herd herbi. Arette not thee, etc.; in suynge the felouschipe and maneris of hem. Lire here. C.] . [verse 16] Haate thou not trauelouse werkis, and erthetilthe maad of the hiȝeste. [verse 17] Arette thou [Om. plures.] not thee in the multitude of vnlernyd men. [verse 18] Haue thou mynde on ire, for it schal not tarie. [verse 19] Make thou meke greetli thi spirit, for whi the veniaunce of the fleisch of an vnpi|touse man is fier, and worm. [verse 20] Nyle thou trespasse aȝens thi frend dilaiynge monei; nether dispise thou a ful dereworth bro|ther for gold. [verse 21] Nyle thou departe fro a wijs womman, and good, whom thou hast gete in the [Om. I.] drede of the Lord; for whi the grace of hir schamefastnesse is aboue gold. [verse 22] Hirte thou not a seruaunt worch|ynge in treuthe, nether an hirid man ȝyu|ynge his lijf [ȝyuynge his liyf; that is, spendynge his liyf in thi ser|uyce. Lire here. C.] . [verse 23] A witti seruaunt be dere|worthe to thee as thi soule; defraude thou not hym of fredom, nether forsake thou hym nedi. [verse 24] Beestis ben to thee? take thou heede to tho; and if tho ben pro|fitable, dwelle tho stille at thee. [verse 25] Sones ben to thee? teche thou hem, and bowe thou [bowe thou; vndur chastis|ing. the bodi of hem; that thei renne not aboute, and so be corrupt. glad face; lest thei be wan|toun bi sich flatering. Lire here. C.] hem fro her childheed. [verse 26] Douȝtris ben to thee? kepe thou the bodi of hem, and schewe thou not glad face to hem. [verse 27] Ȝyue thi douȝter to mariage, and thou doist a greet werk; and ȝyue thou hir to a wijs man. [verse 28] If a womman is to thee aftir thi soule [aftir thi soule; that is, if thou hast a wiyf consent|inge to thi resonable wille. an hateful; in schewynge to hir the priuyte of thyn herte, as Samson dide to Dalida. Lire here. C.] , caste hir not awei; and bitake thou not thee in alle thin herte to an hate|ful womman. [verse 29] Onoure thi fadir; and for|ȝete thou not the weilyngis [weilyng A pr. m.] of thi modir. [verse 30] Haue thou mynde that thou haddist not be, no [Om. I.] but bi hem, and ȝelde thou to hem as and [Om. CI.] thei diden to thee. [verse 31] In al thi soule drede thou God, and halewe thou hise preestis. [verse 32] In al thi vertu loue thou him that made thee; and forsake thou not hise

mynystris. [verse 33] Onoure thou God of al thi soule; and onoure thou preestis, and clense thee with armes [with armes; that is, bi of fringis getun with thi trauel. of purging; that is, of tithe, that was due to dekenes, in xviij. c^o. of Numeri. with fewe men; for thyn owne de|faute owith not to be schewid to many men. Lire here. C.] . [verse 34] Ȝyue thou to hem the [Om. I.] part [partis C.] of the firste fruytis, and of purgyng, as also it is comaundid to thee; and of thi negligence purge thou thee with fewe men. [verse 35] Thou schalt offre to the Lord the ȝyfte of thin armes, and the sacrifice of halewyng, the bigynnyngis [the bigyn|nyngis, etc.; that is, the firste fruytis and dymes and siche of|fringis be the bigynnyngis of halewyng of men. be parformyd; that is, the re|myssioun of thi synnes, and the ȝifte of bene|fices. grace is ȝouun; that is, schal be ȝouun in the general doom, for it schal be seid thanne for the werkis of pitee, Come ȝe the blessid of my fadir, etc. Lire here. C.] of hooli men. [verse 36] And dresse thin hond to a pore man, that thi merci and blessyng be performyd. [verse 37] Grace is ȝouun in the siȝt of ech that lyueth; and forbede thou not grace to a deed man. [verse 38] Faile thou not in coumfort to hem that wepen; and go thou with hem that morenen. [verse 39] Be thou not slow to visite a sijk man; for bi these thingis thou schalt be maad stidfast in loue. [verse 40] In alle thi werkis haue thou mynde on thi laste thingis; and thou schalt not do synne withouten ende [ende, that is, neuere V.] .

CAP. VIII.

[verse 1] Chide thou not with a miȝti man, leste thou falle in to hise hondis. [verse 2] Stryue thou not with a riche man, lest perauenture he make ple aȝenward to thee. [verse 3] For whi gold and siluer [gold and sil|uer, etc.; that is, coueitise of gold and of siluer. Lire here. C.] hath lost many men; and it stretchith forth til to the herte of kyngis, and turneth [turneth doom V.] [and turneth; that is, doom fro truthe into falsnesse, and so ful many inocent men ben damned in thingis and bo|dies bi money of riche men. leie thou not trees, etc.; that is, mater to kyndle his woodnesse bi thi striuyng. in corrupcioun; that is, goen to corrupcioun, ether deth; for we ben maad of contrarie elementis. Lire here. C.] . [verse 4] Chide thou not with a man, a ianglere, and leie thou not trees in to his fier. [verse 5] Comyne thou not with an vntauȝt man, lest he speke yuele of thi kynrede. [verse 6] Dispise thou not a man turn|ynge awei hym silf fro synne, nether vp|breide [edwite ceteri.] thou hym; haue thou mynde, that alle we ben in corrupcioun. [verse 7] Dispise thou not a man in his eelde; for whi of vs men wexen eld. [verse 8] Nyle thou make ioye of thin enemy deed, witynge that alle we dien, and wolen not come in to ioie of oure enemys. [verse 9] Dispise thou not the tellyng of wise preestes, and be thou conuersaunt in [verse 10] the prouerbis of hem [prouerbis of hem; that is, notable wordis of hem. of el|dere men; in whiche is wis|dom and expe|rience of long tyme. Lire here. C.] ; for of hem thou

schalt lerne wisdom, and techyng of vn|durstondyng, and to serue without pleynt to grete men. [verse 11] The tellyng of eldere men passe not thee; for thei han lerned of her fadris. [verse 12] For of hem thou schalt lerne vn|durstondyng; and in the [Om. I.] tyme of nede thou schalt ȝyue answere. [verse 13] Kyndle thou not [Kyndle thou not, etc.; whanne thei ben obstynat, ether ben set in wraththe out of mesure, for thanne thei ben not amend|id, but ben maad worse; netheles this schal be vndur|stondun of bro|theris repreu|yng, which is ordeyned to the amending of him that is repreuyd, but not of repreu|yng maad bi a iuge, for that repreuyng is ordeyned to the good of multitude; so|thely a multi|tude is amendid bi the scharp blamyng and punysching of him that is obstynat and wrooth. Lire here. C.] the coolis of synneris, and repreue hem; and be thou not brent with the flawme of fier of her synnes. [verse 14] Stonde thou not aȝens the face of a man ful of dispis|yng; lest he sitte as a spiere to thi mouth. [verse 15] Nyle thou leene [Nyle thou leene, etc.; that sueth the fers|nesse of his strengthe. Lire here. C.] to a man strongere than thou; that if thou hast lent, haue thou it as lost. [verse 16] Biheete [Bihote I.] thou not aboue thi power [vertu EGHIKMNPQRSUVXYaç.] ; that if thou hast bihiȝt, bithenke thou as ȝeldynge [as ȝeldynge; for thou art holdun to do thi myȝt. Lire here. C.] . [verse 17] Deme thou not aȝens a iuge; for he demeth vp that, that is iust. [verse 18] Go thou not in the weie with an hardi man [hardi man; that is, stirid heedly bi the fersnesse of ire. Lire here. C.] , lest perauenture he agregge hise yuels in thee; for he goith aftir his wille, and thou schalt perische togidere with his foli. [verse 19] Make thou not chidyng with a wrathful man, and go thou not in to de|sert with an hardi man; for whi blood [blood; that is, schedinge out of innocent blood. Lire here. C.] is as nouȝt bifore hym, and where noon help is, he schal hurtle thee doun. [verse 20] Haue thou not councel with foolis; for thei moun not loue, no [Om. I.] but tho thingis that plesen hem. [verse 21] Make thou not a counsel bifore a straunger; for thou noost [woost not I.] , what he schal bringe forth. Make not thin herte knowun to ech man [to ech man; but onely to a very frend and preued. fals grace; that is, feyned fren|schipe. Lire here. C.] ; lest perauenture he brynge to thee fals grace, and dispise thee.

CAP. IX.

[verse 1] Loue thou not gelousli [Loue thou not gelously, etc.; that is, be thou not suspiciouse ouer myche of the chastite of thyn owne wiyf, and arte hir, ether make hir streit herfor vnduly. the malice of yuel doctryn; in ymaginynge thi deth, as siche wymmen ben tauȝt of yuele elde wymmen. power of thi soule; that is, that sche be lord of thee. entre in thi vertu; that is, mystake to hir that that is propir to the hosebonde. Lire here. C.] the womman of thi bosum; lest sche schewe on thee the malice of yuel doctryn. [verse 2] Ȝyue thou not to a womman the power of thi soule; lest sche entre in thi vertu, and thou be schent.

[verse 3] Biholde thou not a womman of many willis [a womman of many willis; that coueitith now this man, now that man. a daunseresse; for sich strecch|ing forth of wommans membris ex|citith the desir of lecherie. Lire here. C.] ; lest perauenture thou falle in to the snaris of hir. [verse 4] Be thou not customable with a daunseresse [daunstere I.] , nethir here thou hir; lest perauenture thou perische in the spedi werk of hir. [verse 5] Biholde thou not a virgyn; lest perauenture thou be sclaundrid in the feirnesse of hir. [verse 6] Ȝyue not thi soule [thi soule; that is, thi con|sent. Lire here. C.] to hooris in ony thing; lest thou leese thee, and thi soule, and thin eritage. [verse 7] Nyle thou biholde aboute in the lanys of the cytee; nethir erre thou in the large streetis ther|of. [verse 8] Turne awei thi face fro a womman `wel arayed [gay I.] [wel araied; for sich arai is a snare, to take men. and herbi; that is bi vn|chast lokingis and spechis and signes. Lire here. C.] ; and biholde thou not aboute the fairnesse of othere [an oother mannus wijf I.] . [verse 9] Many men han perischid for the fairnesse of a womman; and `herbi couetise [herof concupiscence I.] brenneth `an hiȝ [out I.] as fier. [verse 10] Ech womman which is an hoore, ethir customable to fornycacioun, schal be defoulid [defoulid; of alle men, for sche is ful myche suget to lechery. Lire here. C.] as a fen [toord ceteri.] in the weie. [verse 11] Many men wondrynge on the fairnesse of an [Om. A pr. m. et plures.] alien womman [wommen GSV.] weren maad repreuable, for whi the speche of hir brenneth an hiȝ as fier. [verse 12] Sitte thou not in ony maner with an alien womman, nether reste thou with [verse 13] hir on a bed; and iangle thou not with hir in wyn, lest perauenture thin herte boowe in to hir, and thou falle in to per|dicioun bi thi blood. [verse 14] Forsake thou not an eld frend; for a newe frend [a newe frend; as me noot of newe wyn, what maner wyn it schal be in the ende; so of a newe frend, me noot what feith|fulnesse he schal haue. Lire here. C.] schal not be lijk hym. [verse 15] Newe wijn is a newe frend; it schal wexe eld, and thou schalt drinke it with swetnesse. [verse 16] Coueyte thou not the glorie and richessis of a synnere; for thou noost [wost not I.] , what distriyng of hym schal come. [verse 17] The wrong of vniust men plese not thee, and wite thou that a wickid man schal not plese til to hellis [til to hellis; for thanne and not bifore he in peyne schal plese seyntis, as he displeside hem in synne. Lire here. C.] . [verse 18] Be thou fer fro a man that hath power to sle [fer fro a man that hath power to sle; that is, fro a cruel ty|raunt. drede of deth; that is, in makinge thee fer fro him, thou schalt do awey fro thee the drede of deth. of snaris; for whi ti|rauntis euere setten forth snaris to su|getis, that they haue occasioun to rauysche her goodis of hem that sorewen; that is, of tirauntis that ben euere in sorewe, for whi for the yuels that thei diden to othere men thei dreden to be poisoned in ech mete and drynke, and that tresouns ben set to hem in ech place. Lire here. C.] , and thou schalt not haue suspicioun of the drede of [verse 19] deth; and if thou neiȝest to hym, nyle thou do ony trespasse, lest perauenture he take awei thi lijf. [verse 20] Knowe thou the comynyng of deth [of deth; that is, to be in dwellinge with a tiraunt. Lire here. C.] ; for thou schalt entre

in to the myddis of snaris, and thou schalt go on the armuris of hem that sorewen. [verse 21] Bi [Aftir I.] thi vertu kepe thee fro thi neiȝbore [neiȝbore; that may speke aȝenus thee to a tiraunt. Lire here. C.] ; and trete thou with wise men and pru|dent men. [verse 22] Just men be gestis, ethir [or I pass.] mete feris, to thee; and [and thi I.] gloriyng be `to thee [Om. I.] in the dreed of God. [verse 23] And the thouȝt of God be to thee in wit [in wit; that is, applie thi wit to thenke on God. Lire here. C.] ; and al thi tell|ynge be in the heestis [heest I.] of the hiȝeste. [verse 24] Werkis schulen be preisid in the hond of crafti men, and the prince of the puple in the wisdom of his word; forsothe in the [Om. A pr. m. EFHNPUVXY.] wit of eldere men a word [word schal be preised I.] [a word; that is, a schort word, seid of a wise man, schal be preisid more than a greet telling seid of an other man. Lire here. C.] . [verse 25] A man, a ianglere, is dredeful in his citee; and a fool hardi man in his word schal be hateful.

CAP. X.

[verse 1] A wijs iuge schal deme his puple; and the prinshed of a witti man schal be stid|fast [be stidfast; summe bokis han ferdful; that is, to yuele men. Lire here. C.] . [verse 2] Aftir the iuge of the puple, so and hise mynystris; and what maner man is the gouernour of the citee, siche ben also men dwellinge ther ynne. [verse 3] An vnwijs king schal leese his puple; and citees schulen be enhabitid bi the wit of prudent men. [verse 4] The power of erthe is in the hond of God, and al the wickidnesse [wickidnesse; that is, the fe|lonye of idola|trie. Lire here. C.] of hethene men is abho|mynable; and he schal reise a profitable gouernour at a tyme on it. [verse 5] The power of man is in the hond of God; and he schal sette his onour on the face of a wijs man in the lawe. [verse 6] Haue thou not mynde on al the wrong of the neiȝbore; and do thou no thing [do thou no thing, etc.; that is, do thou no wrong to no man for thi power. Lire here. C.] in the werkis of wrong. [verse 7] Pride is hateful bifore God and men; and al the wickidnesse of hethene men is abhomyna|ble. [verse 8] A rewme is translatid [translatid, ether takun awey CEFGHKMNPQRSUXYaç.] fro a folk in to folk, for vnriȝtfulnessis, and wrongis, and dispisyngis, and dyuerse gilis. [verse 9] No thing is cursidere than an auerouse man [auerouse man; not that auarice is greu|ousere synne than othere, but for rich|essis gaderid bi auerice ȝyuen nursching to alle vices. C.] . What art thou proude, thou erthe and

aische [erthe and aische; that is, thou man schalt be turn|ed soone in to erthe and aschis. his soule set to sale; and sill|ith it to the deuel for mo|ney. hise yn|neste thingis; that is, vertues, bi vicis con|trarie to tho, of which vicis coueitise is the roote. whanne a man; that mysvsith his power. schal die. he schal enherite ser|pentis; that is, fendis, as to the soule. and beestis; that is, frendis lyuynge beestly, as to the catel. and wormes; as to the bodi; and this departiug is maad couena|bly, for the part of ech sufficith to him silf; if the deuel hath the soule, he reck|ith not of othere thingis. Lire here. C.] ? [verse 10] No thing is worse, than for to loue monei; for whi this man hath also [ȝhe I.] his soule set to sale, for in his lijf he hath cast awei hise ynneste thingis. [verse 11] Ech power is schort lijf; lengere [longe I.] siknesse greueth the leche. [verse 12] A leche kittith awei [kittith awei; that is, heelith soone a freisch siknesse, so synne is curid liȝtly bifor that it wexith eld bi custom, but not aftirward. Lire here. C.] schort siknesse; so and a king is to dai, and to morewe he schal die. [verse 13] Forsothe whanne a man schal die, he schal enherite serpentis, and beestis, and wormes. [verse 14] The bigynnyng of pride of man [a man ç.] was to be [verse 15] apostata [apostata, etc.; that is, wilned not to be vnder the comaunde|ment of God. Lire here. C.] fro God; for his herte ȝede awei fro hym that made hym. For whi pride is the bigynnyng of al synne; he that holdith it, schal be fillid with curs|yngis, and it schal distrye hym in to the ende. [verse 16] Therfor the Lord hath schent the couentis of yuele men, and hath destried hem til `in to [vnto I.] the ende. [verse 17] God destriede the seetis of proude duykis; and made mylde men to sitte for hem. [verse 18] God made drie the rootis of proude folkis; and [and he I.] plauntide meke men of tho folkis. [verse 19] The Lord destriede the londis of folkis; and loste tho `til to [vnto I.] the foundement. [verse 20] He made drie the rootis of hem, and loste [fordide I.] hem; and made the mynde of hem to ceesse fro the erthe. [verse 21] God loste the mynde of proude men; and lefte the mynde of meke men in wit. [verse 22] Pride was not maad to men; nether wrathfulnesse to the nacioun of wym|men [of wymmen; that is, to alle men borun of wymmen. Lire here. C.] . [verse 23] This seed of men that dredith God, schal be onourid; but this seed schal be disonourid, that passith [ouer passith I.] the comaunde|mentis of the Lord. [verse 24] In the myddis of britheren the gouernour of hem is in onour; and thei that dreden God, schulen be in hise iȝen [schulen be in hise iȝen; that is, schulen be onorable and plese him. Lire here. C.] . [verse 25] The glorie of riche men onourid and of pore men is the drede of God. [verse 26] Nyle thou dispise a iust pore man; and nyle thou magnefie a riche synful man. [verse 27] The iuge is greet, and is [he is I.] miȝti in onour; and he is not grettere than that man that dredith God. [verse 28] Fre children seruen a witti seruaunt; and a prudent

man and lerned schal not grutche, whanne he is blamed, and an vnkunnynge man [vnkunnyng man; that takith not blamyng. that worchith; ȝhe, cherlis werk. in alle thingis; that is, in liyflode and clothing sufficient to his staat. hath glo|rie; in boostinge of his kyn. Lire here. C.] schal not be onourid. [verse 29] Nyle thou enhaunse thee in thi werk to be don; and nyle thou be slow in the tyme of angwisch. [verse 30] He is betere that worchith, and hath plente in alle thingis, than he that hath glorie, and nedith breed. [verse 31] Sone, kepe thi soule in myldenesse [in mylde|nesse; that holdith du me|sure and re|freyneth exces. aftir his me|rit; in mak|inge suget the fleisch and de|sir of wittis, as it becometh. that synneth aȝenus his soule; in set|ting the fleisch bifor it, no man schal iustifie him, for of the handmayde he makith a ladi, and aȝenward, and this is most vnriȝtful. for his catel; that is, for richessis, and not for vertu, and this is fals onour. Lire here. C.] ; and ȝyue thou onour to it, aftir his merit. [verse 32] Who schal iustifie hym that synneth aȝens his soule? and who schal onoure hym that disonourith his soule? [verse 33] A pore man hath glorie bi his lernyng and drede; and ther is a man that is onourid for his catel. [verse 34] Forsothe if a man hath glorie in pouert, hou myche more in catel? and he that hath glorie in catel, drede pouerte.

CAP. XI.

[verse 1] The wisdom of a man maad meke schal enhaunse his heed; and schal make hym to sitte in the middis of grete men. [verse 2] Preise thou not a man in his fairnesse; nether dispise thou a man in his siȝt. [verse 3] A bee is litil among briddis; and his fruyt hath the bigynnyng of swetnesse. [verse 4] Haue thou neuere glorie in clothing, and be thou not enhaunsid in the dai of thin onour; for whi the werkis of the hiȝeste aloon ben wondurful, and hise werkis ben gloriouse, and hid, and vnseyn. [verse 5] Many tyrauntis han sete in trone; and a man of whom was no supposyng bar the diademe. [verse 6] Many myȝty men ben oppressid strongli; and gloriouse men ben ȝouun in to the hondis of othere men. [verse 7] Bifore that thou axe, blame thou not ony man; and whanne thou hast axid, blame thou iustli. [verse 8] Bifor that thou here, answere thou not a word; and in the myddis of eldere men [of eldere men; another lettre hath, in the myddis of wordis, that is, in brekinge the wordis of him that spekith. Lire here. C.] adde thou not to speke. [verse 9] Stryue thou not, of that thing that disesith not thee; and stonde thou not in the dom [stonde thou not in the doom, etc.; that is, of hem that per|uerten doom, appreue thou not her sen|tence, nether consente therto. thi dedis ben not in many thingis; for oon lettith an|other, whanne many thingis ben bigunnun, bifor that ony of tho be endid. if thou art riche; that is|coueytouse of richessis vn|mesurably. if thou suest; in sekinge rich|essis vnmesura|bly. thou schalt not take; that is, thou schalt not gete suf|ficience, for whiche rich|essis ben souȝt; a coueitouse man hath not sufficience bi richessis, but more nedinesse; for in as myche as he sekith to haue mo thingis coueyt|ously, he thirst|ith more mo thingis. thou schalt not ascape; nedy|nesse. if thou rennist bifore; in takinge rich|essis of thi fa|dir and modir; for if thou art coueytouse, thou schalt not be apaied with thingis had, but ouer|bisi to haue mo thingis; and if thou art a wastere, thou schalt soone waste thi goodis, and schalt be nedy. Lire here. C.] of synnes. [verse 10] Sone, thi dedis be not in many thingis; and if thou art riche, thou schalt not be

with out part of gilt. For if thou suest, thou schalt not take; and thou schalt not ascape, if thou rennist bifore. [verse 11] Ther is a [sum I.] man trauelynge, and hastynge, and sorew|ynge, and vnpitouse; and bi so myche more [the more I.] he schal not haue plentee. [verse 12] Ther is a [sum I.] man fade [a man fade; that is, feble, failinge more than othere. in vertu; of bodi. in pouert; for whi that litil thing that he hath, suffisith to him. bihelde him; goostly, for his pacience, and sumtyme also in tempo|ral good. Lire here. C.] , nedi of rekyueryng, fail|ynge more in vertu, and plenteuouse in [verse 13] pouert; and the iȝe of God bihelde hym in good, and reiside hym fro his lownesse, and enhaunsid his heed; and many men wondriden in him, and onouriden God. [verse 14] Goodis [Good A pr. m.] and yuels [Goodis and yuels; that is, prosperites and aduersites. pouert and oneste; that is, sufficience of goodis. ben of God; that is, ben ȝouun to men. Lire here. C.] , lijf and deth, pouert and oneste, ben of God. [verse 15] Wisdom, and lernyng, and kunnyng of the lawe ben anentis the Lord; loue and the weies of goode men ben at him. [verse 16] Errour and derk|nessis ben maad togidere to synneris; for|sothe thei that maken ful out ioye in yuel, wexen eld togidere in to yuels. [verse 17] The ȝifte of God dwellith to iust men; and encreess|yngis [encreess|yngis, etc; that is, heepingis of meritis. prosperites; for whi gloriouse meede schal come aftir tho. Lire here. C.] of hym schulen haue prosperitees without ende. [verse 18] A [sum I.] man is [ther is I.] that is maad riche in doynge scarsli, and this is the [verse 19] part of his mede, in that that he seith, Y haue founden reste to me, and now Y aloone schal ete of my goodis. [verse 20] And he noot that tyme passith hym, and deth neiȝeth, and he schal leeue alle thingis to othere men, and schal die. [verse 21] Stonde thou in thi testament [in thi testament; that is, in Goddis heest, which is ordeyned to thee, to be kept of thee. heestis; that is, of Goddis heestis put to thee. of synneris; in consentinge to hem. dwelle in thi place; that is, bi loue in God, which is a place for to quyete the soule. onest; a pore man, in translatinge him to glorie. Lire here. C.] , and speke thou togidere in it; and wexe thou eld in the werk of thin heestis. [verse 22] Dwelle thou not in the werkis of synneris; but triste thou in God, and dwelle in thi place. [verse 23] For it is esy in the iȝen of God, sudeynli to make onest a pore man. [verse 24] The blessing of God haastith in to the meede of a iust man; and the going forth of hym makith fruyt in swift onour. [verse 25] Seie thou not, What is nede to me [What is nede to me; to triste on another man, for Y suffice to me for power, and wisdom, and siche temporal thingis; they that bileuen onely present liyf, doen this moost. what goodis etc. heraftir; that is, aftir this liyf, as if he seye, noone. C. maad worse; that is, schal suffre yuels for my dedis, as he seye, noone. They vndur|stondun this, that bileuen that the soule dieth with the body. in the day of goodis; that is, tyme of prosperite in this liyf. vn|myndeful of yuels; that is, of punysching in another liyf. and in the day of yuels; that is, of aduersite in presente liyf. be thou not vn|myndeful; that is, of reward|ing in heuenly blisse, for whi this mynde makith to suf|fre paciently aduersites. C.] ? and what goodis schulen be me her aftir? [verse 26] Seie thou not, Y am suf|ficient, and what schal Y be maad worse

heraftir? [verse 27] In the dai of goodis be thou not vnmyndeful of yuels, and in the dai of yuels be thou not vnmyndeful of goodis; [verse 28] for it is esi bifor God to ȝelde in the dai of deth to ech man aftir hise weies. [verse 29] The malice of oon our [the malice of oon hour; that is, schort tur|ment soupith vp most lust passid, and myche more long turment doith this. preise thou not; outirly and fynaly. hise sones; that is, werkis. Lire here. C.] makith forȝeting of moost letcherie; and in the ende of a man is makyng nakid of hise werkis. [verse 30] Preise thou not ony man bifore his deth; for whi a man is knowun in hise sones. [verse 31] Brynge thou not ech man in to thin hous; for whi many tresouns ben of a gileful man. [verse 32] For whi as the entrailis of stynkynge thingis breken out, and as a partrich is led in to a trap, ether net, and as a capret is led in to a snare, so and the herte of proude men; and as a biholdere seynge the fal [seinge the fal; that is, wakith dili|gently to se the fal of his neiȝ|bore, to haue ioye therof. C.] of his neiȝbore. [verse 33] For he turneth goodis in to yuels, and settith tresouns, and puttith a wem on chosun men. [verse 34] Fier is encreessid of a [o plures. oon E.] sparcle, and blood is encreessid of a [o plures.] gileful man; for whi a synful man settith tresoun to blood. [verse 35] Take heede to thee fro a gileful man, for he makith yuels; lest perauenture he bringe yn on thee scornyng with outen ende. [verse 36] Resseyue thou an alien to thee, and he schal distrie thee in [in a I.] whirlwynd, and he schal make thee alien fro thin owne weies.

CAP. XII.

[verse 1] If thou doist wel [If thou doist wel; in ȝyu|ynge thi goodis. wite thou to whom; that he be worthi to resseyue. Lire here. C.] , wite thou [Om. GN.] to whom thou doist [doist wel A sec. m.] ; and miche grace schal be to thi goodis. [verse 2] Do thou wel to a iust man, and thou schalt fynde greet ȝelding; thouȝ not of hym, certis of the Lord. [verse 3] It is not wel to hym that is customable in yuels, and to hym that ȝyueth not almes [ȝyueth not almes; and netheles myȝty therto. Lire here. C.] ; for whi the hiȝeste bothe hatith synneris, and doith merci to hem that doen penaunce. [verse 4] Ȝyue thou to a merciful man, and resseyue thou not a synnere [resseyue thou not a synnere; that is, obstinat in synnes, that wolde be nurs|chid in synnes bi thi goodis. kepinge, etc.; that is, reseru|ynge hem to the peyne of helle. Lire here. C.] ; God schal ȝelde ven|iaunce

bothe to vnfeithful men and to synneris, kepynge hem in the dai of ven|iaunce. [verse 5] Ȝyue thou to a good man, and resseyue thou not a synnere. [verse 6] Do thou good to a meke man, and ȝyue thou not to an vnpitouse man; forbede thou to ȝyue looues to hym [looues to hym; here he spekith of syn|neris obstynat. double yuels; that is, yuels passid, whiche he dide, and to comynge, which he schal do, susteyned bi thi goodis. Lire here. C.] , lest in tho he be myȝtiere than thou. [verse 7] For thou schalt fynde double yuels in alle goodis, whiche euere thou doist to hym; for whi the hiȝeste bothe hatith synneris, and schal ȝelde ven|iaunce to vnfeithful men. [verse 8] A frend schal not be knowun in goodis, and an enemy schal not be hid in yuels [yuels ether aduersitees V.] [in yuels; that is, aduersites. Lire here. C.] . [verse 9] In the goodis of a man hise enemyes ben sori; and a frend is knowun in the sorewe and malice of him [malice of him; that is, in aduersite of him. neuere to thin enemy; that is, whom thou hast pre|ued an enemy. roustith; that is, kepith the rust of hatrede, thouȝ he schew|ith the contra|rie with out forth. go lowe; in doinge greet reuerence to thee. thi soule; in no maner bileue thou to him. bisidis thee; in mak|inge him famy|lyar, ether hoomely to thee. Lire here. C.] . [verse 10] Bileue thou neuer to thin ene|my; for his wickidnesse roustith as irun. [verse 11] Thouȝ he be maad meke, and go lowe, caste awei thi soule, and kepe thee fro him. [verse 12] Sette thou not him bisidis thee, nether sitte he at thi riȝtside, lest he turne and stonde in thi place; lest perauenture he turne in to thi place, and enquere thi chaier, and in the laste tyme thou know mi wordis, and be prickid in my wordis. [verse 13] Who schal do medecyn to an enchauntere smytun of a serpent, and to alle men that neiȝen to beestis, and to him that goith with an yuel man, and is wlappid in the synnes of him? [verse 14] In oon our [in oon our; that is, while prosperite durith. bowist awey; fro prosperite. schal not bere vp; that is, he schal not helpe thee. makith swete; in disseyuynge bi swete wordis. in hise lippis; whanne he bi|leueth, that he schal be re|leeuyd herbi. as helpinge; that is, he schal feyne to helpe thee, and schal ymagyne to thi gretter falling. schal chaunge; fro frenschipe feyned bifore, to opyn en|myte. Lire here. C.] he schal dwelle with thee; sotheli if thou bowist awei, he schal not bere vp. [verse 15] The enemy makith swete in hise lippis, and in his herte he settith tresoun to ouerturne [vndurturne A pr. m. et ceteri.] thee in to the dich. [verse 16] The enemy wepith in hise iȝen; and if he fyndith tyme, he schal not be fillid of blood. [verse 17] If yuels bifallen to thee, thou schalt fynde hym the formere there. [verse 18] The enemy schal wepe bifore thin iȝen, and he as helpynge schal vndurmyne thi feet. [verse 19] He schal stire his heed, and he schal beete with hond; and he schal speke priuyli many yuels of thee, and schal chaunge his chere.

CAP. XIII.

He that touchith pitch, schal be de|foulid [verse 1] of it; and he that comyneth with a proude man, schal clothe pride [clothe pride; for whi men ben enclynaunt to vndu desir of her owne excelence, wher|ynne pride stondith, wher|for it cleueth liȝtly to a man. with a more onest man; that is, with a myȝtiere man, for he wole euere haue the betere for him|silf, and the tother may not wel aȝenstonde him. a caw|drun; of bras. to a pot; of erthe. schal be brokun; that is, the pot, which is freel, schal be bro|kun. Lire here. C.] . [verse 2] He reisith a weiȝte on hym silf, that comyn|eth with a more onest man than hym silf; and be thou not felowe to a man richere than thou. [verse 3] What schal a cawdroun comyne to a pot? for whanne tho hirtlen hem silf togidere, the pot schal be brokun. [verse 4] A riche man schal do vniustli, and schal gnaste [gnaste; as redie ȝit to do worse. ȝyuest; ȝiftis to the riche man. schal take; that is, onour and sette thee bisidis him. Lire here. C.] ; but a pore man hirt schal be stille. [verse 5] If thou ȝyuest, he schal take thee; and if thou hast not, he schal forsake thee. [verse 6] If thou hast, he schal lyue togidere [lyue togidere; in clepinge thee to his table. make thee voyde; that is, make thee pore, bi pre|sentis maad to him. sorewe on thee; of thi pouert. Lire here. C.] with thee, and schal make thee voide; and he schal not haue sorewe on thee. [verse 7] If thou art nedeful to hym, he schal disseyue thee; and he schal flatere, and schal ȝyue hope, tellinge to thee alle goodis; and schal seie, What is nede to thee? [verse 8] And he schal schende thee in hise metis [schende thee in his metis; in clepinge thee to his table, to haue presentis of thee. anyn|tische thee; that is, brynge to pouert. twyes and thries; that is, fyuethis, for in v. maneris pore men ben maad voyde of coueit|ouse riche men; first, in takinge awey violently the goodis of pore men; the ij., in withholdinge du hire; the thridde, in disseyunge bi double wordis; the iiij., in weiynge yuele to hem, bothe in absence of pore men that tristen in riche men, and in presence of hem that doren not aȝenseye. Lire here. C.] , til he anyntische thee twies and thries, and at the laste he schal scorne thee; aftirward he schal se, and schal forsake thee, and he schal moue his heed [moue his heed; in repreuynge thee of foly. be maad low; that is, a coward. in thi wisdom; that is, ȝouun of God to thee. Lire here. C.] to thee. [verse 9] Be thou maad meke to God, and abide thou hise hondis. [verse 10] Take heede, lest thou be dis|seyued, and be maad lowe in foli. [verse 11] Nyle thou be lowe in thi wisdom, lest thou be maad low, and be disseyued in to foli. [verse 12] Whanne thou art clepid of a miȝtiere man, go thou awei [awei, or excuse V.] [go thou awey; that is, excuse thee sumdel. Lire here. C.] ; for bi this he schal more clepe thee. [verse 13] Be thou not greetli press|yng [ethir to gredi X sec. m. marg.] [presing; in preessinge forth thee ouer myche. hurtlid doun; that is, put awey schamefastly. Lire here. C.] , lest thou be hurtlid doun; and be thou not fer fro hym, lest thou go in to forȝetyng. [verse 14] Witholde thou not to speke with hym euenli [with hym euenli; that is, speke thou to him with out reuerence. Lire here. C.] , and bileue thou not to hise many wordis; for of myche speche he schal tempte thee, and he schal leiȝe

priuyli, and schal axe thee of thin hid thingis [hid thingis; that is, if thou hast take in hid place ony thing of his. of malice; that is, of peyne to be ȝouun to thee. and thou schalt wake; that is, feyne thee to vndur|stonde not tho thingis that ben seid of the riche man, for thi taking; and in this thou schalt haue thee wakingli and diligently. Lire here. C.] . [verse 15] His cruel soule schal kepe thi wordis, and he schal not spare of malice, and of bondis. [verse 16] Be war to thee, and take heede diligentli to thin heryng; for thou goist with thi distriyng. [verse 17] But thou heringe tho thingis, se as in sleep, and thou schalt wake. [verse 18] In al thi lijf loue thou God, and inwardli clepe thou him in thin heelthe [in thyn helthe; that is, for thyn helthe temporal and euerlastinge. his neiȝbore; for he is maad in the ymage of God, and is able to take blis. Lire here. C.] . [verse 19] Ech beeste loueth a beeste lijk it silf; so and ech man owith to loue his neiȝbore. [verse 20] Ech fleisch schal be ioyned to fleisch lijk it silf, and ech man schal be felouschipid to a man lijk hym silf. [verse 21] As a wulf schal comyne sum tyme with a lomb, so a syn|nere with a iust man. [verse 22] What comininge is of [to A pr. m. et ceteri.] an hooli man to a dogge [to a dogge; that is, to a doggische man, and siche is a chidere, and a wrathful man, and a glotoun; as if he seye, no good com|yng is there. in desert; wherynne the lyoun pursueth the wielde asse, to deuoure hym. of riche men; coueitouse. ben pore men; whos goodis they rauischen with out cause. Lire here. C.] ? ethir what good part is of a riche man to a pore man? [verse 23] The huntyng of a lioun is a wielde asse in desert; so the lesewis of riche men ben pore men. [verse 24] And as mekenesse is abhomynacioun to a proude man, so and a pore man is abhomynacioun of a riche man. [verse 25] A riche man moued [A riche man moued; that is, disturblid ether hurlid. frendis; hop|inge to haue part of hise goodis. in con|science; that is, of yuele geting, nether bi himsilf, ne|ther bi hise fadir and mo|dir. of a wickid man; that bi vnpacience blasfemeth God. Lire here. C.] is confermed of hise frendis; but a meke man, whanne he fallith, schal be cast out, ȝhe, of knowun men. [verse 26] Many rekyuereris ben to a riche man disseyued; he spak proudli, and thei iustifieden hym. [verse 27] A meke man is disseiued, ferthermore also he is repreuyd; he spak wiseli, and no place was ȝouun to hym. [verse 28] The riche man spak, and alle men weren stille; and thei schulen brynge his word til to the cloudis. [verse 29] A pore man spak, and thei seien, Who is this? and if he of|fendith, thei schulen destrye hym. [verse 30] Catel is good to hym, to whom is no synne in conscience; and `the worste pouert [pouert worste A sec. m.] is in the mouth of a wickid man. [verse 31] The herte of a man chaungith his face, ethir in good ethir in yuel. [verse 32] Of hard and with trauel thou schalt fynde the step of a good herte [the step of a good herte; that is, thou schalt fynde in fewe men the ynnere goodnesse of soule, and of outermere conuersacioun togidere. Lire here. C.] , and a good face.

CAP. XIV.

[verse 1] Blessid is the man, that slood not bi the [Om. S.] word of his mouth, and was not prickid [was not prickid; bi re|mors of con|sience for vi|ciouse stilnesse. Lire here. C.] in the sorewe of trespas. [verse 2] He is blessid, that hath not sorewe of his soule [sorewe of his soule; in good werkis to be fillid. Lire here. C.] , and fallith not doun fro his hope. [verse 3] Catel [Catel; that is, richessis, that profiten not to him, for as wel that that an aua|rouse hath fail|ith to him silf, as that that he hath not, as Jerom seith, in his pistle to Paulyn. to a coueitouse man; in get|inge yuele. hard nygard; in holdinge yuele, therfor richessis noyen to an auarouse man, bothe to bodi and soule, to an enuyouse man; to his yuel. of his wille; that is, getinge vn|iustly, witingli, and of purpos. gaderith to othere men; for ofte tho ben priued of the vss of richessis, and tho ben wastid yuele of othere men. Lire here. C.] is with out resoun to a coueitouse man, and hard nygard; and wherto is gold to an enuyouse man? [verse 4] He that gaderith of his wille vniustli, gaderith to othere men; and another man schal mak wast in hise goodis. [verse 5] To what othere man schal he be good, which is wickid to hym silf? and he schal not be myrye in hise goodis. [verse 6] No thing is worse [No thing is worse; for he turmentith him silf, bothe to bodi and soule. enuye to him silf; siche is an auarouse man, that with|drawith of his owene neces|saries. Lire here. C.] , than he that hath enuye to hym silf; and this is the ȝelding of his malice. [verse 7] And if he doith good, he doith vnwityngli, and not wilfuli; and at the laste he schewith his malice. [verse 8] The iȝe of an enuyous man is wickid, and turnynge awei the face, and dispisynge his soule. [verse 9] The iȝe of the coueitouse man is neuere fillid; he schal not be fillid in to the part of wickidnesse, til he performe vnriȝtful|nesse, and make drie his soule. [verse 10] An yuel iȝe to yuels, and the nedi man schal not be fillid of breed; and he schal be in sorewe on his table. [verse 11] Sone, if thou hast, do wel with thi silf, and offre thou worthi offryngis to God. [verse 12] Be thou myndeful that deth schal not tarie, and the testament of hellis [the testament of hellis; that is, the orden|aunce of God, of the deth of ech man; it is seid the testa|ment of hellis, for whanne this book was maad, iust men ȝeden doun to helle. this world schal die bi deth; that is, worldli eritage, biquethun of fadris to children, schal faile sone. Lire here. C.] , which is schewid to thee; for whi the testament of this world schal die bi deth. [verse 13] Bifore deth do thou good to thi frend, and bi thi miȝtis stretche thou forth, and ȝyue to a pore man. [verse 14] Be thou not dis|seyued of a good dai, and a litil part of a good day passe not [passe not; that is, leeue not thee voide and idil fro good werkis. Lire here. C.] thee. [verse 15] Whether [Wher ceteri fere passim.] thou schalt not leeue to othere men thi sorewis, and trauels? [verse 16] In the departyng of lot [In the departing of lot; for God hath ordeyned that summen be pore, and othere men be riche, that riche men ȝyue temporal thingis to pore men, and resseyue euerlastinge thingis for tho. fynde mete; that is, place of merit. of fleisch and blood; that is, of men. cor|ruptible; that is, ledinge to corrupcioun, that is, to synne. faile; that is, schal make to faile of blis. al chosun werk, etc.; that is, meritorie werk schal be ap|preued of God, as iust werk. thenke in wit; that is, wittily. weyes; that is, the werkis of God, that ben weyes to come in to his knowyng. ȝatis; that is, in the fiȝtinge chirche, bi which is en|tring to the chirche hau|ynge victorie. biholdith bi the wyndows; that is, bi reuela|cioun, maad in the elde and newe testa|ment. restith in the hows; in bileuynge stidefastly, and dwellinge in contemplacioun swetely. at the hondis of him; that is, of God, in abidinge contynuely the ȝiftis of his grace. of the world; an other lettre hath bi him, that is, God. hise sones; that is, hise dissi|plis. vndur the hiling therof; in teching hem in the forseid thingis. vndur the boowis; in thenkinge and worchinge vn|dur the tech|ingis therof. fro the heete; of vices. Lire here. C.] ȝyue thou, and take; and iustifie thi soule. [verse 17] Bifore thi deth worche thou riȝtfulnesse;

for at hellis it is not to fynde mete. [verse 18] Ech man schal wexe eld as hey, and as a leef bryngynge fruit in a greene tree. [verse 19] Othere ben gendrid, and othere ben cast doun; so the generacioun of fleisch and blood, another is endid, and another is borun. [verse 20] Ech corruptible werk schal faile in the ende; and he that worchith it, schal go with it. [verse 21] And al chosun werk schal be iustified; and he that worchith it, schal be onourid in it. [verse 22] Blessid is the man, that schal dwelle in wisdom, and that schal bithenke in riȝtfulnesse, and schal thenke in wit the biholding of God. [verse 23] Which [The which I.] thenkith out, ether fyndith out, the weies of hym in his herte, and schal be vndur|stondynge in the hid thingis of hym; goynge as a serchere aftir it, and stond|ynge in the weies of it. [verse 24] Which biholdith bi the wyndows therof, and herith in the [verse 25] ȝatis therof; which restith nyȝ the hous therof, and settith a stak in the wallis therof. He schal sette his litil hous at the hondis of hym, and goodis schulen reste in his litil hous, bi duryng of the world; [verse 26] he schal sette hise sones vndur the hilyng therof, and he schal dwelle vndur the [verse 27] boowis therof; he schal be kyuerid vndur the hilyng therof fro heete, and he schal reste in the glorie therof.

CAP. XV.

[verse 1] He that dredith God, schal do goode werkis; and he that holdith riȝtfulnesse, schal take it [take it; that is, wisdom. Lire here. C.] . [verse 2] And it as a modir onourid schal meete hym, and as a womman fro virgynyte it schal take hym. [verse 3] It shal feede hym with the breed of lijf, and of vndur|stonding; and it schal ȝyue drynke to hym with watir of heelful wisdom [with water of heelful wis|dom; that is, with grace of the Hooly Goost. Lire here. C.] ; it schal be maad stidfast in hym, and he schal not be bowid [bowid; fro the euennesse of riȝtfulnesse. Lire here. C.] . [verse 4] And it schal holde hym, and he schal not be schent; and it schal enhaunse hym at his neiȝboris. [verse 5] And

in the myddis of the chirche he schal opene his mouth; and God schal fille hym with the spirit of wisdom [of wisdom; to taaste dy|uyn thingis. and of vndur|stonding; to declare tho clereli in the chirche. Lire here. C.] , and of vndur|stonding, and schal clothe hym with the stoole of glorie. [verse 6] God schal tresore on hym myrthe, and ful out ioiyng; and schal enherite hym with euerlastynge name. [verse 7] Fonned men schulen not take that wis|dom, and witti men schulen meete it. Fonned men schulen not se it; for whi it goith awey fer fro pride, and gile. [verse 8] Men leesyngmongeris schulen not be myndful therof, and sothefast men ben foundun ther ynne; and schulen haue prosperite `til to [vnto I.] the biholding of God. [verse 9] Preisyng is not fair [is not fair; that is, plesaunt to God. Lire here. C.] in the mouth of a synnere, for he is not sent of the Lord. [verse 10] For whi wisdom ȝede forth fro God; forsothe heri|yng schal stonde nyȝ the wisdom of God, and it schal be plenteuouse in a feithful mouth, and the Lord schal ȝyue it to him. [verse 11] Seie thou not, It goith awei bi [It goith awei bi, etc.; that is, vertu to es|chewe synne is not ȝouun of God to men. Lire here. C.] God; for whi do thou not tho thingis, whiche God hatith. [verse 12] Seie thou not, He made me for to erre; for whi wickid men ben not nedeful to hym. [verse 13] The Lord hatith al cursidnesse of errour, and it schal not be amyable to hem, that dreden hym. [verse 14] At the bigynnyng God made man, and lefte him [and lefte him, etc.; not that God with|drow his kep|ing and ruling fro man, but made him fre in wille, and ȝaf to him power to kepe riȝtfulnesse. Lire here. C.] in the hond of his councel. [verse 15] He addide hise co|maundementis, [verse 16] and lawis; if thou wolt kepe the comaundementis, tho schulen kepe thee, and kepe plesaunt feith with outen ende. [verse 17] He hath set to thee watir [He hath set to thee water; that is, re|freisching of glorie. and fier; that is, peyne of helle. he bihiȝte glo|rie, and ma|naasside peyne, that men schul|den do good, and fle synne. liyf; of grace. deth; of synne. good; of merit. and yuel; of yuel disseruyng. that that plesith hym; that is, it is in his power to go to good, and to fle fro yuel. strong in power; to reward hem that stonden in vertu, and to punysche hem that fallen therfro. Lire here. C.] and fier; dresse thin hond to that, that thou wolt. [verse 18] Bifor man is lijf and deth, good and yuel; that, that plesith hym, schal be ȝouun to hym. [verse 19] For whi the wis|dom of God is myche, and he is strong in power, and seeth alle men without ceess|ing. [verse 20] The iȝen [The iȝen; that is, of his mersi. space; that is, licence. to do synne, but euere forbeed. C.] of the Lord ben to hem, that dreden hym; and he knowith al the trauel of man. [verse 21] He comaundide not to ony man to do wickidli; and he ȝaf not to ony man space to do synne. [verse 22] For he coueytith

not the multitude of sones vnfeithful [vnfeithful; that is, seru|inge the fadris in vnfeithful|nesse. vnpro|fitable; that is, noyful to neiȝ|boris. Lire here. C.] and vnprofitable.

CAP. XVI.

[verse 1] Be thou not glad in wickid sones, if thei ben multiplied; nether delite thou on hem, if the drede of God is not in hem. [verse 2] Bileue thou not to the lijf of hem [Bileue thou not to the liyf of hem; that is, bileue thou not that thei schu|len be amendid in eelde, for whi this is ful seeldene; in xxij. c^o. of Prouerbis. Lire here. C.] , and biholde thou not in to the trauels of hem. [verse 3] For whi betere is oon dredynge God, than a thousynde wickid sones. [verse 4] And it is more profitable to die with out sones, than to leeue wickid sones. [verse 5] A cuntrei shal be enhabitid of o witti man; and it schal be maad desert of thre wickid men. [verse 6] Myn iȝe siȝ many othere thingis, and myn eere herde strongere thingis than these. [verse 7] Fier schal brenne an hiȝ in the synagoge of synneris, and yre schal brenne an hiȝ in a folk vnbileuful. [verse 8] Elde giauntis that weren distried, tristynge on her vertu, preieden [verse 9] not for her synnes; and God sparide not the pilgrymage [the pilgrym|age; that is, her liyf, which is a pilgrymage on erthe. Lire here. C.] of hem, but he killide hem, and curside hem, for the pride of her word. [verse 10] He hadde not merci on hem, and he loste al the folk enhaunsynge hem silf in her synnes. [verse 11] And as he killide sixe hundrid thousynde of foot men, that weren gaderid togidere in the hardnesse [in the hard|nesse; that is, rebelte aȝenus God. if oon, etc.; that is, if oon aloone hadde be rebel to God. gilteles; of peyne. Lire here. C.] of her herte; and if oon hadde be hard nollid, wondur if he hadde be giltles. [verse 12] For whi merci and ire is with hym; preier is myȝti [preyer is myȝti; that is, the preyer of iust men is myȝti anentis God; that re|leessith peyne, ether nameli temperith peyne ma|naassid. and schedinge out ire; that is, makinge to bringe in peyne. bi his mersi; that is, with temperure of Goddis mersi. chastisyng; that is, pu|nisching of ech man. is demed; that is punyschid. a synnere in raueyn; that is, a cruel man, vsinge the synne of ra|ueyn. schal not ascape; the punysching of God. the suf|fraunce, etc.; that is, the pacience of a merciful man, that suffrith aduersites, for it is rewardid of God in co|uenable tyme. of his pilgrim|age; that is, aftir the entent which he hath in present liyf, which liyf is seid the pilgrymage of man. Lire here. C.] , and schedynge out ire. [verse 13] Bi his merci, so is the chastisyng of ech man; he is demyd bi hise werkis. [verse 14] A synnere in raueyn schal not ascape; and the suf|feraunce of hym that doith merci schal not tarie. [verse 15] Al merci schal make place to ech man, aftir the merit of his werkis, and aftir the vndurstonding of his pil|grymage. [verse 16] Seie thou not, Y schal be hid fro God; and fro the hiȝeste [preyer is myȝti; that is, the preyer of iust men is myȝti anentis God; that re|leessith peyne, ether nameli temperith peyne ma|naassid. and schedinge out ire; that is, makinge to bringe in peyne. bi his mersi; that is, with temperure of Goddis mersi. chastisyng; that is, pu|nisching of ech man. is demed; that is punyschid. a synnere in raueyn; that is, a cruel man, vsinge the synne of ra|ueyn. schal not ascape; the punysching of God. the suf|fraunce, etc.; that is, the pacience of a merciful man, that suffrith aduersites, for it is rewardid of God in co|uenable tyme. of his pilgrim|age; that is, aftir the entent which he hath in present liyf, which liyf is seid the pilgrymage of man. Lire here. C. ¶ the hiȝeste; that is, heuene. Lire here. C.] , who schal haue mynde on me? [verse 17] Seie thou not, Y schal not be knowun in a greet puple; for whi which is my soule in so greet a crea|ture?

[verse 18] Lo! heuene [Lo! heuene; of the eir. and heuenys of he|uenys; that is, heuene of ster|ris, and of cris|tal, and briȝt heuene. Lire here. C.] , and the [Om. A pr. m.] heuenes of heuenes, the greet occian, and al erthe, and tho thingis that ben in tho, schulen [verse 19] be mouyd in his siȝt; munteyns togidere, and litle hillis, and the foundementis of erthe; and whanne God biholdith tho, tho schulen be schakun togidere with tremblyng. [verse 20] And in alle these thingis the herte [the herte; of a man that de|nyeth that God|dis riȝtfulnesse and kunnyng is strecchid forth to the pu|nysching of synnes. Lire here. C.] is vnwijs, and ech herte is vndur|stondun of hym. [verse 21] And who vndurstondith hise weies? and `who vndurstondith [Om. I.] a tempest, which the iȝe of man siȝ not? [verse 22] For whi ful many werkis of hym ben `in hid [hid in A pr. m. C pr. m. et plures.] thingis, but who schal telle out the werkis of his riȝtfulnesse, ether who schal suffre [who schal suffre; as if he seye, fewe, for whi iust men that moun suffre ben in the lesse noum|bre. the testa|ment; that is, the elde testa|ment and newe.] ? For whi the testament is fer fro summe men [is fer fro summen; as to worching, thouȝ not as to knowing. in the ending; that is, is reseru|ed to the fynal doom, where men schulen ȝelde resoun of ech word, and myche strong|liere of dede. maad litil in herte; he is maad litil, that settith his ende in temporal goodis, that are lesse than man. thenkith veyn thingis; for whi hise thouȝtis failen fro du ende, and so tho ben veyne, as mede|cyn is seid veyn, that fail|ith to brynge in helthe. Lire here. C.] ; and the axyng of men is in the endyng. [verse 23] He that is maad litil in herte, thenkith veyn thingis; and a man vnpru|dent and a fool thenkith fonned thingis. [verse 24] Sone, here thou me, and lerne thou tech|yng of wit, and ȝyue thou tent to my wordis in thin herte; and Y schal seie techyng in equyte, and Y schal seke to telle out wisdom. And ȝyue thou tent to [verse 25] my wordis in thin herte; and Y seie in equyte of spirit [in equyte of spirit; that is, with out ony beringe doun of truthe. in hise folkis; that is, hise aungels, that ben hise sones, and hise knyȝtis; for whi God assignede hiȝere bodies and lowere to be gouerned of aungelis distant, ether assigned in special places. Lire here. C.] the vertues, whiche God hath set on hise werkis at the bigynnyng, and in treuthe Y telle out the kunnyng of him. [verse 26] In the doom of God ben hise werkis fro the bigynnyng; and in the ordynaunce of tho he departyde the partis of tho, and he departide the bigynnyngis of tho in hise folkis. [verse 27] He ournede with outen ende the werkis of hem [the werkis of hem; heuene and elementis ben the werkis of aungelis, not for aungels ben makeris of tho, but ben mynystris ether gouernours, bi that maner of speking bi which a vyner is seid the werk of a vyntiler, and an hows to be gouerned is seid the werk of the dispendere. this word with outen ende is set here propirly as to heuenes, whos ournyngis schulen dwelle stably, as to thingis gendrable and corruptible, that schulen ceesse in the ende of the world. this word withouten ende is takun for long tyme, as hillis ben seid euerlastinge. the soule of ech lyuynge thing; bothe of thing that hath resoun, and of thing that hath feeling. telde bifor his face; that is, schewide in dede that tho goodis weren maad of God for thilke soule, for it vside tho goodis. turn|yng aȝen; for whi tho thingis ben brouȝt aȝen in to God bi a resonable soule, in heri|ynge hym for hise goodis, and bi soule that ȝyueth feeling in his maner, for it is mater of Goddis heri|yng. Lire here. C.] thei hungriden not, nether traueliden, and thei ceessiden not of her werkis. [verse 28] Ech schal not make streit the nexte to hym, til in to with outen ende. [verse 29] Be thou not vnbileueful to the word of him. [verse 30] Aftir these thingis God bihelde `in to [to A pr. m.] the erthe, and fillide it with hise goodis. [verse 31] Forsothe the soule of ech lyuynge

thing teld bifore his face; and thilke soule is eft the turnyng aȝen of tho thinges.

CAP. XVII.

[verse 1] God formede man of erthe; and aftir his ymage he made man. [verse 2] And eft he turnede man in to that ymage [that ymage; in ȝyuynge to man actuel knowing of God. aftir hym silf; that is, as it bicometh man|kynde. councel; that is, power of auysement. herte; that is, vndurstonding. to thenke out; tho thingis that ben nedeful and spedeful to hem silf. Lire here. C.] ; and aftir hym silf he clothide hym with vertu. [verse 3] He ȝaf to hym the noumbre of daies, and tyme; and he ȝaf to him power of tho thingis that ben on erthe. [verse 4] He settide the drede of man on al fleisch, and he was lord of beestis and [and of I.] fliynge briddis. [verse 5] He formyde of man an help lijk hym; he ȝaf to hem councel, and tunge, and iȝen, and eeris, and herte to thenke out; and he fillide hem with techyng of vndurstond|yng. [verse 6] He made to hem the kunnyng of spirit, he fillide the herte of hem with wit; and he schewide to hem yuels and goodis. [verse 7] He settide the iȝe of hem on the hertes of hem, to schewe to hem the grete [verse 8] thingis of hise werkis, that thei preise to|gidere the name of halewyng [the name of halewyng; that is, the name of the Lord, in whiche alle thingis ben blessid and ha|lewid. Lire here. C.] ; and to haue glorie in hise meruels, that thei telle out the grete thingis of hise werkis. [verse 9] He addide to hem techyng; and he enhe|ritide hem with the lawe of lijf. [verse 10] He or|deynyde an euerlastynge testament with hem; and he schewide to hem hise riȝtful|nesse, and domes. [verse 11] And the iȝe of hem siȝ the grete thingis of his onour, and the eeris of hem herden the onour of vois; and he seide to hem, Take heede to ȝou fro al wickid thing. [verse 12] And he comaundide to hem, to ech man of his neiȝbore. [verse 13] The weies of hem ben euere bifore hym; tho ben not hid fro hise iȝen. [verse 14] On ech folk [verse 15] he made souereyn a gouernour; and Israel was maad the opyn part of God. [verse 16] And alle the werkis of hem ben as the sunne in the siȝt of God; and hise iȝen biholden with out ceessyng in the weies of hem. [verse 17] Testamentis [Testamentis; thouȝ many kyngis in the puple of Israel diden idolatrie, and enforsiden to distrie the lawe, netheles the lawe and Goddis wor|schip weren reserued in goode men. Lire here. C.] weren not hid fro the wick|idnesse of hem; and alle the wickydnessis

of hem weren in the siȝt of God. [verse 18] The almes of a man is as a bagge with hym [as a bagge with hym; that is, as a scrippe, wher ynne a man puttith vp liyflode to which he goith in nede, so almes helpith in the deth of man. Lire here. C.] , and it schal kepe the grace of a man as [verse 19] the appil of the iȝe; and afterward man schal rise aȝen, and it schal ȝelde to hem a ȝelding, to ech man in to the heed of hem; and schal turne in to the lower partis of erthe [into the low|ere partis of erthe; for whi almes auaylith to hem that ben in purga|torie, which, as hooly doctours seyen, is the same place with helle, which is vndur the erthe; for Greg. seith, as gold and siluer schyneth in the same fier, and chaf smok|ith, so the same fier is that tur|mentith re|preuable men, and purgith chosun men. it ȝaf; that is, almes ȝaf. the weye of riȝtful|nesse; in dis|posinge to it. faylinge; that is, feble men, to suffre the trauel of pe|naunce. Lire here. C.] . [verse 20] Forsothe it ȝaf to men repentinge the weie of riȝtfulnesse, and confermede men failynge to suffre, and ordeynede to hem the part of treuthe. [verse 21] Turne thou to the Lord, and forsake thi [verse 22] synnes; preye thou bifore the face of the Lord, and make thou lesse hirtingis. [verse 23] Turne thou aȝen to the Lord, and turne thou awei fro thin vnriȝtfulnesse, and hate thou greetli cursyng [hate thou greetli cursyng; that is, cursid synne. Lire here. C.] . [verse 24] And knowe thou the riȝtfulnessis, and domes of God; and stonde thou in the part of good purpos, and of preier of the [Om. I.] hiȝeste God. [verse 25] Go thou in to the partis of the hooli world [in to the partis of the hooli world; that is, with iust men, that ben seid the hooly world. conuerten; that is, repenten verily. not alle thingis; that is, a man may not euere make satisfaccioun of alle hise synnes. malices; that is, synnes. Lire here. C.] , with men lyuynge, and ȝyuynge knou|leching to God. [verse 26] Dwelle thou not in the errour of wickid men. Knouleche thou bifore deth; knouleching perischith fro a deed man, as no thing. [verse 27] Lyuynge thou schalt knouleche, lyuynge and hool thou schalt knowleche, and schalt herie God; and thou schalt haue glorie in the mer|ciful doyngis of hym. [verse 28] The merci of God is ful greet, and his help to hem that conuerten to hym. [verse 29] For whi not alle thingis moun be in men; for whi the sone of man is not vndeedli, and malices ples|iden in to vanyte. [verse 30] What is clerere than the sunne? and this schal faile [this schal faile; not bi substaunce, but bi apperyng, whanne it suffrith eclips. fleisch and blood; that is, a synnere. Lire here. C.] ; ethir what is worse than that, that fleisch and blood thouȝte out? and of this he schal be repreued. [verse 31] He [He, that is, God V.] [He; that is, God. biholdith the vertu, etc.; that is, the vertu of aungels, beynge in briȝt heuene, as noon in comparisoun of his vertu. Lire here. C.] biholdith the vertu of hiȝnesse of heuene; and alle men ben erthe and aische.

CAP. XVIII.

[verse 1] He that lyueth with out bigynnyng and ende, made of nouȝt alle thingis to|gidere; God alone schal be iustified, and he dwellith a king vnouercomun with outen ende. [verse 2] Who schal suffice to telle [verse 3] out his werkis? for whi who schal seke the grete thingis of hym? [verse 4] But who schal telle out the vertu of his greetnesse? ether who schal leie to for to telle out his mercy? [verse 5] It is not to make lesse, nether to leie to; nethir it is to fynde the grete thingis of God. [verse 6] Whanne a man hath endid [Whanne a man hath end|id; the serch|ing of God. bigynne; that is, he schal per|seyue that he is in the bigyn|nyng. hath restid, etc.; that is, whanne he schal be in eld age, which is tyme of rest|ing, he schal be more hertid to good werk. what is good; as if he seye, of him silf he hath no good of grace, nether of kynde. wickid thingis; what euer thing of wickidnesse is in hym, al is of him silf. euerlasting|nesse; the Latin word here signefieth euerlasting|nesse; but pro|pirly it signe|fieth the dur|inge of vncor|ruptible thingis. schewith out; in ȝyuynge largeli his grace. Lire here. C.] , thanne he schal bigynne; and whanne he hath restid, he schal worche. [verse 7] What is a man, and what is the glorie of him? and what is good, ether what is the wickid thing of him? [verse 8] The noumbre of the daies of men, that ben comynli an hundrid ȝeer, ben arettid as the dropis of the watir of the see; and as the stoon of grauel, so a fewe ȝeeris in the dai of euer|lastyngnesse. [verse 9] For this thing God is pa|cient in hem, and schedith out on hem his merci. [verse 10] He siȝ the presumpcioun of her herte, for it was yuel; and he knew the distriyng of hem, for it was wickid. [verse 11] Therfor he fillide his merci in [on C.] hem, and schewide to hem the weie of equite. [verse 12] The merciful doyng of man is aboute his neiȝ|bore; but the merci of the Lord is ouer ech fleisch. [verse 13] He that hath merci, and techith, and chastisith as a scheepherde [verse 14] his floc, do [doth EP pr. m. do he IKMX sec. m. marg.] merci, takynge the techyng [doctrine K.] [takinge the techyng; that is, confermynge his techinge bi excercise of workis.] of merciful [the merciful K.] doyng; and he that hastith in the domes [hastith in the domes; that is, of mersi, desir|inge to here thilke sentence in the fynal doom, Come ȝe, the blessid, and take the rewme. playnt; in bi|weiling that that thou ȝauest to releeue thi neiȝbore. Lire here. C.] therof. [verse 15] Sone, in goodis ȝyue thou not pleynt, and in ech ȝifte ȝyue thou not heuynesse of an yuel word. [verse 16] Whether dew schal not kele heete? so and a word is betere than ȝifte. [verse 17] Lo! whether a word is not aboue a good ȝifte? but euer ethir is with a man iustified. [verse 18] A fool schal vp|breide

[edwite ceteri.] scharpli; and the ȝifte of an vn|tauȝt man makith iȝen to faile [makith iȝen to faile; of the resseyuere, which is aschamed of edwitingis doon to him. Bifor the doom, etc.; that is, bifor that thou deme another man of ony defaute, se that thou be gilteles therof, ellis thou schuldist con|demne thi silf; in ij. c^o. to Ro|mayns, In what thing thou demest another man, thou con|dempnest thi silf, for thou doist the same thingis whiche thou demest. lerne thou; of a maister. bifor that thou speke; in techinge othere men. Bifor sikenesse, etc.; as bodili siknesse is maad vncurable bi long during; so goostly sik|nesse bi cus|tom, which is as sum kynde. Lire here. C.] . [verse 19] Bifore the doom make thou redi riȝtfulnesse to thee; and lerne thou, bifore that thou speke. [verse 20] Bifore sikenesse ȝyue thou medi|cyn; and bifore the doom axe thi silf, and thou schalt fynde merci in the siȝt of God. [verse 21] Bifore sikenesse make the meke, and in the tyme of sikenesse schewe thi lyuyng. [verse 22] Be thou not lettid [Be thou not lettid; bi tem|poral bisynessis. to preye euere; that is, in tymes ordeyned ther|to. Lire here. C.] to preye euere, and drede thou not to be iustified til to deth; for whi the meede of God dwellith with outen ende. [verse 23] Bifore preier make redi thi soule; and nyle thou be as a man that temptith God [temptith God; to tempt God, that is, that a man bitake him silf to perel, and leeue that that he may do re|sonabli, and abide to be de|lyuerid of God. Lire here. C.] . [verse 24] Haue thou mynde of ire in the dai of endyng; and make thou in lyuyng the tyme of ȝelding. [verse 25] Haue thou mynde of pouert in the dai of abundaunce; and the nede of pouert in the tyme of richessis. [verse 26] Fro the morewtid `til to [vnto I.] the euentid the tyme schal be chaungid; and alle these thingis ben swift in the iȝen of God. [verse 27] A wise man schal drede in alle thingis; and in the daies of trespassis he schal fle fro vnkunnyng, ether slouthe. [verse 28] Ech fel man [Ech fel man; that is, ententif to eschewe yuels, bi Goddis drede. knowith wisdom; that is, getith and loueth it. knowleching; of preising.] knowith wisdom; and to hym that fyndith it, he schal ȝyue knouleching. [verse 29] Witti men in wordis also thei diden wiseli, and vndur|stoden [vndurstonden CGS.] treuthe, and riȝtfulnesse; and bisouȝten [bisouȝten, etc.; that is, in bi|sechinge thei knewen the vn|durstonding of priuy thingis. Delite thou not in cumpenyes; that is, in multitude of meynee. Lire here. C. Be thou not meene; that is, necgligent ether slow. in stryuyng of looue; that is, that thou stryue to ouercome sum men in the ȝyuyng of almes; he that ȝyueth almes, makith looue to God, in xix c^o. of Prouerbs. enuy|ouse to thi soule; in withdrawinge fro it the good of mersi, if thou art necgligent in the ȝyuyng of almes: thus it is expownyd comynly, but it may be expowned neer the lettre thus, Be thou not meene, etc.; that is, not onely stryue thou not myche, but nether litil, in axinge hard the dette, which thou hast lent to thi nedy neiȝbore. and sum thing is to thee; that is, while thou hast wherof thou maist lyue in an other side, thou owist not to axe aȝen harde the dette. enuyouse to thi soule; in withdrawinge fro it the goodis of mersi; if thou axist ouer harde the dette aȝenus Goddis heest, in xxij. c^o. of Exodi. Lire here. C.] prouerbis and domes. [verse 30] Go thou not aftir thi coueitises; and be thou turned awei fro thi wille. [verse 31] If thou ȝyuest to thi soule the coueitisis therof, it schal make thee in to ioie to thin enemyes. [verse 32] Delite thou not in cumpenyes, nether in litle cumpenyes; for whi the synnyng of hem is contynuel. [verse 33] Be thou not meene in the stryuyng of looue, and sum thing is to thee in the world [in the world; another lettre hath, in the bagge. Lire here. C.] ; for whi thou schalt be enuyouse to thi soule.

CAP. XIX.

[verse 1] A drunkelew [drunke G.] werk man schal not be maad riche; and he that chargith not litle synnes, fallith doun [fallith doun; in to greuousere synnes. re|preuen; that is, maken him worthi to be repreuyd. set an hiȝ; that is, schal be takun out of the felouschipe of goode men. in to more en|saumple; that is, make aferd both litil men and greete. Lire here. C.] litil and litil. [verse 2] Wyn and wymmen maken to be apostataas, ȝhe, wise men; and thei repreuen witti men. [verse 3] And he that ioyneth hym silf to hooris, schal be wickid; rot and wormes schulen enherite hym, and he schal be set an hiȝ in to more ensaumple, and his soule schal be takun [his soule schal be takun, etc.; that is, schal be rauyschid of fendis fro the noumbre of chosun men. He that bileu|eth soone; that is, yuele of his neiȝbore. schal be maad lesse; in liyf and fame, for he is vnstable in good, and able to falle to yuel. that trespassith aȝenus his soule; that is, defoul|ith it bi priuy synnes. schal be had ferther|more; that is, schal be maad opyn with out forth. Re|herse thou not an hard word; of re|buking. and wickid; of bacbiting. lesse; in fame and vertu. wit; that is, thi priuete. make nakid; that is, schewe opinly thi preuy trespas, and most to thyn enemy. schal kepe thee; that is, aspie thi wordis to take thee. the synne; that is, thi synne, excus|ynge it gilefuly bifor thee, that he may more knowe thee, and distrie thee. Lire here. C.] awei fro noumbre. [verse 4] He that bileueth soone, is vnstable in herte, and schal be maad lesse; and he that trespass|ith aȝens his soule, schal be had ferther|more. [verse 5] He that ioieth in wickidnesse, schal be cursid; and he that hatith blamyng, schal be maad lesse in lijf; and he that hatith ianglyng, quenchith malice. [verse 6] He that synneth aȝens his soule, schal repente; and he that is myrie in malice, schal be cursid. [verse 7] Reherse thou not an hard word, and wickid; and thou schalt not be maad lesse. [verse 8] Nyle thou telle thi wit to frend and [and to I.] enemye; and if trespas is to thee, nyle thou make nakid. [verse 9] For he schal here thee, and schal kepe thee, and he as de|fendynge the synne schal hate thee; and so he schal be euere with thee. [verse 10] Thou hast herd a word aȝens thi neiȝbore; die it togidere in thee, and triste thou that it schal not breke thee. [verse 11] A fool trauelith greetli of the face of a word, as the sorewe of beryng of a ȝong child. [verse 12] An arowe fastned in the hipe of a dogge, so a word in the herte of a fool. [verse 13] Repreue thou a frend [Repreue thou a frend; that is, lest he knowe not that he dide yuel, and for thi repreuyng he schal knowe and eschewe. ether if he hath do; wrong witingly, repreue thou him. he seie not; that is, denye stidefastly, in encressinge his synne. and if he seith; that is, knoulechith the synne. Lire here. C.] , lest perauenture he vndurstonde not, and seie, Y dide not; ether if he hath do, lest he adde to do eft. [verse 14] Repreue thou a neiȝbore, lest perauenture he seie not; and if he seith, lest perauenture he reherse. [verse 15] Repreue thou a frend, for whi [verse 16] trespassynge is don ofte; and bileue thou not to ech word. Ther is a man that

fallith bi his tunge, but not of wille [not of wille; that is, witingly and of purpos. Lire here. C.] . [verse 17] For `whi who [whiche A sec. m.] is he, that trespassith not in his tunge? Repreue thou a neiȝbore [Repreue thou a neiȝbore; bi|twix thee and him. bifor that thou manaasse; that is, de|nounce to the iuge him to be punyschid. al wisdom, etc.; that is, cometh forth of the drede of God; for it is the bigynnyng of wisdom. and in that; that is, wisdom. for to drede God; for as wisdom com|eth of drede, so it techith more for to drede God. teching of wickidnesse; bi which a man kan do yuel warly. is not wisdom, very. vnwise man; that is, symple and litil kun|nynge. is maad litil in wisdom; that is, kan litil of sutiltees, and netheles kan sufficiently of thingis that per|teynen to helthe. Lire here. C.] , [verse 18] bifore that thou manaasse; and ȝyue thou place to the drede of the hiȝeste. For whi al wisdom is the drede of God, and in that wisdom for to drede God; and the ordynaunce of lawe is in al wisdom. [verse 19] And the teching of wickidnesse is not wisdom; and the prudence of synnes is not good thouȝt. [verse 20] Ther is wickidnesse of prudence, and cursidnesse is ther ynne; and ther is an vnwijs man, which is maad litil in wisdom. [verse 21] Betere is a man that hath litil in [Om. C sec. m. V.] wisdom, and failynge in wit in the drede of God, than he that hath plentee of wit, and brekith the lawe of the hiȝeste. [verse 22] Ther is certeyn sutilte, and it is wickid. [verse 23] And ther is a man, that sendith out a cer|teyn word, tellynge out treuthe. Ther is a man, that mekith hym silf wickidly [that mekith him silf wick|idly; to dis|seyue men the more. makith low greetly, etc.; to peeris and lower men. and ther is a iust man; feynyngly. bowith the face, etc.; as turn|ynge awey hise iȝen fro a fair womman, whom he co|ueitith bren|nyngly, but this is vnknowun of othere men. Lire here. C.] ; and hise ynnere thingis ben ful of gile. [verse 24] And ther is a iust man, that makith low greetli hym silf of myche mekenesse; and ther is a iust man, that bowith the face, and feyneth hym to se not that, that is vnknowun. [verse 25] Thouȝ he is [be I.] forbodun of feblenesse of strengthis to do synne; if he fyndith tyme to do yuele, he schal do yuel. [verse 26] A man is knowun bi siȝt; and a witti man is knowun bi meetyng of face. [verse 27] The clothing of bodi, and the leiȝyng of teeth, and the entring of a man, tellen out of hym. [verse 28] Ther is fals repreuyng in the ire of a man ful of dispisyng; and ther is dom which is not preued [ther is doom which is not preued; that is, whanne a man demeth bi liȝt signes, that his neiȝbore is yuel. ther is a stille man; that is, not demynge yuel of his neiȝ|bore, til cer|teynte be had. Lire here. C.] to be good; and ther is a stille man, and he is prudent.

CAP. XX.

[verse 1] It is ful good to repreue [to repreue; swetely and charitably him that trespassith. forbede not; that is, induse him therto. Lire here. C.] , more than to be wrooth, and to forbede not a man knoulechyng in preiere. [verse 2] The coueitise of a geldyng hath defoulid the maidynhed of [verse 3] a ȝong womman, so he that makith wickid

dom bi violence. [verse 4] It is ful good, that a man `that is [Om. ceteri.] repreued schewe opynli [schewe opin|ly, etc.; that is, to schewe bi word and deed, that he repent|ith verily. Lire here. C.] penaunce; for so thou schalt ascape wil|ful synne. [verse 5] Ther is a stil man, which is foundun wijs; and he is hateful, which is fool hardi [fool hardi; that is, cometh bifore du tyme. Lire here. C.] to speke. [verse 6] Sotheli ther is a stille man, not hauynge wit of speche; and ther is a stille man, knowynge the sesoun of couenable tyme. [verse 7] A wijs man schal be stille til to tyme; but a ioli man and vnprudent man schulen not kepe tyme. [verse 8] He that vsith many wordis [many wordis; that is, superflu and veyn wordis. Lire here. C.] , hirt|ith his soule; and he that takith power to hym silf vniustli, schal be hatid. [verse 9] Ther is goyng forth in yuels to a man vnlernyd; and ther is fyndyng in to peiryng. [verse 10] Ther is a ȝifte, which is not profitable [not profit|able; for it is doon for veyn|glorie, ether for yuel entent. Lire here. C.] ; and ther is a ȝifte, whos ȝeldyng is double. [verse 11] Ther is makyng lesse for glorie; and ther is a man, which schal reise the heed fro mekenesse. [verse 12] Ther is a man, that aȝen bieth many synnes for litil prijs [aȝenbieth many synnes for litil priys; that is, bi litil penaunce, in comparisoun of synnes, that disserueden euerlastinge peyne, but pen|aunce chaung|ith it to tem|poral peyne. seuenfold; that is, manyfold, ether bi seuen|fold of graces of the Hooly Goost. amy|able; for he eschewith to seye hateful thingis, and studieth to bringe forth thingis accept|able to God and to men. sched out; bi vndis|creet speking, bi which thei ben maad hate|ful to God and men, though thei han strengthe, and fairnesse of bodi, and no|bley of kyn. Lire here. C.] , and restorith tho in seuenfold. [verse 13] A wijs man in wordis makith hym silf amyable; but the graces of foolis schulen be sched out. [verse 14] The ȝifte of an vnwijs man schal not be profitable to thee; for hise iȝen ben seuenfold [hise iȝen ben seuenfold; that is, his entent is manyfold and dyuerse, and therfor he wole haue many seruyces to vanytes, and othere yuels, for a litil ȝifte. Lire here. C.] . [verse 15] He schal ȝyue litle thingis, and he schal vp|breide [edwite ceteri.] many thingis; and the openyng of his mouth is enflawming. [verse 16] To dai a man leeneth, and to morewe he axith; and siche a man is hateful. [verse 17] A frend schal not be to a fool, and grace schal not be to hise goodis. [verse 18] For thei that eten his breed, ben of fals tunge [of fals tunge; that is, flatereris preisinge hise folies. scorne hym; as if he seye, alle wise men and goode. departith not, etc.; that is, he delith yuele hise thingis, and tho thingis that he rauyschide of othere men. come hastily; that is, sudeynly, as a man that slidith, and fallith in the pawment. Lire here. C.] ; hou ofte and hou many men schulen scorne hym? [verse 19] For he de|partith not bi euene wit that, that was worthi to be had; in lijk maner and that, that was not worthi to be had. [verse 20] The fall|ing of a fals tunge is as he that fallith in the pawment; so the fallis of yuele men schulen come hastili. [verse 21] A man with out

grace is as a veyn fable; and it schal be customable in the mouth of vnlerned men. [verse 22] A parable [A parable; that is, a trewe sentence and greet. Lire here. C.] schal be repreued of the mouth of a fool; for he seith not it in his tyme. Ther is a man, that is forbodun to do synne, for pouert; and he schal be prickid [he schal be prickid, etc.; that is, schal be maad bittir in ceessing fro yuel, for he may not fille his malice. leese his soule for schame; that is, for the drede of schame, if he apperith pore, wherfor he turneth to theftis. for the vnprudence of a persoone; that is, for the councel of an yuel man, to whom he con|sentith liȝtly in theftis. leese him silf; as to the soule, bi dedly synne, and as to the bodi, ofte bi hanging, ether bi heeding. for the taking of a persoone; that is, in taking the councel of an yuel per|soone. for schame; that is, dredinge schame to be holdun vn|miȝty, ether auarouse. bi|heetith; that that he may not paye. ene|my without re|sonable cause of biheeting. Lire here. C.] in his reste. [verse 23] Ther is a man, that schal leese his soule for schame; and for the vnprudence of a persoone he schal leese it. [verse 24] Forsothe he schal leese hym silf for the takyng of a persoone. [verse 25] Ther is a man, that for schame biheetith to a frend; and he hath gete hym enemy with out cause. [verse 26] Leesyng is a wickid schenschip in a man; and it schal be customabli in the mouth of vnlerned men. [verse 27] Betere is a theef [Betere is a theef; that is, lesse yuel than a man custom|able to lees|yngis, for he sclaundrith good fame, which is betere than ertheli goodis. Lire here. C.] than the customablenesse of a man, a leesyngmongere; forsothe bothe thei schulen enherite perdicioun. [verse 28] The ma|neres of men leesyngmongeris ben with outen onour; and her schenschype is with hem with out ceessyng. [verse 29] A wijs man in wordis schal brynge forth [schal brynge forth, etc.; that is, schal schewe his wisdom. worchith riȝt|fulnesse; as heete encreess|ith fruytis, so the onours of him that worchith riȝtfulnesse encreessen. plesith grete men; for his riȝtfulnesse, as Joseph and Danyel diden. Lire here. C.] hym silf; and a prudent man schal pleese grete men. [verse 30] He that worchith his lond, shal make hiȝ the heep of fruytis; and he that worchith riȝtfulnesse, schal be enhaunsid. Sotheli he that plesith grete men, schal ascape wickidnesse. [verse 31] Presentis and ȝiftis blynden the iȝen of iugis; and as doumb [as doumb; that is, a spice of a paddok, which cast in to the mouth of a dogge, makith him stille, and vnmiȝty to berke; so present ȝouun for the distriyng of riȝtfulnesse, makith the iuge to be stille, and to ceesse fro punyschyng of yuel. what profit is in euer either; as if he sey, noon; and this is soth, as to the profit of othere men, but not as to his owne profit; forwhi tresour vnseyn profitith not to it silf, nether to othere men; but wisdom hid profitith as to the hauere, as to the dedis of contemplatif liyf, thouȝ it profitith not to othere men, bi werkis of actif liyf. Lire here. C.] in the mouth it turneth awei the chastisyngis of hem. [verse 32] Wisdom hid, and tresour vnseyn, what profit is in euer eithir? [verse 33] He is betere, that hidith his vnwisdom, than a man that hidith his wisdom.

CAP. XXI.

[verse 1] Sone, thou hast do synne? adde thou not eft; but biseche thou for the formere synnes, that tho be forȝouun to thee. [verse 2] As fro the face of a serpent fle thou synnes;

and if thou neiȝest to `tho [neiȝist to tho; bi consent. take thee; in wlappinge and byndynge bi dede and cus|tom. teeth therof; for it deuourith hool|lyche the good of grace, and decreessith the good of kynde. Lire here. C.] synnes [them I.] , tho schulen take thee. [verse 3] The teeth of a lioun ben the teeth therof, that sleen the soulis of men. [verse 4] Al wickidnesse is as [Om. S.] a scharp swerd on either syde; heelthe is not to the wounde [helthe is not to the wounde; for whi synne hirtith bodi and soule, and withdrawith grace in pre|sent tyme, and bryngith to the peyne of helle. Lire here. C.] therof. [verse 5] Chidyngis [Chidyng CV.] and wrongis schulen distrie catel; and an houe that is ouer riche, schal be distriede bi pride; so the catel of a proude man schal be drawun vp bi the roote. [verse 6] The preyer of a pore man [a pore man; that suffrith wrong bi wordis and dedis of a proud man. to the eeris; of God. is a step, etc.; that is, a snere of the deuel. Lire here. C.] schal come fro the mouth `til to [vnto I.] eeris [the eeris CVa.] ; and doom schal come to hym hastili. [verse 7] He that hatith repreuyng, is a step of the synnere; and he that dredith God, schal be turned to his herte [herte; in resseyuynge, blamyng, and in fleyng fro synnes. an hardi tunge; that is, a proud man, that gess|ith grete thingis of himsilf, and spekith liȝtli and proudli. Lire here. C.] . [verse 8] A miȝti man with an hardi tunge is knowun afer; and a witti man kan kepe him silf fro that man. [verse 9] He that bildith his hous with othere mennus costis [mennus costis; gaderid togidere bi raueyn. Lire here. C.] , is as he that gaderith hise stonys in wyntir. [verse 10] Scheuys [Stobyl A sec. m. Stubbil I.] gaderid togidere is the synagoge of synneris; and the endyng of hem is the flawme of fier. [verse 11] The weie of synneris is set togidere with stoonys; and in the ende of hem ben hellis [hellis; it is seid hellis in plurel noumbre, for many places ben there. Lire here. C.] , and derknessis, and peynes. [verse 12] He that kepith riȝtfulnesse, schal holde the wit therof [holde the wit therof; that is, schal holde stidefastly the stiring of re|soun in his werkis. wis|dom; bi which a man is wel disposid to God. and wit; bi which a man is wel disposid to his neiȝbore. Raban poyntith thus, And the wit of him schal not be tauȝt, which is not wijs in good; and this lettre is pleyn. Lire here. C.] . [verse 13] The perfec|cioun of Goddis drede is wisdom and wit. [verse 14] He schal not be tauȝt, which is not wijs in good. [verse 15] Forsothe vnwisdom is, which is plenteuouse in yuel; and wit is not, where is bittirnesse. [verse 16] The kunnyng of a wijs man schal be plenteuouse as flowyng; and the councel of hym dwellith as a welle of lijf. [verse 17] The herte of a fool is as a brokun vessel; and it schal not holde ony wisdom. [verse 18] What euer wijs word a kunnynge man herith, he schal preise, and leie to [and ley to; that is, holde in herte, and fille in werk. C.] . A letcherouse man herde, and it schal dis|plese hym; and he schal caste it awei bihynde his bak. [verse 19] The tellynge of a fool is as a birthun in the weie; for whi

grace schal be foundun in the lippis of a wijs man. [verse 20] The mouth of a prudent man is souȝt in the chirche; and men schulen thenke hise wordis in her hertis. [verse 21] As an hous distried, so is wisdom to a fool [wisdom to a fool; for if he hath ony know|ing of truthe, he schal leese it, for vndu maner of sei|yng. teld out; for he bryngith forth tho so, that tho moun not be vndur|stondun. Lire here. C.] ; and the kunnyng of an vnwijs man is wordis that moun not be teld out. [verse 22] Stockis in the feet is techyng to a fool; and as bondis of hondis on the riȝt hond. [verse 23] A fool enhaunsith his vois in leiȝyng; but a wijs man schal leiȝe vnnethis stilli. [verse 24] Techyng is a goldun ournement to a pru|dent man; and as an ournement of the arm in the riȝt arm. [verse 25] The foot of a fool is liȝt [liȝt to go V.] in to [Om. C.] the hous of a neiȝbore; and a wijs man schal be aschamed [a wijs man schal be scham|ed; that is, schal be aschamed to speke bifor him, no but nede ether opyn profit axith this. The herte of foolis; for anoon thei tellen out her conseit. the mouth of wise men, etc.; for they pro|nounsen no thing, no but bi good auyse|ment biforgo|ynge. cursith the deuel; dampned iust|ly. cursith his soule; for in his dedis he sueth the deuel, and so he de|nounsith, that he owith to be dampned. Lire here. C.] of the per|soone of a miȝti man. [verse 26] A fool biholdith fro the wyndow in to the hous; but a lerned man schal stonde with out forth. [verse 27] It is foli of a man to herkene bi the dore; and a prudent man schal be greuyd bi dispisyng. [verse 28] The lippis of `vnprudent men [an vnprudent man A pr. m.] schulen telle fonned thingis; but the wordis of prudent men schulen be weied in a ba|launce. [verse 29] The herte of foolis is in her mouth; and the mouth of wise men is in her herte. [verse 30] Whanne a wickid man curs|ith the deuel, he cursith his owne soule. [verse 31] A priuy bacbitere schal defoule his soule, and in alle thingis he schal be hatid, and he that dwellith [dwellith; with a priuy bacbitere, and is defoulid bi his synne. stille man; in du tyme, and spekinge in co|uenable tyme. Lire here. C.] , schal be hatid; a stil man and wijs schal be onourid.

CAP. XXII.

[verse 1] A slow man is stonyd in a stoon of cley; and alle men schulen speke on the dispisyng of him. [verse 2] A slow man is stonyd of the dung of oxis; and ech man that touchith hym, schal schake the hondis. [verse 3] The schame of a [Om. I.] fadir is of a sone vn|lerned; but a fonned douȝter schal be in decreessyng [in decreess|ing; of the onour of fadir and modir. Lire here. C.] . [verse 4] A prudent douȝter is eritage to hir hosebonde; for sche that schendith hir hosebonde, is in dispisyng of the fadir.

[verse 5] A `schameles womman [boold womman, that is, schameles, C et ceteri.] schendith the fa|dir and hosebonde, and schal not be maad lesse [lesse; that is, schal not be lesse in vices than men that beren pesti|lence. wis|dom; that is, chastising, bi beting ether bi word, nedith euere to be doon wisely and with du circumstances. Lire here. C.] than vnfeithful men; forsothe sche schal not be onourid of euer either. [verse 6] Melo|die in morenyng is vncouuenable [couenable A pr. m. IS.] tellyng; betyngis [betyng AS.] and techyng in al tyme with wisdom. [verse 7] He that techith a fool, as he that glueth togidere a tiel stoon. [verse 8] He that tellith a word to hym that herith not, is as he that reisith a man slepynge fro a greuouse sleep. [verse 9] He that tellith wisdom to a fool, spekith with a man slepynge; and in the ende of the tellyng he schal seie, Who is this? [verse 10] Wepe thou [Wepe thou, etc.; that is, mercifully do thou seruyce of the deed bodi, and preye thou for him, for his tyme of merit failide. Lire here. C.] on a deed man, for whi his liȝt failide; and wepe thou on a fool, for he failide of wit. [verse 11] Wepe thou a litil on a deed man, for he hath restid. [verse 12] Forsothe the lijf of a ful [the liyf of a fool; that is, the wickid liyf of a fool is worse, and more to be biweilid, than the deth of him The moren|yng of a deed man; that is, of a iust man deed, durith. bi seuene dayes; so it was in the tyme of the writere of this book. of a fool, etc.; a fool here is seid not he that is a fool bi defaute of kyndly wit, but bi defaute of good liyf, tho|rou abundaunce of malice; and in liyk maner an vnfeithful man is he, that doith idolatrie. alle the dayes of her liyf; vndurstonde thou, ben wor|thi to be bi|weilid. Lire here. C.] wickid man is ful wickid, more than the deth of a fool. [verse 13] The morenyng of a deed man is seuene daies; but the morenyng of a fool and of a wickid man is alle the daies of her lijf. [verse 14] Speke thou not myche with a fool, and go thou not with an vnwijs man. [verse 15] Keep thee fro hym, that thou haue not disese; and thou schalt not be defoulid in the synne of hym. [verse 16] Boowe thou awei fro hym, and thou schalt fynde reste; and be thou not anoied by his foly. [verse 17] What schal be maad heuyere than leed? and what othere name than a fool is to it? [verse 18] It is liȝtere to bere grauel, and salt, and a gobet of yrun, than a man vnprudent, and a fool, and vnfeithful. [verse 19] As an heep of trees, boundun togidere in the foundement of the bilding, schal not be vnboundun, so and an [the I.] herte confermed in the thouȝt of counsel [of councel; that is, of good councel, and of prudence, is not departid liȝtly fro good|nesse. drede|ful; bi worldly drede. aȝen|stondith out; yuel, but con|sentith anoon. Lire here. C.] . [verse 20] The thouȝt of a wijs man shal not be maad schrewid in ony tyme, ne|ther drede [in drede A sec. m.] . [verse 21] As chaffis in hiȝe places, and soond with out medling of hym, set aȝens the face of wynd, schulen not dwelle; [verse 22] so and a dreedful herte in the thouȝt of a fool aȝenstondith not aȝens the feersnesse

of drede. [verse 23] As ournyng, ether pargetyng, ful of grauel in a cleer wal [cleer wal; that is, of hard stonys, and maad smethe. schal not drede; bi Goddis drede. Lire here. C.] , so and a ferdful herte in the thouȝt of a fool schal not drede in ony tyme; so and [Om. C.] he that dwellith euere in the heestis of God [heestis of God; vndur|stonde thou, dwelleth euere in the loue and drede of God. Lire here. C.] . [verse 24] He that prickith the iȝe, schal leede out teeris; and he that prickith the herte, bryngith forth wit. [verse 25] He that castith [sendith I.] a stoon to briddis, schal caste doun tho; so and he that doith wrong to a frend, departith frenschipe. [verse 26] Thouȝ thou bryngist [brynge I.] forth a swerd to a frend, dispeire [dispeire, etc.; of rekeuering of frenschipe. dispising; that is, to putte on him greu|ouse cryme, as that he is a theef. schen|schipe; that is, to putte on him that he was borun vnlawe|fuly, ether that he is boonde man. a tre|cherouse wounde; that is, doon bi tre|soun. Lire here. C.] thou not; for ther is going aȝen to the frend. [verse 27] If he openeth a soreuful mouth, drede thou not; for whi ther is acordyng, outakun dispis|ynge, and schenschipe, and pride, and schewyng of preuyte, and a tretcherouse wounde; in alle these thingis a frend schal fle awei. [verse 28] Haue thou feith with a frend in his pouert, that thou be glad also in hise goodis. [verse 29] In the tyme of his tribula|cioun dwelle thou feithful to hym, that also thou be euene eir in the eritage of hym. [verse 30] Heete [Vapour, ether heete, C et ceteri.] and smook of fier is maad hiȝ bifore the fier of a [the F. Om. ceteri.] chymenei; so and cursyngis, and dispisyngis, and manaassis, comen bifore blood. [verse 31] I schal not be aschamed for to grete a frend, and Y schal not hide me fro his face; thouȝ yuels comen to me bi hym, Y schal suffre. [verse 32] Ech man that schal here, schal kepe warli [kepe warly; that is, fro offence of a frend. Lire here. C.] hym silf fro hym. [verse 33] Who schal ȝyue keping to my mouth, and a certeyn ceelyng on my lippis, that Y falle not bi tho, and that my tunge leese not me?

CAP. XXIII.

[verse 1] Lord, fadir, and lordli gouernour of my lijf, forsake thou me not in the thouȝt and counsel of hem [councel of hem; that is, of foolis and vnfeithful men. C.] ; nether suffre thou me to falle in that schenschipe. [verse 2] Who settith aboue in my thouȝt beetyngis, and in myn hert the techyng of wisdom, that in the vnkunnyngis of hem he spare not me, and that the trespassis of hem appere not?

[verse 3] Lest myn vnkunnyngis encreesse, and my trespassis be multiplied, and my synnes be plenteuouse; and lest Y falle in the siȝt of myn aduersaries, and myn enemy haue ioie. [verse 4] Lord, fadir, and God of my lijf, for|sake thou not me in the thouȝt of hem. [verse 5] Ȝyue thou not to me enhaunsyng [Ȝyue thou not to me enhauns|inge, etc.; that is, suffre thou not that pride be lord ouer me. of wombe; that is, of glo|tenye. ȝyue thou not, etc.; that is, suffre thou not my soule to falle into vnreuer|ence, and into vnwisdom. Lire here. C.] of myn iȝen; and turne thou awei fro me al schrewid desijr. [verse 6] Do thou awei fro me the coueitisis [coueityse S.] of the [Om. ceteri.] wombe, and the coueitisis of letcherie take me not; and ȝyue thou not `me to [to me S.] a soule vnreuerent and vndiscreet [vnsaueri, ether vndiscreet, C et ceteri.] . [verse 7] Sones, here ȝe the tech|yng of mouth; and he that kepith it, schal not perische bi hise lippis, nether schal be [verse 8] sclaundrid in worste werkis A synnere and proude man schal be takun [proude man schal be takun; of the deuel, that settith to him a snare. sclaundrid in tho; that is, schal falle in the snaris of the deuel. nemyng of God; that is, to swere bi him, nethe|les it owith to be ofte in thi mouth, to preye and preche. names of seyntis; in sweringe ofte bi hem. giltles of hem; that is, of offence of hem. axid bisili; that is, constreyned bi beetingis to telle. wannesse; of skyn, for the beting of his body. swer|inge; bi God. and nemynge; that is, swer|inge bi the names of seyntis, and this custom|ably. Lire here. C.] in his vanite; and a cursid man schal be sclaun|drid in tho. [verse 9] Thy mouth be not custom|able to swering; for whi many fallyngis ben ther ynne. [verse 10] Forsothe the nemyng of God be not customable in thi mouth, and be thou not meddlid to the names of seyntis; for thou schalt not be giltles of hem. [verse 11] For as a seruaunt that is axid bisili, schal not wante wannesse; so ech man swerynge [ech man sweringe, etc.; for bi sich yuel custom he fall|ith into vnleue|ful ooth. dis|seyueth; that is, harmith him bi a fals ooth. aboue him; for he is holdun to restore, and he schal be constreyned herto, if it is preued aȝenus him. feyneth; in holdinge stille the truthe, for whos declaring he is brouȝt forth a witnesse, and swerith that he knowith not. doubli; that is, aȝenus himsilf, in sweringe fals, and aȝenus the neiȝbore in harmynge him, in conscience that holdith another mannus thing, and another man in the purs. his hous; for whi sumtyme sones ben punyschid bi temporal peynes, for fadris and modris, and most whanne thei suen the fadris synne; as it is doon ofte in this caas, for a sone that herith ofte his fadir sweringe in veyn, takith bi this a liyk maner. another speche; contrarie to the formere; this speche is blasfemye, that disserueth deth, as God seith in xxiiij. c^o. of Leuitici. Lire here. C.] and nemynge schal not be purgid of synne in al. [verse 12] A man swerynge myche schal be fillid with wickidnesse; and veniaunce schal not go awei fro his hous. [verse 13] And [Om. A pr. m. I.] if he disseyueth a brother, his trespas schal be aboue hym; and if he feyneth, he schal trespasse doubli. [verse 14] And if he swerith in veyn, he schal not be ius|tified; for whi his hous schal be fillid with worst ȝelding. [verse 15] Also aȝenward an|other speche is in to deth; be it not found in the eritage of Jacob. [verse 16] For whi alle these thingis schulen be don awei fro merciful men; and thei schulen not delite in trespassis. [verse 17] Thi mouth be not custom|able

to vnreuerent speche; for whi a word of synne is in it. [verse 18] Haue thou mynde on thi fadir and modir; for thou stondist in the myddis of grete men. [verse 19] Lest perauen|ture God forȝete thee in the siȝt of hem; and lest thou maad a fool bi thi custom|ablenesse, suffre schenschipe [schenschipe, ether scornyng, C et ceteri præter Y.] , and haddist leuere to be not borun, and curse the dai of thi birthe. [verse 20] A man customable in the [Om. I.] wordis of schenschipe, in alle daies schal [he shal S.] not be tauȝt. [verse 21] Twei kyndis [Twey kyndis; that is, couei|tise and glo|tenye. and the thridde; that is, auoutrie. bringith ire; of Goddis ven|iaunce. and perdicioun; of helle. bren|nynge; with the fier of co|ueitise. swolewe sum thing; in getinge vn|iustly the goodis of othere men. a wickid man; that is, a glotoun. til he kyndle fier; of lecherie. Ech breed is swete; that is, ech wiyf of another man is desira|ble to him. maad weri, etc.; that is, he schal not ceesse to breke Goddis heest, that for|bedith auou|trie. til to the ende; of his liyf. Lire here. C.] ben plenteu|ouse in synnes, and the thridde bringith ire and perdicioun. [verse 22] An hoot soule bren|nynge as fier schal not be quenchid, til it [verse 23] swolewe sum thing; and a wickid man in the mouth of his fleisch schal not faile, til he kyndle fier. [verse 24] Ech breed is swete to a letcherouse man; he schal not be maad weri, trespassynge `til to [vnto I.] the ende. [verse 25] Ech man that passith his bed [that passith his bed; bi auoutrie. the drede of siche a man; that is, of auouter, bi which he dred|ith to be priued fro his lust. the iȝen of men, etc.; that is, men that knowen his auoutrie, and seruen him therynne, for drede of his offence, and preisen him, and nurschen him in hise yuels, putten awey fro him Goddis drede. Lire here. C.] , doith dispit aȝens his soule, and seith, Who seeth me? [verse 26] Derknessis cumpassen me, and wallis kyueren me, and no man biholdith me. Whom drede Y? The hiȝeste schal not haue mynde on my synnes. [verse 27] And he vn|dirstondith not, that the iȝe of him [him, that is, of God, V.] seeth alle thingis; for whi the drede of siche a man puttith awei fro him the drede of God, and the iȝen of men that dreden hym putten awei fro hym Goddis drede. [verse 28] And he knew not, that the iȝen of the Lord ben myche more clerere than the sunne, and biholden alle the weies of men, and the depthe of the see, and [and thei I.] biholden the hertis of men in to hid partis. [verse 29] For whi alle thingis weren knowun to the Lord, bifore that thei [tho CEFGHIKMNPQRSUVXYa.] weren maad of nouȝt; so and aftir the makyng he bi|holdith alle thingis. [verse 30] This man schal be punyschid in the stretis of the citee; he schal be dryuun a wei as an horse colt, and he schal be takun, where he hopith not. [verse 31] And he schal be schenschip to alle men; for he vndurstood not the drede of the Lord. [verse 32] So and ech womman forsak|ynge

hir hosebonde schal do synne, and ordeynynge eritage [eritage; that is, eir of hir hosebonde. matrymonye; whanne hir auouter was weddid. to him; that is, to hir hosebonde. rootis; for thei schulen not be stablischid in the eritage of the hosebonde. sue the Lord; bi the weye of riȝtfulnesse. lengthe of dayes; that is, euerlastinge liyf. Lire here. C.] of an alien matri|monye. [verse 33] For firste sche was vnbileueful in the lawe of the hiȝeste, and the se|counde tyme sche forsook hir hosebonde; and the thridde tyme sche was defoulid in auowtrie, and ordeynede to hym sones of another man. [verse 34] `This womman [Sche this I.] schal be brouȝt in to the chirche, and me schal bi|holde on hir sones. [verse 35] Hir sones schulen not ȝyue rootis, and hir braunchis schulen not ȝyue fruyt. [verse 36] Thei schulen leeue the mynde of hir in to cursyng, and the schenschipe of hir schal not be don awei. [verse 37] And thei that ben left schulen knowe, that no thing is betere than the drede of God, and no|thing is swettere than to biholde in the comaundementis of the Lord. [verse 38] It is greet glorie to sue the Lord; for whi lengthe of daies schulen be takun of hym.

CAP. XXIV.

[verse 1] Wisdom schal preise [Wisdom schal preise, etc.; that is, God the Sone schal preise him silf. onourid in God; the Fa|dir. haue glorie in the siȝt of his vertu; that is, in merueil|ouse werkis, doon bi the vertu of the hiȝeste. Y the firste gendrid; that is seid in the persoone of God the Sone. of the mouth of the hiȝeste; that is, of the vertu of gen|dring of God the Fadir. Lire here. C.] his soule, and he schal be onourid in God; and he schal haue glorie in the myddis of his puple. [verse 2] And he schal opene his mouth in the chirchis of the hiȝeste; and he schal haue glorie in the siȝt of his vertu. [verse 3] And he schal be enhaunsid in the myddis of his puple; and he schal wondre in hooli plentee [fulnesse, ether plentee, C et ceteri præter Y.] . [verse 4] And in the multitude of chosun men he schal haue preisyng; and among blessid [verse 5] men he schal be blessid, and seie, I, the firste gendrid bifore ech creature, cam forth fro the mouth of the hiȝeste. [verse 6] I made in heuenes, that liȝt neuere failynge roos vp, and as a cloude Y hilide al erthe. [verse 7] Y dwell|ide in hiȝeste thingis, and my trone in a piler of cloude. [verse 8] Y aloone ȝede aboute the cumpas of heuene, and Y perside the depthe of the see; and Y ȝede in the wawis [verse 9] of the see, and Y stood in al the lond. [verse 10] And Y hadde the firste dignite in [of C.] ech pu|ple, [verse 11] and in ech folk; and Y trad bi vertu on the neckis of alle excelent men and

meke; and in alle these men Y souȝte reste, and Y schal dwelle in the eritage of the Lord. [verse 12] Thanne the creatour of alle comaundide, and seide to me; and he that formyde me, restide in my tabernacle; [verse 13] and he seide to me, Dwelle thou in Jacob, and take thou eritage in Israel, and sende thou rootis in my chosun men. [verse 14] Y was gendrid of [fro N sec. m. a.] the bigynnyng [of the bigyn|nyng; the bigynnyng of tyme may not be vndur|stondun herbi, but the bigyn|nyng here is seid the Fadir, which is the bigynnyng of comyng forth of persoones in the Trynyte. and bifor worldis; that is, euerlasting|ly, without bi|gynnyng of tyme. not faile til to the world to comynge; that is, Y schal dwelle perfitly with outen ende. mynys|tride; that is, made to my|nystre, bi Aa|ron and othere good prestis. Lire here. C.] and bifore worldis, and Y schal not faile `til to [vnto I.] the world to [Om. I.] comynge; and Y mynystride in an hooli dwellyng bifore hym. [verse 15] And so Y was maad stidfast in Syon [Y was maad stidefast in Sion; this stidefastnesse seith not ony chaunging in God, but in a creature, wher|ynne Goddis ȝiftis ben stab|lischid stide|fastliere. God|dis wisdom is seid maad stide|fast in the hil of Sion, for the temple was bildid there, in which temple the arke and propiciatorie, which repre|sentide the seete of God, hadden stable dwelling, and weren no more borun aboute fro place to place. Y root|ide; that is, stablischide stidefastliere my ȝiftis. in a puple onour|id; that is, in the puple of Israel, that was onourid of God more than othere puplis. eritage therof; that is, of the puple onourid. in to the partis of my God; that is, at the Fadir, which is my God, in as myche as Y am man; ether the Fadir is seid God of the Sone, for the Sone is seid God of God. in to the partis of my God; that is, of the Fadir, which is God, of whom Y am; nethelesse Y am the same God with him in being, and am departid onely in persoone. Lire here. C.] , and in lijk maner Y restide in a citee halewid, and my power was in Jerusalem. [verse 16] And Y rootid in a puple onourid; and the eritage therof in to the partis of my God, and my with|olding [my withholding, etc.; that is, my dwelling bi grace is in the congregacioun of seyntis. Lire here. C.] in the plentee [fulnesse CEGHIV.] of seyntis. [verse 17] Y was enhaunsid as a cedre in Liban, and as a cipresse tree in the hil of Syon. [verse 18] Y was enhaunsid as a palm tree in Cades, and as the plauntyng of roose in Jeryco. [verse 19] As [And as I.] a fair olyue tree in feeldis; and Y was en|haunsid as a plane tree bisidis watir in stretis. [verse 20] As canel and bawme ȝyuynge greet smelle, Y ȝaf odour; as chosun myrre Y ȝaf the swetnesse of odour. [verse 21] And as storax, and galban, and vngula [vngula; that is, a tre of greet odour, and is liyk a mannus nayl. Lire here. CV.] , and gumme, and as Liban not kit doun, Y made hoot my dwellyng place; and myn odour as bawme not meddlid. [verse 22] Y as a terebynte stretchide forth my boowis; and my boowis ben boowis [Om. I.] of onour, and of glorie. [verse 23] Y [And Y A.] as a vyne made fruyt the swetnesse of odour; and my flouris ben the fruytis of onour, and of oneste. [verse 24] I am a modir of fair loue, and of drede, and of knowyng, and of hooli hope. [verse 25] In me is al grace of weie, and of treuthe; in me is al hope of lijf and of vertu. [verse 26] Alle ȝe that coueiten me, passe [passeth I.] to me; and be ȝe fillid of my

generaciouns. [verse 27] For whi my spirit is swete aboue hony; and myn eritage is aboue hony, and hony comb. [verse 28] My mynde is in the generacioun of worldis. [verse 29] Thei that eten me, schulen hungre ȝit; and thei that drynken me, schulen thirste ȝit. [verse 30] He that herith me, shal not be schent; and thei that worchen in me, schulen not do synne; [verse 31] and thei that declaren [declaren, ether shewen, K marg.] me, schulen haue euere lastynge lijf. [verse 32] Alle these thingis is the book of lijf, and the testament of the hiȝeste, and the knowyng of treuthe. [verse 33] Moises comaundide a lawe in the co|maundementis of riȝtfulnessis, and eritage to the hous of Jacob, and biheestis to Is|rael. [verse 34] He settide to Dauid [He settide to Dauyth; that is, ordeynede, ether bihiȝte. kyng; that is, Crist, that cam of the seed of Dauyth vpe fleisch, bi the virgyn Marie. C.] , his child, to reise of hym a kyng moost strong, and sittynge with outen ende in the trone of onour. [verse 35] Which kyng fillith wisdom, as Phison schedith out watir; and as Tigris in the daies of newe thingis. [verse 36] Which, as Eufrates, fillith wit; which multiplieth, as Jordan in the tyme of heruest. [verse 37] Which sendith techyng as liȝt; and is niȝ alle men, as Gion in the dai of vendage. [verse 38] Which makith perfitli first to knowe that wisdom; and a feblere man schal not enserche it. [verse 39] For whi the thouȝt therof [the thouȝt therof, etc.; that is, his knowing is more plente|ouse than the see. and his councel; is vn|comprehensi|ble. Lire here. C.] schal be plen|teuouse of the see; and his counsel in the greet occian. [verse 40] Y wisdom schedde out [verse 41] floodis; Y as a weie [as a weye; that is, a strong rennyng. Lire here. CV.] of ful greet watir of the flood. Y as the flood Dorix, and as a watir cundit Y ȝede out of paradis [of paradiys; that is, of the Fadir, in whom is al good and al swetnesse. watere my gar|dyn; that is, the gardyn of the fiȝtinge chirche. the fruyt of my child beryng; that is, the cumpenye of apostlis, and of othere men bi|leuynge, that resseyueden the ȝiftis of the Hooly Goost plenteously in the day of Pen|tecost. Lire here. C.] . [verse 42] Y seide, I schal watir my gardyn of plaunt|yngis; and Y schal greetli fille the fruyt of my child beryng. [verse 43] And lo! a plenteu|ouse weie of watir is maad to me; and my flood neiȝede to the see. [verse 44] For Y liȝtne techyng as the cheer morewtid to alle men; and Y schal telle out it `til to [vnto I.] fer. [verse 45] Y schal perse alle the lowere partis of erthe, and Y schal biholde alle that slepen; and Y schal liȝtne alle that hopen in the Lord. [verse 46] Ȝit Y schal schede out tech|ing as profesie [as profesie; that is, as cer|teyn and trewe teching, as pro|fesie schewid of God. Y schal leeue it to hem; in scripture. not fayle; to teche hem bi writing. hooli world; that is, to comyng in blis. Lire here. C.] , and Y schal leeue it to

hem that seken wisdom; and Y schal not faile in to the generaciouns of hem, til in to the hooli world. [verse 47] Se ȝe, that Y trauelide not to me aloone, but to alle that seken out treuthe.

CAP. XXV.

[verse 1] In thre thingis it is plesid to my spirit, which ben appreued bifore God and men; [verse 2] acordyng of britheren, and loue of neiȝ|boris, a [and a I.] man and womman wel consent|ynge to hem silf. [verse 3] My soule hatide thre spicis, and Y am greued greetli to the [verse 4] soule of hem [to the soule of hem; that is, malice of hem. eld man; that is, vnkunnynge, not for defaute of kynde, but for he dispiside to lerne. Lire here. C.] ; a pore man proud, and a riche man liere, and an eld man a fool and vnwitti. [verse 5] Hou schalt thou fynde in thin eelde tho thingis, whiche thou gaderist not in thi ȝongthe? [verse 6] Doom is ful fair [Doom is ful fair; that is, doom of discre|cioun is ful fair in an hoor heed, ether eld man. and to prestis; that owen kunne the lawe of God. to knowe councel; that is, to haue good councel and certeyn. vnsus|pect of herte; that is, of goodnesse, of which thingis noon owith for to doute. vn|worthi; that is, to synneris in consentinge to hem in yuel. tellith out; as a techere. to an eere her|inge; that is, to a man holdinge in herte, and fillinge in werk. Lire here. C.] in hoornesse, and to preestis to knowe coun|cel. [verse 7] Wisdom is ful fair to eelde men, and gloriouse vndirstondyng, and councel. [verse 8] The coroun of eelde men is in myche kunnyng; and the glorie of hem is the drede of God. [verse 9] I magnefiede nyne thingis vnsuspect of the herte; and Y schal seie the tenthe thing bi tunge to men. [verse 10] A man which lyuynge is myrie in sones, and seynge the distriyng of hise enemyes. [verse 11] He is blessid that dwellith with a witty womman, and he that felle not bi his tunge, and he that seruyde not to men vnworthi to hym silf. [verse 12] He is blessid that fyndith a very frend, and he that tellith out riȝtfulnesse to an eere heringe. [verse 13] He is ful greet that fyndith wisdom and kunnyng; but he is not aboue him that dredith God [that dredith God; the drede of God is the more good, and pass|ith alle goodis biforseid. therto; that is, to Goddis drede, for whi drede makith a man suget to God, and so doith feith. Lire here. C.] . [verse 14] The drede of God hath set it [hym I.] silf aboue alle thingis. [verse 15] Blessid is the man to whom it is ȝouun to have the drede of God; to whom schal he be licned, that holdith that drede? [verse 16] The drede of God is the bigynnyng of his loue; forsothe the bigynnyng of feith is to be faste ioyned therto. [verse 17] The sorewe of herte is ech wounde [The sorewe of herte is ech wounde; that is, as the so|rewe of herte passith ech wounde of bodi, so the malice of a womman pass|ith al the ma|lice of a man. A leche schal se ech wounde; of bodi. and not the wounde; that is, heuy|nesse of herte. and al wickid|nesse, etc.; as if he seie, outir|ly a man may perseyue al ma|lice outakun the malice of a womman, for she colourith it more bi ap|peringe fren|schipe to hir hosebonde. and ech hiling; that is, colouring of malice, ech a man may per|seyue, outakun the traiterouse colouring of hateris and enemyes, so it is of a wickid womman, that hidith bi signes of frenschipe the hatrede which she hath to hir hose|bonde. Lire here. C.] ; and the wickidnesse of a wom|man

is al malice. [verse 18] A leche shal se ech wounde, and not the wounde of herte; [verse 19] and al wickidnesse, and not the wickid|nesse [verse 20] of a womman; and ech hilyng [hilyng, that is, colouringe of malice, V.] , and [verse 21] not hilyng [the hiling Y.] of hateris; and ech veniaunce, and not the veniaunce of enemyes. [verse 22] Noon heed is worse than the heed of an eddre [verse 23] dwellynge in schadewe; and noon ire is aboue the ire of a womman. It schal plese more to dwelle with a lioun and a dragoun, than to dwelle with a wickid womman. [verse 24] The wickidnesse of a womman chaungith hir face; and sche blyndide her cheer as a beer doith [Om. I.] , and sche schal schewe as a sak in the myddis of neiȝboris. [verse 25] Hir hosebonde weilide; and his wickid wijf herde, and siȝȝide a litil. [verse 26] Al malice is schort on the malice of a womman; the parte of synneris [the part of synne; that is, the peyne of helle, which is the part of syn|neris, as the liyf of glorie is part of iust men. Lire here. C.] falle on hir. [verse 27] As a stiynge ful of grauel in the feet of an elde man, so is a womman a greet ian|glere to a pesible man. [verse 28] Biholde thou not the fairnesse of a womman, and coueyte thou not a womman for fairnesse. [verse 29] The ire and vnreuerence of a womman [of a wom|man; to hir hosebonde. Lire here. C.] is [to hir hosebond is V.] grete [a grete C.] schenschipe. [verse 30] If a womman hath the firste dignyte, ethir cheef gouernail, sche is contrarie to hir hosebonde. [verse 31] A low herte, and soreuful face, and wounde of deeth, is a wickid womman. [verse 32] Feble hondis [Feble hondis; to worche wel. knees vnbound|un; that is, redi to do auoutrie. bless|ith not; that is, dispisith. at thyn hond; that is, bi thi ruling. kitte hir awey; bi departing fro bed; and this is seid of a womman vn|corrigible, ether that wole ne|uere be amend|id, for whi to holde hir, is to consente to hir synne. Lire here. C.] and knees vnboundun, a womman that blessith not hir hosebonde. [verse 33] The bygyn|nyng of synne was maad of a womman; and alle we dien bi hir. [verse 34] Ȝyue thou not issu to thi watir [water; that is, to a river, for he will ouerflowe that place, be his yssu neuer so lyttill. C sec. m.] , ȝhe, not a litil issu; ne|ther to a wickid womman fredom of goyng forth. [verse 35] If sche goith not at thin hond, sche schal schende thee in the siȝt of ene|myes. [verse 36] Kitte hir a wei fro thi fleischis, lest euere sche mysvse thee.

CAP. XXVI.

[verse 1] The hosebonde of a good womman is blessid; for whi the noumbre of her ȝeeris is double. [verse 2] A strong womman [A strong womman; that is, aȝenus synnes. Lire here. C.] [womman aȝenus synnes V.] delitith hir hosebonde; and shal fille in pees the ȝeeris of his lijf. [verse 3] A good womman is a good part [a good part; that is, of ma|trymonye. Lire here. C.] ; in the good part of hem that dreden God, sche schal be ȝouun to a man for goode dedis. [verse 4] Forsothe the herte of a riche man and of a pore [of a riche man and of a pore, etc.; that is, if he hath a good wiyf. Lire here. C.] man is good [that is, if thei han goode wyues. V marg.] ; in al tyme her cheer is glad. [verse 5] Myn herte dredde of thre thingis, and my face dredde in the fourthe thing. [verse 6] Bitraiyng of a citee, [verse 7] and the gadering togidere of puple [the gadering togidere of pu|ple; that is, conspiring of the puple aȝe|nus the prince. C.] , and fals chaleng; alle thingis greuouse on deth. [verse 8] The sorewe of herte, and moren|yng is a ielouse womman [a gelouse womman; is a contynuel so|rewe to hir hosebonde, of whom sche sup|posith to be disseyued, and so sche yma|gyneth conty|nuely aȝenus him. beting of tunge; aȝenus hir hosebonde. comynyth with alle men; that is, settith forth hirsilf to othere men. a scor|pioun; that makith fair semelaunt with the face, and prickith with the tail; so a wickid wom|man drawith by flateryngis, and prickith til to deth, as Dalida dide to Sampson, in xvij. c^o. of Ju|dicum. greet ire; that is, cause of greet ire to hir hose|bonde, for sche wastith hise goodis, and schewith hise priuytes. not turnyng awey; fro ȝonge men dissolute, and vnonest specta|clis. occasioun; that is, leiser. Lire here. C.] . [verse 9] In a gelouse womman is betyng of tunge, and sche comyneth with alle men. [verse 10] As a ȝok of oxis which is mouyd, so and a wickid womman; he that holdith hir, is as he that takith a scorpioun. [verse 11] A drunkelew womman is greet ire, and dispisyng; and hir filthe schal not be hilid. [verse 12] The forny|cacioun of a womman is in the reisyng of yȝen; and schal be knowun in the iȝe liddis of hir. [verse 13] Make thou sad kepyng [the kepyng I.] in a douȝtir not turnynge a wei hir silf; lest sche mysvse hir silf, if sche fyndith oc|casioun. [verse 14] Be thou war of al vnreuerence of hir iȝen; and wondre thou not, if sche dispisith thee. [verse 15] As a weiegoere thirstynge schal opene the mouth at a welle, and schal drynke of ech watir next; and the forseid douȝtir schal sitte aȝens ech pale [ech pale; that is, ech place couenable to fornycacioun. opene the arowe caas, etc.; that is, schal schewe hir schamefast membris to ech that axith; mannus ȝerde is clepid an arowe at Ebreys. faile; til to hir deth. a lerned soule; that is, of a lerned hose|bonde, for he nolde chaunge hir for ony thing. Lire here. C.] , and schal opene the arowe caas aȝens ech arowe, til sche faile. [verse 16] The grace of a bisi womman schal delite hir hosebonde; and schal make fat hise boonus. [verse 17] The kun|nyng of hir is the ȝifte of God. [verse 18] A wijs womman and [and a I.] stille is not chaungyng of

a lernyd soule. [verse 19] Grace on grace is an hooli womman, and schamfast. [verse 20] Forsothe al weiyng is not worth a contynent soule. [verse 21] As the sunne risynge in the world in the hiȝeste thingis of God, so the fairnesse of a good womman is in to the ournement of hir hous. [verse 22] A lanterne schynynge on an hooli candilstike, and the fairnesse of a face [fairnesse of the face, etc.; that is, as sich a lanterne liȝt|neth the chirche, and sich a face makith fair ripe age, so a good womman makith fair hir hows. stidefast womman; in vertu, that is, which renneth not aboute fro hows to hows, is ensaumple of goostli fair|nesse, and of outermere oneste. Lire here. C.] on stidfast age. [verse 23] Goldun pileris on siluerne foundementis, and stidfast feet on the soolis of a stidfast womman. [verse 24] Euer|lastynge foundementis on a sad stoon, and the heestis of God in the herte of an hooli womman.

CAP. XXVII.

[verse 25] In twei thingis myn herte was maad sori, and in the thridde thing wrathfulnesse cam to me. [verse 26] A man a [Om. I.] werriour failynge bi nedynesse, and a wijs man dispisid. [verse 27] And God hath maad hym redi to the swerd, that passith ouer fro riȝtfulnesse to synne. [verse 28] Twei [Two I.] spices apperiden harde and perilouse to me; a marchaunt is de|lyuered [a marchaunt is delyuerid, etc.; of his helthe, for he coueytith ouer|myche ertheli goodis. Lire here. C.] of hard fro his necgligence, and a tauerner schal not be iustified of synnes of lippis. [verse 1] Many men han trespassid for nedynesse; and he that sekith [he that sek|ith; bi vnre|sonable desir. turne awei; fro riȝtfulnesse. Lire here. C.] to be maad riche, turneth a wei his iȝe. [verse 2] As a stake is fastned in the myddis of a heep of stoonys, so and a man schal be an|gwischid [schal be an|gwischid; that is, the sillere, that enforsith to decreesse of the iust priys. with him that trespass|ith; for in deth the synnere is al to-brokun, and thanne the doyng of synne is endid, for the tyme of merit and of trespass|ing ceessith thanne. thin hows; that is, bilding of ver|tues. dust; that is, vile thingis, as stonys, metis, and liyk thingis. an|gwisch of a man; that is, synnere. in thouȝt of him; for whi remors of synne, which is seid the worm of consience, dwellith in his consience, thouȝ the dede of synne is passid. Lire here. C.] bi synnes bitwixe the middis of sillyng and biyng. [verse 3] Trespas schal be al to-brokun with hym that trespassith. [verse 4] If thou holdist not thee diligentli in the drede of the Lord, thin hous schal soone be turned vpsedoun. [verse 5] As dust schal dwelle in the hoolis of a riddil, so the angwisch of a man schal dwelle in the thouȝt of hym. [verse 6] A furneis preueth the vessels of a pottere; and the temptacioun of tribulacioun preu|eth iust men. [verse 7] As cherliche trauel aboute

a tree schewith the fruyt therof, so a word of thouȝt schewith the herte of man^j. [verse 8] Preise thou not a man bifore a word [bifor a word; fulli endid. temptacioun; that is, preuyng. Lire here. C.] ; for whi this is the temptacioun of men. [verse 9] If thou suest riȝtfulnesse, thou schalt take it; thou schalt clothe it as a long cloth of onour, and thou schalt dwelle with it, and it schal defende thee with outen ende, and in the dai of knowing [kunning A.] thou shalt fynde stidfastnesse. [verse 10] Volatilis comen to|gidere to briddis lijk hem silf; and treuthe schal turne aȝen to hem that worchen it. [verse 11] A lioun settith aspies euere to huntyng; so synnes [so synnes, etc.; that is, fendis that in|dusen men to synne, setten aspies to hem that worchen wickidnesse, til thei leden hem to helle. Lire here. C.] to hem that worchen wickidnesse. [verse 12] An hooly man dwellith in wisdom, as the sunne dwellith stabli [Om. I.] ; for whi a fool is chaungid as the moone. [verse 13] In the myddis of vnwise men kepe thou a word to tyme; but be thou bisi in the myddis of hem that thenken the lawe of God. [verse 14] The tellyng of synneris is hateful; and the leiȝyng of hem is in the trespassis of synne. [verse 15] Speche sweringe myche schal make stondyng up of heeris, for astonying, to the heed; and vnreuer|ence therof is stoppyng of eeris. [verse 16] The schedyng out of blood is in the chidyng of proude men; and the cursyng of hem is greuouse heryng [is greuouse hering; for in her chiding thei blasfemen God ofte, and it is ful greuouse to feithful eeris to here sich blas|femye of God. Lire here. C.] . [verse 17] He that schewith opynli the priuytees of a frend, leesith feithfulnesse; and he schal not fynde a frend to his soule. [verse 18] Loue thou a neiȝbore, and be thou ioyned with hym in feith. [verse 19] For if thou schewist opynli the priuytees of hym, thou schalt not perfitli sue [not perfitli sue; that is, thou schalt gete the kyuering of perfit fren|schipe. that leesith his frend; bi deth of him he may no more re|keuere him. leesith fren|schipe, etc.; bi schewing of his pryuyte, for siche frenschipe is not rekyuer|id perfitly. Lire here. C.] aftir hym. [verse 20] For as a man that leesith his frend, so he that leesith the frenschipe of his neiȝbore. [verse 21] And as a man that latith go a brid fro his hond, so thou that hast forsake thi neiȝbore, and thou schalt not take hym. [verse 22] Thou schalt not sue hym, for he is fer absent; for he ascapid as a capret fro a snare, for the soule of hym is woundid. [verse 23] Thou schalt no more mow bynde hym togidere; but of yuel seiyng [man I.]

is acordyng. [verse 24] Sotheli to schewe opynli the pryuytees of a frend, is dispeir [to schewe opynli the pry|uytes of a frend is dispeir; that is, of a man that schewith priuyte, for he owith not to hope perfit re|formyng of the firste frenschip. that twynclith etc. makith yuels; aȝenus that man that bileueth him a veri frend. caste him awey; for he bileueth that he is his frend, and holdith him with himsilf. defoule his mouth; spek|inge plesaunt thingis to thee. schal wondre; that is, schal feyne him for to wondre, as if thou hast seid wordis of deep wisdom, and so he schal more disseyue thee. sette sclaundir; in dispisinge tho thingis as fon|ned, and yuele thingis, whiche he semyde bifor|to to arette hiȝe and goode. Lire here. C.] of a soule vnblessid. [verse 25] He that twynclith with [verse 26] the iȝe, makith wickid thingis; and no man schal caste hym awei. In the siȝt of thin iȝen he schal defoule his mouth, and he schal wondre on thi wordis; but at the laste he schal turne weiwerdli his mouth, and in his wordis he schal ȝyue sclaundre. [verse 27] Y herde mani thingis [Y herde many thingis; that is, yuels, and Y arettyde not another malice euene to the malice of this man. wounde of a gileful man; that is, what|euer yuel pro|curid of a gile|ful man to an|other gileful man schal mul|tiplie yuels on him. Lire here. C.] , and Y made not euene to hym; and the Lord schal hate hym. [verse 28] If a man throwith [sendith CEFGHIKNPQRSUVXa. castith M.] a stoon an [on A.] hiȝ, it schal falle on his heed; and the gileful wounde of a gyleful man schal departe woundis. [verse 29] And he that dig|gith a diche, schal falle in to it; and he that settith a stoon to a neiȝbore, schal offende therynne; and he that settith a snare to a nother man, schal perische ther ynne. [verse 30] If a man makith worst councel, it schal be turned on hym; and he schal not knowe fro whennus it schal come to him. [verse 31] The scornyng and dispisyng of proude men [scornyng and dispisyng of proude men; that is, which ben doon of proude men in wordis and dedis to meke men and pore. sette aspie to him; to the peyne of helle. bi a snare; of the deuel, for whi sich gladnesse is streiȝtly contrarie to the charite of neiȝbore. holde tho; that is, schal holde euer either with ynne himsilf, for he is a vessel able to conteyne yuel. Lire here. C.] and veniaunce schal sette a spie to hym, as a lioun doith. [verse 32] Thei that deliten in the fal of iust men, schulen perische bi a snare; forsothe sorewe schal waste hem, bifore that thei dien. [verse 33] Ire and woodnesse, euer either ben abhomynable; and a synful man schal holde tho.

CAP. XXVIII.

[verse 1] He that wole be vengid, schal fynde of the Lord veniaunce; and he kepynge schal kepe hise synnes [schal kepe hise synnes; to be punyschid hardere bi his riȝtfulnesse. forȝyue thou to thi neiȝbore; the offence which owith euere to be forȝouun, but to forȝyue the wrong is not of nede; but of excelent perfeccioun, and sumtyme it spedith not to forȝyue the wrong, that is, whanne he that doith wrong takith more booldnesse to do wrong, and othere men taken occasioun to do liyk thingis. Lire here. C.] . [verse 2] Forȝyue thou to thi neiȝbore that anoieth thee, and thanne synnes [the synnes I.] schulen be releessid to thee prei|ynge. [verse 3] A man kepith ire to man; and sekith he of God medicyn? [verse 4] He hath no merci on a man lijk hym silf; and bisech|ith he the hiȝeste for hise owne synnes? [verse 5] He the while he is fleisch, reserueth ire; and axith he of God merci? who schal preie for hise synnes? [verse 6] Haue thou mynde

on the laste thingis, and ceesse thou to be enemy. [verse 7] For whi failyng and deth neiȝen not in the comaundementis of God. [verse 8] Haue thou mynde on the drede of the Lord, and be thou [Om. I.] not wrooth to the neiȝbore. [verse 9] Haue thou mynde on the testament of the hiȝeste, and dispise thou the ignoraunce [ignoraunce; that is, offence doon to thee, and forȝete thou it. Lire here. C.] of thi neiȝbore. [verse 10] Absteyne thee fro strijf, and thou schalt abregge [decreesse, ether abregge CEFGHIKMNPQRUVXa.] synnes. [verse 11] For whi a wrathful man kyndlith strijf; and a synful man [a synful man; that is, a sowere of dis|cordis. the ver|tu of a man; that is, his ex|celence demed of him. fier; of wrathful|nesse and wood|nesse. Lire here. C.] schal disturble frendis, and he schal sende in enemyte in the myddis of men hauynge pees. [verse 12] For whi aftir the trees of the [Om. CV.] wode, so fier schal brenne an hiȝ; and after the myȝte [vertu CEGHKMNPQRSUVXa. power F sec. m.] of a [Om. ceteri.] man, so his wrathfulnesse schal be, and aftir his catel he schal enhaunse his ire. [verse 13] Hasti stryu|yng schal kyndle fier, and hasti chidyng schal schede out blood; and a tunge [a tunge, etc.; that is, seiynge, Venge thee on him, he dis|seruede wel. Lire here. C.] ber|ynge witnessing schal brynge deth. [verse 14] If thou blowist [If thou blow|ist; that is, bryngist forth a word at the stiring of him, that is wrooth. brenne; that is, enflawme the ire more. spetist ther|onne; that is, on the tunge, witnessinge ether excitinge to take ven|iaunce, in schewinge that thilke tunge is yuel. it schal be quenchid; that is, the ire wrathfulnesse and of wood|nesse schal be quenchid. euer either, etc.; that is, a word kyndlinge ire, and a word re|freyninge it. the thridde tunge; that sowith dis|cordis, for it is the thridde ether the myddil tunge among the tungis of hem, whiche it makith to dis|corde. Lire here. C.] , as fier it schal brenne an hiȝ; and if thou spetist theron, it schal be quenchid; euer either comen forth of the mouth. [verse 15] A preuy bacbiter, and a double tungid man [a dowble tungid man; is he that spekith fayre bifore a man, and yuel bihynde him; and so a preuy bacbiter, that dar not avow that that he spekith bifore the persone that he spekith yuel bi, is a dowble tungid man, and he that flaterith his neiȝbore bifore him, and spekith yuel bihynde hym, is a dowble tungid man. Also the tunge of the preuey bacbiter is clepid the thridde tunge; for he that the flaterer flatereth, hath o tunge, and he that he tellith the tale of bacbityng to, hath the secunde tunge, and the bacbiter him silf hath the thridde tunge, for he, as the thridde, makith debate bitwen a man and his neiȝbore. A.] is cursid; for he disturblide many men hauynge pees. [verse 16] The thridde tunge hath stirid many men, and hath scaterid hem fro folc in to folc. [verse 17] It hath distried wallid citees of riche men, and hath myned doun the housis of grete men. [verse 18] It [and AF sec. m.] hath kit doun the vertues of puplis, and hath vnknit strong folkis. [verse 19] The thridde tunge hath cast out weddid wym|men [weddid wymmen; summe bokis han onest wymmen, ether dredinge schame. in whom he schal reste; that is, triste verily. bi her tunge; for these men dien bi the deth of synne, and if they repenten not, bi the deth of helle. Lire here. C.] , and hath priued hem of her tra|uelis. [verse 20] He that biholdith the [that C.] thridde tunge, schal not haue rest; nether schal haue a frend, in whom he schal reste. [verse 21] The wounde of betyng makith wannesse; but the wounde of tunge schal make lesse the boonys. [verse 22] Many men fellen doun bi

the scharpnesse of swerd; but not so as thei that perischiden bi her tunge. [verse 23] He is blessid that is kyuerid fro a wickid tunge; and he that passide not in the wrathfulnesse therof, and he that drow not the ȝok therof, and was not boundun in the bondis therof. [verse 24] For whi the ȝok therof is an irun ȝok, and the boond ther|of is a brasun boond. [verse 25] The deth therof is the worste deth; and helle is more [helle is more, etc.; that is, the peyne of helle is lesse yuel than dedly synne, signefied bi the name of the wickid tunge. Lire here. C.] profit|able than it. [verse 26] The perseueraunce therof schal not dwelle, but it schal holde the weies [holde the weies, etc.; in going doun to euerlastinge turment. Lire here. C et plures.] of vniust men; in his flawme it schal not brenne iust men. [verse 27] Thei that forsaken God, schulen falle in to it; and it schal brenne greetli in hem, and it schal not be quenchid; and as a lioun it schal be sent in to hem, and as a parde it schal hirte hem. [verse 28] Bisette [Bisette, etc.; in eschewinge bacbitingis, and in repreuynge scharply the bacbiteris. doris; of dis|creet silence, that thou speke and be stille, in couenable tyme. Lire here. C.] thin eeris with thornes, and nyle thou here a wickid tunge; and make thou doris to thi mouth, and lockis to thin eeris. [verse 29] Welle thou to|gidere [Welle thou to|gidere, etc.; that is, tempere thou, and dis|pose thi wisdom and fair speche, that thou holde stille thingis, that ben worthi to be holdun stille, and that thou speke thingis worthi to be spokun, and with du circumstances. Lire here. C.] thi gold, and thi siluer; and make thou a balaunce to thi wordis, and riȝtful bridels to thi mouth. [verse 30] And take heede, lest perauenture thou slide in tunge, and falle in the siȝt of enemyes [enemyes; that is, fendis. in to deth; of helle, fro which is no re|dempcioun. Lire here. C.] , settynge tre|soun to thee, and thi falle be vncurable in to deth.

CAP. XXIX.

[verse 1] He that doith merci, leeneth to his neiȝ|bore; and he that is ful myȝti in hond [in hond; that is, in power to ȝyue largely. kepith the comaunde|mentis; not onely leenynge, but also in ȝyu|ynge. Lire here. C.] , kepith the comaundementis. [verse 2] Leene thou to thi neiȝbore in the tyme of his nede; and eft ȝelde thou to a neiȝbore in his tyme. [verse 3] Conferme thou a word, and do thou feithfuli with hym; and in al tyme thou schalt fynde that, that is nedeful to thee. [verse 4] Many men gessiden borewyng as fyndyng, and ȝauen disese to tho [thilke I.] men that helpiden hem. [verse 5] Til thei taken, thei kissen the hondis of the ȝyuer; and in biheestis thei maken meke her vois. [verse 6] And in the time of ȝelding he schal axe tyme,

and he schal speke wordis of anoie, and of grutchingis, and he [Om. A.] schal calenge falsli the tyme [calenge falsly the tyme; and seie that it was ouerdere, ether sum such thing, to tarie the pai|yng of dette. as fyndyng; that is, as if he were not holdun to restore. Ellis; that is, if he may not with|holde that, that is lent to him. defraude him in his money; in ȝelding to him fals money for trewe, ether in denyinge hoolliche the dette. Lire here. C.] . [verse 7] Forsothe if he mai ȝelde, he schal be aduersarie; of a schilling vnne|this he schal ȝelde the half, and he schal rekyn that as fyndyng. [verse 8] Ellis he schal de|fraude him in his monei, and the leenere schal haue him an enemy with outen cause. [verse 9] And he schal ȝelde to hym, that is, to the leenere, wrongis and cursyngis; and for onour and benefice he schal ȝelde to hym dispisyng. [verse 10] Many men lenten not `to pore neiȝboris [Om. I.] , not for cause of wick|idnesse, but thei dredden to be defraudid with outen cause. [verse 11] Netheles on a meke man in soule [on a meke man in soule; that is, a ful pore dettour. be thou strongere; in largenesse. and for almes; that is, for dette, that owith to be turned into almes in sich a caas. drawe thou not him; to doom, that he be compellid to ȝelde the dette. For the comaundement; of the Lord, that comaund|ide ech man to helpe his neiȝ|bore. take thou a pore man; in helpinge him. Leese thou mo|ney, etc.; in spendinge it aboute the nedis of hem, for thouȝ it be wastid in this caas, netheles more good schal be ȝoldun for it. vndur a stoon; in gaderinge tresour in erthe, but in heuene bi ȝyuyng of almes. Lire here. C.] be thou strongere; and for almes drawe thou not hym. [verse 12] For the comaundement [comaundementis A pr. m. a.] of God take thou a pore man; and for his nedynesse leeue thou not hym voide. [verse 13] Leese thou monei for a bro|ther and frend, and hide thou not it vndur a stoon, in to perdicioun. [verse 14] Putte thi tre|sour in the comaundementis of the hiȝeste; and it schal profite to thee more than gold `schal profite [Om. I.] . [verse 15] Close thou almes in the bosum of a pore man; and this almes schal preye for thee `to be delyuered of God [Om. I.] fro al yuel. [verse 16] The almes of a man is as a bagge with hym; and it schal kepe the grace [the grace; that is, Goddis grace ȝouun to man. rise aȝen; bi resseuyng of meede in an other liyf. Lire here. C.] of man as the appil of the iȝe. [verse 17] And aftirward it schal rise aȝen, and schal ȝelde to hem a ȝelding, to ech man in to the heed of hem. [verse 18] Aboue a [the I.] scheld of the [a I.] myȝti man, and aboue a spere it schal fiȝte aȝens thin enemye. [verse 19] A good man makith feith [makith feith; in bicomynge borow for him in nede. that leesith; feith anentis the neiȝbore, and tristith not to him to bicome borow for him. schame; that is, schal suffre his neiȝbore be schamed, ether schent. Lire here. C.] to his neiȝbore; and he that leesith, schal leeue schame to hym. [verse 20] Forȝete thou not the grace of the borewe; for he ȝaf his lijf for thee [ȝaf his liyf for thee; in oblischinge that is nedeful to him to susteyne his liyf. fleeth the biheetere; that is, the borow, and nyle delyuere him. Lire here. C.] . [verse 21] A synful man and vn|cleene fleeth the biheetere. [verse 22] A synnere ar|retteth to hym silf the goode wordis of the borowe; and the vnkynde man in wit for|sakith

a man delyuerynge hym. [verse 23] A man biheetith [bihotith I.] for his neiȝbore; and whanne `the neiȝbore [he I.] hath lost reuerence [lost reuer|ence; that is, schamefastnesse bifor God and men. forsakun of him; that is, suffringe his borow to be tretid hardi of the creauncer. Lire here. C.] , the borew schal be forsakun of hym. [verse 24] Worst biheest [Worstbiheest; bi which the neiȝbore bihiȝte falsly to dely|uere his borow. Lire here. C.] hath lost many louynge men, and hath moued hem as the wawis of the see. [verse 25] It goynge in cumpas made myȝti men to passe ouer; and thei wandriden aboute among [Om. I.] alien folkis. [verse 26] A synnere brekynge the comaundement of the Lord schal falle in to a wickid biheest [in to a wickid biheest; bi bo|rewrede, wher|ynne he biheet|ith that he schal paye for an other man, if he failith. This biheest is seid yuel, in as myche as yuels bifallen to him therbi. Reky|uere, etc.; in bi|comynge borow for him, so that thou falle not in to tribula|cioun. lest thou falle; in to the forseid yuels. Lire here. C.] ; and he that enforsith to do many thingis, schal falle in to dom. [verse 27] Rekiuere thi neiȝbore bi thi vertu; and take heed to thi silf, lest thou falle. [verse 28] The bigynnyng of lijf of a man is watir, and breed [water, and breed; that is, mesurable drynke and mete; thus breed and wa|ter is takun for mete and drynke gene|rally, in IV. book of Kyngis, xvj. c^o. and clothing; sym|ple to nede and not to curiouste. hilinge filthe; that is, tho thingis whiche it were foul to do opinli, thouȝ tho ben not yuele thingis, as to ȝelde dette to the wiyf, and siche thingis. vndur the hil|ing of sparris; that is, in a litil hows of thyn owne. in pil|grimage; that is, in an other lond. the schenschipe of pilgrimage; that is, of vn|stable going aboute in the lond, for ofte siche men ben clepid triwauntis and lozels. Lire here. C.] , and clothing, and hous hilynge filthe. [verse 29] Betere is the lijflode of a pore man vndur the hilyng of sparris, than schynynge feestis in pilgrymage with outen hous. [verse 30] The leeste thing pleese [plesith CEFGHIKMNPQRSUXa.] thee for a greet thing; and thou schalt not here the schenschipe of pilgrymage. [verse 31] It is wickid lijf to seke herbore fro hous in to hous; and where he schal be herborid, he schal not do tristili, nethir he schal opene the mouth. [verse 32] He schal be herborid, and he schal feede, and ȝyue drinke to vnkynde men; and ȝit he schal here bittir thingis. [verse 33] Passe, thou that art herborid, and araye a table; and ȝyue thou meetis to othere men, tho thingis that thou hast in the hond. [verse 34] Go thou out fro the face of the onour of my frendis, for the frend|schipe, ethir affinyte, of myn hous; bi herboryng thou art maad a brother to me. [verse 35] These thingis ben greuouse to a man hau|ynge wit; the repreuyng [the repreuing; that is, chawnging of herbor. the vsurer; that is, of the osteler, which is seid here an vsurer, for he sillith hise thingis to gestis, aboue iust priys bi comyn cours. Lire here. C.] of hous, and the dispising of the vsurer [that is, osteler. V marg.] .

CAP. XXX.

[verse 1] He that loueth his sone, ȝyueth bisili betingis to hym, that he be glad in hise laste thing, and that the sone touche [touche, etc.; to do fornycacioun. Lire here. C.] not

the doris of neiȝboris. [verse 2] He that techith his sone, schal be preisid in hym; and schal haue glorie in hym in the myddis of menyals. [verse 3] He that techith his sone, sendith the enemye in to enuye; and in the myddis of frendis he schal haue glorie in that sone. [verse 4] The fadir of hym is deed, and he is as not deed; for he hath left aftir hym a sone lijk hym. [verse 5] He siȝ in his lijf, and was glad in hym; and in his deth he was not sori, nether was aschamed bi|fore enemyes. [verse 6] For he lefte a defendere of the hous aȝens enemyes; and ȝeldynge grace to frendis. [verse 7] For the soulis [For the soulis, etc.; that is, he schal putte forth his liyf to the perel of deth, to defende hise sones in bodily liyf, and goostly, as to vertues. be dis|turblid on ech vois; that is, he schal haue compassion on ech voys of the meynee, biweil|inge him, and he schal coum|forte hem of his siyknesse, ether deth neiȝ|inge. Lire here. C.] of sones he schal bynde togidere hise woundis; and hise entrails schulen be disturblid on ech vois. [verse 8] An hors vntemyd, `ether vn|chastisid [Om. I.] , schal ascape hard, and a sone vnchastisid schal ascape heedi [heedi to visis V.] . [verse 9] Flatere thou the sone, and he schal make thee dredinge; pleie thou with hym, and he schal make thee sory. [verse 10] Leiȝe thou not [Leiȝe thou not, etc.; in leiȝinge togidre with him of hise folies. astony|ed; for bitter|nesse of thyn herte. hise thouȝtis; that is, not onely bete thou him for yuele dedis, but also for yuele thouȝtis, whanne they appere to thee bi ony signes. Lire here. C.] with hym, lest thou haue sorewe togidere, and at the laste thi teeth schulen be astonyed. [verse 11] Ȝyue thou not power to hym in ȝongthe, and dispise thou not hise thouȝtis. [verse 12] Boowe thou his necke in ȝongthe, and bete thou hise sidis, while he is a ȝong child; lest perauenture he wexe hard, and bileue not to thee, and he schal be sorewe of soule to thee. [verse 13] Teche thi sone, and worche in hym; lest thou offende in to the filthe of hym. [verse 14] Betere is a pore man hool, and strong in myȝtis, than a riche man feble, and betun with malice. [verse 15] The helthe of soule is in the hoolynesse of riȝtfulnesse, and it is betere than ony gold and siluer; and a strong bodi is betere than ful myche catel. [verse 16] No catel is aboue the catel of helthe of bodi; and no likyng is aboue the ioie of herte. [verse 17] Betere is deth than bittir lijf, and euer|lastinge reste [euerlastinge reste; that is, reste of bodi in the sepulcre, as longe as pre|sent liyf durith. Lire here. C.] is betere than siknesse dwellynge contynueli. [verse 18] Goodis hid in a closid mouth [Goodis hid in a closid mouth; that is, kun|nyng in a man slow to teche. dryuun awey, etc.; fro whom kunnyng is takun awey of the Lord in his deth, and is dryuun awey fro the felouschipe of lyuynge men. the meedis of wickidnesse; that is, the synnes of leeu|yng of good. seynge with iȝen; his nec|ligence passid, for peyne open|yde hise iȝen, which synne closide bifore. weilinge; of the leeuyng of multipliyng of kunnyng. as gelding; that may not gendre bodily, so this man may not gendre goostly bi kunnyng. Lire here. C.] ben as settyngis forth of

metis set aboute a sepulcre. [verse 19] What schal sacrifice profite to an idol? for whi it schal not ete, nether schal smelle. [verse 20] So he that is dryuun awei fro the Lord, and [verse 21] berith the medis of wickidnesse, seynge with iȝen and weilynge inwardli, as a geldynge biclippynge a virgyn, and siȝ|ȝynge. [verse 22] Ȝyue thou not sorewe to thi soule [Ȝyue thou not to sorewe thi soule; that is, vnresonable sorewe, that anoyeth bothe bodi and soule. and turmente not thi silf, etc.; as they doen that dispeiren thorou sorewe, and sleen hem silf. the liyf of man; that is, kepith mannus liyf. A schyn|ynge herte; that is, glad and large. is good in metis; whiche it ȝyu|eth to pore men and onest per|soonys. maad dili|gentli; that is, ben maad redy clenly, and schynyngly, for the forseid per|soones. Lire here. C.] , and turmente not thi silf in thi counsel. [verse 23] Mirthe of herte, this is the lijf of man, and is tresour of hoolynesse with outen failyng; and ful out ioiyng of a man is long lijf. [verse 24] Haue thou mercy on thi soule, and plese thou God; and holde to|gidere and gadere togidere thin herte in the hoolynesse of hym, and putte fer awei sorewe fro thee. [verse 25] For whi sorewe hath slayn many men; and noon heelthe is ther ynne. [verse 26] Enuye and wrathfulnesse schulen make lesse daies; and thouȝtys schulen brynge eldnesse bifore the tyme. [verse 27] A schynynge herte is good in metis; for whi meetis therof ben maad diligentli.

CAP. XXXI.

[verse 1] Wakyng of oneste [Waking of oneste; that is, in preyer and reding of hooly scripture. schal make fleschis to faile; that is, it schal re|freyne tho fro fleiscly vices. Jerom seith in his pistle to Rustik, the munk, Loue thou the studies of hooly scripturis, and thou schalt not loue the vices of fleisch. take awey sleep; of slouthe and idilnesse. Thouȝt of Goddis biforknowing; bi which God seeth apertly all thingis. turneth awey the wit; fro al yuel. Boys seith in the v. book of Consolacioun, A! ȝe men, greet nede of goodnesse is set to you, if ȝe nylen dissymele; for ȝe doen alle thingis bifor the iȝen of the iuge seynge alle thingis. Lire here. C.] schal make fleischis to faile; and thouȝt therof schal take awei sleep. [verse 2] Thouȝt of bifore knowyng turneth awey wit; and greuouse siknesse makith sobre the soule. [verse 3] A ryche man [A riche man; a good riche man traueilide to lyue onestly aftir his staat, and to do the werkis of mersi. in his reste; that is, elde age, ether deth, he schal resseyue euerlastinge goodis for temporal goodis. in decreessing; that is, a fool in spending; for he spendith more than he wynneth. that loueth gold; that is, ouermesurably. Lire here. C.] trauelide in the gaderyng of catel; and in his reste he schal be fillyd with hise goodis. [verse 4] A pore man trauelide in decreessyng of lijflode; and in the ende he is maad nedi. [verse 5] He that loueth gold, schal not be iustified; and he that sueth wastyng, schal be fillid therof. [verse 6] Many men ben ȝouun in to the fallyngis of gold [fallingis of gold; that is, many men felden in to synnes for gold. A tre of offensioun is the gold, etc.; for whi a coueytouse man loueth his gold as his God, and therefor auarice is seruyce of idols, in iij. c^o. to Coloc. Lire here. C.] ; and the perdicioun of hem was maad in the feirnesse therof. [verse 7] A tre of offencioun is the gold of hem that maken sacrifice; wo to hem that suen it, and ech

vnprudent man schal perische ther ynne. [verse 8] Blissid is a riche man, which is foundun with out wem [with out wem; of co|ueytise and auarice. aftir gold; bi yuel geting, but vside gold in pitouse and onest werkis. Lire here. C.] ; and that ȝede not aftir gold, nether hopide in money, and tre|souris. [verse 9] Who is this, and we schulen preyse hym? for he dide merueils in his lijf. [verse 10] Which is preued ther ynne, and is foundun perfit, and euerlastynge glorye schal be to hym? which myȝte trespasse, and trespasside not, and do yuels, and dide not. [verse 11] Therfor hise goodis ben stablischid in the Lord; and al the chirche of seyntis schal telle out hise almesdedis. [verse 12] Thou hast sete at a greet boord [Thou hast sete at a greet boord, etc.; that is, whanne thou art clepid to the table of a greet man, bigynne thou not to ete first. Lire here. C.] ; opene thou not firste thi cheke on it. [verse 13] Seie thou not, whether tho ben many thingis, that ben on it. [verse 14] Haue thou mynde, that an yuel iȝe is weiward. [verse 15] What thing worse, than an iȝe is maad? therfor of al his face he schal wepe [he schal wepe, etc.; that is, he schal bere heuyly, whanne he seeth the fewnesse of messis, ether for tho ben not aftir his lust. thou defoulid; that is, repreu|yd for glotenye. Lire here. C.] , whanne he seeth. [verse 16] Stretche thou not forth first thin hond; and thou defoulid bi enuye, be aschamed. [verse 17] Be thou not oppressid of wyn in a feeste. [verse 18] Vnder|stonde of thi silf the thingis, that ben of thi neiȝbore. [verse 19] Vse thou as a discreet and temperat man these thingis that ben set forth to thee; and be thou not hatid, whanne thou etist myche. [verse 20] Ceesse thou first bicause of lernyng, ethir nurture; and nyle thou be outrageouse, lest perauenture thou offende. [verse 21] And if thou hast sete in the myddis of many men, stretche not forth thin hond sunnere than thei; and axe thou not firste for to drynke. [verse 22] A litil wyn is ful sufficient to a lerned man; and in slepynge thou schalt not trauele for that wyn, and thou schalt not feele trauel. [verse 23] Wakyng, and colre, ether bittir moisture, and gnawyng to an vndiscreet [vndiscreet man S.] `either vn|temperat man [and vntemperat man CEGHIMNPQRUVXYa. and vntemperaunt S.] . [verse 24] But the sleep of heelthe is in a scars man; he [`he that A pr. m.] schal slepe `til to [vnto I.] the morewtid, and his soule schal delite with hym. [verse 25] And if thou art constreyned in etyng myche, ryse thou fro the myddis, and brake [A super ras. spue CEGHIKMNPQRSUVXYa.] thou; and it schal refreische

thee, and thou schalt not brynge sikenesse to thi bodi. [verse 26] Sone, here thou me, and di|spise thou not me; and at the laste thou schalt fynde my wordis. [verse 27] In alle thi werkis be thou swift; and al sikenesse [al siyknesse, etc.; that is, defaute of werk. of many men; wischinge good to him for his liberalte and mersi. worst breed; that is, getun wickidly, and ȝouun yuele. Lire here. C.] schal not come to thee. [verse 28] The lippis of many men schulen blesse a schynynge man in looues; and the witnessyng of his treuthe is feithful. [verse 29] The citee schal grutche in the worste breed; and the witnessyng of wickidnesse therof is soth. [verse 30] Nyle thou excite hem that ben diligent in wyn [Nyle thou ex|cite hem that ben diligent in wyn; nyle thou excite hem to drynke, for with out this, thei ben ouer myche enclyn|aunt herto; ether nyle thou excite to wrathfulnesse, for thei ben stirid soone to mansleing. hard irun; in makinge it neische. re|preue the hertis of proude men; in rauyschinge hem hoolliche, and castinge doun, as it is opin of Olofer|nes, in xiij. c^o. of Judith. deth; for whi deth of kynde defraudith kynde, deth of synne defraud|ith lyif of grace, deth of helle defraudith lyif of glorie. Lire here. C.] ; for whi wyn hath distried many men. [verse 31] Fier preueth hard irun; so wyn drunkun in drunkenesse schal repreue the hertis of proude men. [verse 32] Euene lijf to men is wyn drunkun in sobrenesse; if thou drynkist it mesurably, thou schalt be sobre. [verse 33] What is the lijf which is [What is the liyf which is, etc.; as if he seye, it is not mannus liyf, but hoggis liyf. Lire here. C.] maad lesse bi wyn? [verse 34] What defraudith lijf? deth. [verse 35] Wyn was maad in gladnesse, not in drunkenesse, at the bigynnyng. [verse 36] Wyn drunkun mesurabli is ful out ioiyng of soule and of bodi. [verse 37] Sobre drynk is helthe of soule and of bodi. [verse 38] Wyn drunkun myche makith avoiding, and ire, and many fallyngis [or myscheues I marg.] . [verse 39] Wyn drunkun myche is bitternesse of soule. [verse 40] Strengthe of drunkenesse and hirting of an vnprudent man makith vertu lesse, and makynge woundis. [verse 41] In the feeste of wyn repreue thou not a neiȝbore; and dispise thou not hym in his mirthe. [verse 42] Seye thou not wordis of schenschipe to hym; and oppresse thou not hym in axynge [oppresse thou not him in ax|inge; dette scharply, for he wolde be wrathid aȝen|us thee, and ȝelde to thee yuel for good. Lire here. C.] .

CAP. XXXII.

[verse 1] Thei han set thee a gouernour, nyle thou be enhaunsid; be thou among hem as oon of hem. [verse 2] Haue thou cure of hem, and so biholde thou; and whanne al thi cure is fillid, sitte thou to mete. [verse 3] That thou be glad for hem, and take the ourne|ment of grace; and gete coroun, and dig|nyte of congregacioun. [verse 4] Speke thou the

[verse 5] gretter [Speke thou the gretter, etc.; that is, thou prelat, that owist to be ripe in ver|tues, and so eeld, bi wor|schipful age. the word of him, etc.; that is, of God, who loueth kun|nyng, and kun|nynge men. bicome thee first; that is, principali. and lette thou not musik; that is, acording of word to liyf; for, as Greg. seith, in xxxviij. Omely, Whos liyf is dispisid, his preching shal be dispisid. Lire here. C.] man in birthe; for whi the word of hym that loueth kunnyng bicome thee first; and lette thou not musik. [verse 6] Where heryng is not [Where hering is not, etc.; for it were more dispising of Goddis word, than encres|ing therof. en|haunsid vn|couenabli in thi wisdom; in auauntinge thee boostfuly therof. Leityng schal go bifor hayl; for whi hail fallith doun in thun|dur sum tyme, and leyting go|ith bifor the sown of thun|dur. grace; of God. schal go bifor schame|fastnesse; that cometh forth of reuerence, for whi Goddis grace is the bigynnyng of that reuerence. tifle thee not; that is, make thee no tari|yng in araiyng, ether tiflyng of heeris, as wym|men doon. to thyn hows; in rennynge aȝen to thyn owne consience. clepe thee; to an|swer, as to answere of thi dedis bifor the hiȝeste iuge. and there pleye thou; that is, whanne answer is maad bi this, that thou art not gilti of dedly synne, pleye thou with wisdom, bi goode thouȝtis that ben delitable. Lire here. C.] , schede thou not out a word; and nyle thou be enhaunsid vnco|uenabli in thi wisdom. [verse 7] A iemme of car|buncle in the ournement of gold; and comparisoun of musikis in the feeste of wyn. [verse 8] As in the makyng of gold is a signe of smaragde, so the noumbre of musikis is in myrie and mesurable wyn. [verse 9] Here thou stille, and good grace schal come to thee for reuerence. [verse 10] Ȝonge man, speke thou vnnethis in thi cause, whanne nede is. [verse 11] If thou art axid twies, the heed haue thin answere. [verse 12] In many thingis be thou as vnkunnyng, and here thou stille togidere and axynge. [verse 13] And presume thou not to speke in the myddis of grete men; and where elde men ben, speke thou not myche. [verse 14] Leityng schal go bifore hail, and grace schal go bifore schamfastnesse, and good grace schal come to thee for reuer|ence. [verse 15] And in the our of risyng tifle thee not; forsothe renne thou bifore first in to thin hous, and there clepe thou thee to answer, and there pleie thou. [verse 16] And do thi conseitis [do thi conseitis; that is, parforme thi good purpos conseyued there, and ocupie thee not in synnes. Lire here. C.] , and not in synnes, and in a proud word. [verse 17] On alle these thingis blesse thou the Lord, that made thee, and fill|ynge thee greetli of alle hise goodis. [verse 18] He that dredith God, schal take his techyng; and thei that waken to hym, schulen fynde blessyng. [verse 19] He that sekith the lawe, schal be fillid therof; and he that doith tretour|ousli [traitourli K. tretourli M. ether aspiyngli X marg.] , schal be sclaundrid ther ynne. [verse 20] Thei that dreden God, schulen fynde iust dom; and schulen kyndle riȝtfulnesse as liȝt. [verse 21] A synful man [A synful man; that is, obstynat in synne. blamyng; as abhomynable to him. comparisoun; that is, an other man liyk him, ether worse, in alegginge that man to his ex|cusing and de|fence. A man of councel; that is, assenting to good councel. vndurstonding; of councel ȝouun to him, but schal bringe to execucioun. alien; fro God. and proud; dispisynge the councel of an other man. Ȝhe, aftir that he hath do with that; that is, with the drede of God, for whi a man alien fro God and proud, whanne he is set in perel of deth, doith sum tyme sum good thing of kynde, for that drede. without coun|cel; that is, stable purpos of soule. schal be repreued, etc.; for whanne the drede is passid, he turneth aȝen to the formere yuele custom, and so he is maad worthi to be repreued. Lire here. C.] schal eschewe [ethchewe I.] blamyng; and aftir his wille he schal fynde com|parisoun.

[verse 22] A man of counsel schal not leese vndirstonding; a man alien and proud schal not drede [schal not drede; that is, the manaassing of Goddis be|tingis. Lire here. C.] dredyng. [verse 23] Ȝhe, aftir that he hath do with that drede with out councel, and he schal be repreued bi hise suyngis. [verse 24] Sone, do thou no thing with out councel; and aftir the dede thou schalt not repente. [verse 25] Go thou not in the weie of fallyng, and offende thou not aȝens stoonys. Bitake thou not thee to a tra|uelouse weie, lest thou sette sclaundir to [verse 26] thi soule; and be thou war of thi sones, and perseyue thou of thi meyneals. [verse 27] In al thi werk bileue thou [In al thi werk bileue thou; that is, sette thi foundement of feith, with out which no werk plesith God. of thi soule; that is, of thyn herte, and not onely of thi mouth. not be maad lesse; that is, schal faile not of meede abe|dun. Lire here. C.] bi feith of thi soule; for whi this is the keping of comaunde|mentis. [verse 28] He that bileueth to God, takith heede to the [Om. CEF pr. m. GHKMNPQSUXa. his R.] comaundementis; and he that tristith in hym, schal not be maad lesse [lesse, ether desceyued V.] .

CAP. XXXIII.

[verse 1] Iuelis schulen not come to hym that dredith God; but God schal kepe hym in temptacioun, and schal delyuere fro yuelis. [verse 2] A wijs man hatith not the [Om. CV.] comaunde|mentis, and riȝtfulnessis; and he schal not be hurtlid [he schal not be hurtlid; that is, schal not be brokun bi vnpatience. teching; that is, couenable maner to teche disciplis. The entraylis of a fool; that is, the vndurstonding and desir of an yuel prelat. as an extre; for he hath no stablenesse in good. Lire here. C.] doun, as in the tempest of a schip. [verse 3] A wijs man bileeueth to [in C.] the lawe of God, and the lawe is feithful to hym. [verse 4] He that makith opene axyng, schal make redi a word; and so he schal preie, and schal be herd, and he schal kepe techyng, and thanne he schal answere. [verse 5] The en|traylis of a fool ben as a wheel of a carte, and his thouȝtis as an extre able to turne aboute. [verse 6] An hors a staloun, so and a frend a scornere [a frend a scornere; that is, an yuel prelat, that owith to loue God, and putte forth him silf til to deth for the helthe of the puple; and netheles he scorneth God, and takith the office of his vikeried, and chargith not of his onour. neiȝith; bi wantownesse of vices. vndur ech sittinge aboue him; that is, vndur God and hise aungels. liȝt ouercometh liȝt; for the liȝt of the sunne is more than the liȝt of the moone, and of othere sterris. the sunne ouercometh the sunne; not that twey sunnes ben, but for the same sunne passith him silf in causinge heete, for in somer he caus|ith more heete in oure dwell|ing place, than in wynter. the comaundement; that is, orden|aunce; this that is addid in summe bokis, ben de|partid bi the wisdom of God, is not of the text, but it sueth next; and it, that is, the sunne, schal chaunge tymes. Lire here. C.] , neiȝeth vndur ech sittynge aboue. [verse 7] Whi a dai ouercometh a dai, and eft the liȝt ouercometh liȝt, and a ȝeer ouercometh a ȝeer, the sunne ouer|cometh

the sunne? [verse 8] Tho ben departid of the kunnyng of the Lord, bi the sunne maad, and kepynge the comaundement [comaundementis A pr. m. a.] of God. [verse 9] And it schal chaunge tymes and the feeste daies of hem, and in tho tymes the Jewis halewiden hali daies at an our. [verse 10] God enhaunside and magnyfiede of tho hali daies; and of tho he settide [of tho he set|tide; that is, of tho dayes of the ȝeer; this that is addid in sum bokis, and in to ȝeris, is not of the text. curside; Chore and his felowis. fro the departyng of hem; that is, anoon as they weren departid fro othere men, he turnede hem quyke in to helle. Lire here. C.] in to the noumbre of daies; and God made alle men of sad erthe, and of neische erthe, whereof Adam was formed. [verse 11] In the mul|titude of kunnyng of the Lord he depart|ide hem, and chaungide the weies of hem. [verse 12] Of hem God blesside, and enhaunside; and of hem he halewide, and chees to hym silf; of hem he curside, and made lowe, and turnyde hem fro the departyng of hem. [verse 13] As cley of a pottere is in the hond of [verse 14] hym, to make and dispose, that alle the weies therof ben aftir the ordynaunce of hym; so a man is in the hond of hym that made hym; and he schal ȝelde to hym bi his dom. [verse 15] Aȝens yuel is good, and aȝens lijf is deth; so and a synnere is aȝens a iust man. And so biholde thou in to alle the werkis of the hiȝeste; twey [tweyne C. two G.] thingis aȝens tweyne, and o thing aȝens oon. [verse 16] And Y the laste wakide [walkide M.] , and as he that gaderith draf of grapis, aftir the ga|dereris of grapis. [verse 17] And Y hopide in the blessyng of God; and as he that gaderith grapis, Y fillide the pressour. [verse 18] Biholde ȝe, for Y trauelide not to me aloone, but to alle that seken kunnyng. [verse 19] Grete men, and alle puplis, here ȝe me; and ȝe gouernouris of the chirche, perseyue with eeris. [verse 20] Ȝyue thou not power ouer thee in thi lijf to a sone, and to a womman, to a brothir, and to a freend; and ȝyue thou not thi pos|sessioun to another man, lest perauenture it repente thee, and thou biseche for tho [biseche for tho; that is, for the nedis of thi liyf. chaunge thee; that is, as long as thou lyuest, noon stire thee fro this purpos. Lire here. C.] . [verse 21] While thou art alyue, and brethist ȝit, ech man schal not chaunge thee. [verse 22] For it is betere, that thi sones preye thee, than

that thou biholde in to the hondis of thi sones. [verse 23] In alle thi werkis be thou soue|reyn; ȝyue thou not a wem in to thi [verse 24] glorie. In the day of endyng of daies of thi lijf, and in tyme [the tyme CEFGHIKMNPQRUVXYa.] of thi [Om. G.] goyng out departe thin erytage. [verse 25] Metis, and a ȝerde, and birthun [a birthun I.] to an asse; breed, and chas|tisyng, and werk to a seruaunt. [verse 26] He worchith in chastisyng [He worchith in chastising; that is, as long as he is holdun vndur chas|tisyng. Turment and stockis, etc.; that is, rebel and vnfeithful. idilnesse; of seruauntis. myche malice; to ymagyne aȝenus lordis. with out doom; of du discre|cioun. greu|ouse; to thi seruauntis. Lire here. C.] , and sekith to haue reste; slake thou hondis to hym, and he sekith fredom. [verse 27] A ȝok and bridil bowen doun an hard necke; and bisi worch|ingis bowen doun a seruaunt. [verse 28] Turment and stockis to an yuel willid seruaunt; sende thou hym in to worchyng, lest he [verse 29] be ydel; for whi idilnesse hath tauȝte miche malice. [verse 30] Ordeyne thou hym in werk, for so it bicometh hym; that if he obeieth not, bowe thou doun hym in stockis, and make thou not hym large [make thou not him large, etc.; that is, ȝyue thou not to him power ouer ony man, for he owith not to be soue|reyn, but to be vndurlowt; and this is aȝenus summe Cristen princes, that maken Jewis bailies and souereyns on Cristen men. bouȝt him in the blood of liyf; that is, for nede of thi liyf, that stond|ith in blood, in xij. c^o. of Le|uytici, the liyf of ech fleisch is in blood. Lire here. C.] ouer ony man, but with out dom do thou no thing greu|ouse. [verse 31] If a feithful seruaunt is to thee, be he as thi soule to thee; trete thou him so as a brother, for thou hast bouȝt hym in the blood of lijf. [verse 32] If thou hurtist hym vniustli, he schal be turned in to fleyng [verse 33] awei; and if he enhaunsynge goith awei, thou noost [ne wost I.] whom thou schalt seke, and in what weie thou schalt seke hym.

CAP. XXXIV.

[verse 1] Veyn hope and a leesyng to an vnwijs man; and dremes enhaunsen vnprudent men. [verse 2] As he that takith [takith a A pr. m.] schadewe, and pursueth wynd, so and he that takith heede [takith hede, etc.; in veyn dremys. what schal be clensid, etc.; as if he seye, no thing, but it schal be defoulid more. of a liere; as if he seye, no thing; for if the deuel seith trewe thingis sumtyme, this is for to desseyue more aftirward, and so that truthe may be seid a leesing bi the ende. Lire here. C.] to leesyngis seyn. [verse 3] Vpe this thing is the siȝt of dremes; bifore the face of a man is the licnesse of another man. [verse 4] What schal be clensid of him that is vnclene, and what trewe thing schal be seid of [to C.] a liere? [verse 5] Fals dyuynyng of errour, and fals dyuynyngis bi chiteryng of briddis, and dremes of witchis, is vanyte. [verse 6] And as

the herte of a womman trauelynge of child, thin herte suffrith fantasies; no but visitacioun is sent out of the hiȝeste, ȝyue thou not thin herte in tho dremes. [verse 7] For whi dremes han maad many men for to erre, and men hopynge in tho fellen doun. [verse 8] The word of the lawe `of God and of hise profetis [Om. I.] , schal be maad per|fit with out leesyng; and wisdom in the mouth of a feithful man [wisdom in the mouth of a feithful man, etc.; that is, wisdom con|teyned in hooly scripture schal be tauȝt pleynly in the mouth of a feithful techere, for he kan opene and declare the hid thingis of hooly scrip|turis. Lire here. C.] schal be maad pleyn. [verse 9] What kan he, that is not asaied? A man asaied in many thingis [A man asay|ed in many thingis; that is, excercisid ether trauelid in many scrip|turis. thenke many thingis, for bi o place of scripture he declarith an|other place more hid. lernede many thingis; bi ocupacioun of studie. schal telle out; the veri vndirstond|ing of scrip|ture. He that is not asaied; in scripturis. knowith fewe thingis; for he may fynde fewe thingis bi him silf, wherfor thei that dey|nen not to se the seiyngis of othere men, ben foundun voide of truthe. he that is a fool in many thingis; in appliynge his vndurstond|ing to many thingis veyn and curiouse. schal multiplie malice; for ofte he makith fals doctryn. Summe bokis han, he that is maad rennynge aboute in many thingis, to knowe many thingis, and vndirstondith not sufficiently in ony o thing, schal multiplie, etc. Lire here. C.] , schal thenke many thingis; and he that lernyde many thingis, schal telle out vndirstond|yng. [verse 10] He that is not asaied, knowith fewe thingis; forsothe he that is a fool in many thingis, schal multiplie malice. [verse 11] What maner thingis kan he, that is not asaied? He that is not plauntid [He that is not plauntid; that is, hath not set roote of vndurstonding and desir in good. plenteuouse, etc.; multipliynge vices. Lire here. C.] , schal be plenteuouse in wickidnesse. [verse 12] I siȝ many thingis in tellyng out, and ful many cus|toms of wordis. [verse 13] Sum tyme Y was in perel `til to [vnto I.] deth, for the cause of these thingis; and Y was delyuered bi the grace of God. [verse 14] The spirit of hem that dreden God is souȝt, and schal be blessid in the biholding of hym. [verse 15] For whi the hope of hem is in to God sauynge hem; and the iȝen of the Lord ben in to hem, that louen hym. [verse 16] He that dredith God, schal not tremble for ony thing, and he [Om. C.] schal not drede; for whi God is his hope. [verse 17] The soule of hym that dredith the Lord, is blessid. [verse 18] To whom biholdith he [To whom biholdith he; as if he seide, God is he, to whom he dressith his entent and of whom he hath myȝti defending. Lire here. C.] , and who is his strengthe? [verse 19] The iȝen of the Lord ben on hem that dreden hym. God is a defendere of myȝt, stidfastnesse of vertu, hilyng of heete, and a schadewyng [verse 20] place of myddai; bisechyng of offendyng [bisechinge of offending; that is, heringe biseching for offensis. Lire here. C.] , and help of fallyng, enhaunsynge the soule, and liȝtnynge the iȝen, and ȝyuynge heelthe, and lijf, and blessyng. [verse 21] The of|fryng

of hym that offrith of wickid thing [offrith of wickid thing; that is, of thing getun vniustly. the scorn|yngis, etc.; that is, her offringe of an other mannus thing, bi whiche thei scornen God, that ow|ith to be onour|id of a mannus owne good, in iij. c^o. of Pro|uerbis. Lire here. C.] , is defoulid; and the scornyngis of vniust men ben not wel plesaunt. [verse 22] The Lord aloone [The Lord aloone, etc.; that is, thei that stonden, in the weye of truthe and of riȝtfulnesse, han onely veri God for God, and he accept|ith the ȝiftis of hem. Rauen|ours and auer|ouse men han gold and rich|essis for God, a glotoun hath delices, a lec|chour hath lust of touching, and siche thingis for God, wherfor her sacrifices ben not accept|able to God. The breed; that is, what euer maner mete. is the liyf of a pore man; that is, the susten|yng of his liyf. man of blood; Austyn seith, Feede thou a man diynge for hungur, and if thou feedist not him, thou hast slayn him; myche more if thou withdrawist his liyflode fro him. C.] is to hem that abiden hym in the weie of treuthe, and of riȝtfulnesse. [verse 23] The hiȝeste appreueth not the ȝiftis of wickid men, nethir biholdith in the offryngis of wickid men, nether in the multitude of her sacrifices he schal do mercy to synnes. [verse 24] He that offrith sacrifice [sacrificis CEG.] of the catel of pore men, is as he that sleeth the sone in the siȝt of his fadir. [verse 25] The breed of nedi men is the lijf of a pore man; he that defraudith hym, is a man of blood. [verse 26] He that takith awei breed in swoot [breed in swoot; that is, breed getun in swoot of tra|uelours. ben britheren; that is, ben liyk in synne. whos vois; as if he seye, no voys; but sich a rauenour schal be punyschid of God for his yuels. Oon preiynge; for a rauenour, that is, he preiynge to whom the rauenour hath ȝoue good. and oon cursinge; the rauenour, for he took awey hise goodis. whos voys; as if he seie, noon, for whi the hering of the first is lettid for the malice of him for whom he preyeth, and the hering of the cursere is lettid for his owne synne, for he synneth in cursinge his neiȝbore. fastith in hise synnes; that is, for hise synnes to be forȝouun. in mekynge him silf; that is, in turmentinge him silf bi fastingis and siche thingis, he profitith no thing to remyssyoun of synne doon, for he repentith not verily. Lire here. C.] , is as he that sleeth his neiȝbore. [verse 27] He that schedith out blood, and he that doith fraude to an hirid man, ben britheren. [verse 28] Oon bildynge, and oon distriynge; what profitith it to hem [men G.] , no but trauel? [verse 29] Oon preiynge, and oon cursynge; whos vois schal the Lord here? [verse 30] What profitith the waischyng of hym, that is waischun for [fro A sec. m.] a deed bodi, and touchith eft a deed bodi? [verse 31] So a man that fastith in hise synnes, and eft doynge the same synnes, what profitith he in mekynge hym silf? who schal here [who schal here, etc.; as if he seye, God schal not here. Lire here. C.] his preyer?

CAP. XXXV.

[verse 1] He that kepith the word [word of God CI marg. V.] , multiplieth preier [multiplieth preier; for he preyeth bi soule and mouth. for vnriȝtfulnessis; to be forȝouun. Lire here. C.] . [verse 2] Heelful sacrifice is to take heede to the comaundementis, and to departe fro al wickidnesse. [verse 3] And to offre the plesyng of sacrifice for vnriȝtfulnesses, and bisechyng for synnes, is to go awey fro vnriȝtful|nesse. [verse 4] He that offrith purest flour of wheete, schal ȝelde grace [ȝelde grace; that is, schal ȝyue a plesaunt seruyce to God. Lire here. C.] ; and he that doith merci, offrith a sacrifice. [verse 5] It is wel plesaunt to the Lord, to go a wei fro wickid|nesse; and preier is to go a wei fro vnriȝt|fulnesse. [verse 6] Thou schalt not appere voide [voide; of offring thries in the ȝeer, in xxiij. c^o. of Exodi. C.]

[verse 7] bifore the siȝt of God; for whi alle these thingis ben doon for the heestis of God. [verse 8] The offryng of a iust man makith fat the auter, and is odour of swetnesse in the siȝt of the hiȝeste. [verse 9] The sacrifice of a iust man is acceptable, and the Lord schal not forȝete the mynde of hym. [verse 10] With good wille ȝelde thou glorie to God, and make thou not lesse the firste fruytis of thin hondis. [verse 11] In ech ȝifte make glad thi cheer, and in ful out ioiyng halewe thi tithis. [verse 12] Ȝyue thou to the hiȝeste aftir his ȝifte [aftir his ȝifte; that is, aftir the quan|tite of thi goodis, whiche thou hast of God. with good iȝe, etc.; that is, with riȝtful entent ordeyne thi good werkis, to the preising of God and not of man. Lire here. C.] ; and with good iȝe make thou the fynd|yng of thin hondis. [verse 13] For whi the Lord is a ȝeldere, and he schal ȝelde seuene fold so myche to thee. [verse 14] Nyle thou offre schrewid ȝiftis; for he schal not resseyue tho. [verse 15] And nyle thou biholde an vniust sacrifice; for the Lord is iuge, and glorie of persoone [glorie of per|soone, etc.; that is, taking of persoone. a per|soone; of a myȝti man. hirt; vniustly|on hym; that is, on the op|pressere, that makith hir to wepe. Lire here. C.] is not at hym. [verse 16] The Lord schal not take a persoone aȝens a pore man; and he schal here the preier of hym that is hirt. [verse 17] He schal not dispise the preyeris of a fadirles child, nether a widewe, if sche schedith [schede C.] out speche of weilyng. [verse 18] Whether the teeris of a widew goen not doun to the cheke, and the criyng of hir on hym that ledith forth tho teeris? [verse 19] For whi tho stien fro the cheke `til to [vnto I.] heuene, and the Lord herere schal not delite in tho. [verse 20] He that worschipith God in delityng, schal be res|seyued; and his preyer schal neiȝe `til to [vnto I.] the clowdis. [verse 21] The preier of hym that mekith hym silf schal perse clowdis, and til it neiȝeth [neiȝith; to God, in get|inge effect. not go awey; fro preyer. not be fer; in dilaiynge effect, no but to the profit of the axere. in tho; oppresseris. Lire here. C.] , he schal not be coumfortid, and he schal not go awey, til the hiȝeste biholde. [verse 22] And the Lord schal not be fer, but he schal iuge iust men, and schal make doom; and the strongeste schal not haue pacience in tho, that he troble the bak of hem. [verse 23] And he schal ȝelde ven|iaunce to folkis, til he take awei the ful|nesse of proude men, and troble togidere [verse 24] the ceptris of wickid men; til he ȝelde to men aftir her dedis, and aftir the werkis

of Adam [of Adam; the lettre hath of Adam, but bi Ebreys this word Adam signefieth man comynly, and so it is set here. the presump|cioun of him; bi which he oppressith vn|iustly a man liyk him silf in kynde. Lire here. C.] , and aftir the presumpcioun of [verse 25] hym; til he deme the dome of his puple, and schal delite iust men in his merci. [verse 26] The merci of God is fair in the tyme of tribulacioun, as clowdis of reyn in the tyme of drynesse.

CAP. XXXVI.

[verse 1] God of alle thingis, haue thou merci on vs; and biholde thou vs, and schewe thou [Om. I.] to vs the liȝt of thi merciful doyngis. [verse 2] And sende thi drede on hethene men, that souȝten not thee, that thei knowe that no God is, no but thou; that thei telle out thi grete dedis. [verse 3] Reise thin hond on he|thene men aliens, that thei se thi power. [verse 4] For as thou were halewid in vs in the siȝt of hem, so in oure siȝt thou schalt be mag|nefyed [verse 5] in hem; that thei knowe thee, as and we han knowe, that noon othere is God, outakun thee, Lord. [verse 6] Make thou newe [verse 7] signes, and chaunge thou merueilis; glo|rifie the hond [the hond; of thi riȝtful|nesse on hem. riȝt arm; that is, the riȝt arm of thi mersi, on vs. Lire here. C.] , and the riȝt arm. [verse 8] Reise thou stronge veniaunce, and schede out [verse 9] ire; take awei the aduersarie, and tur|mente the enemye. [verse 10] Haaste thou the tyme, and haue thou mynde on the ende, that thei telle out thi merueils. [verse 11] And he that is sauyd, be deuourid in the ire of flawme; and thei that treten worst thi puple, fynde perdicioun. [verse 12] Al to-breke thou the heed of princis, and of enemyes, seiynge, Noon othere is, outakun vs. [verse 13] Gadere thou togi|dere alle the lynagis of Jacob, and knowe thei that no God is, no [Om. I.] but thou, that thei telle out thi grete dedis; and thou schalt enherite hem [thou schalt enherite hem; whanne thei entriden in to the lond of bi|heest, in the tyme of Josue. at the bigyn|nyng; of the chesing of the puple of Israel. Lire here. C.] , as at the bigynnyng. [verse 14] Haue thou merci on thi puple, on which thi name is clepid in to help; and on Is|rael, whom thou madist euene to thi firste gendrid sone. [verse 15] Haue thou merci on Jeru|salem, the citee of thin halewyng, on the citee of thi reste. [verse 16] Fille thou Syon with

thi vertues, that moun not be teld out, and fille thi puple with thi glorie. [verse 17] Ȝyue thou witnessyng, that at the bigynnyng thei weren thi creaturis [thi creaturis; that is, special sones of Israel. Lire here. C.] ; and reise thou preieris, whiche the formere profetis spaken in thi name. [verse 18] Lord, ȝyue thou meede to hem that abiden thee, that thi prophetis be foundun trewe; and here thou the preier of thi seruauntis. [verse 19] Aftir the bless|yng of Aaron ȝyue thou to thi puple, and dresse thou vs in to the weie of riȝtful|nesse; that alle men wite, that dwellen in erthe, that thou art God, the biholdere of worldis. [verse 20] The wombe schal ete alle mete, and o [oon C sec. m. I. Om. A pr. m. C pr. m.] mete is betere than another [Om. A pr. m. C pr. m.] mete. [verse 21] Chekis touchen mete [touchen mete; in taking it, and chewen not sufficiently, but swolewen ouer with out du chewing and preuyng. knaue child; for sche wolde euer bere a knaue child. Lire here. C.] almest, and an vn|wise herte resseyueth false wordis. [verse 22] A schrewid herte schal ȝyue heuynesse, and a wijs man schal aȝenstonde it. [verse 23] A wom|man schal take ech knaue child, and a douȝtir is betere than a sone. [verse 24] The fair|nesse of a womman makith glad the face of hir hosebonde, and sche schal brynge desir ouer al the coueitise of man. [verse 25] If ther is a tunge of heelyng [If ther is a tunge of heel|ing; that is, of repreuyng in the hosebonde, in repreuynge the outrageouse aray of the wiyf, ether vn|stable mouyng of hir. aftir the sones of men; that is, he is not manly and discreet, but neische and fonnyd. bigyn|neth posses|sioun; that is, bigynneth to be riche, thouȝ he hadde no more good. no nest; that is, stidefast dwell|ing, as if he seie, he bi|leueth not to ony wise man, and therfor he failith in dis|crecioun of good, and of yuel. as a theef girt; that is, maad redy to do yuele. Lire here. C.] , ther is also of swagyng, and of merci; the hosebonde of hir is not aftir the sones of men. [verse 26] He that hath in possessioun a good womman, bi|gynneth possessioun; sche is an help lijk hym, and a piler as reste. [verse 27] Where an hegge is not, the possessioun schal be rauyschid awei; and where a womman is not, a nedi man weilith. [verse 28] To whom bileueth he that hath no nest, and bowith doun where euer it is derk, as a theef girt, skippynge out fro citee in to citee?

CAP. XXXVII.

[verse 1] Ech frend schal seie, And Y haue cou|plid frenschip; but that is a frend, a frend bi name aloone. Whether sorewe is [Wher sorewe is, etc.; bi sich frenschipe, as if he seide, ȝis; for whi no pestilence is myȝtiere to anoye, than is an homely enemye. Lire here. C.] not til to deth? [verse 2] Forsothe a felowe of table and a frend schulen be turned to enemyte. [verse 3] A! the [thou C sec. m. V.] worste presumpcioun, wherof art

thou maad [A! thou worste pre|sumpcioun, wher of art thou maad; as if he seye, of noon; for whi ech creature is maad good of God; but synne is de|faute, and hath no cause of be|yng bi it silf. Denyis seith thus, in his book of Dyuyn Namys. Noon that purposith yuel, worchith wel. to hile; bi feynyng of frenschipe. drie malice; with outen vmour of good|nesse. in delit|ingis; that is, in the tyme of prosperite. in the tyme of tri|bulacioun; whanne pro|sperite failith, for which he feynede him for to loue. hath sorewe; that is, feyneth him to haue sorewe. with a frend; in tyme of his siknesse. for cause of the wombe; that is, of glotenye. take scheeld aȝenus an enemy; of the frend, as for to defende the frend; that is, if he doith this ony tyme, he doith it for glotenye, and not for veri frenschipe. For|ȝete thou not thi very frend in thi soule; so that thou loue not him onely bi mouth, but also with herte and werk. with the fadir of thi wiyf; that is, of these thingis that perteynen to the restoring of thi wiyf, for whi euere he schal stonde for his douȝter, and turne awey fro truthe, for fleisli affeccioun. Lire here. C.] to hile drie malice, and the gilefulnesse therof? [verse 4] A felowe of table schal be myrie with a frend in delityngis, and in the dai of tribulacioun he schal be aduersarie. [verse 5] A felowe of table schal haue sorewe with a frend, for cause of the wombe; and he schal take scheeld aȝens an enemye. [verse 6] Forȝete thou not thi frend in thi soule, and be thou not vnmyndeful of hym in thi werkis. [verse 7] Nyle thou take coun|cel with the fadir of thi wijf; and hide thou councel fro hem that han enuye to thee. [verse 8] Ech councelour [Ech coun|celour; vnfeithful. schewith councel; as vndur the colour of his good, that axith councel. to him silf; that is, purposinge his owne profit, and not his profit to whom he ȝyueth councel. Lire here. C.] schewith councel, but ther is a councelour to hym silf. [verse 9] Kepe thi soule fro an yuel counselour; firste wite thou, what is his nede, and what he [verse 10] schal thenke in his soule; lest perauen|ture he sende a stake in to the erthe, and [verse 11] seie to thee, Thi weie is good, and he stonde aȝenward, to se what schal bifalle to thee. [verse 12] With an vnreligiouse man trete thou of holynesse [trete thou of hoolynesse; the autour of this book spekith here in scorn, and vndur|stondith the contrarie of his seiyng; as if he seye, siche an vnreligiouse man schal councele thee yuele. and with an vniust man of riȝtful|nesse; liyk speche is here, vndurstondinge the contrarie, as it schal be opyn bi the ende of this part. of graces, etc.; that is, to ȝyue frely to othere men. be thou bisi with an hooly man; that is, stable and sad in goodnesse and mesure, and trete thou with him of thi priuytees. knowist; bi werkis. whos soule, etc.; that is, that loueth thee as him silf, and aȝenward. doutith in derknessis; of ignoraunce, ether of synne. sorewe with thee; that is, verily, and of herte, and so he schal not ȝyue good coun|cel to thee in thi nede. the herte of good councel; that is, wille to sue good councel. not more; that is, betere. Lire here. C.] , and with an vniust man of riȝtfulnesse, and with a womman of these thingis whiche sche hatith. With a ferdful man trete thou of batel, with a marchaunt, of cariyng ouer of marchaun|dies to chepyng [shiping P.] ; with a biere, of sillyng, with an enuyouse man, of graces to be [verse 13] don; with an vnpitouse man, of pytee, with an vnonest [onest A pr. m.] man, of oneste, with a werk [verse 14] man of the feeld, of ech werk; with a werk man hirid bi the ȝeer, of the endyng of the ȝeer, with a slowe seruaunt, of myche worchyng. Ȝyue thou not [no C.] tent to these [verse 15] men in al councel, but be thou bisi with an hooli man, whom euere thou knowist [verse 16] kepynge Goddis drede, whos soule is aftir thi soule. Who euer doutith in derknessis, schal not haue sorewe with thee. [verse 17] And

stablische thou the herte of good councel with thee; for whi another thing is not more than it to thee. [verse 18] The soule of an hooli man tellith out treuthis sum tyme; more than seuene biholderis sittynge an hiȝ for to biholde. [verse 19] And in alle these thingis biseche thou the hiȝeste, that he dresse thi weie in treuthe. [verse 20] Bifore alle werkis a sothefast word [a sothfast word, etc.; in biheestis and answeris. wick|id word; that is, a fals word. chaunge the herte; fro good to yuel. good and yuel; of kynde. liyf; of grace. and deth; of synne. Liyf of grace cometh forth of the herte bi disposing; but God makith that liyf, but deth of synne cometh forth of mannus herte, and is not maad of God. bisi tunge, etc.; that is, the bisy|nesse of good teching, that refreyneth yuel, and doith awey deth of synne, and encressith a good dede of kynde, and liyf of grace. Lire here. C.] go bifore thee; and a stidfast councel go bifore ech dede. [verse 21] A wickid word schal chaunge the herte, of which herte foure partis comen forth; good and yuel, lijf and deth; and a bisi tunge is lord of tho. [verse 22] A wijs man hath tauȝt many men, and he is swete to his soule. [verse 23] He that spekith `bi soffym [sofisticali, ether bi soffym [to deceive V] CEFGHKMNPQRUVXa. sophisticali I. sofisticaly, ethir bi soffemys S. ethir deisseyuably to God X marg.] , is hateful; he schal be defraudid in ech thing. [verse 24] For whi grace is not ȝouun of the Lord to hym, for he is defraudid of al wisdom. [verse 25] A wijs man is wijs to his soule, and the fruytis of his wit ben worthi to be preisid. [verse 26] A wijs man techith his puple, and the fruytis of his wit ben feithful. [verse 27] A wijs man schal be fillid with blessyngis, and thei that seen hym schulen preise hym [Om. I.] . [verse 28] The lijf of a man is in the noum|bre of daies; but the daies of Israel ben vnnoumbrable. [verse 29] A wijs man in the puple schal enherite onour, and his name schal be lyuynge with outen ende. [verse 30] Sone, asaie thi soule in thi lijf; and if it is wickid, [verse 31] ȝyue thou not power to it; for whi not alle thingis speden to alle men, and not ech kynde plesith ech soule. [verse 32] Nyle thou be gredi in ech etyng, and schede thou not out thee on ech mete. [verse 33] For in many metis schal be sikenesse, and gredynesse schal neiȝe `til to [vnto I.] colrye. [verse 34] Many men dieden for glotenye; but he that is absti|nent, schal encreesse lijf.

CAP. XXXVIII.

[verse 1] Onoure thou a leche, for nede; for whi the hiȝeste hath maad hym. [verse 2] For whi al medicyn is of God; and he schal take of the kyng a ȝifte. [verse 3] The kunnyng of a leche schal enhaunse his heed; and he schal be preisid in the siȝt of grete men. [verse 4] The hiȝeste hath maad of the erthe medi|cyn; and a prudent man schal not wlate it. [verse 5] Whether bittir watir was not maad swete of a tre? [verse 6] The vertu of tho thingis cam bi experience to the knowing of men; and the hiȝeste ȝaf kunnyng to men, for to be onourid in his merueils. [verse 7] A man heelynge in these thingis schal aswage sorewe, and an oynement makere schal make pymentis of swetnesse, and schal make anoyntyngis [oynementis I.] of heelthe; and hise werkis schulen not [werkis schu|len not, etc.; that is, schulen not haue effect purposid bi the leche and ipote|carie, for whi the doing of God, which is principal leeche, is nedeful herto. Lire here. C.] be endid. [verse 8] For whi the pees of God is on the face of erthe. [verse 9] Mi sone, dispise not thi silf in thi sike|nesse [dispise not thi silf in thi goostly syk|nesse; in dis|pisinge to seke remedy, as summen dis|pisen. preye thou the Lord; deuoutly. schal heele thee; with oynement of grace. dresse hondis; that is, thi werkis to God. clense thyn herte; bi veri and cleene contricioun. ȝyue thou place to a leche; in onouringe the prest preiynge for thee. the Lord made him; that is, auaun|side him to the office of prest|hood. departe he not fro thee; that is, fro thyn herte, for thou owist euere for to loue and worschipe him. hise werkis, etc.; that is, to offre sacrifices, and to preye for the synnes of the puple. thou schalt falle in to the hondis of hem; for whi present liyf is not passid with out synnes. Lire here. C.] ; but preie thou the Lord, and he schal heele thee. [verse 10] Turne thou awei fro synne, and dresse thin [Om. A pr. m.] hondis, and clense thin herte fro al synne. [verse 11] Ȝyue thou swet|nesse, and the mynde of cleene flour of wheete, and make thou fat offryng; and ȝyue thou place to a leche. [verse 12] For the Lord made hym, and departe he not fro thee; for hise werkis ben nedeful to thee. [verse 13] For whi tyme is, whanne thou schalt falle in to the hondis of hem. [verse 14] Forsothe thei schulen biseche the Lord, that he dresse the werk of hem, and helthe for her lyuyng. [verse 15] He that trespassith in the siȝt of hym, that made hym, schal falle in to the hondis of the leche. [verse 16] Sone, brynge thou forth teeris on a deed man, and thou as suffrynge hard thingis bigynne to wepe; and bi doom hile thou the bodi of hym, and dispise thou not his biriyng. [verse 17] But for bacbityng bere thou bittirli the morenyng of hym o dai; and be thou coumfortid for sorewe [be thou coumfortid for sorewe; that is, lest ouer greet sorewe anoye thee. hilith vertu; that is, stranglith the vertu of kynde. in leding awey; fro good. Sorewe anoyeth bodi and soule, and bringith sum|tyme to dispeir and othere yuels. no turn|yng is; that is, fro deth to present liyf. Lire here. C.] . [verse 18] And make thou morenyng aftir

his merit o dai, ether tweyne, for bacbit|yng. [verse 19] For whi deth hastith of sorewe, and hilith vertu; and [Om. C.] the sorewe of herte bowith the heed. [verse 20] Sorewe dwellith in ledyng awei; and the catel of a nedi man [the catel of a nedi man, etc.; for if he hath a ioyeful herte and manli, he is seid riche; and a riche man siyk, that is, sori, is seid pore. ȝyue thou not thyn herte in ouermyche sorewe; for a deed man. haue thou mynde on the laste thingis; that is, of thi deth, and of alle othere men, fro which no man turneth aȝen to present liyf. profite no thing to this deed man; that is, bi thi turment thou schalt not clepe aȝen that deed man. of my doom; that is, of my deeth. thyn schal be thus; as if he seide, haste thou to worche good, while thou lyuest, for thou schalt not more aftir deeth. Lire here. C.] is aftir his herte. [verse 21] Ȝyue thou not thin herte in sorewe, but put it awei fro thee; and haue thou mynde on the laste thingis, and nyle thou forȝete. [verse 22] For whi no turn|ing is [is fro deeth to this present lijf V.] , and thou schalt no thing profite to this deed man; and thou schalt harme [C super ras. trete EHPUVY.] worste thi silf. [verse 23] Be thou myndeful of mi dom; for also thin schal be thus, to me ȝistirdai, and to thee to dai. [verse 24] In the reste of a deed man make thou hys mynde to haue reste; and coumforte thou hym in the goyng out of his spirit. [verse 25] Write thou wisdom [Write thou wisdom; that is, bokis conteyn|ynge wisdom. of voidnesse; that is, in the tyme, in which thou art voide of othere werkis of nede; ether of voidnesse; that is, of po|uert, ether whanne thou art fastinge of mete and drynk. Lire here. C.] in the tyme of voidenesse; and he that is made lesse in dede, schal per|seyue wisdom; for he schal be fillid of wisdom. [verse 26] He that holdith the plow, and he that hath glorie in a gohode, dryueth oxis with a pricke, and he lyueth in the werkis of tho; and his tellyng is in the sones of bolis. [verse 27] He schal ȝyue his herte to turne forewis; and his wakyng schal be aboute the fatnesse of kien. [verse 28] So ech carpenter, and principal werk man, that passith the niȝt as the dai; that graueth ymagis grauun, and the bisynesse of hym dyuersith the peynture; he schal ȝyue his herte to the licnesse of peynture, and bi his wakyng he perfourmeth the werk. [verse 29] So a smyth sittynge bisidis the anefelt, and biholdynge the werk of yrun, the heete of fier brenneth hise fleischis; and he stryueth in the heete of the furneis. [verse 30] The vois of a hamer makith newe his eere; and his iȝe is aȝens the licnesse of a vessel. [verse 31] He schal ȝyue his herte in to the [Om. C.] perfourmyng of werkis; and bi his wakyng he schal ourne vnperfeccioun [ourne vnper|feccioun; that is, mater which he bringith to perfeccioun of forme. Lire here. C.] . [verse 32] So a potter sittynge at his werk, turnynge a wheel with hise feet, which is put euere in bisynesse for his werk; and al his

worchyng is vnnoumbrable. [verse 33] In his arm he schal fourme clei; and bifore hise feet he schal bowe his vertu [bowe his ver|tu; that is, bowe him silf strongly to stire the wheel. hopiden in her hondis; that is, to gete liyflode and clothing, bi the werkis of her hondis. Lire here. C.] . [verse 34] He schal ȝyue his herte to ende perfitli sum [Om. V.] thing; and bi his wakyng he schal clense the furneis. [verse 35] Alle these men hopiden in her hondis; and ech man is wijs in his craft. [verse 36] A citee is not bildid with outen alle these men. [verse 37] And thei schulen not dwelle, ne|ther go [they schulen not dwelle, ne|ther go; that is, the forseid crafti men schulen not dwelle among princes and councelours of the citee, ne|ther schulen go to her councels among hem. and thei schu|len not skippe ouer in to the chirche; that is, the cleping togidere of wise men; for thei ben not able therto. Lire here. C.] ; and thei schulen not skippe ouer in to the chirche. [verse 38] Thei schulen not sitte on the seete of a iuge; and thei schulen not vndirstonde the testament of [of a C.] doom [testament of doom; that is, diffynytif sen|tence. Lire here. C.] , nether thei schulen make opyn techyng and doom; and thei schulen not be foundun in parablis. [verse 39] But thei schulen conferme the creature of the world [thei schulen conferme the creature of the world; that is, the age of man, which is kept bi the werkis of the forseid craftis, that ben nedeful to the keping of mannus liyf. they ȝyuen her soule; to the cure of prestis. axen togidere, etc.; for thei axen of hem of the maner of her helthe, wherof it is opyn, that prestis owen to be onourid of alle the forseid men. Lire here. C.] , and her preyer is in the worching of craft; and thei ȝyuen her soule, and thei axen togidere in the lawe of the hiȝeste.

CAP. XXXIX.

[verse 1] A wijs man schal seke out the wisdom of alle elde men [seke out the wisdom of alle elde men; in heringe dili|gently her sei|yngis, and en|queringe of othere men tho that he vndur|stondith not. in profetis; in biholdinge her seiyngis. schal kepe; in holdinge in mynde. the telling of named men; in siences and vertues. entre togidere; to vndurstonde with hem that brouȝten forth tho parablis. the harde sentensis of parablis; that is, priui and dyuerse sentences of tho. the priuy thingis of prouerbis; that is, goostly vndurstondyngis and hid. in the hid thingis of parablis; that is, figuratif vndurstondingis. Lire here. C.] ; and he schal ȝyue tent in profetis. [verse 2] He schal kepe the tellyng of named men; and he schal entre togidere in to the hard sentensis of parablis. [verse 3] He schal seke out the pryuy thingis of pro|uerbis; and he schal be conuersaunt in the hid thingis of parablis. [verse 4] He schal my|nystre in the myddis of grete men; and he [Om. E.] schal appere in the siȝt of the cheef iuge. [verse 5] He schal passe in to the lond of alien folkis; for he schal asaie goodis, and yuels in alle thingis. [verse 6] He [And he C.] schal ȝyue his herte to wake eerli to the Lord that made hym; and he schal biseche in the siȝt of the hiȝeste. [verse 7] He schal opene his mouth in preier; and he schal biseche for hise trespassis. [verse 8] For if the grete Lord wole,

he schal fille hym with the spirit of vn|durstondyng. [verse 9] And he schal sende the wordis of his wisdom, as reynes; and in preier he schal knouleche to the Lord. [verse 10] And he [And he; that is, the Lord. councele; in schewinge to him ful clerely derk thingis. Lire here. C.] schal dresse his counsel, and techyng; and schal councele in hise hid thingis. [verse 11] He schal make opene the wis|dom of his techyng; and he schal haue glorie in the lawe of the testament of the Lord. [verse 12] Many men schulen preyse his wis|dom; and it schal not be don a wey til in to the world. [verse 13] His mynde schal not go awei; and his name schal be souȝt fro generacioun in to generacioun. [verse 14] Folkis schulen telle out his wisdom [wisdom; herd of hem bi prechingis. the chirche; that is, congre|gacioun of iust men. restith; that is, is bifor takun with deth. profite to him; for he schal passe sunnere to the glorie of para|diys. Lire here. C.] ; and the chirche schal telle his preisyng. [verse 15] If his name dwellith [If his name dwellith, etc.; that is, if he lyueth long, he schal leeue more than a thousynde dis|ciplis wel tauȝt, that moun teche aftir hym. take councel; that is, Y schal bi|thenke. to telle out; profitable thingis to con|templacioun. as with wood|nesse; that is, feruent wille to speke that may not be with|holdun, in XX. chapter of Jere|mye, The word of the Lord in my herte was maad as fier bren|nynge; and in iiij. c^o. of Dedis, We moun not speke tho thingis that we sien and herden. and myn yn|nere spirit; bi whos vertu the outermere voys is formed. seith in vois; out|ward. Ȝe fruytis of God; that is, disciplis willinge to make fruyt to God, bi werkis of contemplatif liyf. as a rose; which is fair and cleene; for contemplatif liyf is fairere and clennere than actif liyf. odour of swetnesse; that is, deuocioun. Lire here. C.] , he schal leeue more than a thousynde; and if he restith, it schal profite to hym. [verse 16] Ȝit Y schal take councel to telle out, for Y am fillid as with wood|nesse; [verse 17] and myn ynnere spirit seith in vois, Ȝe fruytis of God, here me, and make ȝe fruyt, as roosis plauntide on the ryuers of watris. [verse 18] Haue ȝe odour of swetnesse, as the Liban hath. [verse 19] Bringe forth flouris, as a lilee; ȝyue ȝe odour, and make ȝe boowis in to grace. And preise ȝe togidere a song; and blesse ȝe the Lord in hise werkis. [verse 20] Ȝyue ȝe greet onour to his name, and knouleche ȝe to him in the vois of ȝoure lippis, in songis of lippis, and in harpis; and thus ȝe schulen seie in knou|leching, [verse 21] Alle the werkis of the Lord ben ful goode. [verse 22] Forsothe watir as an heepe of stoonys [in a wal C marg. V marg.] stood at his word; and as resettis of watris in the word of his mouth. [verse 23] For whi pesiblenesse is maad in his comaundement; and no defaute is in the heelthe of hym [no defaute is in the helthe of him; that is, in sauyng maad bi him. it is not to seye, it spedith not to axe, what is this, etc.; that is, wherto is this thing worth, ether that thing. Lire here. C.] . [verse 24] The werkis of ech fleisch ben bifore hym; and no thing is hid fro hise iȝen. [verse 25] He biholdith fro the world til in to the world; and no thing is

wondurful in his siȝt. [verse 26] It is not to seie, What is this thing, ether, What is that thing? for whi alle thingis schulen be souȝt in her tyme. [verse 27] The blessyng of hym [verse 28] schal flowe as a flood; and as the grete flood fillide greteli the erthe, so his yre schal enherite in folkis, that souȝten not hym. [verse 29] As he turnede watris in to dry|nessis, and the erthe was dried, and hise weies [hise weyes; that is, weyes maad of him. offensiouns; for the watris runnen to E|gipcians, and drenchiden hem. Lire here. C.] weren dressid to the weies of hem; so offenciouns in his ire ben dressid to synneris. [verse 30] Goode thingis weren maad at the bigynnyng to goode men; so goode thingis and yuele ben maad to worste men. [verse 31] The bigynnyng of nedeful thing to the lijf of men, watir, fier, and yrun, and salt, and mylk, and breed of cleene flour of whete, and hony, and a clustre of grape, and oile, and cloth. [verse 32] Alle these thingis schulen turne to hooli men in to goodis; so and to vnfeithful men and [and to I.] synneris in to yuels. [verse 33] Spiritis ben that ben maad to veniaunce [ben maad to veniaunce; that is, assignyd bi the ordre of Goddis riȝtful|nesse to suffre peyne, and to turmente syn|neris, that thei that weren wil|fuly suget to fendis in synne, ben suget vn|wilfuly to hem in peyne. in her woodnesse; bi which they rebelliden aȝen|us God. con|fermeden her turmentis; for as her synne is vncurable, so and her tur|ment is with|outen ende. schede out ver|tu; to turmente dampned men, that schulen be cast doun with hem in to helle. Lire here. C.] ; and in her wood|nesse thei confermyden her turmentis. [verse 34] And in the tyme of endyng thei schulen schede out vertu; and thei schulen con|founde [confounde; that is, do bi worst wille. Lire here. C.] the strong veniaunce of hym that made hem. [verse 35] Fier, hail, hungur, and deth; alle these thingis ben maad to veniaunce; [verse 36] the teeth of beestis, and scorpiouns, and serpentis, and a swerd punyschynge wick|id men in to destriyng. [verse 37] In the comaunde|mentis of hym tho schulen ete [tho schulen ete; that is, deuoure wickid men, in tur|menting hem. in her tymes; dispisid of God. a word; aboute the turment of dampnyd men. fro bigynnyng Y was conferm|ed; that is, fro the tyme in which Y vndur|stood that the punysching of synneris schal be most fers, Y purposide stidefastly to eschewe synnes, as myche as Y may. It is not to seie; in Goddis werkis, for whi no thing is yuel, in as myche as it is maad of God. Lire here. C.] , and tho schulen be maad redi on the erthe in nede; and in her tymes tho schulen not passe o [a ceteri.] word. [verse 38] Therfor fro the bigynnyng Y was confermed; and Y counselide, and thouȝte, and lefte writun. [verse 39] Alle the werkis of the Lord ben goode; and ech werk schal serue in his our. [verse 40] It is not to seie, This is worse than that; for whi alle thingis schulen be preued in her tyme. [verse 41] And now in al

the herte and mouth preise ȝe togidere, and blesse ȝe the name of the Lord.

CAP. XL.

[verse 1] Greet occupacioun is maad to alle men, and an heuy ȝok on [to C.] the sones of Adam, fro the dai of the goyng out of the wombe of her modir, til in to the dai of biriyng in to the modir [in to the mo|dir, etc.; that is, in to erthe, to which thei turnen aȝen in angwisch and nakidnesse. fyndyngis of abiding, etc.; that is, feyn|yngis of more yuels of tyme to comynge, than schulen come, and the day of deth turmenten men. Lire here. C.] of alle men. [verse 2] The thouȝtis of hem, and the dredis of herte, fyndyngis of abidyng, and the dai of end|yng; [verse 3] fro hym that sittith bifore on a glo|riouse seete, `til to [vnto I.] a man maad lowe in [verse 4] to erthe [the erthe C.] and aische; fro hym that vsith iacynct, and berith a coroun, `til to [vnto I.] hym that is hilid with raw lynnun cloth, wood|nesse, enuye, noise, doutyng, and drede of deth, wrathfulnesse dwellynge contynueli, [verse 5] and strijf; and in the [Om. I.] tyme of restyng in the bed, the sleep of nyȝt chaungith his kunnyng. [verse 6] Forsothe a litil is as nouȝt in reste; biholdyng is of hym [biholding is of him, etc.; for whi dremes ben maad to him of these thingis, whiche [he] siȝ in the day. of his helthe; that is, of his prosperite. at ony drede; that is, at ony ferd|ful thing, be it man, be it beeste. Lire here. C.] in sleep as in the dai. [verse 7] He is disturblid in the siȝt of his herte, as he that ascapith in the dai of batel. He roos vp in the dai of his [Om. V.] helthe, and dredynge not at ony drede, [verse 8] with al fleisch, fro man `til to [vnto I.] beeste, and seuenefold [and seuen|fold, schal come on synneris; that is, greu|ouse punysch|ing schal come on synneris, obstynat bi pride. at these thingis; that is, for thingis bifor seid. deth; violent. Lire here. C.] schal come on synneris. [verse 9] At these thingis, deth, blood, stryuyng, and swerd, oppressyngis, hungur, and sorewe, [verse 10] and beetyngis; alle these thingis ben maad on wickid men, and the greet flood was maad for hem. [verse 11] For whi alle thingis that ben of the erthe, schulen turne in to the erthe; and alle watris schulen turne in to the see. [verse 12] Al ȝifte [Al ȝifte; ȝouun for dis|triyng of riȝt|fulnesse, and wickidnesse doon for ȝifte. schal be doon awey; that is, the ȝyueris of ȝiftis, and the distrieris of riȝtfulnesse for ȝiftis, schulen be doon awey fro present liyf, so that no thing schal appere of her posses|siouns and boost, as no thing apperith in tablis doon awey. and feith; that is, feith|fulnesse of iust men. schal stonde; in his effect. as a flood; a flood is takun here for a stronde, that wexith greet sudeynly bi watris of snow, and soone is maad drie, so the richessis of vniust men be getun swiftly, and ben takun awey from hem ofte swiftliere. as greet thundur in reyn; that ceesith soone bi the reyn, so the boost of yuele riche men is takun awey soone of princes, bi a litil occasioun. Lire here. C.] and wickidnesse schal be don awei; and feith schal stonde in to the world. [verse 13] The richessis of vniust men schulen be maad drie as a flood; and schulen sowne as a greet thundur in reyn.

[verse 14] An vniust man schal be glad in openynge hise hondis; so trespassouris schulen faile in the ende. [verse 15] The sones of sones of wick|id men schulen not multiplie braunchis; and vncleene rootis [vncleene rootis, etc.; that is, the fadris and modris of hem fallen doun soone, as a tre that hath no deep root, for roochis of stoon. Lire here. C.] sownen on the cop of a stoon. [verse 16] Grenenesse bisidis ech watir; and at the brynk of the flood it schal be drawun out bi the roote bifor al hey. [verse 17] Grace as paradiss in blessyngis; and merci dwellith in to the world. [verse 18] The lijf of a werk man sufficient to hym silf schal be maad swete; and thou schalt fynde tresour ther ynne. [verse 19] Bildyng of a citee schal conferme a name; and a womman with out wem schal be rikenyd aboue this [aboue this; for whi hir stidefastnesse schal stonde with outen ende. swete tunge; of a prechour, ether of a techere of feith and ver|tues. Lire here. C.] . [verse 20] Wyn and musik maken glad the herte; and loue of wisdom gladith [Om. I.] aboue euer either. [verse 21] Pipis and sawtree maken swete melodie; and a swete tunge aboue euer either. [verse 22] An yȝe schal desire grace and fairnesse; and greene sowyngis aboue these thingis. [verse 23] A frend and felowe com|ynge togidere in tyme [comynge togi|dere in tyme; ben delitable togidere. a man with a womman, etc.; that is, ben more delitable whanne thei acorden in goodnesse, for thei ben o fleisch, and schulen not be departid bi al her liyf. setting of feet; that is, helthe of bodi ben acceptable to men. and vertues; that is, strengthe of bodi. Making lesse; that is, defaute of good. help; of man, for he that dredith God, hath present Goddis help. Lire here. C.] ; and a womman with man [a man V.] aboue euer either. [verse 24] Britheren in to help in the tyme of tribulacioun `coumforten myche [Om. I.] ; and merci schal de|lyuere more than thei. [verse 25] Gold and siluer, and settyng of feet; and counsel wel ples|ing is aboue euer either. [verse 26] Richessis and vertues enhaunsen the herte; and the drede of the Lord more than this. [verse 27] Making lesse is not in the drede of the Lord; and in that drede it is not to seke help. [verse 28] The [Om. I.] drede of the Lord is as paradijs of bless|yng; and `the blessyngis of God [Om. V.] kyuer|iden hym aboue al glorie. [verse 29] Sone, in the tyme of thi lijf [Sone, in the tyme of thi liyf; that is, in tyme of present liyf, grauntid to thee to worche wel. be thou not nedy; that is, be thou not idil, for whi bothe goostly nedinesse and temporal sueth to idilnesse. it is betere to die; bodily. than to be nedy; that is, to be idil, bi which a man dieth goostly. In xxxiij. c^o. ifore, Idilnesse hath tauȝt myche malice; and sum tyme for idilnesse a man dieth bodily, for ofte for idilnesse a man is turned to thefte, for which he is hangid. biholdinge in to another mannus boord; as ben mynstrels and stronge beggeris, idil of goode werkis. in the thouȝt of liyflode; that is, he thenkith not to do ony thing, wherof he owith to lyue resonably. Lire here. C.] be thou not nedi; for it is betere to die, than to be nedi. [verse 30] A man biholdinge in to another mannus boord, his lijf is not in the thouȝt of lijflode; for he susteyneth his lijf with othere mennus metis. [verse 31] Forsothe a chastisid man and

lernd schal kepe him silf. [verse 32] Nedynesse schal be defoulid in the mouth of an vnprudent man [vnprudent man; that is, slow and idil. fier; that is, hungur. Lire here. C.] ; and fier schal brenne in his wombe.

CAP. XLI.

[verse 1] A [O! Ia.] ! deth, thi mynde is ful bittir to an vniust man, and hauynge pees in hise [verse 2] richessis; to a restful man, and whose weies ben dressid [ben dressid; that is, hath prosperite in al temporal thingis. to a nedi man; and iust. care of alle thingis; nedeful to liyf, for to gete tho. Lire here. C.] in alle thingis, and ȝit myȝti to take mete. [verse 3] A! deth, thi doom is good to a nedi man, and which is maad [verse 4] lesse in strengthis, and failith for age, and to whom is care of alle thingis, and vnbi|leueful, that leesith wisdom. [verse 5] Nyle thou drede the doom of deth [Nyle thou drede the doom of deth; that is, sette thou thee in sich a staat, that the doom of deth be good to thee. what thingis weren bifor thee, etc.; for bi the minde of hooli fadris that ȝeden bifore, and of the meedis of iust men, and of peynes of wickid men, that schulen come, a man is disposid to abide sikirly the doom of deth. the sones of abhomyna|cioun; that is, worthi to be wlatid, for thei ben abhomyn|able in the siȝt of God, and of iust men. the sones of syn|neris; that is, sueris of the fadris synnes, bisidis the housis of wickid men, for they suen the dedis of wickid men. Sones playnen; in helle. thei ben in schen|schip for him; that is, ben dampned, for thei weren yuele enformed of him, which he was holdun to teche wel. Lire here. C.] ; haue thou mynde what thingis weren byfore thee, and what thingis schulen come on thee; this dom is of the Lord to ech man. [verse 6] And tho thingis that schulen come on thee in the good plesaunce of the hiȝeste; whe|thir ten ȝeer, ether an hundrid, ether a thousynde. [verse 7] For whi noon accusyng [noon accus|ing, etc.; no man may ex|cuse him there, in alegginge goodnesse of liyf, and seiynge aȝenus God, If Y hadde lyued longe, Y hadde do many goodis. Lire here. C.] of lijf is in helle. [verse 8] The sones of abhomyna|ciouns ben the sones of synneris; and thei that dwellen bisidis the housis of wickid men. [verse 9] The eritage of the sones of syn|neris schal perische; and the contynu|aunce of schenschipe with the seed of hem. [verse 10] Sones playnen of a wickid fadir; for thei ben in schenschip for hym. [verse 11] Wo to ȝou, ȝe wickid men, that han forsake the lawe of the hiȝeste. [verse 12] And if ȝe [thei C.] be borun, ȝe schulen be borun in cursidnesse; and if ȝe ben deed, ȝoure part schal be in cursidnesse. [verse 13] Alle thingis that ben of the erthe, schulen turne in to the erthe; so wickid men schulen turne fro cursyng [fro cursing; of synne, which is of the deuel. in to perdicioun; of helle. of good name; that is, of iust lyuyng. of good liyf; that is, the meritorie liyf of a good man is schort. Lire here. C.] in to perdicioun. [verse 14] The morenyng of men is in the bodi of hem; but the name of wickid men schal be doon awei. [verse 15] Haue thou bisynesse of a good name; for whi

this schal dwelle more with thee, than a thousynde tresouris grete and preciouse. [verse 16] The noumbre of daies is the terme of good lijf; but a good name schal dwelle with outen ende. [verse 17] Sones, kepe ȝe techyng in pees; for whi wisdom hid, and tresour vnseyn, what profit is in euer either? [verse 18] Betere is a man [Betere is a man; that is, lesse yuel. alle men in feith; that is, not alle seiyngis of a techere, thouȝ tho acor|den with Cris|ten feith, plesen alle dissiplis. Lire here. C.] that hidith his foli, than a man that hidith his wisdom. [verse 19] Netheles turne ȝe [Om. A.] aȝen in these thingis that comen forth of my mouth. [verse 20] For it is not good to kepe alle vnreuerence, and not alle thingis plesen alle men in feith. [verse 21] Be ȝe ascham|ed of fornycacioun, bifor fadir, and bifor modir; and of a leesyng, bifore a iustice, [verse 22] and bifore a myȝti man; and of trespas, bifor a prince, and bifore a iuge; and of wickidnesse, bifore a synagoge, and a pu|ple; [verse 23] and of vnriȝtwisnesse [vnriȝtfulnesse C et ceteri.] , bifore a felow, [verse 24] and a frend; and of thefte [of thefte; to be doon. testa|ment; to be brokun. of sit|ting; that is, of the firste seete at another mannus table. blemysching of ȝifte, etc.; that is, whanne it is ȝouun for a foul thing, as for leccherie, ether ony sich thing, ether is takun with out kynde|nesse, ether for a foul cause. enserche thou not hir hand|maide; in sek|inge how thou maist disseyue the lady bi hir. C.] , in the place where ynne thou dwellist; of the treuthe and testament [the testament S.] of God; of [and of Q.] sittyng at the [Om. CEFHKNPQRUVX.] mete in looues, and of the blemyschyng [verse 25] of ȝifte, and takyng; of stilnesse, bifore hem that greeten; of the biholdyng of a letcherouse womman, and of the [Om. CFGHIKMNPQRSUVXa.] turnyng a wey of the cheer of a cosyn. [verse 26] Turne thou not awey the [thy A sec. m. F.] face fro thi neiȝbore; and be thou war of takyng a wei [Om. V.] a part, and not restorynge. [verse 27] Biholde thou not the womman of an othere man; and enserche thou not her hand maide, nether stonde thou at hir bed. [verse 28] Be thou war of frendis, of the wordis of vpbreidyng; and whanne thou hast ȝoue, vpbreide thou not.

CAP. XLII.

[verse 1] Double thou not a word of heryng, of the schewyng of an hid word; and thou schalt be verily with out schame, and thou schalt fynde grace in the siȝt of alle men. Be thou not schent for alle these thingis; and take thou not a persoone,

that thou do trespas. [verse 2] Be thou war of the lawe and testament [and testament; to be brokun. C.] of the hiȝeste, of doom [verse 3] to iustifie a wickid man; of the word [world omnes præter U.] of felowis, and of weigoeris, and of the ȝyu|yng [verse 4] of eritage of frendis; of the euen|nesse of balaunce, and of weiȝtis, of the getyng of many thingis [geting of many thingis; bi thi raueyn. of fewe thingis; bi thi slouthe. of myche; that is, ouer hard. chastising; bi which thei fleen awey. to bleede; that is, to bete til to greet scheding out of blood, for this is a signe of ouer greet cru|elte. of eldere men; in ver|tues, be thou bisi that this abusioun be doon awey. Lire here. C.] , and of fewe [verse 5] thingis; of corrupcioun of biyng, and of marchauntis, and of myche chastising of sones; and of a worste seruaunt, to make the [thi EFHIKMQRSUa.] side to [Om. ES.] bleede. [verse 6] A seelyng [seelyng, ether closyng C et ceteri.] is good on a wickid man [woman A sec. m. C sec. m.] . [verse 7] Where ben many hondis, close thou; and what euer thing thou schalt bitake, noumbre thou, and weie thou; forsothe discryue thou, ether write, ech ȝifte, and takyng. [verse 8] Absteine thou fro the techyng of an vnwitti man, and fool, and of eldere men that ben dem|ed of ȝonge men; and thou schalt be lernd in alle thingis, and thou schalt be comendable in the siȝt of alle men. [verse 9] An hid douȝter of a fadir is wakynge and bisynesse of hym; sche schal take awei sleep; lest perauenture sche be maad auowtresse in hir ȝong wexynge age, and lest sche dwellynge with the hosebonde, [verse 10] be maad hateful; lest ony tyme sche be defoulid in hir virginytee, and be foundun with child in the kepyng of hir fadir; leste perauenture sche dwellynge with the hosebonde, do trespasse, ether certis be maad bareyn [bareyn; for ouer greet vs|ing of lecherie, and therfor comyn hooris ben with childe ful seeldene. Lire here. C.] . [verse 11] Ordeyne thou kepyng on a letcherouse douȝter, lest ony tyme sche make thee to come in to schenschipe to enemyes, of bacbityng in the citee, and of castyng out of the puple; and sche make thee aschamed in the multitude of puple. [verse 12] Nyle thou take heed to ech man in the fairnesse [in the fair|nesse; in delit|inge in the bi|holding of his fayrnesse; he seith this to eschewe the synne aȝenus kynde, to which many men weren enclyn|aunt. Lire here. C.] ; and nyle thou dwelle in the myddis of wymmen. [verse 13] For whi a mouȝte cometh forth of clothis, and the wickid|nesse of a man cometh forth of a wom|man. [verse 14] For whi the wickidnesse of a man

is betere [the wickid|nesse of a man is betere, etc.; that is, lesse yuel. than a womman doyng wel; that is, to dwelle togidere, wherfor this is referrid to that that is bifor seid, nyle thou dwelle in the myddis of wymmen; for it is more perel|ouse to a man to dwelle togi|dere with a straunge wom|man, ȝhe, a good womman, than with a wickid man. The sunne liȝt|nynge bihelde bi alle thingis; that is, made alle thingis to be visible, for the bodies of heuene and of erthe ben liȝtned of the sunne. the werk therof is ful of the glorie of the Lord; that is, the gloriouse power of God schyneth in the werkis of the sunne, that ben to liȝtne othere bodies, to make newe the erthe with erbis and flouris, and trees with leeuys and fruytis. Lire here. C.] than a womman doynge wel, and a womman schendyng in to schen|schipe. [verse 15] Therfor be thou myndeful of the werkis of the Lord; and Y schal telle [telle of C pr. m.] the [thee E.] werkis of the Lord, whiche Y siȝ, in the wordis of the Lord. [verse 16] The sunne liȝtnynge bihelde by alle thingis; and the werk therof is ful of the [Om. CK.] glorie of the Lord. [verse 17] Whether the Lord made not hooli men to telle out alle hise merueilis, whiche the Lord almyȝti stidfast in his glorie schal conferme? [verse 18] He schal enserche the depthe [depthe; that is, the deuel. in the felnesse of hem; that is, yuele fraude, and wickid wille, in draw|inge out good of tho. Lire here. C.] , and the herte of men; and he schal thenke in the felnesse of hem. [verse 19] For the Lord knew al kunnyng, and bihelde in to the signe of the world; tellynge tho thingis that ben passid, and tho thingis that schulen come; schewynge the steppis of hid thingis. [verse 20] And no thouȝt passith hym, and no word hidith it silf fro hym. [verse 21] He made fair the grete werkis of his [Om. C.] wisdom, which is bifore the world, and til in to the world; nether ony thing is [nether ony thing is leid to, etc.; for whi Goddis wisdom may not be de|creessid nether encresid, for it is greet with outen mesure. Lire here. C.] [verse 22] encreessid [leid to, ether encressid C et ceteri.] , nether is decreessid, and he hath no nede to the counsel of ony. [verse 23] Alle hise werkis ben ful desirable [desi|derable C.] , and to bi|holde, as a sparcle [as a sparcle; that is, it is ful goode to biholde that these werkis of God, thouȝ these ben wondurful, ben not but a litil sparcle of Goddis goodnesse and excelence. lyuen and dwellen; for whi alle creaturis lyuen in God, in as myche as tho ben in God bi maner of vndurstonding. alle thingis; that is, elementis. ben double; for the erthe is cold and drie, the water is cold and moist, the eir is hoot and moist, the fier is hoot and drie. Lire here. C.] which is. [verse 24] Alle these thingis lyuen, and dwellen in to the world; and alle thingis obeien to hym in al nede. [verse 25] Alle thingis ben double, oon aȝens oon; and he made not ony thing to faile. He schal conferme the goodis of ech; and [Om. C.] who schal be fillid, seynge his glorie?

CAP. XLIII.

[verse 1] The firmament [The firmament; that is, heuene of sterris; the sunne is fairnesse therof, that is, makith the fairnesse therof. in the siȝt of glorie; that is, ful gloriouse and wondurful. Lire here. C.] of hiȝnesse is the fair|nesse therof; the fairnesse of heuene in the siȝt of glorie. [verse 2] The sunne in bihold|yng, tellynge in goyng out, is a woundur|ful

vessel, the werk of hiȝ God. [verse 3] In the tyme of myddai it brenneth the erthe; and who schal mow suffre in the siȝt of his heete? Kepynge a furneis in the werkis [verse 4] of heete; the sunne brennynge hillis in thre maneris, sendynge out beemys of fier, and schynynge aȝen with hise beemys, blyndith iȝen. [verse 5] The Lord is greet, that made it; and in the wordis of hym [in the wordis of him, etc.; that is, bi the ordenaunce of God the sunne hastide his cours. Lire here. C.] it hastide iourney. [verse 6] And the moone in alle men in his tyme is shewing of tyme, and a [Om. V.] signe of the world. [verse 7] A signe of the feeste dai is takun of the [Om. CV.] moone; the liȝt which is maad litil in the ende. [verse 8] The monethe is encreessynge bi the name therof, wondirfuli in to the ending. [verse 9] A vessel of castels in hiȝ thingis, schynynge gloriousli in the firmament of heuene. [verse 10] The fairnesse of heuene is the glorie of sterris; the Lord an hiȝ liȝtneth the world. [verse 11] In the wordis of the hooli tho schulen stonde at the doom; and tho schulen not faile in her wakyngis. [verse 12] Se thou the bouwe [Se thou the bowe; that is, the reynbowe, and se the wondurful ap|pering therof. Lire here. C.] , and blesse thou hym that made it; it is ful fair in his [Om. V.] schynyng. [verse 13] It ȝede aboute heuene in the cumpas of his glorie; the hondis of hiȝ God openyden it. [verse 14] Bi his comaundement he hastide the snow; and he hastith [hastide C.] to sende out the leiȝtyngis of his dom. [verse 15] Therfor tresouris weren opened, and clowdis fledden out as been [bees CEFGHIKMNPQRSUVXa.] . [verse 16] In his greetnesse he settide clowdis; and stoonys of hail weren brokun. [verse 17] Hillis schulen be moued in his siȝt; and the south wynd schal blowe in his wille. [verse 18] The vois of his thundur schal beete the erthe; the tem|pest of the north, and the gaderyng [tempest of the north and the gadering, etc.; is of God, and betith the erthe, and tur|mentith men dwellynge ther|ynne. as a brid puttynge doun; his wyngis. and drenching doun; that is, comynge doun on greene erbis, to deuoure tho. Lire here. C.] to|gidere of wynd. [verse 19] And as a brid puttynge doun to sitte sprengith snow, and the comyng doun of that snow is as a locust drenchynge doun. [verse 20] The iȝe schal wondre on the fairnesse [or colour K marg.] of whitnesse therof; and an herte dredith on the reyn therof. [verse 21] He

schal schede out frost as salt on the erthe; and while the wynd blowith, it schal be maad as coppis of a brere. [verse 22] The coold northun wynd blew, and cristal of watir frees togidre; it restith [it restith; the cooldnesse of the northrun wynd makith watris to be frozun togidere. deuoure hillis; that is, erbis wexinge in hillis. quenche; that is, distrie. medicyn of alle thingis; brent bi the northrun wynd. is in the hasting of a cloude; brouȝt bi the south|urne wynd. make it lowe; that is, schal tempere the exces of heete. C.] , on al the geder|ing togidere of watris, and it clothith [closeth I.] it silf with watris, as with an haburioun. [verse 23] And it schal deuoure hillis, and it schal brenne the desert; and it schal quenche grene thing as fier. [verse 24] The medicyn of alle thingis is in the haasting of a cloude; a deewe, meetynge the heete comynge of brennyng, schal make it low. [verse 25] The wynd was stille in the word of God; bi his thouȝt he made peesible the depthe of watris; and the Lord Jhesu [the Lord Jhesu; that is, God, which is sauyour of alle men, for whi Jhesu is inter|pretid helthe, thouȝ the au|tour of this book, that was an Ebrew man, wroot this book in Greek, ne|theles he set|tide in here an Ebreu name. Lire here. C.] plauntide it. [verse 26] Thei that seilen in the see, tellen out the perels therof; and we heeringe with oure eeris schulen wondre. [verse 27] There ben ful cleer werkis, and wonderful, dyuerse kindis of beestis, and of [Om. A.] alle litle beestis, and the creature of wondurful fischis. [verse 28] The ende of weie is confermyd for it [for it; that is, for the occian, ether west see, to be refreyned. Lire here. C.] ; and alle thingis ben maad in the word of hym. [verse 29] We seien many thingis [We seyen many thingis; of God bi hise werkis. and failen in wordis; for whi his excel|ence may not be compre|hendid of vs, and so it may not be teld out of vs. he is the ending of wordis; for he aloone compre|hendith him|silf perfitly, and declarith in his Word, that is, Sone, euene in sub|staunce, and euene euerlast|inge with him. To what thing, etc.; to atteyne of Goddis ma|ieste. hath glo|rie in alle thingis; which we moun knowe bi creaturis, as if he seye, We moun atteyne to ful litil thing. Lire here. C.] , and we faylen in wordis; forsothe he is the endyng of wordis. [verse 30] To what thing schulen we be myȝti, that han glorie in alle thingis? for he is al myȝti aboue alle hise werkis. [verse 31] The Lord is ferdful, and ful greet; and his power is wondurful. [verse 32] Glorifie ȝe the Lord as myche as euere ȝe moun, ȝit he schal be myȝtiere; and his grete doynge is won|durful. [verse 33] Ȝe blessynge the Lord, enhaunse hym as myche as ȝe moun; for he is more than al preisyng. [verse 34] Ȝe enhaunsynge hym schulen be fillid with vertu; trauele ȝe not [trauele ȝe not; to knowe God perfitly in this liyf; for whi this is vnpossible. C.] , for ȝe schulen not take perfitli. [verse 35] Who siȝ hym, and schal telle out? and who schal magnefie hym, as he is fro the bigynnyng? [verse 36] Many thingis gretter than these ben hid fro vs; for we han seyn fewe thingis of hise werkis. [verse 37] Forsothe the

Lord made alle thingis; and he ȝaf wis|dom to men doynge feithfuli.

CAP. XLIV.

[verse 1] Preise we gloriouse men, and oure fa|dris in her generacioun. [verse 2] The Lord made myche glorie bi his greet doyng, fro the world. [verse 3] Grete men in vertu weren [Om. V.] lordis in her poweris, and riche in her prudence; tellynge in profetis the dignete of pro|fetis, [verse 4] and comaundynge in present puple, and tellynge hoolieste wordis to puplis, bi the vertu of prudence. [verse 5] Sekynge maneres of musik in her childhod [in her child|hed; bokis amendid han, in her child|hed, thouȝ summe bokis han, in her kunnyng. C.] , and tellynge songis of scripturis. [verse 6] Riche men in vertu, hauynge the studie of fairnesse, makynge pees in her housis. [verse 7] Alle these men gaten glorie in the generaciouns of her folk; and ben had in preysyngis in her daies. [verse 8] Thei that weren borun of hem, leften a name to telle the preisyngis of hem. [verse 9] And summe ben [ther ben I.] , of whiche is no mynde; thei perischiden as thei that weren not, and thei weren borun as not borun; and her sones perischiden with hem. [verse 10] But also tho men of mercy ben, whose pitees fail|iden [verse 11] not; and good eritage dwellide con|tynueli with the seed of hem. [verse 12] And the seed of her sones sones [Om. C.] stood in testa|ment, [verse 13] and the eritage of her sones dwell|ith for [bifor C.] hem, til in to with outen ende; the seed of hem, and the glorie of hem, schal not be forsakun. [verse 14] The bodies of hem ben biried in pees; and the name of hem schal lyue in to generaciouns and genera|ciouns. [verse 15] Puplis tellen the wisdom of hem; and the chirche tellith the preysyng of hem. [verse 16] Enok pleside God, and was trans|latid [was trans|latid, etc.; he schal come aȝen fro paradiys aboute the worldis ende, with Elie, to preche aȝenus Antecrist. Tes|tamentis; that is, biheestis of the world, to be not doon awey bi the grete flood. Lire here. C.] in to paradis, that he ȝyue wisdom to folkis. [verse 17] Noe was foundun parfit and iust, and he was maad recouncelynge in the tyme of wrathfulnesse. [verse 18] Therfor re|sidue seed was left to erthe, whanne the

greet flood was maad. [verse 19] Testamentis of the world weren set anentis hym, lest al fleisch myȝte be doon awei bi the greet flood. [verse 20] Abraham was the greet fadir of the mul|titude of folkis; and noon was foundun lijk hym in glorie [noon was foundun liyk him in glorie; that is, in ver|tuouse werk, and this in twey thingis, for he prechide first opinli the feith of o God, whanne aftir the grete flood puplis bowiden to idolatrie; and in this that he wolde offre so redily his oon aloone gendrid sone and derl|ing, for to fille Goddis co|maundement. the lawe of hiȝ God; that is, the lawe of kynde preent|id in mannus soule. a testament, etc.; that is, circumci|sioun. in temta|cioun; bi which the Lord temt|ide him, to schewe to othere men his obedience. fro the see, etc.; these ben the endis of the lond of biheest, that is, the myddil see of erthe at the west, and the deed see at the eest; the flood Eufrates at the north, and the desert of Egipt at the south. dide in the same maner; that is, blesside him, and bihiȝte to him that he bihiȝte to Abra|ham. Lire here. C.] , which kepte the lawe of hiȝ God, and was in the [Om. C sec. m. V.] testament with hym. [verse 21] He made a testament to stonde in his fleisch; and he was foundun feith|ful in temptacioun. [verse 22] Therfor God with an ooth ȝaf to hym glorie in his folk; God made hym to encreesse, as an heep [verse 23] of erthe, and to enhaunse his seed as sterris, and to enherite hem fro the see `til to [vnto I.] the see, and fro the flood `til to [vnto I.] the endis of erthe. [verse 24] And to Isaac God dide in the same maner, for Abraham, his fa|dir. [verse 25] The Lord ȝaf to hym the blessing of alle folkis [the blessing of alle folkis; that is, God ȝaf to him and not to Ismael, that Crist schulde be borun of him, in which Crist alle folkis of erthe schulen be blessid. his testament; that is, couenaunt, which he made to Abraham. He knew him; that is, appre|uyde him, as worthi to hise blessingis. on the heed of Jacob; and not on the heed of Esau, thouȝ Isaac wolde first do the contrarie. men of merci; that is, his sones patriarkis, that goten mersi of the sillyng of Josep. grace in the siȝt of ech man; grace in the siȝt of Farao and of Egipcians. Lire here. C.] ; and confermyde his testa|ment on the heed of Jacob. [verse 26] He knew hym in hise blessyngis, and ȝaf eritage to hym; and departide to hym a part in twelue lynagis. [verse 27] And he kepte to hym men of merci, fyndynge grace in the siȝt of eche man.

CAP. XLV.

[verse 1] Moises was loued of God and of men; whose mynde is in blessyng. [verse 2] He made him lijk in the glorie [liyk in the glorie, etc.; in seynge Goddis beyng; as Austyn seith to Paulyn, in his book of God to be seyn. In the feith; that is, in feithfulnesse, for he was ful feithful. chees him; to lede the children of Israel out of Egipt, and to be the lawe ȝyuere of the elde testament. to comaundementis; to fille tho in werk, and to teche tho to othere men. Lire here. C.] of seyntis, and he magnefiede hym in the drede of enemyes; and in his wordis he made peesible the wondris aȝens kynde. [verse 3] He glorifiede hym in the siȝt of kyngis, and he `comaundide to hym [ether sende him K marg.] bifore his puple, and schewide his glorie to hym. [verse 4] In the feith and [of V.] myldenesse of hym God made hym hooli; and chees him of alle men. [verse 5] For he herde hym, and his vois; and ledde in [Om. I.] hym in a cloude. [verse 6] And ȝaf to hym an herte to comaundementis, and to the lawe of lijf,

and of techyng; to teche Jacob a testa|ment, and Israel hise domes. [verse 7] He made hiȝ Aaron, his brother, and lijk hym of the lynage of Leuy. [verse 8] He ordeynede to hym euerlastynge [an euerlastinge X sec. m.] testament [euerlastinge testament; that is, the coue|naunt of prest|hod, which is seid euerlast|inge, in as myche as it figuride the presthod of Crist, which presthod is euerlastinge. made him blis|ful in glorie; that is, made him to be seid blisful, for glorie of prest|hod. with a girdil of riȝt|fulnesse; that is, with a girdil maad of dy|uerse colours, which is seid a girdil of riȝt|fulnesse, for it streynede togi|dere the prestis clothis, as riȝt|fulnesse of the lawe refreynede vnordenat ma|neris. C.] , and ȝaf to hym the preesthod of the [Om. CEFGHKMNPQRUVXa.] folk [folkis S.] . And he [verse 9] made hym blissful in glorie, and girte hym with a girdil of riȝtfulnesse; and clothide hym with a stoole of glorie, and crownede hym in the ournementis of vertu. [verse 10] He settide on hym sandalies, and breeches, and a clooth on the schuldur, and girte hym aboute with ful many small goldun [verse 11] bellis in cumpas; to ȝyue soun in his goyng, to make soun herd in the temple, in to mynde to the sones of his folk. [verse 12] God ȝaf to hym an hooli stoole, a wouun werk, with gold, and iacynct, and purpur, the werk of a wijs man, maad riche with [verse 13] doom and treuthe; the werk of a crafti man, in writhun reed threed, with pre|ciouse iemmes grauun in the byndyng of gold, and grauun bi the werk of a [Om. C.] crafti man of stoonys, in to mynde, bi the noum|bre of the lynagis of Israel. [verse 14] A goldun coroun on his mytre, set forth with the signe of hoolynesse, the glorie of onour, and the werk of vertu, ourned to desijr of iȝen. [verse 15] Siche thingis so faire weren not bi|fore hym, `til to [vnto I.] the eest. [verse 16] Noon alien was clothid ther ynne, but oneli hise sones, and hise sones sones aloone, bi al tyme. [verse 17] Hise sacrifices weren endid ech dai bi fyer. [verse 18] Moises fillide [Moise fillide; that is, sacride. to haue preis|ing; that is, to haue the office to preise God, as it acordith to a comyn persoone. in his name; that is, in the name of God. aliens; fro the kyn of prestis, as weren Chore and his congregacioun; in xvi. c^o. of Numery. Lire here. C.] hise hondis, and anoyntide hym with hooli oile. [verse 19] It was maad to hym in to euerlastynge testa|ment, and to his seed as the daies of heuene, to vse presthod, and to haue preisyng, and to glorifie his puple in his name. [verse 20] God chees hym of ech lyuynge man, to offre sacrifice to God, encense, and good odour, in to mynde, for to plese for his puple. [verse 21] And he ȝaf to hym power in hise comaundementis, and in the testa|mentis of domes, to teche Jacob witness|yngis,

and in his lawe to ȝyue liȝt to Israel. [verse 22] For aliens stooden aȝens hym, and men that weren with Datan and Abiron, and the congregacioun of Chore, in wrath|fulnesse cumpassiden hym for enuye, in desert. [verse 23] The Lord siȝ, and it pleside not hym; and thei weren wastid in the feers|nesse of wrathfulnesse. [verse 24] He made to hem wondris aȝens kynde, and in the flawme of fier he wastide [wastide; for the erthe swo|lewide hem, and thei ȝeden doun quyke in to helle. ȝaf eritage; that is, the firste fruytis. in the lond; of bi|heest. Lire here. C.] hem. [verse 25] And he encreess|ide glorie to Aaron, and ȝaf eritage to hym; and he departide to Aaron the firste thingis of fruytis of the erthe. [verse 26] He made redi his breed in the firste thingis, in to fulnesse; for whi and thei shulen ete the sacrifices of the Lord, whiche he ȝaf to hym, and to his seed. [verse 27] But in the lond of his folk he schal not haue eritage, and no part is to hym among the folk; for whi God is the part and eritage of hym. [verse 28] Fynees, the sone of Eleazarus, was the thridde in glorie, in suynge hym in the [Om. I.] drede of [verse 29] God, and to stonde in the reuerence of folk; in the goodnesse and gladnesse of his soule he pleside God of Israel. [verse 30] Ther|for God ordeynede to hym the testament of pees [testament of pees; that is, the dignitee of presthod, to be had in posses|sioun pesibly to him and to hise sones. prince of hooly men; that is, of prestis, that weren seid hooly, for they weren assigned to Goddis ser|uyces. the tes|tament of Da|uyth; that is, his ordenaunce, of alarging of Goddis wor|schipyng, which ordenaunce he settide vndur the gouernail of the hiȝeste bischop. the glorie of hem; that is, dignete of presthod in hem and in her sones. euerlast|inge; that is, to dwelle longe, as hillis ben euer|lastinge. Lire here. C.] , and made hym prince of hooli men, and of his folk; that the dignete of presthod be to hym and to his seed, with outen ende. [verse 31] And the testament of Dauid, the sone of Jesse, of the lynage of Juda, was eritage to hym, and to his seed; that he schulde ȝyue wisdom in to oure herte, to deme his folk in riȝtfulnesse, lest her goodis schulen be don awei; and he made the glorie of hem to be euerlastinge, in the folk of hem.

CAP. XLVI.

[verse 1] Jhesus Naue, the successour of Moises in profetis, was strong in batel, that was greet bi his name. [verse 2] The gretteste in to the helthe of chosun men of God, to ouer|come

enemyes risynge aȝens hem, that he schulde gete the erytage of Israel. [verse 3] Which glorie he gat in reysynge his hondis, and in castynge scharpe arowis aȝens citees. [verse 4] Who bifore hym aȝenstood so? for whi the Lord hym silf smoot the enemyes. [verse 5] Whether the sunne was not lettid in the wrathfulnesse of hym, and o dai was maad as tweyne? [verse 6] He clepide to help the hiȝeste God [Om. I.] , myȝti in ouercomynge enemyes on ech side; and God, greet and hooli, herde hym, in stoonys of hail of ful greet vertu. [verse 7] He made asauȝt aȝens the folk enemy, and in the comynge doun he loste the aduer|saries; [verse 8] that hethene men knowe the myȝt of hym, for it is not esy to fiȝte aȝens the Lord; and he suede myȝti men at the bak. [verse 9] And in the daies of Moises he and Caleph, the sone of Jephone, diden merci; to stonde aȝens the enemye, and to forbede the folk fro synnes, and to refreyne the grutchyng of malice. [verse 10] And thei tweyne weren stid|fast, and weren delyuered fro perel, of the noumbre of sixe hundrid thousynde `foot men [of footmen C.] , to brynge hem in to the eritage, in to the lond that flowith mylk and hony. [verse 11] And the Lord ȝaf strengthe to thilke Ca|leph, and til in [Om. MRa.] to [to his I. to the CFHQ pr. m. SVa.] elde vertu dwellide perfitli to hym; that he stiede in to the hiȝ place of the lond, and his seed gat eritage. [verse 12] And alle the children of Israel sien, that it is good to obeie to hooli God. [verse 13] And alle iugis bi her name, the herte of whiche [whom I.] was not corrupt [was not cor|rupt; bi aua|rice, but weren stronge in batel. turned awey; bi idola|trie. the glorie; that stondith not in richessis onours, and delices, but in vertuouse werkis. Lire here. C.] , weren strong in batel, which weren not turned awei fro [verse 14] the Lord; that the mynde of hem be in blessyng, and her boonys apperen fro her [verse 15] place; and her name dwellith with outen ende, for the glorie of hooli men dwellith at the sones of hem. [verse 16] Samuel, the profete of the Lord, that was louyd of his Lord God, made newe the empire [made newe the empire; translatinge the rewme fro the lynage of Beniamyn to the lynage of Juda, bi co|maundement of God. he siȝ the Lord of Jacob; that is, he knew in reuelacioun of profecie, for he herde ofte the Lord speking to him; therfor siȝ is takun here for herde. in his feith; that is, feith|fulnesse. in the offring of a man vndefoul|id; that is, in his owne of|fring. Samuel is seid a man vndefoulid, for he ȝede not awey fro riȝt|fulnesse bi aua|rice, nether bi other synne. Lire here. C.] , and anoynt|ide prynces in his folk. [verse 17] In the lawe of the Lord he demyde the congregacioun, and he siȝ the Lord of Jacob, and in his feith he was preued a profete. [verse 18] And he

was knowun feithful in hise wordis, for he siȝ the Lord of liȝt. [verse 19] And he clepide in to help the Lord almyȝti, in ouercomynge enemyes stondynge aboute on ech side, in the offrynge of a man vndefoulid. [verse 20] And the Lord thundride fro heuene, and in greet soun he made his vois herd. [verse 21] And he al to-brak the princes of men of Tyre, and alle the duykis of Filisteis. [verse 22] And bi|fore the [Om. I.] tyme of ende of his lijf, and of the world, he ȝaf witnessyng in the siȝt of the Lord, and of Crist [and of Crist; that is, Saul, anoyntid in to kyng. Lire here. C.] ; he took not of ony man richessis, ȝhe, til to schoon [the schoon A pr. m.] ; and no man accuside hym. [verse 23] And after this he slepte, and he made knowun to the kyng [to the kyng; that is, Saul, to whom he seid, that his deth neiȝede in the morewe. Lire here. C.] , and he schewide to hym the ende of his lijf; and he enhaunside his vois fro the erthe in profesie, to do awei the wickidnesse of the folc.

CAP. XLVII.

[verse 1] Aftir these thingis Nathan, the profete, roos, in the daies of Dauid. [verse 2] And as yn|nere fatnesse [as ynnere fat|nesse, etc.; thouȝ al the puple of Israel seruede God, netheles Da|uyth seruede more deuoutly than othere men diden. Lire here. C.] departide fro the fleisch, so Dauid fro the sones of Israel. [verse 3] He pleiede with liouns, as with lambren; he dide in lijk maner with beris, as with lambren of scheep. [verse 4] Whether in his ȝongthe he killide not a giaunt, and took awei schenschip fro the folk? [verse 5] In reisynge the hond in a stoon of a slynge, he castide doun the ful [verse 6] out ioiyng of Golias, where he clepide to help the Lord almyȝti; and he ȝaf in his riȝt hond to do awei a stronge man in batel, and to enhaunse the horn of his folk. [verse 7] So he glorifiede hym [he glorifiede him, etc.; that is, made to be preisid. preiside him, etc.; that is, made him preisable, of goodis whiche he ȝaf to him. Lire here. C.] in ten thou|synde, and he preiside hym in the bless|yngis [blessing V.] of the Lord, in offrynge to hym the coroun of glorie. [verse 8] For he al to-brak enemyes on ech side, and drow out bi the roote Filisteis contrarie, `til in to [vnto I.] this dai; he al to-brak the horn of hem, `til in to [vnto I.] with outen ende. [verse 9] Dauid in ech werk ȝaf

knouleching to hooli God, and hiȝ in the word of glorie. [verse 10] Of al his herte he heriede God, and he louyde the Lord that made hym, and ȝaf to hym power aȝens ene|myes. [verse 11] And he made syngeris to stonde aȝens the auter; and he made swete motetis in the soun of hem. [verse 12] And he ȝaf fairnesse in halewyngis [he ȝaf fair|nesse in halew|ingis; for he encreesside Goddis wor|schiping in prestis, dekenes, and singeris. tymes; that is, solemnytees, that weren maad in dy|uerse tymes of the ȝeer. Lire here. C.] , and he ournede tymes `til to [vnto I.] the endyng of lijf; that thei schulden preise the hooli name of the Lord, and make large eerli the hoolynesse of God. [verse 13] Crist purgide the synnes of hym, and enhaunside his horn with outen ende; and he ȝaf to hym the testament of kyngis, and the seete of glorie in Israel. [verse 14] Aftir hym roos a witti sone; and for hym he castide doun al the power of enemyes. [verse 15] Salomon regnede in the daies of pees, to whom God made suget alle enemyes, that he schulde make an hous in the name of God, and make redi hoolynesse with outen ende, as he was lerned in his ȝongthe. [verse 16] And he was fillid with wisdom as a flood is fillid; and his soule vnhilide the erthe. [verse 17] And thou, Salomon, fillidist derk figuratif spechis [and thou, Salomon, fillid|ist derk figura|tif spechis; in declaring tho to the queen of Saba. londis; that is, men dwellinge in londis. Lire here. C.] in licnessis; and [Om. CV.] thi name was pupplischid to ilis afer, and thou were louyde in thi pees. [verse 18] Londis wondriden in songis, and in prouerbis, and in licnessis, and interpretyngis, ether exposiciouns; [verse 19] and in the [Om. I.] name of the Lord, to whom the surname is God of Israel. [verse 20] Thou ga|deridist togidere gold as latoun, and thou fillidist siluer as leed. [verse 21] And thou bouwidist thi thies to wymmen; thou haddist power in thi bodi [in thi bodi; to fille the lust of thi bodi. Lire here. C.] . [verse 22] Thou hast ȝoue a wem in thi glorie, and madist vnhooli thi seed, to brynge in wrathfulnesse to thi children, [verse 23] and thi foli in othere men; that thou schuldist make the rewme departid in to tweyne, and of Effrem to comaunde an hard comaundement. [verse 24] But God schal not forsake his merci, and schal not distrie, nether do awei hise werkis, nether he schal leese fro generacioun the sones sones

of his chosun kyng Dauid; and he schal not distrie the seed of hym that loueth the Lord. [verse 25] Forsothe God ȝaf remenaunt to Jacob, and to Dauid of that genera|cioun. [verse 26] And Salomon hadde an ende with hise fadris. [verse 27] And he lefte aftir hym of his [verse 28] seed Roboam, the foli of the folk, and made lesse fro prudence; which Roboam turnede awei the folk bi his councel. [verse 29] And Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, that made Israel to do synne, and ȝaf to Effraym weie to do synne; and ful many synnes [verse 30] of hem [many synnes of hem, etc.; that is, synnes grete and orri|ble maden hem to be prisoneris fer fro her lond. defence; that is, licence of Cirijs, kyng of Persis, that thei myȝten turne aȝen in to the lond of Juda. fro alle synnes; that is, prisonyng brouȝt in on hem for her synnes. Lire here. C.] weren plenteuouse, for thei turn|eden hem awei greetli fro her lond. [verse 31] And the lynage of Effraym souȝte al wickid|nessis, til defence cam to hem; and dely|uerede hem fro alle synnes.

CAP. XLVIII.

[verse 1] And Elie, the profete, roos as fier [as fier; that is, brennynge in the feruent loue of God. brente as a brond; in kyn|dling the he|reris to Goddis loue. suynge him, etc.; that is, the prestis of Baal, that souȝten to be herd bi fier in the ending of her brent sa|crifice, as Elie did, in the III. book of Kyngis, xviij. c^o. and for thei myȝten not, thei weren slayn of the puple. co|maundementis of the Lord; that is, thei myȝten not aȝenstonde his wille, that co|maundide her deth bi Elie. Lire here. C.] ; for whi his word brente as a brond. [verse 2] Which brouȝte yn hungur on hem, and thei suynge hym weren maad fewe for enuye [her enuye C sec. m.] ; for thei myȝten not suffre the comaunde|mentis of the Lord. [verse 3] Bi the word of the Lord he held togidere heuene, and castide doun fro it fier [castide doun fro it fier; that is, bi the vertu of his preyer he made fier come doun fro heuene, on his brent sacrifice. Lire here. C.] to the erthe. [verse 4] So Elie was alargid in his merueils; and who may haue glorie in lijk maner with thee, [verse 5] which tokist a wei a deed man fro hellis, fro the eritage of deth, in the word of the Lord God? [verse 6] Which castidist doun kyngis to deth, and hast broke togidere liȝtli the power of hem, and gloriouse men fro her bed [fro her bed; summe bokis han for her trespas; that is, twey princes of fifti men sent of Ocosie ligginge in his bed, to take Elie, on which he made fier to come doun fro heuene. Lire here. C.] . [verse 7] Which herdist dom in Syna, and in Oreb domes of defence [in Oreb domes of defence; that is, of Goddis veniaunce, whanne God comaundide to Elie, to anoynte Elisee in to a profete, and Asael in to king of Sirie, and Hieu, the sone of Namsi, in to king of Israel, to the sleyng of idolatrouris. to penaunce; that is, to the punysching of idolatrouris. in the domes of tymes; that is, to come in tymes bifor the doom, to schewe opinly the falsnesse of Antecrist, in the laste c^o. of Malachie, Y schal sende Elie, the profete, bifor that the grete and orible dai of the Lord come, that he turne the hertis of fadris to the sones. that sien thee; that is, sien thyn hooly conuersacioun, and herde thi teching. Lire here. C.] . [verse 8] Which anoyntist kyngis to penaunce, and makist prophetis successouris aftir thee. [verse 9] Which were re|seyued in a whirlwynde of fier, in a chare of horsis of fier. [verse 10] Which art writun in the domes of tymes, to plese the wrathfulnesse

of the Lord, to recounsele the herte of the fadir to the sone, and to [Om. C.] restore the lynagis of Jacob. [verse 11] Thei ben blessid, that siȝen thee, and weren maad feir [weren maad fair; bi fair|nesse of ver|tues. lyuen onely in liyf; that is, han fame in present liyf. C.] in thi [verse 12] frenschipe; for whi we lyuen oneli in lijf, but after deth oure name schal not [Om. V.] be siche. [verse 13] Elie, that was hilid in a whirle|wynd; and his spirit was fillid in Elisee. Elisee in hise daies dredde not the prince, [verse 14] and no man ouercam hym bi power; ne|ther ony word ouercam hym, and his deed bodi profesiede. [verse 15] In his lijf he dide won|dris aȝens kynde; and in deth he wrouȝte merueilis. [verse 16] In alle these thingis the puple dide not penaunce, and ȝeden not awei fro her synnes, til whanne thei weren cast awei fro her lond, and weren scatered in to ech lond. [verse 17] And a ful fewe folk was left, and a prince in the hous of Dauid. [verse 18] Summe of hem diden that, that pleside God; but othere diden many synnes. [verse 19] Ezechie maad strong his citee, and brouȝte watir in to the myddis therof; and [and he I.] diggide a rooche with irun, and bildide a pit to watir. [verse 20] In hise daies Senacherib stiede, and sente Rapsaces; and he reiside his hond aȝens hem, and he reiside his hond aȝens Syon, and was maad proud in his power. [verse 21] Thanne the hertis and hondis of hem weren moued; and thei hadden sorewe as wymmen tra|uelynge of child. [verse 22] And thei clepiden to help the merciful Lord, and thei spredden abrood the hondis, and reisiden to heuene; and the hooli Lord [Om. C.] God herde soone the vois of hem. [verse 23] He hadde not mynde on her synnes, nether ȝaf hem to her enemyes; but he purgide hem in the hond of Isaie [in the hond of Ysaie; that is, by Ysaie preiynge for hem, at the axing of Ese|chie. pleside the Lord; in purgynge Je|rusalem fro idolatrie, and in excitinge the prestis and de|kenes and the puple, to Goddis worschiping. C.] , the hooli profete. [verse 24] The aungel of the Lord castide doun the castels of Assiriens, and al to-brak hem. [verse 25] For whi Ezechie dide that that pleside the Lord, and ȝede strongli in the weie of Dauith, his fadir; which weie Isaie, the grete profete, and feithful in the siȝt of God, comaundide to hym. [verse 26] In the daies of hym the sunne ȝede aȝen abak; and God encreesside lijf to

the kyng. [verse 27] With greet spirit Ysaie [Ezechie A sec. m. marg.] siȝ [he sauȝe I.] the laste thingis; and he [Om. C.] coumfortide the moreneris in Sion, `in to [til in to A pr. m] with outen ende. [verse 28] He schewide thingis to comynge, and hid thingis, bifore that tho camen.

CAP. XLIX.

[verse 1] The mynde of Josie maad in the mak|yng of odour, is the werk of a pyment makere. [verse 2] In ech mouth his mynde schal be maad swete as hony, and as musik in the feeste of wyn. [verse 3] He was dressid of God in the penaunce of folk [in the pe|naunce of folk; for he brouȝt the puple of his rewme to penaunce for her synnes, and to the worschip|ing of veri God, and distriede idolatrie. Lire here. C.] ; and he took awei the abhomynaciouns of wickidnesse. [verse 4] And the herte of hym [the herte of him, etc.; that is, the herte of Josie ordeyn|ede the gouern|aunce of the rewme hoolliche to the onour of God. in the daies of synnes; that is, the tyme in which the synne of idolatrie regn|ede. strengthide pitee; that is, restoride the worschiping of God, and or|deynede it to be kept stide|fastly. thei ȝauen her rewme; that is, disserueden for synne, that it was ȝouun to men of Babi|loyne. brenten; that is, Jeru|salem was brent for her synnes. in the hond of Jeremye; that is, bi his pro|fesie. Lire here. C.] gouernede to the Lord; and in the daies of synnes he strengthide pitee. [verse 5] Outakun Dauid, Eze|chie [and Ezechie A pr. m.] and Josie, alle kyngis diden synne. [verse 6] For whi the kyngis of Juda leften the lawe of myȝti [almyȝti V.] God, and dispisiden the drede of God. [verse 7] For thei ȝauen her rewme to othere men, and her glorie to an alien folk. [verse 8] Thei brenten the chosun citee of hoolynesse; and thei maden the weies therof forsakun in the hond [lond A.] of Jeremye. [verse 9] For thei tretiden yuel hym, which from the wombe of the modir was halewid a profete, to turne vpsedoun [to turne vpse|doun, etc.; herto he was halewid a pro|fete, to de|nounce the turnyng vpse|doun of the citee and of the puple, and the distriyng of the puple bi Cal|deys, and the bilding aȝen bi the kyngis of Perseys. C.] , and to leese, and efte to bilde, and make newe. [verse 10] Eze|chiel, that siȝ the siȝt of glorie, which the Lord schewide to hym in the chare of cherubyn. [verse 11] For he made mynde of ene|myes in reyn [in reyn; that is, in word of his profesie. Jacob; that is, the puple of Israel, in feith and vertues, bi her hooli en|saumplis and techingis. aȝen|bouȝten; fro peyne and synne of syn|neris, bi the feithfulnesse of her preching. Lire here. C.] , to do wel to hem, that schewiden riȝtful weies. [verse 12] And the boonys of twelue profetis apperen fro her place; and thei strengthiden Jacob, and aȝen|bouȝten hem in the feith of her vertu. [verse 13] Hou schulen we alarge Zorobabel [that is, preise hym worthily V marg.] ? for whi and he was a signe in the riȝt hond [verse 14] of God to Israel; and Jhesu, the sone of Josedech? whiche in her daies bildiden an hous, and enhaunsiden the hooli tem|ple to the Lord, maad redi in to euerlast|ynge glorie. [verse 15] And Neemye in the mynde of myche tyme, that reiside to vs the

wallis, `that weren [Om. ceteri.] cast doun, and made the ȝatis and lockis to stonde; which Neemye reiside oure housis. [verse 16] No man borun in erthe was such as Enok [was sich as Enok; no man was sich as E|nok, in alle goode condi|ciouns, for whi ech hooly man hath sum spe|cial grace of God, which an other hath not in euene de|gree, bi alle thingis. Lire here. C.] ; for whi and he was resseyued fro the erthe. [verse 17] And Joseph, that was borun a man, the prince of britheren, the stidfastnesse of folk, the gouernour of britheren, the sta|blischyng [verse 18] of puple; and his boonys weren visitid, and profesieden after deth. [verse 19] Seth and Sem, these gaten glorie anentis men, and ouer ech man in the [Om. V.] generacioun of Adam.

CAP. L.

[verse 1] Symount, the sone of Onyas, was a greet preest, which in his lijf vndursettide the hous, and in hise daies strengthide the temple. [verse 2] Also the hiȝnesse of the temple was bildide of hym [was bildid of him; that is, reparelid, for it was foundid of Sorobabel and Jhesu, the sone of Jose|dech, in the tyme of Cyrus, and parformed bi the same men in the sixte ȝeer of Darius. Lire here. C.] , the double bildyng, and hiȝ wallis of the temple. [verse 3] In the daies of hym the pittis of watris camen forth; and as the see tho weren fillid aboue me|sure. [verse 4] Which Symount helide his folk, and delyuerede it fro perdicioun. [verse 5] Which was myȝti to alarge the citee; which gat glorie in the conuersacioun of folk; and alargide the entryng of the hous, and of the large cumpas aboute. [verse 6] As the dai sterre in the myddis of a cloude, and as a ful moone [verse 7] schyneth in hise daies; and as the sunne schynynge, so he schynede in the temple [verse 8] of God; as a reyn bouwe schynynge among the cloudis of glorie, and as a flour of rosis in the daies of veer, and as lilies, that ben in the passyng of watir, and as encense smellynge in the daies of somer; [verse 9] as fier schynynge, and ensence brennynge [verse 10] in fier; as a sad vessel of gold, ourned [verse 11] with ech preciouse stoon; as an olyue tree spryngynge forth, and a cipresse tree reis|ynge it silf an hiȝ; while he took the stoole of glorie, and was clothid in the perfec|cioun of vertu. [verse 12] In the stiyng of the hooli auter, the clothing of hoolynesse ȝaf glorie.

[verse 13] Forsothe in takynge [the takinge V.] partis [in taking partis, etc.; that is, the tythe of tythis, which the prestis token of the puple; and of tho tithis thei of|friden the tenthe part to the hiȝeste prest, as God seid, in xviij. c^o. of Numery. Lire here. C.] of the hoond of prestis, and he stood bisidis the auter. The coroun of britheren, as a plauntyng of cedre in the hil Liban, was aboute [verse 14] hym; so thei stoden aboute hym as boowis of palm tree, and alle the sones of Aaron stoden in her glorie. [verse 15] Sotheli the offryng of the Lord was in the hondis of hem, bifore al the synagoge of Israel; and he vside ful endyng on the auter, to alarge the offryng of the hiȝ kyng. [verse 16] And he dresside his hond in moiste sacrifice; and sacrifiside in the blood of grape. [verse 17] He schedde out in the foundement of the auter, the odour of God to the hiȝ prince. [verse 18] Thanne the sones of Aaron crieden lowde; thei sowneden in trumpis betun out with hameris, and maden a grete vois herd in to mynde bifore God. [verse 19] Thanne al the pu|ple hastiden togidere, and fellen doun on the face on the erthe, for to worschipe her Lord God, and [Om. V.] to ȝyue preyers to almyȝti God an hiȝ. [verse 20] And men syngynge in her voices alargiden [alargiden; that is, heri|eden God largeli. Lire here. C.] ; and a soun ful of swet|nesse was maad in the greet hous. [verse 21] And the puple preiede the hiȝ Lord in preier, til that the onour of the Lord was doon perfitli, and thei parformeden her ȝifte. [verse 22] Thanne Symount cam doun, and reiside hise hondis in to al the congregacioun of the sones of Israel, to ȝyue glorie to God bi hise lippis, and to haue glorie in the name of hym. [verse 23] And he reherside his preier, willynge to schewe the vertu of God [vertu of God; this that is seid bitwixe, And aftirward eft, is not in bokis amendid. Lire here. C.] . [verse 24] And he preyede more the Lord of alle, that made grete thingis in ech lond; which encreesside oure daies fro the wombe of oure modir, and dide with vs bi [aftir I.] his mercy. [verse 25] Ȝyue he gladnesse of herte to vs, and that pees be maad in Israel bi euerlastynge [verse 26] daies; that Israel bileue, that Goddis merci is with vs, that he delyuere hem [delyuere hem, etc.; fro the seruage of he|then men. Lire here. C.] in her dayes. [verse 27] Mi soule hatith twei folkis; but the thridde is not a folk, whom Y hate [whom Y hate; that is, Y hate no folk so myche as this thridde. the fonned puple, etc.; that is, Samaritans worschipinge idols; and summe of hem dwelliden in Sichem, and they weren euere contrarie to Jewis. Lire here. C.] . [verse 28] Thei that sitten in the hil of Seir, and the Filisteis, and the fonned puple, that

dwellith in Sichemys. [verse 29] Jhesus, the sone of Sirach, a man of Jerusalem, wroot in this book the techyng of wisdom, and of kun|nyng; and he renulide wisdom [he renulide wisdom, etc.; that is, bi the studie of his herte, ether for he was not ex|citid of an other man herto, but bi his owne wille he dide this, with Goddis help. dwellith in these goodis; in thenkinge and worching tho. myȝti to alle thingis; that is, in alle thingis that parteynen to his helthe, and also of othere men bi his teching. the liȝt of God; that is, wisdom writun in this book, which wisdom is sum preenting of Goddis liȝt. the step of him; that is, weye ledinge perfitly to hym. Lire here. C.] of his herte. [verse 30] He is blessid, that dwellith in these goodis; he that settith tho in his herte, schal euere be wijs. [verse 31] For if he doith these thingis, he schal be miȝti to alle thingis; for whi the liȝt of God is the step of hym.

CAP. LI.

[verse 1] Lord kyng, Y schal knouleche to thee; and Y schal togidere herie thee, my sa|uyour. [verse 2] Y schal knouleche to thi name, for thou art maad an helpere and de|fendere [verse 3] to me; and thou hast delyuered my bodi fro perdicioun, fro the snare of a wickid tunge, and fro the lippis of hem that worchen a leesyng; and in the siȝt of hem that stonden nyȝ thou art maad an helpere to me. [verse 4] And thou hast dely|uered me, bi [aftir I.] the multitude of merci of thi name, fro roreris maad redi to mete; [verse 5] fro the hondis of hem that souȝten my soule, and fro many tribulaciouns that [verse 6] cumpassiden me; fro ouerleiyng of flawme [ouerleiynge of flawme; that is, of stiringe of lecherie. in the myddis of fier; that is, of lecherouse heete. not brent; bi con|seyt of dedly synne. Lire here. C.] that cumpasside me, and in the myddis of [verse 7] fier Y was not brent; fro the depthe of the wombe of helle, and fro a tunge de|foulyd, and fro a word of leesyng; fro a wickid kyng, and fro a tunge vniust. [verse 8] `Til to [Vnto I.] the deth my soule schal preise [verse 9] thee, Lord; and my lijf was neiȝynge in helle bynethe. [verse 10] Thei cumpassiden me on ech side, and noon was that helpide; Y was biholdynge to the help of men, and noon was. [verse 11] Lord, Y hadde mynde on thi merci, and on thi worchyng togidere, that [verse 12] ben fro the world; for thou delyuerst hem that abiden thee, and thou delyuerst hem fro the hond of hethene men. [verse 13] Thou en|haunsidist my dwellyng on erthe; and

Y bisouȝte for deth fletynge doun. [verse 14] Y clepyde to help the Lord, fadir of my Lord, that he forsake not me in the dai of my tribulacioun, and forsake not me with outen help, in the tyme of hem that ben proude. [verse 15] Y schal preise thi name con|tynueli, and Y schal herie it togidere in knoulechyng; and my preier is herd [my preyer is herd; in stede|fast hope. per|dicioun; of helle. wickid tyme; that is, of pre|sent liyf, wher|ynne wickid|nesse regneth. Lire here. C.] . [verse 16] And thou hast delyuered me fro perdi|cioun, and thou hast delyuered me fro the wickid tyme. [verse 17] Therfor Y schal knouleche, and Y schal seie heriyng to thee; and Y schal blesse the name of the Lord. [verse 18] Whanne ȝit Y was ȝongere, bifore that Y erride, Y souȝte wisdom opynli in my preier. [verse 19] Bifore the tyme of eelde Y axide for it, and `til in to [vnto I.] the laste thingis Y schal enquere it; and it schal flour as a grape ripe bifore othere. [verse 20] Myn herte was glad ther ynne, my foot ȝede a riȝtful weye; fro my ȝongthe Y souȝte it. [verse 21] Y bowide doun a litil myn eere, and Y took it. [verse 22] Y foonde myche wisdom in my silf, and Y profitide myche ther ynne. [verse 23] Y schal ȝyue glorie to hym, that ȝyueth wisdom to me. [verse 24] For whi Y took councel to do it; Y loued feruentli good, and Y schal not be schent. [verse 25] My soule wrastlide togidere ther ynne; and Y was confermyd in do|ynge it. [verse 26] Y stretchide forth myn hondis [myn hondis; that is, Y dress|ide my werkis bi riȝtfulnesse of entent in to God. Lire here. C.] an hiȝ; and my soule schynede in the wisdom of hym, and he liȝtnyde myn vnkunnyngis. [verse 27] Y dresside my soule to it; and Y [Om. Y.] foond it in knowyng. [verse 28] Y hadde pesibli fro the bigynnyng an herte with tho [an herte with tho; that is, werkis ether liȝtnyngis of wisdom. a tunge; to bringe forth wordis disposing to wisdom; this that is addid in summe bokis, lerned, is not of the text, for it is a glos enter|lynarie set in the text bi writeres. Lire here. C.] ; for this thing Y schal not be for|sakun. [verse 29] My soule was disturblid in sek|ynge it; therfor Y schal haue pesibli a good possessioun. [verse 30] For whi the Lord ȝaf to me a tunge my meede [my mede; that is, bi which Y may gete euerlastinge meede, in tech|inge othere men feithfuly, and in preiynge deuoutly. Y openyde my mouth, etc.; as if he seide, Y am redi to teche ȝou frely for God. Y trauelide a litil; in comparisoun of the greet|nesse of good getun. myche reste; that is, myrthe of wis|dom. welde ȝe plenteouse gold therynne; that is, sette ȝe kun|nyng bifor many rich|essis, and the possessioun therof schal be betere than myche gold to ȝou. Lire here. C.] ; and in it Y schal preise hym. [verse 31] Ȝe vntauȝt men, neiȝe to me; and gadere ȝe ȝou in to the hous of techyng. [verse 32] What tarien ȝe ȝit? and what seien ȝe in these thingis? ȝoure soules thristen greetli. [verse 33] Y openyde my mouth,

and Y spak, Bie ȝe wisdom to ȝou with [verse 34] out siluer, and make ȝoure necke suget to the ȝok therof, and ȝoure soule res|seyue techyng; for whi it is in the nexte to fynde it. [verse 35] Se ȝe with ȝoure iȝen, that Y trauelide a litil, and Y foond myche reste to me. [verse 36] Take ȝe techyng in myche noumbre of siluere, and welde ȝe plen|teuouse gold ther ynne. [verse 37] Ȝoure soule be glad in the merci of hym [in the merci of him; that is, of God, which is wisdom vn|maad. bifor the tyme; of deth. meede; that is, euerlastyng liyf, in tyme ordeyned of God. Lire here. C.] ; and ȝe schu|len not be schent in the preysing of hym. [verse 38] Worche ȝe ȝoure werk bifore the tyme; and he schal ȝyue to ȝou ȝoure meede in his tyme.

Here endith the book of Ecclesiastici, and here bigynneth the prolog of Ysaie and of othere profetis [Here endith Ecclesiastici, and [here CS] bigynneth a prologe of Isaie and othere profetis. CFGIMQSUX. Here endith Ecclesiasticus, and bigynneth a prologe on Ysaie. H. Heere endeth the book of Ecclesiastici; se now a prolog of Isaye, the profete. K. Here endith the book of Ecclesiastici, and here bigynneth a prolog on the book of Isaye, the profete. N. Here biginnith a general prolog for alle the bookis of profetis suynge. P. Heere eendith the book of Ecclesiastici, and heere sueth a prolog upon the book of Ysaie. R. Here endith the book of Ecclesiasticus, and bigynneth the prolog on Isaye and othere profetis. V. Here endith Ecclesiasticus. a. No final rubric in EY.] .