CAP. VII.

[verse 1] And it is maad in the fourthe ȝeer of Darius, kyng, the word of the Lord was maad to Sacarie, in the fourthe dai of the nynthe monethe, that is Caslew*. [that is, No|uembre. AENP SUY.]. [verse 2] And Sarasar, and Rogumelech, and men that weren with hem, senten to the hous of the Lord, for to preye the face of the [verse 3] Lord; that thei schulden seie to prestis of the hous of the Lord of oostis, and to pro|fetis, and speke, Whether it is to wepe to me in the fyuethe monethe, ether Y schal halowe me, as Y dide now many ȝeeris? [verse 4] And the word of the Lord was maad to [verse 5] me, and seide, Speke thou to al the puple of the lond, and to prestis, and seie thou, Whanne ȝe fastiden, and weiliden in the fyueth*. [fifthe monethe I.] and seuenthe monethe, bi these se|uenti ȝeeris, whether ȝe fastiden a fast to me? [verse 6] And whanne ȝe eeten, and drunken, whether ȝe eten not to ȝou, and drunken not to ȝou silf? [verse 7] Whether wordis*. [the wordis IU sec. m.] of pro|fetis Page  754 ben not, whiche the Lord spak in the hond of the formere profetis, whanne ȝit Jerusalem was enhabited, and was ful of richessis, and it, and citees*. [the citees I.] therof in cum|pas therof, and at the south and in feeldi place was enhabited? [verse 8] And the word of the Lord was maad to Sacarie, and seide, The Lord of oostis saith these thingis, [verse 9] and spekith, Deme ȝe trewe dom, and do ȝe merci, and doyngis of merci, ech man with his brother. [verse 10] And nyle ȝe falsli calenge a widewe, and fadirles, ether*. [and IKS.]mo|dirles*. [modirles child IKS.], and*. [and a IKS.] comelyng, and*. [and a IKS.] pore man; and a man thenke not in his herte yuel to his brother. [verse 11] And thei wolden not `take heede*. [perceyue I.], and thei*. [Om. I.] turneden awei the schuldre, and ȝeden awei, and*. [and thei IK.] `maden heuy*. [aggregiden, ether [or EPY] maden heuy CEFGHIKMNPQRSUXY.] her eeris, lest thei herden. [verse 12] And thei puttiden*. [settiden GMN sec. m. QSX. setten I.] her herte as*. [as an IK.] adamaunt, lest thei herden the lawe, and wordis whiche the Lord of oostis sente in his Spirit, bi the hond of the formere profetis; and greet indignacioun was maad of the Lord of oostis. [verse 13] And it is doon, as he spak; and as thei herden not, so thei schulen crie, and Y schal not here, seith the Lord of oostis. [verse 14] And Y scateride hem bi alle rewmes, whiche thei knewen not, and the lond is desolat fro hem; for that there was not a man goynge and turnynge aȝen, and thei han put desirable*. [desiderable C.] lond in to desert.