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

II. KINGS.

[The secounde boke of Kynges [From H. No initial rubric in the other MSS.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] Forsothe it is doon, after that Saul is deed, that Dauid is [was CE.] turned aȝen fro the slauȝter of Amalech, and dwellide in Si|chelech two days. [verse 2] Forsothe in the thridde day aperide a ȝong man, of the tentis of Saul, with to-rent clooth, and sprengid the heed with powdre; and as [Om. E pr. m.] he came to Dauid, he [and E pr. m.] felle vpon his face, and lowtide. [verse 3] And Dauid seide to hym, Whens comyst thou? The which seith to Dauid, Fro the tentis of Yrael I fleiȝ. [verse 4] And Da|uid seide to hym, What is the word that is doon; shewe to me. The which seith, The puple fleiȝ fro the batail, and many fallynge of the puple ben deed; but and Saul, and Jonathas, his sone, han died. [verse 5] And Dauid seide to the ȝong man, that toolde to hym, Wherbi wost thou, that Saul is deed, and Jonathas, his sone? [verse 6] And

the ȝong man seith, that toolde to hym, Bi hap I cam into the hil of Gelboe, and Saul lenyde vpon his speer; forsothe [verse 7] chaaris and horsis neiȝeden to [vnto E pr. m.] hym; and turned bihynde his rigge, and seynge clepide me. To whom whanne I hadde an|swerde, [verse 8] I am niȝ; he seide to me, For|sothe who art thou? And I seide [sey BF. seie CE.] to hym, Amalechite I am. [verse 9] And he spak to me, Stoond vpon me, and sle me; for anguyshis holden me, and ȝit al my soule is in me. [verse 10] And stondynge vpon hym I slewȝ hym; forsothe I wiste that he myȝte not lyue after the fallynge; and I took the diademe that was in his heed, and the beeȝ fro his arm, and I [Om. BCEFH.] haue brouȝte it [Om. BCEFH.] to thee, my lord, hidyr. [verse 11] For|sothe Dauid takynge his clothis kitte, and alle the men that weren with hym; [verse 12] and thei weileden, and wepten, and fast|iden vnto the [Om. E.] euen, vpon Saul, and Jona|than, his sone, and vpon the puple of the Lord, and vpon the hows of Irael, forthi that thei weren faln with swerd. [verse 13] And Dauid seide to the ȝonge man, that toolde to hym, Whens ert thou? The which answerde, I am the sone of an Amalechit man comlynge. [verse 14] And Dauid seith to hym, Whi draddist thou not to putte thin hoond for to slee the crist of the Lord? [verse 15] And Dauid clepynge oon of his children [childre BEFH. passim. childer C passim.] seith, Goynge nyȝ fal into hym. The which smoot hym, and he is deed. [verse 16] And Dauid seith to hym, Thi blood vpon thin heed; forsothe thi mouth hath spoken aȝens thee, seiynge, I slewȝ the crist of the Lord. [verse 17] Forsothe Dauyd weilide this maner a weilynge vpon Saul, and vpon Jonathas, his sone. [verse 18] And he comaundide, that thei techen the sones of Juda weilynge, as it is writen in the Book of Riȝtwise Men; and seith, Bihold, Irael, for, thes that ben deed, vpon thin heiȝe thingis woundide;

[verse 19] the noble men of Yrael vpon thin hillis ben slayn. What maner wise fellen the strengthful? [verse 20] woleth [wile CE.] ȝe not telle in Geth, ne telle ȝe in the gedryngis togidre of the many weyes of Aschalon; lest perauen|ture the douȝtres of Philisteis gladen, ne ioyen the douȝtris of the vncircumcidid. [verse 21] Hillis of Gelboe, ne dewe ne reyn come vpon ȝow, ne be thei feeldis of first fruytis; for there is throwen a wey the sheelde of stronge men, the sheelde of Saul, as thouȝ he hadde not ben anoyntid with oyle. [verse 22] Fro [For A.] the blood of the slayn, fro the talwȝ of stronge men, the arowe of Jonathas neuer turnede aȝen bacward, and the swerd of Saul is not turned aȝen in ydel. [verse 23] Saul and Jonathas loueli, and feyr in her lyif, forsothe in deeth thei ben not deuydide; swifter than eglis, stronger than liouns. [verse 24] Douȝtris of Yrael, vpon Saul wepith, the which cloth|ide ȝou with reed in delicis, the which ȝaf golden ournementis to ȝoure wor|shipynge. [verse 25] What maner fellen strong men in batayl? Jonathas in thin heiȝ thingis is slayn. [verse 26] I sorwe vpon thee, brother myn Jonatha, ful myche feir, and loueli ouere the loue of wymmen; as a moder louith hir [Om. E pr. m.] oneli sone, so Y louede thee. [verse 27] What maner wise fellen stronge men, and pershiden aarmes to fiȝten with in batayl?

CAP. II.

[verse 1] Therfor after thes thingis Dauid coun|seilde the Lord, seiynge, Whether I shal goon vp into oon of the cytees of Juda? And the Lord seith to hym, Go vp. And Dauid seide to hym, Whedir shal I go vp? And he answerde to hym, Into Ebron. [verse 2] Thanne Dauid ȝede vp, and his two wyues, Achynoem Jezraelite, and Abigail, the wijf of Naabal of Carmele. [verse 3] But and the men that weren with hym, Dauid

ladde echon with her hows; and thei dwelliden in the burȝ touns of Ebron. [verse 4] And the men of Juda camen, and anoynt|iden there Dauid, for he shulde regne vpon the hows of Juda. And it is toold to Dauid, that the men of Jabes Galaad hadden biryede Saul. [verse 5] Thanne Dauid sente messageris to the men of Jabes Galaad, and he seide to hem, Blessid be [Om. CEFH.] ȝe of the Lord, the whiche diden this mercy with ȝoure lord Saul, and biryeden hym. [verse 6] Forsothe and nowe the Lord shal ȝeelde to ȝou merci and treuth, but and Y shal ȝeelde grace, forthi that ȝe diden this word. [verse 7] Be ȝoure hoondis coumfortid, and be ȝe sones of strength; forsothe thouȝ ȝoure lord Saul be deed, neuerthelater the hows of Juda hath anoyntid me into a kyng to hem. [verse 8] Abner forsothe, the sone of Ner, prince of the oost of Saul, took Hisbosech, the sone of Saul, and ladde [verse 9] hym about bi the tentis, and sette hym kyng vpon Galaad, and vpon Jethsuri, and vpon Jezrael, and vpon Effraym, and vpon Beniamyn, and vpon al Yrael. [verse 10] Of fourti ȝeer was Hisboseth, the sone of Saul, whanne he bigan to regne vpon Irael; and two ȝeer he regnede. For|sothe oneli the hows of Juda folwide Dauid. [verse 11] And the noumbre of dais, the which Dauid dwellide comaundynge in Ebron vpon the hows of Juda, was of seuen ȝeris and of sexe [seuene E pr. m.] monethis. [verse 12] And Abner, the sone of Ner, wente out, and the children of Hisboseth, the [Om. CE sec. m.] sone of Saul, fro the tentis into Gabaon. [verse 13] Forsothe Joab, the sone of Saruye, and the chil|dren of Dauid wenten out, and aȝen camen to hem biside the fish poond in Gabaon. And whanne thei weren comen `togidir in oon forn aȝens [in oon fro the regiown E pr. m.] other, these seeten on the too [o C. ton E.] parti of the fish poond, and thei on the tother. [verse 14] And Abner seide to Joab, Rise children, and pleye thei

before vs. And Joab answerde, Risen. [verse 15] Thanne rysen and wenten twelue bi noumbre of Beniamyn, of the parti of Hysboseth, the sone of Saul; and twelue of the children of Dauid. [verse 16] And taken of echon the heed of his peere, he piȝte doun a swerd in the side of the contrarie; and thei fellen doun to gidre. And the name of that place is clepid The Feelde of stronge men in Gabaon. [verse 17] And there is sprongen an hard [herd A.] batail ynowȝ in that day; and Abner is dryuen, and the men of Yrael, of the children of Dauid. [verse 18] For|sothe there weren there the thre sones of Saruye, Joab, and Abisay, and Asahel; ceertis Asahel was a moost swift renner, as oon of the caprettis that dwellen in wodis. [verse 19] Forsothe Asahel pursuede Abner, and bowide not aside, ne fro the riȝt ne fro the left, leeuynge to pursue Abner. [verse 20] And so Abner bihelde bihynde his bak, and seith, Whether art thou not Asahel? The which answerde, Y am. [verse 21] And Abner seide to hym, Go to the riȝt, or to the left; and tak oon of the ȝonge men, and tak to thee the [Om. B.] spoilis of hym. Forsothe Asahel wolde not leeue, but he con|streynede hym. [verse 22] And eft Abner spak to Asahel, Go a wey, and wole thou not sue me, lest I be constreyned to stike thee into the erthe, and I shal not mowe rere my face to Joab, thi brother. [verse 23] The which dispiside to here, and wolde not bowe aside. Thanne Abner, the speer turned a wey, smoot hym in the sheer, and stikide hym thurȝ, and he is deed in the same place; and alle that wenten bi the place, in the which Asahel hadde fallen, and was deed, biden stille. [verse 24] For|sothe Joab and Abisay pursuynge Abner fleynge, the sunne wente doun; and thei camen to the hil of the water kundit,

that is fro aȝens of the valey, and of the weye of deseert in Gabaon. [verse 25] And the sones of Beniamyn ben gederid to Abner, and clustrid to gidir in o cumpanye thei stoden in the cop of a litil hil. [verse 26] And Abner criede to Joab, and seith, Whether vnto slauȝter thi swerd shal be cruel? Whether knowist thou not, that perilous be despeir? How long thou seist not to the puple, that he leeue to pursue his britheren? [verse 27] And Joab seith, The Lord lyueth, for if thou haddist spoken eerli, the puple pursuynge his britheren hadde goon awey. [verse 28] Thanne Joab fulsownede with the trompe, and al the oost stood; and nomore thei pursueden Yrael, ne wenten in strijf. [verse 29] Forsothe Abner and his men wenten awey bi the wijlde feeldis of Moab al that niȝt, and thei wenten ouer Jordan; and, passid alle Bethoron, thei camen to the tentis. [verse 30] But Joab turned aȝen, Abner laft, gederide al the puple; and there failiden of the chil|dren of Dauid ten and nyn men, out taken Asahel. [verse 31] Forsothe the seruauntis of Dauid smyten of Beniamyn, and of the men that weren with Abner, thre hundred and sexti, and the whiche ben deed. [verse 32] And thei token Asahel, and biryeden hym in the biriels of his fader in Bethleem. And Joab, and the men that weren with hym, wenten al niȝt, and in that bigynnynge of day thei camen into Ebron.

CAP. III.

[verse 1] There is maad thanne a longe stryu|ynge togidre bitwixe [bytwene BFH. betwen E. betwe C.] the hows of Dauid and the hows of Saul; Dauid profitynge and [Om. AF.] euermore strenger than hym self, forsothe the hows of Saul decresynge eche dai. [verse 2] And there ben born sones of Dauid in Ebron; and his first geten was [verse 3] Amon, of Achinoem Jezraelite; and after hym Ȝeliab, of Abigail, the [Om. CE sec. m.] wijf of Naabal Carmeel; forsothe the thridde [thridde day A.] ,

Absolon, the sone of Maacha, the [Om. CE sec. m.] douȝter [verse 4] of Tholomay, the [Om. CE sec. m.] kyng Jethsure [of Jessure C.] ; for|sothe the feerthe, Adonyas, the sone of Agith; and the fifthe, Saphacias, the sone [verse 5] of Abital; forsothe the sexte, Jethraam of Egla, the wijf of Dauid. Thes ben born to Dauid in Ebron. [verse 6] Thanne whanne there was a [Om. BE.] batail bytwixe the hows of Saul and the hows of Dauid, Abner, the sone of Ner, gouernde the hows of Saul. [verse 7] Forsothe there was to Saul a secoundarie wijf, Respha bi name, the doȝter of Achay; and Abner wente into hir. And [verse 8] Hisboseth seide to Abner, Whi wentist [wentis E.] thou in to the secoundarie wijf of my fader? The which, ful miche wrooth for the wordis of Hisboseth, seith, Whether the heed of a dog Y am aȝens Juda to day, the which haue doon merci vpon the hows of Saul, thi fadre, and vpon bri|theren, and the next kyn of hym, and I haue not takyn thee into the hondis of Dauid, and thou hast aȝen souȝt in me that thou vndurnyme for a womman to day? [verse 9] Thes thingis doo God to Abner, and thes thingis adde to hym, but what maner wise the Lord hath swore to Dauid, so [verse 10] shal I doo with hym, that the kyngdom be ouerborn fro the hows of Saul, and the trone of Dauid be rerid vpon Irael and vpon Juda, fro Dan vnto Bersabe. [verse 11] And he myȝte not answere to hym eny thing, for he dradde hym. [verse 12] Thanne Abner sente messageris to Dauid for hym self, seiynge, Whos is the loond? and for thei shulden speke, Mak with me frenships, and myn hoond shal be with thee, and I shal brynge aȝen to thee al [to al E pr. m.] Irael. [verse 13] The which seith, Altherbest I shal doo with thee frenships, but o thing I aske of thee, seiynge, Thou shalt not se my face, before that thou brynge Mychol, the douȝter of Saul, and so thou shalt come, and se me. [verse 14] Thanne Dauid sente messagers to His|boseth,

the sone of Saul, seiynge, Ȝeeld my wijf Mychol, that I weddide to me for an hundrid tersis [prepucies E sup. ras.] of Philisteis. [verse 15] Thanne Hisbotseth sente, and took hir `fro hir [Om. A.] [verse 16] man, Faltiel, the sone of Lais; and hir man folwide hir wepynge vnto Bahurym. And Abner seide to hym, Go and turn aȝen; the which turnede aȝen. [verse 17] For|sothe Abner brouȝte in a word to the eldris of Irael, seiynge, Both ȝisterday [ȝistai CE.] and the thridde dai hens ȝe souȝten Dauyd, that he regne vpon ȝou. [verse 18] Nowe thanne doth; for the Lord spak to Dauid, seiynge, In the hoond of my seruaunt Dauid I shal saue my puple Yrael fro the hoond of Philisteis, and of alle his enemyes. [verse 19] Forsothe Abner spak also to Beniamyn, and wente, for to speke to Dauid, in Ebron, alle thingis that plesiden to Irael and to al Beniamyn. [verse 20] And he cam to Dauid, in Ebron, with twenti men. And Dauid made to Abner, and to [Om. BCEFH.] his men that camen with hym, a feest. [verse 21] And Abner seide to Dauid, Y shal ryse, that I gedre to thee, my lord kyng, al Yrael, and I goo in with the boond of pees, and thou comaunde to al, as thi soule de|sirith. Thanne whanne Dauid hadde ladde out Abner, and he was goon in [verse 22] pees, anone the children of Dauid and of Joab camen, the theuis slayn, with ful miche greet pray; forsothe Abner was not with Dauid, in Ebron, for nowe he hadde laft hym, and he was goon forth in pees. [verse 23] And Joab, and the oost that was with hym, aftirward camen; and so it is toold to Joab of tellers, Abner, the sone of Ner, cam to the kyng, and he lafte hym, and he wente awey in pees. [verse 24] And Joab wente yn to the kyng, and seith, What hast thou doon? Loo! Ab|ner cam to thee; whi hast thou laft hym, and he ȝede, and wente a wey? [verse 25] Knowist thou not Abner, the sone of Ner, for to

that he cam to thee, that he desseyue thee, and knowe thin outgoynge and thin incomynge, and he shal knowe alle thingis that thou dost? [verse 26] And so Joab, goon out fro Dauid, sente messageris after Abner; and brouȝte hym aȝen fro the cistern of Cyra, vnknowynge Dauid. [verse 27] And whanne Abner was turned aȝen into Ebron, Joab ladde hym aside to the mydil of the ȝaat, that he speke to hym in trecherye; and he smoot hym there in the sheer, and he is deed, into wreche of the blood of his brother Asahel. [verse 28] That whanne Dauid hadde herd the thing doon, seith, Clene I am and my kyngdam anentis God vnto with outen ende fro the blood of Abner, [verse 29] the sone of Ner; and come it vpon the heed of Joab, and vpon al the hows of his fader; ne fail there fro the hows of Joab oon suffrynge flux of seed, and a leprous, holdynge a spyndle, and a fall|ynge with swerd, and a nedi breed. [verse 30] Therfor Joab, and Abisay, his brother, slewen Abner, forthi that he hadde slayn Asahel, the brother of hem, in Gabaon, in the batail. [verse 31] And Dauid seide to Joab, and to al the puple that was with hym, Kit|tith ȝoure clothis, and beth gird with sackis, and weileth before the exequies of Abner. Forsothe Dauid folwide the beere. [verse 32] And whanne thei hadden biryden Abner in Ebron, kyng Dauyd reride his voys, and wepte vpon the toumbe of Abner; forsothe and al the puple wepte. [verse 33] And the kyng, weilynge and mournynge Abner, seith, Not as slow men ben went to dye, thou diedist, Abner. [verse 34] Thin hoondis ben not boundun, and thi feet ben not greued with fettris, but as men ben wont to fal before the sonys of wickidnes thou felle. And doublynge togidre al the pu|ple wepte vpon hym. [verse 35] And whanne al the multitude was comen to taak meet with Dauid, ȝit cleer day, Dauid swore, sei|ynge,

Thes thingis doo to me God, and thes thingis adde, if before the sunne goynge doun I shal taast breed or eny other thing. [verse 36] And al the puple herde; and alle thingis plesiden to hem that the kyng dide in the siȝt of al the puple; [verse 37] and al the comoun knewe, and al Irael in that dai, for it was not doon of the kyng, that Abner, the sone of Ner, were slayn. [verse 38] And the kyng seide to his seruauntis, Whether ȝe knowen not, for a prince and the moost to dai in Irael hath fall|en? [verse 39] Forsothe I ȝit delicate and anoyntid kyng; greetli thes men, sonis of Saruye, ben hard to me; the Lord ȝeeld to the doynge yuel after his malice.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] Forsothe Hisboseth, the sone of Saul, herde that Abner hadde faln in Ebron; and the hondis of hym ben feblid, and al Irael is disturblid. [verse 2] Forsothe two men, princis of theuys, weren to the sone of Saul; name to the toon Baana, and name to the tothir Reechab, the sones of Rem|mon Berothit, of the sonys of Beniamyn; forsothe and Beroth is told into Benia|myn. [verse 3] And Berothitis flowen into Je|thaym; and thei weren there comelingis into that tyme. [verse 4] Forsothe there was to Jonathe, the sone of Saul, a sone feble in feete [fiȝt A.] ; forsothe he was fyue ȝeer oolde, whanne a messager cam fro Saul and Jonatha, of Jezrael. And so his nurish takynge hym fleiȝ; and whanne she hiede for to flee, he felle, and is maad halt; and he hadde name Myphibosech. [verse 5] Comynge thanne the sones of Remmon Berothit, Reechab and Baana, wenten in, the bren|nynge dai, the hows of Hisboseth, that

slepte vpon his bed the myddai; and the womman that kepte the doris of the hows purgynge whete, slepte fast. [verse 6] For|sothe thei wenten into the hows vnwit|yngly, takynge eeris of whete; and Reechab, and Bana, his brother, smyten hym in the sheer, and flowen [slowen ABH.] . [verse 7] Forsothe whanne thei weren goon into the hows, he slepte vpon his bed in the priue chaumbre; and smytynge thei slewen hym; and his heed taken of, thei wenten bi the weie of deseert al nyȝt. [verse 8] And thei brouȝten the heed of Hisboseth to Dauid, in Ebron, and thei seiden to the kyng, Loo! the heed of Hisboseth, the sone of Saul, thin enemye, that souȝte thi lijf; and the Lord hath ȝyuen to oure lord the kyng veniaunce to dai of Saul and of his seed. [verse 9] Forsothe Dauid answerynge to Reechab, and Bana, his brothir, sones of Remmon Berothei, seide to hem, The Lord lyueth, that hath delyuerd my soule [verse 10] fro al angwissh; for hym that toolde to me and seide, Deed is Saul, the whych wende hym self welsum thingis to telle, I heelde, and slewȝ hym in Sichelech, to whom it hadde behouid me to ȝeue mede [verse 11] for the message; miche more nowe, whanne wickid men han slayn a giltles man in his hows vpon his bed, now I shal seche his blood fro ȝoure hoond, and doo a wey ȝou fro the erthe. [verse 12] And so Dauid comaundide to his children, and thei slewen hem; and kyttynge of the hoondis and the feet of hem, thei hong|eden hem ouer the fish poond in Ebron. Forsothe the heed of Hisboseth thei token, and biryeden it in Ebron, in the sepulcre of Abner.

CAP. V.

[verse 1] And alle the lynagis of Irael camen to Dauid, in Ebron, seiynge, Loo! we ben

thi boon and thi flesh. [verse 2] But and ȝistirdai [ȝistai C passim. E passim.] and before ȝisterdai [ȝistai C passim. E passim.] , whanne Saul was kyng vpon vs, thou were ledynge out and bryngynge aȝen Yrael; forsothe the Lord seide to thee, Thou shalt fede my puple Irael, and thou shalt be duyk vpon Irael. [verse 3] Forsothe and the eldris of Irael camen to the kyng, in Ebron; and kyng Dauid smoot with hem couenaunt of pees in Ebron, before the Lord; and thei anoyntiden Dauid into kyng vpon Irael. [verse 4] A sone of thretti ȝeer was Dauid, whanne he bigan to regne, and fourti ȝeer he [verse 5] regnede in Ebron; he regnyde vpon Juda seuen ȝeer and sixe monethis; forsothe in Jerusalem he regnede thretti and three ȝeer, vpon al Irael and Juda. [verse 6] And the kyng ȝeede, and al the men that weren with hym, into Jerusalem, to Jebuse, dweller of the loond. And it is seid to Dauid of hem, Thou shalt not go in hidre, but if thou take a wey the blynde and the halt, seiynge, Dauid shal not goo yn hidre. [verse 7] Forsothe Dauid took the tote [toot CE. tute FH.] hil Syon; that is the citee of Dauid. [verse 8] For|sothe he purposide in that dai mede to hym that smoot Jebuse, and touchide the goters of the `hows eues [houses BCEFH.] , and took a wey the halt and the blynde, hatynge the lijf of Dauid. Therfore it is seid in prouerbe, The blynde and the halt shulen not goon into the temple. [verse 9] Forsothe Dauid dwell|ide in the tote [toot CE. tute FH.] hil, and clepide it the citee of Dauid; and he bieldide bi enuy|roun fro Mello, and with in forth. [verse 10] And he wente profitynge and vndre grow|ynge; and the Lord God of oost was with hym. [verse 11] Forsothe Yram, the kyng of Tiry, sente messagers to Dauid, and ce|dre trees, and `crafty men [craftis men CE.] of trees, and crafti men of stonys to the wallys; and thei beeldiden the hows of Dauid. [verse 12] And Dauid knewe, for the Lord hadde con|fermyd hym kyng vpon Irael, and for

he hadde arerid out his kyngdam vpon his puple Yrael. [verse 13] Thanne Dauid took ȝit secundarye wyues, and wyues of Jeru|salem, after that he was comyn fro Ebron; and there ben born to Dauid and [Om. A.] other sones and douȝtris. [verse 14] And thes the names of hem that ben born to hym in Jerusalem; Samua, and Sobab, [verse 15] and Nathan, and Salomon, and Jobaar, [verse 16] and Elisua, and Repheg, and Japhia, and Elizama, and Helida, and Heliphelech. [verse 17] Thanne Philisteis herden, that thei had|den anoyntid Dauid kyng vpon Yrael, and thei alle stieden vp for to seche Dauid. The which thing whanne Dauid hadde herd, wente doun in to a strength. [verse 18] Forsothe Philisteis comynge ben heeld out in the [Om. B.] valey of Raphaym. [verse 19] And Dauid counseilde the Lord, seiynge, If I shal stie vp to Philisteis, and if thou shalt ȝyue hem in myn hoond? And the Lord seide to Dauid, Sty, for takyng I shal ȝyue Philisteis in thin hoond. [verse 20] Thanne Dauid cam in Baal Pharasym, and smoot hem there, and seide, The Lord hath dyuidid myn enemyes before me, as watris ben dyuidid. Therfor the name of that place is clepid Baal Pharasym. [verse 21] And thei laften there her grauen thingis, the whiche Dauid took, and his men. [verse 22] And ȝit the Philisteis addiden for to stie vp, and thei [to E pr. m.] ben held out in the valey of Raphaym. [verse 23] Forsothe Dauid counseilde the Lord, seiynge, If I shal stye aȝens the Philisteis, and if thou shalt take hem into myn hoondis? The which answerde, Thou shalt not stye vp aȝens hem, but goo about bihynde the bak of hem, and comynge to hem fro aȝens of the peer trees. [verse 24] And whanne thou herist noise of cry goynge in the cop of the peer trees, thanne thou shalt

goo into batail; for thanne the Lord shal goo out before thi face, that he smyte the tentis of Philisteis. [verse 25] And so Dauid dide as the Lord comaundide to hym; and he smoot Philisteis fro Gabaa vnto thou come to Jezer.

CAP. VI.

[verse 1] Forsothe Dauid eft gedrede alle the chosen men of Irael, thretti thousandis. [verse 2] And Dauid roos, and wente, and al the puple that was with him of the men of Juda, for to brynge the arke of God, vpon the which is inwardli clepid the name of the Lord of oostis, sittynge in cherubyn vpon it. [verse 3] And thei puttiden [putten BC. puttyn E.] the arke of God vpon a newe wayn, and thei token it fro the hows of Amynadab, that was in Gabaa. Forsothe Oza and Hayon, the sones of Amynadab, dryuen the newe wayn. [verse 4] And whanne thei had|den taken it fro the hows of Amynadab, that was in Gabaa, Hayon kepynge the arke of God, wente before the arke. [verse 5] For|sothe Dauid and al Yrael pleiden before the Lord, in alle forgid trees, and harpis, and syngynge instrumentis, and tymbris, and trumpis, and cymbalis. [verse 6] Forsothe after that thei camen to the corn flore of Nachor, Oza strauȝte out the hoond to the arke of God, and heelde it, for [the whiche E pr. m.] the oxen wynseden, and boweden it. [verse 7] And the Lord is wrooth bi indignacioun aȝens Ozam, and he smoot hym vpon the fool hardynes; the which is there deed biside the arke of God. [verse 8] Forsothe Dauid sorw|ide, forthi that the Lord hadde smyten Ozam; and the name of that place is clepid the Smytynge of Oze into this dai. [verse 9] And Dauid dradde the Lord in that dai, seiynge, What maner wise shal goon into me the arke of the Lord? [verse 10] And he wolde not [Om. AF.] turne aside to hym the arke of the

Lord in the cite of Dauid, but he turn|ede it aside into the hows of Obethedon Jethei. [verse 11] And the arke of the Lord dwellid in the hows of Obethedon Jethei thre monethis; and the Lord blesside Obeth|edon [to Obethedon E pr. m.] , and al his hows. [verse 12] And it is toold to the kyng Dauid, that the Lord hadde blessid Obethedon, and alle thingis of hym, for the arke of God. And Dauid seide, I shal goo, and brynge aȝen with blessynge into myn hows. Thanne Dauid wente, and brouȝte the arke of God fro the hows of Obethedon into [in E pr. m.] the cytee of Dauid with ioy; and there weren with Dauid seuen holi companyes, and the slayn sacrifice of a calf. [verse 13] And whanne thei hadden stied ouer, that baren the arke of the Lord, sexe paas [paththis A.] , thei offreden an oxe and a wether. And Dauid smoot [verse 14] in orgayns bounden to the shuldres; and he lepe with al his strength before the Lord; forsothe Dauid is gird with a surplees. [verse 15] And Dauid, and al the hows of Irael, brouȝten the arke of the testa|ment of the Lord in ioy, and in sown of trompe. [verse 16] And whanne the arke of the Lord was comen into the cite of Dauid, Mychol, the douȝter of Saul, biholdynge bi the wyndow, sawȝ the kyng vndur|goynge and lepynge before the Lord; and she dispyside hym in hir herte. [verse 17] And thei brouȝten in the arke of the Lord, and thei puttiden [putten BCE.] it in his place, in the myddis of the tabernacle, that Dauid hadde strauȝt out to hym; and Dauid offrede brent sacrifice and pesible before the Lord. [verse 18] And whanne offrynge brent sacrifice and pesible he hadde ful endid hem, he blesside to the puple in the name of the Lord of oostis. [verse 19] And he partide to al the multitude of Yrael, as wel to man as to womman, to echon o kaake of breed, and o rostid gobet of oxe flesh, and tried floure fried with oyle;

and al the puple wente echon into his hows. [verse 20] And Dauid turned aȝen, that he blesse to his hows, and Mychol, the douȝter of Saul, goon out into aȝen com|ynge of Dauid, seith, How glorious was the kyng of Irael to dai discouerynge hym self before the hoond wymmen of his seruauntis, and is maad nakid as if [it AFH.] were maad nakid oon of the knauys? [verse 21] And Dauid seide to Mychol, The Lord lyueth, for I shal pleye before the Lord, that hath chosen me rather than thi fader, and than al the hows of hym, and he hath comaundid to me, that Y were a ledere vpon the puple of the Lord of [verse 22] Irael; and I shal pleye, and fowlere Y shal be maad more than I am maad, and I shal be meke in myn eyen, and with `hoond wymmen [the hoondwymmen BCE.] , of the whiche thou hast spoken, more glorious Y shal apere. [verse 23] Therfor to Mychol, the douȝter of Saul, is not born a sone vnto the day of hir deeth.

CAP. VII.

[verse 1] Forsothe it is doon, whanne the kyng hadde seeten in his hows, and the Lord hadde ȝeuen to hym rest on al side fro [verse 2] alle his enemyes, he seide to Nathan the prophete, Seest thou not, that I dwelle in a cedre hows, and the ark of God is put in the mydil of skynnes? [verse 3] And Nathan seide to the kyng, Al that is in thin herte goo and do, for the Lord is with thee. [verse 4] Forsothe it is doon in that nyȝt, and [Om. E pr. v.] loo! the word of the Lord to Na|than, [verse 5] seiynge, Go, and spek to my ser|uaunt Dauid, Thes thingis seith the Lord, Whether thou shalt bilde to me an hows to dwelle yn? [verse 6] Forsothe ne in an hows I haue dwellid fro the day that I ladde out the sones of Yrael fro the loond of Egipt vnto this dai; but I wente [verse 7] in tabernacle and in tente, thurȝ out alle

placis, to the whiche I passide with alle the sones of Irael? Whether spekynge I haue spokyn to oon of the lynagis of Irael, to whom I haue comaundid, that he fede my puple Irael, seiynge, Whi hast thou not bildid [bilde BC.] to me a cedre hows? [verse 8] And now thes thingis thow shalt seye to my seruaunt Dauid, Thes thingis seith the Lord of oostis, I took thee fro the lesews folwynge flockis, that thou [verse 9] were a duyk vpon my puple Irael, and I was with thee `in alle thingis [Om. E pr. m.] , whidir euere thou wentist, and I slewȝ alle thin enemyes fro thi face, and I made to thee a greet name after the name of greet [verse 10] men that ben in erthe; and Y shal putt a place to my puple Irael, and I shal plaunte hym, and I shal dwelle with hym, and he shal namore be disturblid, ne the sones of wickidnes shulen adde [verse 11] that thei tourmenten hym as before, fro the day that I ordeynede iugis vpon my puple Irael; and I shal ȝyue rest to thee fro alle thin enemyes. And the Lord before seith to thee, that the Lord shal [verse 12] make to thee an hows; and whanne thi dais weren ful endyd, and thou slepist with thi fadris, Y shal rere thi seed after thee, that shal go out of thi wombe, and [Om. A.] Y shal fastne the kyngdom of hym. [verse 13] And he shal beelde an hows to my name, and Y shal stable the troon of his rewme vnto [verse 14] eueremore; I shal be to hym into a fader, and he shal be to me into a sone; the which if eny thing wickidli shal doo, I shal vndirnymme hym in the ȝeerd of men, and in the veniaunces of the sonys of men. [verse 15] Forsothe my mercy I shal not take a weye fro hym, as I took a weye fro Saul, whom I meuyde a weye fro my face. [verse 16] And thin hows shal be feithful, and thi kyngdam vnto with outen eende before my face, and thi troon shal be

stedefast contynuli. [verse 17] After alle thes wordis, and after al this visioun, thus spak Nathan to Dauid. [verse 18] Forsothe Dauid the kyng wente in, and sat before the Lord, and seide, Who am I, Lord God, and what myn hows, for thou hast brouȝt me hidir to? [verse 19] But and this litil is seen in thi siȝt, Lord my God; `that hast louyd me [Om. E pr. m.] , but thou speke also of the hows of thi seruaunt into ferre hens. Forsothe this is lawe fro Adam, Lord [verse 20] God; what thanne ȝit Dauid shal mowe adde, that he speke to thee? Forsothe thow knowist thi seruaunt, Lord God; [verse 21] for thi word, and aftir thin herte, thou hast doon alle thes greet thingis, so that thou shuldist make knowen to thi ser|uaunt. [verse 22] Therfor thou art magnified, Lord God, for there is not lijk [the lijk A.] of thee, ne there is God with out thee, in alle thingis `the whiche [that C pr. m.] we han herd with oure eeris. [verse 23] Forsothe what is there folk of kynde as the puple of Irael in the loond, for [fro A.] the which God wente, that he bie it to hym into a puple, and sette to hym a name, and make to hym greet thingis, and orrible vpon the [Om. A.] erthe, fro the face of thi puple, whom thou hast bouȝt to thee fro Egipt folk and the god of it? [verse 24] And thow hast fastned to thee thi puple Irael into a puple euermore, and thou, Lord, art maad to hem into a God. [verse 25] Nowe thanne, Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken vpon thi seruaunt and vpon his hows, rere vnto euermore, and [verse 26] do as thou hast spoken; and thi name be magnyfied vnto euermore, and be it seid, Lord of oostis God vpon Irael; and the hows of thi seruaunt Dauid shal be [verse 27] stablid before the Lord; for thou, Lord of oostis, God of Irael, hast openyd the eer of thi seruaunt, seiynge, An hows I shal bilde to thee; therfor thi seruaunt

hath founden [Om. E.] his herte, that he preye thee bi this preyer. [verse 28] Now thanne, Lord God, thou ert verrey God, and thi wordis shulen be sooth; forsothe thou hast spokyn [verse 29] to thi seruaunt these good thingis; bi|gyn therfor, and blesse to the hows of thi seruaunt, that it be [Om. A.] before thee into euermore; for thou, Lord God, spakist [speeke BCEFH.] thes thingis, and bi [be E.] thi blessynge the hows of thi seruaunt shal be blessid into euermore.

CAP. VIII.

[verse 1] Forsothe it is doon after thes thingis, Dauid smoot Philisteis, and mekide hem; and Dauid took a bridil of tribut of the hoond of Philisteis. [verse 2] And he smoot Moab, and he metide [mat BCEFH.] hem with a litil coord euenynge to the erthe; forsothe he metid two litil coordis, oon to slee, and another to quykne. And Moab is maad to Dauid seruynge vndir tribute. [verse 3] And Dauid smoot Adadezer, the sone of Roob, the kyng of Soba, whanne he wente forth that he take [Om. CEFH.] lordship vpon the flood of Effraten. [verse 4] And take to Dauyd on his partye a thousand and seuene hundrid horsmen, and twenti thousand of feet men, kut of bi the knee alle the ȝockis of charis; forsothe he lafte of hem an hundrid charis. [verse 5] Forsothe Ciria of Damasc cam to bere socour to Adad|ezer, the kyng of Soba; and Dauid smoot of Ciria two and twenti thousand of men. [verse 6] And Dauid putte a strength in Cirya of Damask, and Cirya is maad to Dauid seruynge vndir tribute. And the Lord kepte Dauid in alle thingis, to what euere thingis he wente forth. [verse 7] And Dauid took goldun aarmys and beeȝis, that hadden the seruauntis of Adadezer, and brouȝte hem into Jerusalem. [verse 8] And Dauid the kyng took fro Bethe, and fro Beroth, citees

of Adadezer, ful myche brasse; of the which Salomon made alle the brasen vessels in the temple, and the brasen see, and pilers, and auter. [verse 9] Forsothe Thou, the kyng of Emath, herde that Dauid hadde smyten al the strength of Adad|ezer. [verse 10] And Thou sente Joram, his sone, to kyng Dauid, that he salute hym, thankynge to gidre, and he doo gracis, forthi that he hath ouercomen Adadezer, and smyten hym; forsothe Thou was enemye to Adadezer; and in his hoond weren silueren vessels, and golden vessels, and brasen vessels. [verse 11] The whiche and thoo halwide kyng Dauid to the Lord, with the siluer and gold, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] he hadde halwid of alle the gentils, the [verse 12] whiche he hadde dreuen out of Cyrie, and Moab, and the sones of Amon, and of Philisteis, and Amalech, and of the spoylis of Adadezer, the [Om. C.] sone of Roob, kyng [the kyng E pr. v.] of Soba. [verse 13] Forsothe Dauid made to hym a name, whanne he turnyde aȝen, Cirye taken, in the valey of wodis slayn eiȝteen thousandis, and in Jebelem, at [and A.] thre and twenti thousand. [verse 14] And he putte in Ydume kepers, and sette a strength, and al Ydume is maad seruynge to Dauid; and the Lord kept Dauid in alle thingis, to what euer thingis he wente forth. [verse 15] And Dauid regnyd vpon al Yrael, and Dauid dide dome, and riȝtwysnes to al the [his CE.] puple. [verse 16] Forsothe Joab, the sone of Saruye, was vpon the oost; aftirward Josaphat, the sone of Achilud, was chaun|seleer; [verse 17] and Sadoch, the sone of Achitob, and Achimalech, the sone of Abiathar, [verse 18] weren prestis; and Saraias a scribe. For|sothe Banaias, the sone of Joiade, was vpon archeris and alblasters, `that ben clepid Cerethi and Pherethi [E in marg.] ; forsothe the sones of Dauid weren prestes.

CAP. IX.

[verse 1] And Dauid seide, Whether wenist thou that there be eny man, that is laft of the hows of Saul, that I do with hym mercy for Jonatha? [verse 2] Forsothe there was of the hows of Saul a seruaunt, Cyba bi name; whom whanne the kyng hadde clepid to hym silf, seide to hym, Ert thou not Cyba? And he answerde, Y am thi ser|uaunt. [verse 3] And the kyng seith, Whether is there on lyue eny man of the hows of Saul, that I doo with hym merci [the merci BCEH.] of God? And Ciba seide to the kyng, The sone of Jonatha is on lyue, feble the feet. Where, he seith, is he? [verse 4] And Ciba seide [Om. CEH.] to the kyng, Loo! he seith, he is in the hows of Machir, the sone of Amyel, in Lodobar. [verse 5] Thanne kyng Dauid sente, and took hym fro the hows of Machir, the sone of Amyel, fro Lodobar. [verse 6] For|sothe whanne Myphibosech, the sone of Jonathan, the sone of Saul, was comen to Dauid, he felle into his face, and lowtide. And Dauid seide, Myphibosech! The which answerde, I am nyȝ, thi ser|uaunt. [verse 7] And Dauid seith to hym, Ne dreed thow, for doynge I shal do with thee merci for Jonathan, thi fader; and I shal restore to thee alle the feeldis of Saul, thi fader, and thou shalt eete breed in my bord euermore. [verse 8] The which honour|inge him seith, Who am I, thi seruaunt, whom thou hast biholdyn vpon a deed hownd lijk of me? [verse 9] And so the king clepide Cibam, the child of Saul; and seide to hym, Alle thingis, what euere weren of Saul and al his hous, I haue [verse 10] ȝeuen to the sone of thi lord; wyrk thanne the erthe to hym, thou, and thi sones, and thi seruauntis, and thou shalt brynge yn meetis to the sone of thi lord, that he be nurshid; Myphibosech for|sothe, the sone of thi lord, shal eete euermore breed vpon my bord. Forsothe

there weren of Ciba fifteen sonys and twenti seruauntis. [verse 11] And Ciba seide to the kyng, As thou hast comaundid, my lord kyng, to thi seruaunt, so thi ser|uaunt shal doo; and Myphibosech shal eete vpon thi bord, as oon of the sonys of the kyng. [verse 12] Forsothe Myphibosech hadde a litil sone, Mycha bi name; for|sothe al the kynrede of the hows of Ciba seruede to Myphibosech. [verse 13] But Myphibo|sech dwellide in Jerusalem; for of the bord of the kyng contynueli he eete, and he was halt either foot.

CAP. X.

[verse 1] Forsothe it is doon after thes thingis, that Naas, the kyng of the sonys of Amon, diede; and Anon, his sone, regn|ede for hym. [verse 2] And Dauid seide, I shal doo mercy with Anon, the sone of Naas, as his fader dide merci with me. Thanne sente Dauid comfortynge hym bi his ser|uauntis vpon the fader deth. Forsothe whanne the seruauntis of Dauid weren comen into the loond of the sonis of [verse 3] Amon, the princis of the sones of Amon seiden to Anon, her lord, Wenyst thou that for the worship of thi fader Dauid hath sente to thee coumfortours; and not therfor that he aspie, and serche the citee, and turne it vpsedoun, Dauid hath sente his seruauntis to thee? [verse 4] And so Anon took the seruauntis of Dauid, and shooue the half part of the beerd of hem, and he kittide [kutt BCEFH.] of the mydil clothis of hem vnto the arsis; and he lafte hem. [verse 5] The which whanne was toold to Dauid, he sente into aȝen comynge of hem, for|sothe thei weren men ful foul confoundid. And Dauid sente to hem, Dwellith in Jericho, to the tyme that ȝoure beerd growe, and thanne turneth aȝen. [verse 6] For|sothe the sones of Amon, seynge that thei hadden doo wronge to Dauid, thei senten, and hireden bi mede Cyrie of

Roob, and Cirye of Soba, twenty thou|sandis of foot men, and of the kyng of Maacha a thousand men, and of Istob twelue thousandis of men. [verse 7] The which thing whanne Dauid hadde herd, he sente Joab and al the oost of fiȝters. [verse 8] Thanne the sonys of Amon wenten out, and dressiden sheltrun before hym in the entree of the ȝate. Forsothe Cire of Soba, and Roob, and Istob, and Maacha weren aside in the feeld. [verse 9] Thanne Joab seynge that a batail was maad redi aȝens hym, and fro aȝens and bihynde the bac, he cheese to hym of alle the chosen of Irael, and ordeynde sheltrun aȝens Cyre. [verse 10] For|sothe the tother partye of the puple he took to Abisai, his brothir, the which dresside sheltrun aȝens the sones of Amon. [verse 11] And Joab seith, If Cyres han the ouerhoond aȝens me, thou shalt be to me into help; forsothe if the sones of Amon han the ouerhoond aȝens thee, I [verse 12] shal help to thee; be thou a strong man, and fiȝte we for oure puple, and for the citee of oure God; forsothe the Lord shal do that is good in his siȝt. [verse 13] And so Joab wente yn, and his puple that was with hym, strijf aȝens Cyres, the whiche anoon flowen fro the face of hym. [verse 14] Forsothe the sones of Amon, seynge that the Cyres weren flowen, and thei flowen fro the face of Abisai, and wenten into the citee; and Joab is turned aȝen fro the sonis of Amon, and cam into Jerusalem. [verse 15] For|sothe seynge the Cires that thei hadden fallen before Irael, ben gadrid togidre [Om. E pr. m.] . [verse 16] And Adidazer sente, and brouȝte out the Cirys that weren beȝonde the flood, and brouȝte forth the oost of hem; forsothe Sabath, the maistre of chyualrye [the chyualrye CE.] of Adadezer, was the prince of hem. [verse 17] And whanne it was toold to Dauid, he drewȝ to gidre al Irael, and passide ouere Jor|dan, and cam into Helama. And the

Cires dresseden sheltrun fro aȝens Dauid, and fouȝten aȝens hym. [verse 18] And Cyres flowen fro the face of Irael; and Dauid slowȝ of Cires seuen hundrid chares, and fourti thousandis [thousand BCEFH.] of horsmen; and he smoot Sobach, the prynce of chyualrye, the which anoon is deed. [verse 19] Forsothe seynge alle the kyngis, that weren in the strength of Adadezer, hem to be ven|cusshid of Yrael, maden pees with Irael, and serueden to hem; and Cires dradden to ȝeue help to the sones of Amon.

CAP. XI.

[verse 1] Forsothe it is doon, turnynge the ȝeer that tyme the which kyngis ben wont to goo forth to batails, Dauid sente [sente to E pr. m.] Joab, and with hym his seruauntis, and al Irael; and thei wastiden the sones of Amon, and bisegeden Raba; forsothe Dauid abood stille in Jerusalem. [verse 2] While these thingis weren doo, it felle, that Dauid roos on a dai fro his bed aftir mydday, and wente in the solere of the kyngis hows; and he sawȝ a womman wasshynge hir fro aȝens vpon hir solere; forsothe she was a ful feyr womman. [verse 3] Than Dauid sente, and aserchede, what was the womman; and it is toold to hym, that she was Bersabee, the douȝter of Elyam, the [Om. E pr. m.] wijf of Vrye Ethei. [verse 4] And so Dauid sente messagers, and [Om. BCEFH.] took hir; the which whanne she was goon in to hym, he slepte with hir, and anoon she is halwid fro hir vn|clennes. [verse 5] And she turnede aȝen to hir hows, the fruyt of hir wombe conseyued; and she sendynge toold to Dauid, and seith, I haue conseyued. [verse 6] Forsothe Dauid sente to Joab, seiynge, Send to me Vrie Ethee; and Joab sente Vrye to Dauid. [verse 7] And Vrye cam to Dauid; and Dauid askide, how riȝt dide Joab and the puple, and what maner wise the batail was serued [seuerd A.] . [verse 8] And Dauid seide to Vrye, Go into thin

hows, and wassh thi feet. And Vrye wente out of the kyngis hows, and hym folwide the kyngis meet. [verse 9] Forsothe Vrye slepte before the ȝate of the kyngis hows with othere seruauntis of his lord, and he wente not down to his hows. [verse 10] And it is toold to Dauid of seieris, Vrye wente not to his hows. And Dauid seith to Vrye, Whether not fro `a ferre [the E pr. m.] weye thou cam? whi desendist [descendedest C.] thou [Om. E.] not into thin hows? [verse 11] And Vrie seith to Dauid, The arke of God, and [of E pr. m.] Yrael and Juda dwellen in tentis, and my lord Joab, and the seruauntis of my lord biden vpon the face of the erthe, and I shal go [go out A.] `in to [in AFH.] myn hous, that I ete, and drinke, and slepe with my wijf? Bi thin helth, and bi the helth of thi soule, I shal not doo this thing. [verse 12] Thanne Dauid seith to Vrie, Bijd here also to dai, and to morwe Y shal leeue thee. Vrye bode in Jerusalem that day and the tothere. [verse 13] And Dauyd clepide hym, that he eete before hym and drynk, and he made hym drunke; the which goon out at euen, slepte in his bedde with the [Om. A.] seruauntis of his lord; and he desendide not into his hows. [verse 14] And it is doon thanne eerli, and Dauid wroot a lettre to Joab, [verse 15] and sente bi the hoond of Vrye, wryt|ynge in the lettre, Puttith Vrie fro aȝens of the batail, where the batail is moost strong, and forsakith hym, that he smyten die. [verse 16] Thanne whanne Joab bi|segide the citee, he putte Vrye in the place where he wiste moost stronge men to ben. [verse 17] And the men gon out fro the cite, fouȝten aȝen Joab, and thei slewen of the puple of [Om. A.] the seruauntis of Dauid, and also Vrie Ethee is deed. [verse 18] And so Joab sente, and toolde alle thes wordis of [verse 19] the batail; and comaundide to the mes|sageer, seiynge, Whanne thou hast ful endid alle the wordis of the batail to the [verse 20] kyng, if thou seest hym to han indig|nacioun,

and seye, Whi neȝeden ȝe to the wal for to fiȝte? whether knewen ȝe not, that aboue fro the wal ben sent manye [verse 21] dartis? who smoot Achymalech, the sone of Jeroboal? whether not a womman sente vpon hym a gobet of a myln stoon fro the wal, and slewȝ hym in Thebes? whi biside the wal ȝe wenten to? thow shalt seye, Also thi seruaunt, Vrye Ethee, is slayn. [verse 22] Thanne the messager wente, and cam, and toolde to Dauid alle thingis that Joab comaundide to hym. [verse 23] And the messager seide to Dauid, The men hadden the ouer hoond aȝens vs, and thei wenten out to vs into the feeld; forsothe we, the bure made, pursueden hem vnto the ȝate of the citee. [verse 24] And the sheeters dresseden dartis to thi seruauntis fro the wal aboue, and there ben deed of the seruauntis of the kyng; but also Vrie Ethee, thi seru|aunt, is deed. [verse 25] And Dauid seide to the messager, Thes thingis thou shalt seye to Joab, This thing breke thee not; for|sothe dyuerse is the hap of batail, and now this, now hym wastith the swerd; coumfort thi fiȝters aȝens the cytee, that thou distroye it, and enhurte hem. [verse 26] For|sothe the wijf of Vrye herde, that Vrie her houseboond was deed, and she wei|lide hym. [verse 27] And the weilynge ouere doon, Dauid sente, and brouȝte hir into his hows; and she is maad wijf to hym, and she bare to hym a sone. And the word that Dauid dide displeside before the Lord.

CAP. XII.

[verse 1] Thanne the Lord sente Nathan to Dauid; the which whanne he was comen to hym, seide to hym, Answere to me doom; two men weren in o cytee; oon ryche, and another pore. [verse 2] The riche [verse 3] hadde sheep and oxen ful manye; for|sothe

the pore hadde no thing vtterly, saaf o litil sheep, the which he bouȝte [brouȝte A.] , and norshide, and the which wexe anentis hym with his sonys, togidre of his breed etinge, and of his cup drynk|ynge, and in his bosum slepynge; and it was to hym as a douȝter. [verse 4] Forsothe whanne a maner pylgrym was comen to the riche man, he sparynge to take of the sheep and of his oxen, that he ȝeue a meetshipe to that pilgrym, that cam to hym, took the sheep of the pore man, and maade redi meetis to the man that cam to hym. [verse 5] Forsothe Dauid wrooth ful myche bi indignacioun aȝens that man, seide to Nathan, The Lord lyueth, for the sone of deeth is the man, the [verse 6] which dide that; the sheep he shal ȝeelde into foure foold, forthi that he hath doo this word, and hath not sparyd. [verse 7] Forsothe Nathan seide to Dauid, Thou ert thilk man, that didist this thing. Thes thingis seith the Lord God of Irael, I haue anoyntid thee into kyng vpon Irael, and I haue delyuerde thee fro [verse 8] the hoond of Saul, and ȝeue to thee the hows of thi lord, and the wyues of thi lord in thi bosum, and ȝeuen to thee the hows of Irael, and of Juda; and if thes thingis ben litil, I shulde adde to thee myche more. [verse 9] Whi thanne hast thou dispisid the word of the Lord, that thou doo yuel thingis in my siȝt? Vrye Ethei thou hast smyten with swerd, and the wijf of hym thou hast takyn to thee into wijf, and thou hast slayn hym bi the swerd of the sones of Amon. [verse 10] For what thing swerd of thin hows shal not goo a wey fro thee vnto with outen ende; forthi that thou hast dispised me, and took the wijf of Vrie Ethei, that she were thi wijf. [verse 11] And so thes thingis seith the Lord, Loo! I shal rere vpon thee yuel of thin hows, and I shal taak awey

thi wyues in thin eyen, and ȝyue to thin neiȝbour, and he shal sleepe with thi wyues in the eyen of this sunne. [verse 12] For|sothe thou didist hidyngli; forsothe I shal doo this word in siȝt of al Irael, and in the siȝt of this sunne. [verse 13] And Dauid seide to Nathan, I haue synned to the Lord. And Nathan seide to Dauid, Forsothe the Lord hath ouerborn thi synne; thou shalt not die. [verse 14] Neuerthelater for thou hast maad the enemyes to blas|pheme the name of the Lord, for that word the sone that is born to thee bi deeth shal die. [verse 15] And Nathan is turned aȝen into his hows. And the Lord smoot the litil child, whom the wijf of Vrye bare to Dauid, and he is dispeyrid. [verse 16] And Dauid preyde the Lord for the litil child; and Dauid fastide with fastynge, and wente in aside, and [Om. E.] laye vpon the erthe. [verse 17] Forsothe the eldris of his hows camen, constreynynge hym that he shulde ryse fro the erthe; the whiche wolde not, and eete not with hem meete. [verse 18] For|sothe it felle the seuenthe dai, that the child diede; and the seruauntis of Dauid dradden to telle to hym, that the child was deed; thei seiden forsothe, Loo! whanne the lityl child lyuede, we speken to hym, and he herde not oure voys; how mych more if we seyn the child is deed, he shal turment hym self? [verse 19] Whanne thanne Dauid hadde herd his seruauntis musynge, he vndirstood that the lytyl faunt was deed; and he seide to his seruauntis, Whether the child is deed? The whiche answerden vnto [to BCEFH.] hym, He is deed. [verse 20] Thanne Dauid roos fro the erthe, and he is wasshid [wasshen C.] , and anoynt; and whanne he hadde chaungid clothinge, he wente into the hows of the Lord, and honourde, and cam into his hows; and he askyde, that thei shulden sette to hym breed, and he eete. [verse 21] For|sothe

his seruauntys seiden to hym, What is the word that thou hast doon? For the litil faunt, whanne he ȝit lyuede, thou fastidist and weptist; forsothe the child deed, thou roos and eete breed? [verse 22] The which seith, For the faunt whanne he ȝit lyuede I fastide and wepte; for|sothe I seide, Who woot, if perauenture the Lord ȝyue hym to me, and the faunt lyue? [verse 23] Forsothe now for he is deed, whi fast I? whether shal I mowe more ouer clepe hym aȝen? I shal more goo to hym, forsothe he shal not turne aȝen to me. [verse 24] And Dauid coumfortide Bersabe, his wijf, and wente into hir, and slepte with hir. The which gat a sone, and clepide the name of hym Salomon; and the Lord louyde hym. [verse 25] And he sente hym in the hoond of Nathan, the prophet; and he clepide the name of hym Loueli to the Lord, forthi that the Lord shulde loue hym. [verse 26] Thanne Joab fauȝt aȝens Rabath, kyng of the sones of Amon, and he hath ouercomen the kyngis citee. [verse 27] And Joab sente messagers to Dauid, seiynge, I haue fouȝten aȝens Rabath, and the citee of watres is to be taken. [verse 28] Now thanne gadre the tother parti of the puple, and bisege the citee, and tak it, lest whanne the citee were wastid of me, to my name the victorie be ascriued. [verse 29] And so Dauid gadride al the puple, and wente forth aȝens Rabath; and whanne he hadde fouȝten, he took it. [verse 30] And he took the diademe fro the mawmet, that is clepid the kyng of hem, fro his heed, in weiȝt of gold a talent, hauynge moost precious gemmys; and it is put vpon the heed of Dauid; but and ful myche praye of the cyte he bare out. [verse 31] And bryngynge forth sawede [sauede A.] the puple of it, and ladde about vpon hem boostful yren carris, and he dyuydide with sharys, and he piȝt thurȝ in the shap of the sidis; thus he

dide to alle the citees of the sonys of Amon. And Dauid is turned aȝen, and alle the oost of hym, into Jerusalem.

CAP. XIII.

[verse 1] Forsothe it is doon after thes thingis, that Amon, the sone of Dauid, louede the sister of Absolon, the sone of Da|uid, [verse 2] moost fayre, Thamar by name; and `peyrede for [spillede in to E pr. m.] hir ful myche, so that for the loue of hir he wexe sijk. The which for she was a mayde, hard to hym it semede, that eny thing vnhonestly he shulde do with hir. [verse 3] Forsothe there was to Amon a freende, Jonadab bi name, the sone of Semaa, brother [the brothir E pr. m.] of Dauid, a ful sleiȝ man. [verse 4] The which seide to hym, Whi thus ert thou waastid bi leenesse, thou sone of the kyng, bi ech dai? whi shewist thou not to me? And Amon seide to hym, I loue Thamar, the sister of my brother Absolon. [verse 5] To whom an|swerde Jonadab, Ly vpon thi bedde, and feyn sijknes; and whanne thi fader cometh, that he visite thee, sey to hym, Come [Om. A.] , I preye, Thamar [that Thamar A.] , my sister [sister come A.] , that she ȝyue to me meet, and make sowil [sowfful H.] , that I eete of hyr hoond. [verse 6] And so Amon laye doun, as thouȝ he wexe sijk. And whanne the kyng was comen to visite hym, Amon seith to the kyng, Come, I preye, Thamar, my sister, that she make in myn eyen two maner of potagis, and the [Om. A. me B.] meet maad redi I take of hir hoond. [verse 7] Thanne Dauid sente to the hous of Thamar, seiynge, Go in to the hows of Amon, thi brothir, and mak to hym potage. [verse 8] And Thamar cam into the hows of Amon, hir brothir. Forsothe he laye; the which takynge meele mengide

togidir, and meltynge in his eyen she [verse 9] sethide [seth C.] the supettis; and takynge that she hadde sothen, she helte out, and sette before hym, and he wolde not eete. And Amon seide, Doo ȝe [Om. E pr. m.] a wey alle men [Om. E pr. m.] fro me. And whanne alle weren doon awey, [verse 10] Amon seide to Thamar, Beer yn the meet in the priue chaumbre, that I eete of thin hoond. Thanne Thamar took the sewis that she hadde maad, and brouȝte to Amon, hir brother, in the priue chaum|bre. [verse 11] And whanne she hadde brouȝte hym meet, he cauȝte hir, and seith, Come, ly with me, my sister. [verse 12] The which answerde to hym, Wole thou not, my brother, wole thou not oppresse me, ne forsothe it is leeueful in Irael; wole thou not doo this foli. [verse 13] Forsothe I shal not mowe bere my reproof, and thou shalt be as oon of the vnwise men in Irael; but rather spek to the kyng, and he shal not denye me to thee. [verse 14] Forsothe he wolde not assent to the preyers of hir, but more myȝti bi strengthis oppresside hir, and laye with hir. [verse 15] And ful haatsum Amon hadde hir with to myche greet haate, so that the haat was more, that he hatide hir, thanne the loue that he louede hir before. And Amon seide to hir, Ryse, and goo. [verse 16] The whych answerde to hym, This yuel is more that thou now dost aȝens me, cast|ynge me out, `than that [than A. and than BFH.] thou didist be|fore. [verse 17] And he wolde not here hir; but the child clepide, that seruede to hym, he seide, Throw out this fro me, and close the dore after hir. [verse 18] The which was clothid with a coote doun to the heele; forsothe sich maner clothis vseden the douȝtris of the kyng maydens. And so his seruaunt putte hyre out, and closide the dore after hire. [verse 19] The which spryng|ynge asshen [askes BCEFH.] to hire heed, the heele coot

kyt, and [Om. A.] the hoondis put on hire heed, she ȝede goynge yn and criynge. [verse 20] For|sothe Absolon, hir brother, seide to hyre, Whether Amon, thi brother, hath lyen with thee? And now, sister, hold thi pees; thi brothir he is, ne turment thin herte for this thing. And so [loo BEF.] Thamar aboode [bod C. boid E. boode BFH.] languysshynge there with ynne the hows of Absolon, hir brothir. [verse 21] For|sothe whanne Dauid hadde herd thes wordis, he greetli sorwide, and he wolde not make sori the spirite of Amon, his sone; for he louide hym, for he was the firste goten of [to BCEFH.] hym. [verse 22] Forsothe Absolon spak not to Amon, ne yuel ne good; but Absolon hatide Amon, forthi that he hadde defoulid Thamar, his sister. [verse 23] For|sothe it is doon after the tyme of two ȝeer, that the sheep of Absolon weren clippid in Baalassor, that is biside Ef|fraym. And Absolon clepide alle the sonys of the kyng. [verse 24] And he cam to the kyng, and seith to hym, Loo! the sheep of thi seruaunt ben clippid; come, I preye, the kyng with his seruauntis to his seruaunt. [verse 25] And the kyng seide to Absolon, Wole thou not, sone myn, preye, wole thou not, that we comen alle, and greuen thee. Forsothe whanne he con|streynede him, and wolde not come, he blesside to hym. [verse 26] And Absolon seith to Dauid, If thou wolt not come, come algate with vs, I biseche, Amon, my brother. And the kyng seide to hym, It is no nede, that he goo with thee. [verse 27] And so Absolon constreynede hym; and he lafte with hym Amon, and alle the sones of the kyng. And Absolon made a feest as the feest of a kyng. [verse 28] Forsothe Absolon hadde comaundid to his children, sei|ynge, Weitith wel, whanne Amon were dronken with wyn, and I shal seye to ȝou, Smitith hym, and sleeth. Wole ȝe not drede, forsothe I am that comaunde

to ȝou; be ȝe maad stronge, and beth stronge men. [verse 29] Thanne the children [childer CE.] of Absolon diden aȝens Amon, as Absolon hadde comaundid to hem; and alle the sones of the kyng rysynge, eche styede vpon her mulis, and flowen. [verse 30] And whanne ȝit thei wenten in the weye, fame cam fulli to Dauyd, seiynge, Absolon hath smytyn alle the sones of the kyng, and there lafte not of hem nameli oone. [verse 31] And so the kyng roos, and kytte his clothis, and felle vpon the erthe; and alle his seruauntis that stoden nyȝ to hym, cut|ten her clothis. [verse 32] Forsothe Jonadab, the sone of Semmaa, brother [the brother E pr. m.] of Dauid, an|swerynge seide, Ne eyme, my lord the kyng, that alle the children, sones of the kyng, ben deed; Amon alone is deed, for in haat Absolon was sett, fro the day that he oppresside Thamar, his sister. [verse 33] Now thanne, my lord kyng, sette not on his herte this word, seiynge, Alle the sones of the kyng ben slayn; for Amon aloon is deed. [verse 34] Forsothe Absolon fleiȝ. And the child weyter heuede vp his eyen, and bihelde, and loo! myche puple cam bi the out weye fro the side of the hil. [verse 35] And Jonadab seide to the kyng, Loo! the sones of the kyng ben nyȝ; after the word of thi seruaunt, so it is doon. [verse 36] And whanne he hadde ceside to speke, `aper|iden and the sones of the kyng [the sones of the kyng aperiden A.] ; and comynge yn thei rereden her vois, and wepten; but and the kyng and alle his seruauntis wepten with ful myche greet wepynge. [verse 37] Forsothe Absolom fleynge wente to Tholamay, sone of Amyur, kyng of Gethsur. Thanne Dauid weyl|ide Amon, his sone, manye dais. [verse 38] For|sothe Absolon, whanne he was flowen, and comen into Gethsur, he was there thre ȝeer. [verse 39] And kyng Dauid cesede to pursue Absolon, forthi that he was coumfortid vpon the deeth of Amon.

CAP. XIV.

[verse 1] Forsothe Joab, the sone of Saruy, vndurstondynge, that the herte of the [verse 2] kyng was turned to Absolon, he sente to Thekuam, and took thens a wise womman, and he seide to hir, Feyne thee to weil, and be clothid with the weilynge clooth, and be thou not anoynt with oyle, that thou be as a womman now myche tyme weilynge the deed. [verse 3] And thou shalt goo in to the kyng, and thou shalt speek to hym thes maner wordis. Forsothe Joab putte the wordis in hire mouth. [verse 4] And so whanne the Thek|uyd womman was goon out to the kyng, she felle before hym vpon the erthe, and lowtide, and seide, Keep me, thou king. [verse 5] And the kyng seide to hire, What hast thou of cause? The which answerde, Alas! a womman widowe I am, forsothe [verse 6] my man is deed; and of thin hoond womman weren two sones, the whiche wraththeden aȝens hem self in the feeld, and no man was that hem myȝte de|fende, and the toon [tother BCEFH.] smoot the tother, and slowȝ hym. [verse 7] And loo! al the kyn|rede risynge aȝens thin hoond womman seith, Tak hym that hath smytyn his brothir, that we sleen hym for the lijf of his brother whom he slowȝ, and the eyr doo we a wey; and thei sechen to quench my spark that is laft, that there be not laft name to my man, and relikis vpon erthe. [verse 8] And the kyng seith to the womman, Go into thin hows, and I shal ordeyn for thee. [verse 9] And the Thekuyt womman seide to the kyng, In me, my lord kyng, be this wickidnes, and into the hows of my fader; forsothe the kyng and his trone be innocent. [verse 10] And the king seith, Who so [Om. BCEFH.] aȝen seith [seith to C.] thee, bryng hym to me, and he shal no more adde that he touche thee. [verse 11] The which seith, The kyng recoorde of the Lord

his God, and be there not multiplied `the kyn [neȝebores E pr. m.] of the blood to wreche, and thei shulen not sle my sone. The which seith, The Lord lyueth, for there shal not falle of the erys of thi sone vpon the erthe. [verse 12] Thanne the womman seyde, Spek thin hoond womman to my lord kyng a word. And he seith, Spek. [verse 13] And the womman seide, Whi hast thou thouȝt siche a maner thing aȝens the puple of God? and the kyng hath spoken this word, that he synne, and that he brynge not aȝen his casten out? [verse 14] Alle we dyen, and as watres we sliden into the erthe, that shulen not be turned aȝen; and God wole not perishe the lijf, but withdraw|ith, thenkynge lest fulli he perishe, that is cast [past A.] awey. [verse 15] Now thann come, that I spek to my lord kyng this word, pre|sent the puple; and thin hondwomman seide, I shal speke to the kyng, if eny maner the kyng doo the word of his hoond womman. [verse 16] And the kyng herde `the word [Om. E pr. m.] , that he delyuer his hond|womman fro the hoond of alle, that wolden fro the erytage of the Lord doo me a wey, and my sone to gidre. [verse 17] Sey thanne thin hondwomman, that the word of my lord the kyng be maad as sacri|fice; forsothe as the aungel of the Lord, so is my lord kyng [the kyng CE.] , that nether bi blessynge ne bi cursynge he be meuyd. Wherfor and the Lord thi God is with thee. [verse 18] And the kyng answerynge seide to the womman, Ne hijd thou fro me the word that I aske. And the wom|man seide to hym, Spek, my lord kyng. [verse 19] And the kyng seith, Whether the hoond of Joab is with thee in alle these? The womman answerde, and seith, Bi the helth of thi soule, my lord kyng, ne at the left ne at the riȝt he is of alle thes thingis, the whiche my lord kyng [the kyng CE.] hath spoken. Forsothe thi seruaunt Joab he comaundide to me, and he putte in the

mouth of thin hoond womman alle thes [verse 20] wordis, that I turne the figure of this word; forsothe thi seruaunt Joab co|maundide this. Forsothe thou, my lord kyng, ert wise, as the aungel of God hath wisdom, that thou vndirstonde alle thingis vpon erthe. [verse 21] And the kyng seith to Joab, Loo! plesid I haue doo thi word; go thanne, and cleep aȝen the child Absolon. [verse 22] And Joab fallynge vpon his face into the erthe, honourde, and blisside to the kyng; and Joab seide, To dai hath thi seruaunt vndurstonde, for I haue foundun grace in thin eyen, my lord kyng; forsothe thou hast doon the word of thi seruaunt. [verse 23] Thanne Joab roos, and wente into Gethsur, and brouȝte Absolon into Jerusalem. [verse 24] For|sothe the kyng seide, Turne he aȝen into his hows, and se he not my face. [verse 25] And so Absolon is turned aȝen into his hows, and the face of the kyng he sawȝ not. Forsothe there was not a man as feyr as Absolon in al Irael, and ful miche semeli; fro the stap of the foot vnto the top, there was not in hym eny spot; [verse 26] and the more that he doddide the heeris, so mych more thei wexen; forsothe onys in the ȝeer he was doddid, for the heere heuyde hym. He weiede the heeris of his heed with two hundred siclis bi the comoun weiȝt. [verse 27] Forsothe there been born to Absolon thre sones, aud o douȝ|ter, Thamar bi name, of sembli shap. [verse 28] And Absolon dwellide in Jerusalem two ȝeer, and sawȝ not the face of the kyng. [verse 29] And so he sente [wente B.] to Joab, that he shulde sende hym to the kyng; the which wolde not come to hym. And whanne the secounde he hadde sent, and he wold [verse 30] not come, he seide to his seruauntis, Ȝe knowen the feelde of Joab biside my feelde hauynge barli corn; gooth thanne, and brenneth it vp with fier. Thanne

the seruauntis of Absolon brenten the corn with fier. And the seruauntis of Joab comynge, her clothis kut, seiden, The seruauntis of Absolon han brent vp a partie of the feelde with fier. [verse 31] And Joab roos, and cam to Absolon into his hows, and seide, Whi han thi seruauntis brente vp my corn with fier? [verse 32] And Absolon answerde to Joab, I haue sente to thee, preiynge that thou come to me, and I sende thee to the kyng, that thou seie to hym, Whi cam I fro Gethsur? Betere it was to me to be there; I biseche thanne, that I see the face of the kyng, that if he haue mynde of my shrewidnes, he slee me. [verse 33] Joab goon yn to the kyng tolde to hym. And Absolon clepid wente yn to the kyng, and he lowtide upon the face of the erthe before hym, and the kyng kisside Absolon.

CAP. XV.

[verse 1] Thanne after thes thingis Absolon made to hym a chaar, and horsmen, and fifti men that shulden goo before hym [Om. B.] . [verse 2] And eerli risynge Absolon stood biside the entre of the ȝate in the weye; and eche man, that hadde a neede that he com to the dom of the kyng, Absolon clepide to hym self, and seide, Of what citee ert thou? The which answer|ynge seide, Of a [oon BEF. O C. one H.] lynage of Yrael I am, thi seruaunt. [verse 3] And Absolon answerde to hym, To me thi wordis semen good and iust, but there is not `the which [that C pr. m.] `thee heere ordeyned [ordeyn thee heere A.] of the kyng. And Abso|lon [verse 4] seide, Who ordeyneth me domesman vpon the loond, that to me comen alle that han neede, and riȝtwisly Y deme? [verse 5] But whanne a man neiȝede to hym for to salute hym, he strauȝte out his hoond, [verse 6] and takynge he kisside [kiste E.] hym; and that

he dide to al Yrael, the which cam to dom that he were herd of the king; and he biside the hertis of the men of Yrael. [verse 7] Forsothe aftir fourti ȝeer Absolon seide to kyng Dauid, I shal go, and ȝeelde my vowis, that I vowide to the Lord in [verse 8] Ebron; forsothe vowynge thi seruaunt vowide, whanne he was in Gethsur of Syrie, seiynge, If the Lord brynge me aȝen into Jerusalem, I shal sacrifie [sacrificen BCFH.] to the Lord. [verse 9] And the kyng seide to hym, Goo in pees. And he roos, and wente into Ebron. [verse 10] Forsothe Absolon sente a|spies into alle the lynagis of Yrael, seiynge, Anoon [Anoon forsothe E pr. v.] that ȝe heren the noyse of the trumpe, seith, Absolon shal regne in Ebron. [verse 11] Forsothe with Absolon wenten two hundred men clepid of Jerusalem [the Jerusalem A.] , goynge with symple herte, and the cause fulli vnknowynge. [verse 12] Forsothe Absolon clepide Achitophel Gilonyte, the coun|selour of Dauid, fro his cite Gilo. And whanne he hadde offrid slayn sacrifice, there is maad a strong coniurysoun, and the puple rennynge togidre encreside with Absolon. [verse 13] Thanne cam a messager to Dauid, seiynge, With al the herte al Yrael folowith Absolon. [verse 14] And Dauid seith to his seruauntis that weren with hym in Jerusalem, Risith, and flee we; forsothe ne there shal be to vs fliȝt fro the face of Absolon; hieth to goon out, lest perauenture he comynge ocupie vs, and fulfille vpon vs fallynge, and smyte the cite in mouth [the mouth H.] of swerd [the swerd E.] . [verse 15] And the ser|uauntis of the kyng seiden to hym, Alle thingis, what euere comaundith oure lord the kyng, gladli we folowen out, thi seruauntis. [verse 16] Thanne the kynge wente out, and al hys hows, on her feet; and the kyng lafte ten secoundarie wyues to the hows to be kept. [verse 17] And the kyng goon out, and al Yrael, on her feet, stoode afer fro the hows. [verse 18] And alle his ser|uauntis wenten biside hym, and the

legiouns Cerethi and Pherethi, and al Gethei stronge fiȝters, the sexe hundrid men, that hadden folwid hym fro Geth on foot, wenten before the kyng. [verse 19] For|sothe the kyng seide to Ethei Gethee, Whi comyst thou with vs? Turn aȝen, and dwel with the kyng for a pilgrime thou art, and wentist out fro thi place. [verse 20] Ȝisterday [ȝistai C et E passim.] thou cam, and to day thou ert compellid to goo out with vs. Forsothe I shal goo, whider I am to goo; turn aȝen, and leede aȝen with thee thi britheren, and the Lord doo with thee merci and trewth, for thou hast shewid grace and feith. [verse 21] And Ethei answerde to the kyng, seiynge, The Lord lyueth, and my lord the kyng lyueth, for in what euere place thou were, my lord kyng, other in deeth or in lijf, there shal be thi seruaunt. [verse 22] And Dauid seith to Ethai, Come, and passe forth. And Ethei Gethee passide forth, and the kyng, and alle the men that with hym weren, and the tother multitude. [verse 23] And alle thei wepten with a greet voys, and al the puple passide forth; the kyng forsothe wente ouer the streem of Cedron, and al the puple wente aȝens the weye of the olyue, that bihold|ith to deseert. [verse 24] And Sadoch the preest cam, and alle the Leuytis with hym, berynge the arke of the boond of pees of God, and thei setten doun the arke of God; and Abiathar stiede vp, to the tyme that alle the puple weren [was A.] ful comen that was goon out fro the citee. [verse 25] And the kyng seide to Sadoch, Beer aȝen the arke of God into the citee; if I shal fynde grace in the eyen of the Lord, he shal leede me aȝen, and shewe to me it and his tabernacle. [verse 26] Forsothe if he shal seye, Thou plesist not to me; prest I am, do he that is good before hym. [verse 27] And the kyng seide to Sadoch the preest, O seere [sire A. seare C. sere FH.] , turne aȝen into the cite in pees, and

Achymaas, thi sone, and Jonathan, the sone of Abiathar, ȝoure two sonys, be thei with ȝou. [verse 28] Loo! I shal be hid in the wijlde feeldis of deseert, to the tyme that the word come from ȝou, shewynge to me. [verse 29] Thanne Sadoch and Abiathar beren aȝen the arke of God into Jerusalem, and dwelliden there. [verse 30] But Dauid stiede vp the hil of olyues, stiynge and wepynge, the heede couerde, and the feet nakid goynge; but and al the puple that was with hym, the heed couerde, stieden vp wepynge. [verse 31] Forsothe it is toold to Dauid, that Achitophel was in the coniurynge with Absolon; and Dauid seide, Lord, I biseche, mak foli the counseil of Achi|tophel. [verse 32] And whanne Dauid stiede vp the cop of the hil, in the which he was to preye the Lord, loo! Cusy Arachites aȝen cam to hym, the clothing kut, and the heed ful of erthe. [verse 33] And Dauid seide to hym, If thou comyst with me, thou shalt [verse 34] be to me to [Om. C.] chargynge [charge BEF.] ; forsothe if thou turnest aȝen into the citee, and seist to Absolon, Thi seruaunt I am, kyng, suf|fre me to lyue; as I was the seruaunt of thi fadre, so I shal be thi seruaunt; thou shalt scatyr the counseyl of Achitophel. [verse 35] Forsothe thou hast with thee Sadoch and Abiathar, preestis; and eche word, what euere thou herist in the hows of the kyng, thou shalt shewe to the prestis, Sadoch and Abiathar. [verse 36] For|sothe there ben with hem her two sonys, Achymaas, the sone of Sadoch, and Jo|nathan, the sone of Abiathar; and ȝe shulen seende bi hem to me al the word that ȝe shulen here. [verse 37] Thanne comynge Chusa, the freend of Dauid, into the citee, forsothe Absolon is comen into Jerusalem.

CAP. XVI.

[verse 1] And whanne Dauid hadde goon a litil the cop of the hil, Ciba, the child of Myphibosech, aperide into aȝen com|ynge of hym, with two assis, that weren chargid with two hundrid loouys, and an hundred bundels of dried grapis, and an hundred peysis of fijgis [dried figgis E pr. m.] pressid, and with two botels of wyn. [verse 2] And the kyng seide to Cyba, What to hem wolen thes thingys? And Ciba answerde, My lord kyng, the assis, that the hoomli men of the kyng sitten on; the loouis and the fijgis, to thi children for to eete; forsothe the wyn, that he drynke, who so failith in deseert. [verse 3] And the kyng seith, Where is the sone of thi lord? And Ciba an|swerde to the kyng, He abood [bood BEFH. bod. C.] stille in Jerusalem, seiynge, To day shal the `hows of Yrael restore to me [Lord restoren to me the housis of Israel and E pr. m.] the kyngdam of my fader. [verse 4] And the kyng seith to Cyba, Alle thingis [Om. CEFH.] that weren of Miphibosech ben thin. And Cyba seide, I preye, fynde I grace before thee, my lord kyng. [verse 5] Thanne kyng Dauid cam into Bahurym, and loo! there wente out a man thens of the kynrede of the hows of Saul, Semei bi name, the sone of Gera; he wente [verse 6] forth goynge out, and cursyde. And he sente stonus aȝens Dauid, and aȝens alle the seruauntis of king Dauid; forsothe al the puple, and alle the fiȝters fro the riȝt and fro the left side of the kyng wenten. [verse 7] Forsothe thus spak Semei, whanne he curside to the kyng, Go out, go out, thou man of bloodis, and man of [verse 8] Belial! The Lord hath ȝoldyn to thee al the blood of the hows of Saul, for thou hast reued the kyngdam fro [for BCEF.] hym; and the Lord hath ȝouun the kyngdam in the hoond of Absolon, thi sone; and loo! thin euels beren thee doun, for a man

of blodis thou art. [verse 9] Forsothe Abisai, the sone of Seruye, seide to the kyng, Whi cursith this dog to diynge [dien C.] to my lord kyng [the kyng C.] ? I shal goo, and girde of his heed. [verse 10] And the kyng seith, What is to me and to ȝou, ȝe sonys of Saruye? Letith hym, that he curse; forsothe the Lord comaundide to hym that he curse Dauid; and who is that dar seie, Whi thus he doth? [verse 11] And the kyng seith to Abisai, and to alle his seruauntis, Loo! my sone, that is goon out fro my wombe, sechith my lijf; mych more now this sone of Geminy `cursith to me [Om. E pr. m.] ? Letith hym, that he curse after the heest of the [verse 12] Lord; if perauenture the Lord beholde my tourmentynge, and ȝeelde to me good for this cursynge to dai. [verse 13] And so Dauid wente, and his felawis, bi the weie with hym; forsothe Semei wente cursynge aȝens hym bi the cop [ȝok E pr. m.] of the hil aside, and [and he E pr. m.] sendynge stoonus aȝens hym, and the erthe sprengynge. [verse 14] And so kyng Dauid cam, and al the puple with hym wery, and there thei ben refreshid. [verse 15] For|sothe Absolon, and al the puple of Irael wenten into Jerusalem, but and Achi|tophel with hym. [verse 16] Forsothe whann Cusay Arachites [Archites A.] , the freend of Dauid, was comen to Absolon, he spak to hym, Heil, kyng [Om. H.] ! [verse 17] heil, kyng! To whom Absolon, This is, he seith, thi grace to thi freend; whi hast thou not goo with thi freend? [verse 18] And Cusai answerde to Absolon, Nay, for of hym I shal be, whom the Lord chesith, and al this puple, and al Yrael; and with hym Y shal dwelle. [verse 19] `But and this I shal brynge [That and these thingus I brynge E pr. m.] yn, to whom am I to serue? whe|ther not to the sone of the kyng? as I obeysshide to thi fadir, so and I shal obeishe to thee. [verse 20] Forsothe Absolon seide to Achithophel, Goo ȝe into counseyl, what we owen to doon. [verse 21] And Achithophel seith to Absolon, Go into the secundarye wyues

of thi fadre, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] he hath laft at the hows to be kept; that whanne al Yrael herith, that thou hast defoulid thi fader, the hoondis of hem ben strengthid with thee. [verse 22] Thanne thei strauȝten out to Absolon a tabernacle in the solere, and he wente into the secundarye wyues of his fader before al Irael. [verse 23] Forsothe the counseil that Achithophel ȝaf in thoo dais, as if a man counseilde God; so was al the counseil of Achithophel, and whanne he was with Dauid, and whanne he was with Absolon.

CAP. XVII.

[verse 1] Thanne seide Achitophel to Absolon, I shal chese to me twelue thousandis of men, and rysynge I shal pursue Dauid this niȝt. [verse 2] And fallynge forsothe vpon hym that is wery, and the hoondis fe|blid, I shal smyte hym; and whanne al the puple fleeth that is with hym, I shal smyte the kyng desolate. [verse 3] And I shal brynge aȝen al the puple, what maner o man is wont to be turned aȝen; forsothe o man thou sechist, and al the puple shal ben in pees. [verse 4] And his word pleside to Absolon, and to alle the more thurȝ birth of Yrael. [verse 5] Forsothe Absolon seith, Clepe ȝe and Cusai Arachite, and here we what also he seith. [verse 6] And whan Cusai was comen to Absolon, Absolon seith to hym, Siche a maner word spak Achitophel; shul we doo, or nay? what counseil ȝyuest thou? [verse 7] And Cusay seide to Absolon, It is not good this counseil, that Achithophel hath ȝouun at this tyme. [verse 8] And eft Cusay brouȝte yn, Thou hast knowen thi fader, and the men that with hym ben, to ben moost stronge, and in bitter wil, as if a she bere wexe feers in the wijlde wode, rauysshid the whelpis; but and thi fader is a man fiȝter, and he shal not dwelle with the puple. [verse 9] Perauenture now he

lurkith in dichis, or in a [oon BEF. O C. one H.] place where he wole; and whanne oon fallith, eche in the bigynnynge shal here, who so euere herith, and shal seye, There is maad veniaunce in the puple that pursuede Absolon. [verse 10] And eche moost strong, whos is the herte as of a lioun, shal be feblid for drede; forsothe al the puple of Yrael woot thi fader to be strong, and alle stronge, that with hym ben. [verse 11] But this semeth to me to be riȝt counseil; be gedrid to thee al the puple, fro Dan vnto Bersabe, vnnoum|brable as the grauel of the see; and thou shalt be in the myddis of hem. [verse 12] And we shulen falle vpon him, in what euer place he were foundun, and we shulen couer hym, as dewe is wont to falle on the erthe; and we shulen not leeue of the men that with hym ben, forsothe not oone. [verse 13] And if he were goon in eny citee, al Yrael shal wyynde aboute that citee coordis, and we shulen drawe it into the streem, that there be not foundun for|sothe of it not a litil stoon. [verse 14] And Absolon seide, and alle the men of Irael, Betere is the counseil of Cusai Arachite thanne the counseil of Achithophel; for|sothe thurȝ [thour A.] the wil of the Lord is scaterid the [to B.] profitable counseil of Achi|thophel, that the Lord brynge yn yuel vpon Absolon. [verse 15] And Cusay seith to the preestys, Sadoch and Abiathar, This and this maner Achithophel ȝaf counseil to Absolon, and to the eldres of Yrael, and I ȝaf sich counseil and sich. [verse 16] Now thanne sendith soone, and tellith to Dauid, seiynge, Ne abide thou this niȝt in the wijlde feeldis of deseert, but with out tariynge weende ouer; lest perauen|ture the kyng be soopen a wey, and al the puple that is with hym. [verse 17] Forsothe Jonathan and Achymas stoden biside the welle of Rogel; an hondwomman ȝede,

and toolde to hem, and thei wenten forth, that thei tellen to kyng [the kyng E pr. m.] Dauid the mes|sage; forsothe thei myȝten not be seen, or go [to go E pr. m.] into the cytee. [verse 18] Forsothe a maner child sawȝ hem, and toolde to Absolon; forsothe thei wenten in a swift paase in [Om. CEFH.] the hows of a maner man in Bahurym, that hadde a pit in his vestiarye, and thei descendiden into [in E pr. m.] it. [verse 19] Forsothe a womman took, and strauȝte out a couer|ynge vpon the mouth of the pit, as driynge pild barli, and so the thing is hid. [verse 20] And whanne the seruauntis of Ab|solon weren comen into the hows, thei seiden to the womman, Where is Achy|mas and Jonathan? And the womman answerde to hem, Thei wenten hiyngli, a litil wiȝt water taastid. And thes that souȝten, whanne thei founden not, thei turneden aȝen into Jerusalem. [verse 21] And whanne thei weren goon, they stieden vp fro the pit; and goynge toolden to kyng Dauid, and seiden, Ryseth, and soone goth ouer the flood, for sich maner counseil ȝaf Achithophel aȝens ȝou. [verse 22] Thanne Dauid roos, and al the puple that was with hym, and thei passiden Jordan, to the tyme that the dai `were liȝtid [liȝtede CE.] , or the word were puplishid; and not oone forsothe was laft, that passide not the flood. [verse 23] Forsothe Achitophel seynge, that his counseil was not doon, made redi his asse, and roos, and wente into hys hows, and into his citee; and his hows disposid, he diede bi hoongynge, and is biried in the sepulcre of his fader. [verse 24] Forsothe Dauid cam into stronge placis, and Ab|solon passide ouer Jordan, he and alle the men of Yrael with hym. [verse 25] Forsothe Absolon sette Amasan for Joab vpon the oost; forsothe Amasan was the sone of a man that was clepid Gethra of Jezreli, that wente into Abigayl, the

douȝter of Naas, sister of Saruye, that was the moder of Joab. [verse 26] And Irael sette [sente A.] tentis with Absolon in the loond of Galaad. [verse 27] And whanne Dauid was comen into the defensable placis, Sobi, the sone of Naas of Rabath [Babath ABH.] , of the sonys of Amon, and Machir, the sone of Amyel, of Lodobar, and Berzellay Galadite, of [verse 28] Rogelym, offreden to hym couerynge clothis, and tapetis, and erthen vessels, whete, and barli, and meele, and powned corn, and benen, and potage, and fryed `gederynge of corns, that is clepid cycer [chichis E pr. m.] , [verse 29] and hony, and bottre, and sheep, and fatte calues. And thei ȝyuen to Dauid, and to the puple that was with hym, for to ete; forsothe thei ouertroweden the puple to be feyntid [weri E pr. m.] in the [Om. CEFH.] deseert bi hungre and threst.

CAP. XVIII.

[verse 1] Dauid thanne, his [the E pr. m.] puple biholden [byhold|ynge H.] , ordeynde vpon hem leders of thousandis, and leders of hundridis. [verse 2] And he ȝaf the thridde parti of the puple vndir the hoond of Joab; and the thridde vndur the hoond of Abisai, the sone of Seruye, the brothir of Joab; and the thridde vndur the hoond of Ethay, that was of Geth. And the kyng seide to the puple, And I shal goon out with ȝou. [verse 3] And the puple answerde, Thou shalt not goo out; forsothe whether we fleen, it shal not perteyne to hem in greet forse of vs; or the half partie falle fro vs, thei shulen not retche [recche CH.] anow, for thou oone for ten thousandis ert [schalt ben E pr. m.] countyd; beter it is thanne, that thou be to vs in the cytee to socour. [verse 4] To whom seith the kyng, That to ȝou semeth riȝt, that I shal doo. Thanne the kyng stoode biside the ȝaate, and the puple wente out bi her cum|panyes, bi [Om. BCEFH.] hundredis and thousandis.

[verse 5] And the kyng comaundide to Joab, and Abisai, and Ethay, seiynge, Kepith to me the child Absolon. And al the puple herde the kyng comaundynge to alle the princis for Absolon. [verse 6] And so the puple wente into the feelde aȝens Yrael; and a batail is doon in the wijld wode of Effraym. [verse 7] And the puple of Irael is there hewen doun of the oost of Dauid, and there is doon a greet slauȝter in that day of twenti thousand. [verse 8] Forsothe there was the batail sparpoild vpon the face of al the loond, and manye mo weren whom the wijlde wode waastide of the puple, than thei whom the swerd deuowrede [vowrede CEFH.] in that day. [verse 9] Forsothe it felle, that Ab|solon aȝencam to the seruauntis of Dauid, sittynge vpon [on E.] a muyl; and whanne the muyle wente yn vndur a thik ook, and a greet, the heed of hym cleuyde to the ook; and hym hongid bitwix heuene and erthe, the muyle, to the which he satte in, passide forth. [verse 10] Forsothe a maner man sawȝ that, and toolde to Joab, seiynge, I sawȝ Absolon hongynge fro an ook. [verse 11] And Joab seith to the man that toolde hym, If thou sawȝ, whi stikist thou not hym with the erthe, and I shulde haue ȝyue to thee ten ciclis of siluer, and a knyȝtis girdil? [verse 12] The which seide to Joab, If thou peysedist in myn hoondis a thou|sand silueren platis, I shulde not putte myn hoond into the sone of the kyng; forsothe herynge vs, the kyng comaund|ide to thee, and to Abisai, and to Ethai, seiynge, Kepith to me the child Absolon. [verse 13] But and if I hadde doon aȝens my soul foolhardili, that myȝte not the kyng vn|knowe, and thou shuldist stoond forn aȝens. [verse 14] And Joab seith, Not as thou wolt, but I shal goo to hym before thee. Thanne Joab took three speris in his hoond, and piȝte hem in the herte of Absolon. And whanne ȝit he qwappide

[verse 15] cleuynge in the ook, ten ȝonge squyers of Joab runnen, and smytynge slowen hym. [verse 16] Forsothe Joab sownede with the trumpe, and with heelde the puple, that he pur|suede not Irael fleynge, wylnynge to spare to the multitude. [verse 17] And thei token Absolon, and casten hym in the wijld wode in to a greet diche, and thei beren togidir vpon hym a greet heep of stoonus ful myche; forsothe al Irael fleeȝ into her tabernaclis. [verse 18] Forsothe Absolon hadde arerede vp to hym, whanne he ȝit lyuede, a title, that is in the valey of the kyng; he seide forsothe, I haue not a sone, and this shal be in [the CE.] mynde of my name; and he clepide the title bi his name, and it is clepid the Hoond of Absolon into this day. [verse 19] Forsothe Achymas, the sone of Sadoch, seith, I shal renne and telle to the kyng, for the Lord dide doom to hym fro the hoond of the enemyes of hym. [verse 20] To whom Joab seide, Thou shalt not be messager in this dai, but thou shalt telle in the tother; to day I wole not thee to telle, forsothe the sone of the kyng is deed. [verse 21] And Joab seith to Cusi, Go, and tel to the kyng what thou hast seen. [verse 22] Cusi lowtide to Joab, and ranne. Eft Achymas, the sone of Sadoch, seide to Joab, What lettith, if I also renne after Cusi? And Joab seide to hym, What wolt thou renne, sone myn? Come hidir, thou shalt not be berer of good message. [verse 23] The which answerde, What forsothe if I shal renne? And he seith to hym, Renn. Thanne Achymaas ren|nynge bi the weye of the good short weye ouerpasside Cusai. [verse 24] Dauid forsothe sat bitwix two ȝatis; the weyter forsothe, that was in the heiȝt of the ȝate vpon the walle, rerynge vp the eyen, sawȝ a [verse 25] man aloone rennynge; and cryinge out shewide to the kyng. And the kyng seide to hym, If he is aloone, gode mes|sage

is in the mouth of hym. [verse 26] Forsothe hym goynge and neiȝynge nerre, the wayter sawȝ anothir man rennynge; and criynge out in the cop seith, There semeth to me another man rennynge aloone. And the kyng seide to hym, And this is a good messager. [verse 27] Forsothe the weyter seith, I biholde the rennynge of the former, as the rennynge of Achy|maas, the sone of Sadoch. And the kyng seith, A good man he is, and cometh berynge good mesage. [verse 28] Forsothe Achy|maas cryinge, seide to the kyng, Hail kyng! And lowtynge the kyng before hym bowide into the erthe, seith, Blessid be [Om. BCEFH.] the Lord thi God, that hath con|cludid the men, that rereden her hoondis aȝens my lord the kyng. [verse 29] And the kyng seith, Is there not pees to the child Ab|solon? And Achymaas seide, I sawȝ a greet towmbe, whanne Joab thi seruaunt sente me, O kyng, thi seruaunt; other thing I knowe not. [verse 30] To whom the kyng, Passe, he seith, and stoond here. And [verse 31] whanne he was passid, and stoode, Cusi aperide; and comynge seith, I brynge good message, my lord king; forsothe the Lord hath demyde for thee to day fro the hoond `of alle [Om. A.] that risen aȝens thee. [verse 32] The kyng forsothe seide to Cusi, Is there not pees to the child Absolon? To whom answerynge Cusi, Be thei maad, he seith, as the child, the enemyes of my lord the [Om. BFH.] kyng, and alle that risen aȝens hym into yuel. [verse 33] And so the kyng cauȝt with sorwe, stiede vp to [Om. BCEFH.] the sowp|ynge place of the ȝaate, and wepte, and thus he spak goynge, Sone myn, Abso|lon! Absolon, sone myn! who to me ȝyueth, that I dye for thee? Absolon, sone myn! sone myn, Absolon!

CAP. XIX.

[verse 1] Forsothe it is toold to Joab, that the [verse 2] kyng wept, and weilide his sone; and the victorye is turned in that dai into weil|ynge to al the puple; forsothe the puple herde in that day to be seid, The kyng sorwith vpon his sone. [verse 3] And the puple bowide aside in that dai to goo in to the citee, what maner wise a puple turnede and fleynge fro the batail is wont to bowe aside. [verse 4] Forsothe the kyng couerde his heed, and criede with a greet vois, Sone myn, Absolon! Absolon, sone myn! [verse 5] Thanne goon yn Joab to the kyng into the hows, seide, Thou hast confoundid to day the cheeris of alle thi seruauntis, and that han maad saaf thi lijf, and the lijf of thi sonys and of thi douȝtris, and the lijf of thi wyues, and the lijf of thi secoundarye wyues. [verse 6] Thou louest the hatynge thee, and thou hast in [to BCEFH.] haate the louynge thee; and thou hast shewid to day, for thou reckist not of thi leeders and of thi seruauntis; and verreily I haue knowen now, that if Absolon lyu|ede, and alle we hadden diede, thanne it shulde plese to thee. [verse 7] Now than ryse, and go forth, and spekynge do [to do E pr. v.] aseethe to thi seruauntis; forsothe I swere to thee bi the Lord, that if thow gost not out, that oon forsothe be not to abidynge still with thee this nyȝt; and werse shal be to thee this, than alle the yuels that camen vpon thee fro thi ȝongth [ȝouthe CEFH.] vnto the tyme that is now. [verse 8] Thanne the kyng roos, and satte in the ȝate; and to al the puple it is toold, that the king satte in the ȝate, and al the multitude cam before the king. [verse 9] Forsothe Irael fleeȝ into her tabernaclis. And al the puple stroof in [and ABH.] alle the lynagis of Irael, seiynge, The kyng hath delyuerd vs fro the hoond of oure enemyes, and he hath saued vs fro

the hoond of Philisteis; and now he fleeȝ fro the loond for Absolon. [verse 10] Forsothe Ab|solon, whom we anoyntiden kyng vpon vs, is deed in batail; how long be ȝe stille, and ȝe brengen not aȝen the kyng? And the counseil of al Irael cam to the king. [verse 11] Forsothe kyng Dauid sente to Sa|doch and to Abiathar, preestis, seiynge, Speke ȝe to the more thurȝ birth of Juda, seiynge, Whi ben ȝe comen last to brynge aȝen the kyng into his hows? Forsothe the word of al Irael is ful comen to the kyng, that thei brengen hym aȝen into his hows. For the kyng seide, Thes [verse 12] thingis ȝe shulen seye to the puple, My britheren ȝe, my boon and my flesh ȝe; whi last brengen ȝe aȝen the kyng? [verse 13] And to Amasa seye ȝee, Whether ert thou not my boon and my flesh? Thes thingis God do to me, and thes thingis adde, if thou were not maister of chiualrye after Joab before me al tyme. [verse 14] And he bowide the herte of alle the men of Juda as of o man; and thei senten to the king, sei|ynge, Turn aȝen, thou and alle thi ser|uauntis. [verse 15] And the kyng turnede aȝen, and cam vnto Jordan; and al Juda cam forth into Galgala, that he aȝen come to the kyng, and thei shulden brynge hym ouer Jordan. [verse 16] Forsothe Semei, the sone of Gera, the sone of Gemyny, of Bahu|rym, hiȝede, and cam doun with the men of Juda into aȝen comynge of kyng Da|uid, [verse 17] with a thousand men of Beniamyn; and child Ciba of the hows of Saul, and his fifteen sonys, and twenti seruantis weren with hym; and brekynge Jordan [verse 18] before the kyng, passeden the forthis, that [that and A.] thei brengen ouer the hows of the kyng, and doon after his comaundynge. Forsothe Semei, the sone of Gera, faln doun before the kyng, whanne now he [verse 19] hadde passid Jordan, seide to hym [the kyng A.] , My

lord, ne wiyt thou to me the wickidnes, ne haue thou mynde of the wrongis of thi seruaunt in the dai, the which thou wentist out, my lord kyng, fro Jerusa|lem, ne set thou, kyng, in thin herte; [verse 20] forsothe I thi seruaunt knowe my synne; and therfor to dai first I cam of al the hows of Joseph, and cam doun into aȝen|comynge of my lord the kyng. [verse 21] Forsothe answerynge Abisai, the sone of Saruye, seide, Whether for thes wordis Semei shal not be slayn, that curside to the crist of the Lord? [verse 22] And Dauid seith, What to me and to ȝou, ȝe sonys of Sa|ruye? Whi ben ȝe maad to me to day into Sathan? Thanne whether to dai shal not be slayn a man in Irael? Whe|ther I knowe not me to day maad kyng vpon Irael? [verse 23] And the kyng seith to Se|mei, Thou shalt not die; and he swore to hym. [verse 24] Forsothe Myphibosech, the sone of Jonathan, the sone of Saul, cam doun into the [Om. BCEFH.] aȝencomynge of the kyng, the feet vnwasshen, and the beerd vnshauen. And his clothis he hadde not washen, fro the day that the kyng wente out vnto the day of his turnynge aȝen in pees. [verse 25] And whanne he hadde aȝen comen to the kyng, the kyng seide to hym, Whi cam thou not with me, Myphibosech? [verse 26] And answerynge he seith, My lord kyng, my seruaunt dispiside me; and I thi ser|uaunt seide to hym, that he shulde make to me redi an asse, and stiynge vp I myȝte goo with the kyng; forsothe I thi ser|uaunt am halt. [verse 27] Also and he accuside me, thi seruaunt, to thee, my lord kyng; for|sothe thou, my lord kyng, ert as the aungel of God; do that is plesynge to thee. [verse 28] Forsothe ne the hows of mi fader was but gilti to the deth to my lord kyng; forsothe thou puttist me thi ser|uaunt among thi meetfelawis of thi bord; what thanne haue I of ryȝtwise playnt, or what may I more be spoken of to the

kyng? [verse 29] Forsothe the kyng seith to hym, What more shalt thou speke? stedefast it is that I haue spoken; thou and Siba, dyuyde ȝe possessiouns. [verse 30] And Myphibo|sech answerde to the kyng, Also al take he, aftir that my lord the kyng is turned aȝen pesibli [pesibleli E.] into his hows. [verse 31] Forsothe Berzellay Galadite, a [Om. E pr. m.] ful olde man, com|ynge down fro Rogelym, ladde the kyng ouer Jordan, redi also for to folwe hym biȝonde the flood. [verse 32] Forsothe Berzellai Galadite was ful ooolde, that is, of four|score ȝeer, and he ȝaf food to the kyng, whanne he dwellid in the defensable placis; forsothe he was a ful mych riche man. [verse 33] And so the kyng seide to Berzellai, Come with me, that thou reste sikir with me in Jerusalem. [verse 34] And Berzellai seith to the kyng, How feele ben the dayes of the ȝeeris of my lijf, that I stye vp with the kyng to Jerusalem? [verse 35] Of foure scoore ȝeer I am to dai; whether my wittis thryuen to deme swote or bittir, or meet and drynk may delite thi seruaunt, or I may here forthermore the vois of men syngers and of wymmen syngers? Whi thi ser|uaunt be to charge to my lord kyng? [verse 36] A litil I shal goo forth thi seruaunt fro Jordan with thee, ne I nede this while [verse 37] ȝeeldynge; but I biseche, that I turne aȝen thi seruaunt, and die in my citee, and be biried bisyde the sepulcre of my fader and of my moder; forsothe there is thi seruaunt Chamaan; he go with thee, my lord kyng, and do to hym that semeth to thee good. [verse 38] And so the kyng seide to hym, Chamaan goo with me; and I shal doo to hym what euer thing shal pleese to thee, and al that thou askist of me, thou shalt geete. [verse 39] And whanne al the puple, and the kyng was passid ouer Jordan, he resteiede [resteȝede CE. restide E.] ; and the king kisside Berzellai, and blesside to hym; and he turnede aȝen into his place. [verse 40] Thanne the kyng wente into Gal|galan,

and Chamaan with hym. Forsothe al the puple of Juda brouȝte ouer the kyng, and of the puple of Irael oonli the half parti was at. [verse 41] And so alle the men of Irael rennynge to the kyng, seiden to hym, Whi oure britheren, the men of Juda, han stoln thee, and han brouȝt ouer Jordan the kyng and his hows, and alle the men of Dauid with hym? [verse 42] And alle the men of Juda answerden to the men of Irael, For to me nerre is the kyng; whi wraththist thou vpon this thing? Whether we han eten eny thing of the kyng, or ȝiftis to vs ben ȝeuen? [verse 43] And the man of Irael answerde to the men of Juda, and seith, Bi ten parties more I am anentis the kyng, and more to me perteneth Dauid than to thee; whi hast thou doo to me wronge, and it is not toold to me former, that I brynge aȝen my kyng? Forsothe harder answerden the men of Juda than the men of Irael.

CAP. XX.

[verse 1] It felle forsothe, that there was a man of Belial, Syba bi name, the sone of Botry, a `man of Gemyny [double man E pr. m.] ; and he songe with a trumpe, and seith, There is not to vs paart in Dauid, ne heritage in the sone of Isay; turn aȝen into thi taber|naclis [tabernacle A.] , Irael. [verse 2] And al Irael ys seuered fro Dauid, and folwide Ciba, the sone of Botri; the men forsothe of Juda cleueden to her kyng, fro Jordan vnto Jerusalem. [verse 3] And whanne the kyng was comen into his hows into Jerusalem, he took the wymmen, and his ten secoundarie wyues, the whiche he hadde laft to the hows to be kept, and he took hem into waard, ȝyuynge foodis to hem; and he wente not into hem, but thei weren closid vnto the dai of her [his E pr. m.] deth, lyuynge in widewheed.

[verse 4] Forsothe the kyng seide to Amase, Cleep to me alle the men of Juda into the thridde dai, and thou be to present. [verse 5] Thanne Amasa wente for to clepe Juda; and he dwelte out of the couenaunt [plesid E pr. m. couenauntid CE sec. m.] tyme that the kyng ordeynde to hym. [verse 6] For|sothe Dauid seith to Abisai, Now more Siba, the sone of Botri, is to tourment vs than Absolon; tak therfor the seruauntys of thi lord, and pursue hym, lest perauen|ture he fynde the citee strengthid, and flee awey fro vs. [verse 7] Thanne wente out with hym the men of Joab, Cerethi for|sothe and Pherethi, and alle the stroonge men wenten out of Jerusalem to pursue Siba, the sone of Botri. [verse 8] And whanne thei weren biside the greet stoon, that is in Gabaon, Amasa comynge aȝen cam to hem; forsothe Joab was clothid with a strait coote at the mesure of his shap, and there aboue gird with a knyif hong|ynge vnto the reyn gottys in the sheethe, the which forgid with liȝt meuynge myȝt goon out, and smyte. [verse 9] And so Joab seide to Amasan, Heyl, my brother! And he heelde with the riȝt hoond the chyn of Amase, as kyssynge hym. [verse 10] Forsothe Ama|sa weytide not wel the knyif that Joab hadde, the which smoot hym in the side, and shedde out the gottis of hym into the erthe, and is deed; ne the secounde wounde he putte to. Forsothe Joab and Abisay, his brother, pursueden Siba, the sone of Botry. [verse 11] There among sum men of the children of Dauid, whanne thei had|den `seen and [Om. E pr. m.] stonden biside the careyn of Amase, of the felawis of Joab, seiden, Loo! that wolde be for Joab, leder of Dauid. [verse 12] Forsothe Amasa spreynd [sprengd CE.] with blood laye in the myddil weye. That sawȝ a man, that al the puple stood stille to seen hym, and meuede a wey Amasa fro the weye into the feelde, and couerde hym with a clooth, lest the goers shulden

abide stille for hym. [verse 13] Thanne hym meued fro the weie, eche man folowynge Joab wente to pursue Siba, the sone of Botri. [verse 14] But he passide thurȝ out alle the lynagis of Yrael vnto Hebelam, and into Beth|macha; and alle the chosen men weren gedrid to hym. [verse 15] And so thei camen, and setten aȝens hym in Habela, and in Beth|macha, and enuyrounden the citee with strengthis; and the citee is bisegid. For|sothe al the puple, that was with Joab, enforside to destrie the wallis. [verse 16] And a wyse womman criede out fro the citee, Herith! herith! seith [she seith A.] to Joab, Neiȝ hidir, and I shal speke with thee. [verse 17] The whych whanne he hadde neiȝid to hire, she seide to hym, Thou ert Joab? And he answerde, I. To whom thus she spake, Here the wordis of thin hoond womman. The which answerde, I here. [verse 18] And eft she, A word, she seith, was seide in olde prouerbe, Who [Whoso E pr. m.] aske, asken thei in Habela; and so thei profiteden [wentyn forth E.] . [verse 19] Whe|ther I am not, the which answere the trewthe of Yrael? and thou sechist to turne vpsedoun the citee, and to doon awey the moder of citees in Irael? whi berist thou doun the herytage of the Lord? [verse 20] And Joab answerynge seith, Aweie be, aweie be this fro me; I bere not doun, ne destrie. [verse 21] Not so the thing hath hym; but a man of the hil of Ef|fraym, bi name Siba, the sone of Botri, reride his hoond aȝens kyng Dauid; takith hym alone, and we shulen goo awey fro the citee. And the womman seith to Joab, Loo! his heed shal be sente to thee bi the walle. [verse 22] Thanne she wente into al the puple, and spak to hem wiseli; the which the gird of heed of Siba, the sone of Botri, casten forth to Joab. And he songe with the trompe, and thei wenten a wey fro the citee, echon into her tabernaclis; forsothe Joab turnyde aȝen

to Jerusalem to the kyng. [verse 23] Thanne Joab was vpon al the oost of Irael; forsothe Bananyas, the sone of Joiade, vpon Cere|theis [verse 24] and Pheretheis; Adhuram forsothe vpon the tributis; but Josaphat, the [verse 25] sone of Achilud, the chaunselere; Siba forsothe a scribe; forsothe Sadoch and [verse 26] Abiathar prestis; forsothe Hira Hiracte was the preest of Dauid.

CAP. XXI.

[verse 1] Forsothe there is doon hungre in the dais of Dauid, thre ȝeer contynueli. And Dauid counseilde the heuenli answere of the Lord; and the Lord seide, For Saul, and the hows of hym, and the blood, for he slewȝ Gabanytes. [verse 2] Thanne the Gaban|ytis clepid, the kyng seide to hem; for|sothe Gabanytis ben not of the sonys of Irael, but the relikis of Ammoreis; for|sothe the sonys of Yrael hadden sworn to hem, that thei shulen not slee hem, and Saul wolde smyte hem bi enuye, as for the sonys of Irael and of Juda; [verse 3] thanne Dauid seide to Gabanitis, What shal I doo to ȝou, and what shal be ȝoure amendys, that ȝe blissen to the heritage of the Lord? [verse 4] And Gabanytis seiden to hym, There is no questioun to vs vpon gold and siluer, but aȝens Saul, and the hows of hym; and we wolen not, that there be slayn a man of Irael. To whom the kyng seith, What thanne wolen ȝe, that I doo to ȝow? [verse 5] The whiche seiden to the kyng, The man that hath defowlid vs, and oppressid wickidli, so we owen to doon awey, ne oon forsothe be laft of the lynage of hym in alle the coostis of Yrael. [verse 6] Be there ȝouun to vs seuen men of the sonys of hem, that we crucifien hem to the Lord in Gabaa of Saul, sum|tyme

the chosen of the Lord. And the kyng seith, I shal ȝeue. [verse 7] And the kyng sparide to Myphibosech, the sone of Jonathan, the sone of Saul, for the ooth of the Lord, that was betwix Dauid and Jonathan, the sone of Saul. [verse 8] And so the kyng took two sonys of Respha, the dowȝter of Ahia, whom she bare to Saul, Armoony, and Myphibosech; and `of Mychol fyue sones, of the [the fiue sones of Michol, the E pr. m.] douȝter of Saul, whom she gat to Adriel, the sone of Berzellay, that was of Demolati. [verse 9] And he ȝaf hem into the hoondis of Gaban|ytis, the which crucifieden hem in the hil before the Lord; and thes seuen slayn togidir fellen in the dais of the fyrst rijp, begynnynge the repynge of barli. [verse 10] Forsothe takynge Respha, the douȝter of Ahia, spradde abrood an heyre to hire on a stoon, fro the bigyn|nynge of the ryp to the tyme that watir droppide vpon hem fro heuene; and she suffride not breddis to teren hem bi the day, ne beestis [the beestis A.] bi the nyȝt. [verse 11] And these thingis ben toold to Dauid, the whiche dide Respha, the douȝter of Ahia, the secoundarye wijf of Saul. [verse 12] And Dauid ȝede, and took the boonus of Saul, and the boonus of Jonathan, his sone, of [fro BCEFH.] the men of Jabes Galaad; `the which [that C pr. m.] hadden stoln hem fro the streete of Bethsan, in the which Philisteis hadden hongid hem, whanne thei slewen Saul in Gelboe. [verse 13] And bare a wey thens the boonus of Saul, and the boonus of Jonathan, his sone; and thei gederynge togidir the boonus of hem that weren piȝt [piȝt to E pr. m.] , birieden hem with the boonus of Saul and Jonathan, his sone, in the loond of Beniamyn, in the side in the sepulcre of Cys, his fader. [verse 14] And thei diden alle thingis, that the kyng comaundide; and the Lord dide mercy aȝen to the loond after thes

thingis. [verse 15] Forsothe there is doon eft bateil of the Philisteis aȝens Irael; and Dauid cam doun, and his seruauntis with hym, and thei fauȝten aȝens Phi|listeis. [verse 16] Forsothe Dauid failynge, Jesbi|denob, that was of the kynrede of Arapha, whose yren of the speere peiside thre hundrid vnncis, and he was gird with a newe swerd, `enforside [he is seen E pr. m.] to smyte Dauid. [verse 17] And Abisay, the sone of Saruye, was to hym a [to BCEFH.] socour; and the Philistee smyten he slewȝ. Thanne the men sworen to Dauid, seiynge, Now thow shalt not goo out with vs in to bateil, lest thou quenche the lanterne of Yrael. [verse 18] The secounde bateil forsothe [Om. A.] was in Gob aȝens Philisteis [the Philisteis BCEFH.] ; thanne he smoot Sobochai of Huzachizaph, of the lynage of Arapha, of the kynrede of geauntis. [verse 19] The thridde bateil forsothe was in Gob aȝens the Philisteis; in the which Adeo|datis, the sone of the wijlde wode, leyer of dyuerse colours, Bethlamyte, smoot Goliath Gethee, whos shaft of the speere was as a beem of websters. [verse 20] The ferthe bateyl was in Geth; in the which was an heeȝ [heis A.] man, that hadde sexe fyngris in the hoondis and feet, that is, foure and twenti; [verse 21] and he was of the kyn of Arapha; and he blasphemyde in [to CE.] Yrael; forsothe Jona|than, the sone of Samaa, the brother of Dauid, smoot hym. [verse 22] These foure ben born of Arapha in Jeth, and thei fellen in the hoond of Dauid, and of his ser|uauntis.

CAP. XXII.

[verse 1] Forsothe Dauid spak to the Lord the wordis of this ditee, in the day in the which the Lord delyuerde him fro the hoond of alle his enemyes, and fro the hoond of Saul. [verse 2] And seith, The Lord my stoon, and my strength, and my [verse 3] saueour; my God, my strong, and [Om. E pr. m.] I

shal hoop in hym; my sheeld, and the horn of myn heelth, my rerer, and my refute; my saueour, fro wickidnes thou shalt delyuer me. [verse 4] I shal inwardli clepe the preysable Lord; and fro myn ene|myes I shal be saaf. [verse 5] For there han enuyround me the defoulyngis of deeth; the stremys of Belial fereden me. [verse 6] The coordis of helle enuryrounden me; there wenten before me the gnaris [grynnys H sec. m.] of deeth. [verse 7] In tribulacioun I shal inwardli clepe the Lord, and to my God I shal crye; and he herde fro his hooli temple my vois, and my crye shal come to his eeris. [verse 8] The erthe is togidir meued, and tremblide; the foundementis of hillis ben togidir smyten and squat, for he wraththide to hem. [verse 9] Smook stiede vp fro the neesth|rillis of hym, and fier fro his mouth shal deuowre; the colis ben brent vp of it. [verse 10] And he bowide heuenes, and cam doun; and mystynes [derknesse E pr. m.] vndur his feet. [verse 11] And he stiede [styȝid vp F.] vpon cherubyn, and flowȝ; and slood [flowȝ A.] vpon the pennys of `the wynd [wyndis A. wynde H.] . [verse 12] He putte derknessis an hidlis in `his enuyroun [enuyroun of hym C.] , wynnowynge watris of the [verse 13] cloudis of heuenes; for the liȝtynge in the siȝt of hym ben brent vp the coolis of fier. [verse 14] The Lord shal thundre fro heuene; and the Heiȝ shal ȝeue his voys. [verse 15] He sente his arowis, and scatrede hem; leytis, and waastid hem. [verse 16] And there apperide the out heeldyngis of the see, and ben opened the foundementis of the world; fro the blamynge of the Lord, fro the inbrethinge of the spiryt of his woodnes. [verse 17] He sente fro an heiȝ, and took me; and drouȝ out me fro manye watris. [verse 18] He delyuerde me fro myn enemye moost myȝti, and fro hem that hatiden me; for thei weren stronger than I. [verse 19] Thei camen before me in the day of my tour|mentynge; and the Lord is maad my fastnynge. [verse 20] And he ladde me out into

widnes, and delyuerde me; for I pleside to hym. [verse 21] The Lord shal ȝeelde to me after my riȝtwisnes; and after the clennesse of myn hoondis he shal quyit to me. [verse 22] For I haue kept the weyes of the Lord; and I dide not vnpiteuousli fro my God. [verse 23] Forsothe alle the domys of hym in my siȝt; and his heestis I mouede not a wey fro me. [verse 24] And I shal be parfijt with hym; and I shal kepe me fro my wickidnes. [verse 25] And the Lord shal restore to me after my riȝtwisnes; and after the clennesse of myn hoondis [hoond A.] in the siȝt of his eyen. [verse 26] With the hooli hooli thou shalt be, and with the stronge parfite; [verse 27] and with the chosun chosun thou shalt be, and with the peruertid thou shalt be peruertid. [verse 28] And the pore puple thou shalt make saaf; and to thin eyen heiȝ thou shalt make meke. [verse 29] For thou, Lord, my lantern, and thou, Lord, shalt liȝtne my derkenessis. [verse 30] Into thee forsothe I shall renne, gird vp; and in my God I shal ouerleep the wal. [verse 31] God, the weye of hym vndefoulid; the speche of the Lord examynyd bi fier, a shelde is of alle the hopers in hym. [verse 32] For who is a God, saaf the Lord; and who strong saaf oure Lord? [verse 33] God, that girdide me with strength, and planede perfyte [perfijtli A.] my wey; [verse 34] euenynge my feet to hertis, and vpon my [verse 35] heiȝ thingis settynge me; techynge myn hoondis to bateil, and settynge togider as a brasen boow myn armys. [verse 36] Thou ȝaf to me a target of thin helth; and myn hoomlynes multipliede me. [verse 37] Thou shalt enlaarge [laargen BCEFH.] my goyngis vndur me; and myn heelis [heelthis A.] shulen not fayle. [verse 38] I shal pursue myn enemyes, and treden; and I shal not [no E.] turne aȝen, to the tyme that I waast hem. [verse 39] I shal waast hem, and breek togidir, that thei togidre risen not; thei shulen falle vndur my feet. [verse 40] Thou girdist me with strengthe to batail; thow

fulli bowedist the aȝenstondynge to me vndur me. [verse 41] Myn enemyes thou ȝaf to me the bak, hatynge me; and I shal scatere hem. [verse 42] Thei shulen crye, and there shal not be that saue; to the Lord, and he shal not here hem. [verse 43] I shal do hem a wey as powdre of the erthe; and as cleye of streetis I shal breek hem, and to-flappe. [verse 44] Thou shalt saue me fro the aȝenseiyngis of my puple; thou shalt kepe me into the heed of folkis [folk BCEFH.] of kynde; the puple, whom I knowe [knewe A.] not, shal serue to me. [verse 45] Alyen sones shulen with stoonde to me; in herynge of the eer thei shulen obeishe to me. [verse 46] Alien sones floweden doun; and thei shulen be drawen togidre in her angwishe. [verse 47] The Lord lyueth, and blesside my God; and the strong God of myn heelth shal be enhaunsid. [verse 48] God, that ȝeuest veniaunces to me; and threwe doun puplis vndur me. [verse 49] The which ledist out me fro myn enemyes, and fro the withstoondynge to me arerist [rerist C.] me; fro a wickid [wyke BCEFH.] man thou shalt delyuer me. [verse 50] Therfor I shal know|lech to thee in folk of kynde, Lord; and to thi name I shal synge. [verse 51] Magnifiynge heelthis of his kyng; and doynge mercies to his crist Dauid, and into [vnto BFH. to CE.] his seed euermore [vnto euermore C.] .

CAP. XXIII.

[verse 1] Forsothe thes ben the last wordis, that Dauid, the sone of Ysay, seide. A man seide, to `whom there [thee E pr. m.] is ordeynd of the Crist of God of Jacob, a solempne salm [verse 2] maker of Yrael; The spirite of the Lord is spokyn bi me, and his word bi my tonge. [verse 3] He seyde, God of Yrael to me

hath spokyn, the strong of Yrael, the lordshipper of men, the riȝtwise lord|shipper in the dreed of God. [verse 4] As liȝt of morwtide, springinge the sunne eerli with out clowdis, gliterith; and as bi reynes buriouneth the eerbe of the erthe. [verse 5] And not so mych is myn hows anentis God, that euerlastynge couenaunt he shulde goo yn with me, stable in alle thingis and warnysshit; forsothe al myn heelth and al wil, ne there is eny thing of it, that ne buriowneth. [verse 6] Brekers of the lawe forsothe [or E pr. m.] as thornys shulen be pullid vp alle, the whiche ben not takyn with [and with E pr. m.] hoondis. [verse 7] And [Om. E pr. m.] if eny man wolde touche hem, he shal be aarmyd with yren, and speer tree; and with fier tend vp, thei shulen be brent vnto nouȝt. [verse 8] Thes the names of the stronge men of Dauid. Dauid sittynge [sitt E pr. m.] in the chayer, moost wise prynce among three; he is as a moost tendre litil werme of a tree, the which eiȝt hundrid slewȝ with a bure. [verse 9] Aftir this Eliazar, the sone of his vncle [gem E pr. m.] Abohy; among the three stronge, that weren with Dauid, whanne thei re|proueden to Philisteym, and thei ben gederid thidir into bateil. [verse 10] And whanne the men of Yrael hadden stiede vp, he stood, and smoot the Philisteis, to the tyme that his hoond failide, and wexe heuy with the swerd. And the Lord dide greet heelth in that day; and the puple that fleiȝ is turned aȝen to the spoilis of the sleyn men to be with|drawen. [verse 11] After this Semma, the sone of Age, of [the sone of E pr. m.] Arary. And Philisteis ben gedrid in the stacioun; forsothe there was there [Om. A.] a feelde ful of corn; and whanne the puple hadde flowen fro the face of Phi|listeis, [verse 12] he stood in the mydil of the feeld, and rescuwid it; and he smoot the Phi|listeis, and the Lord made a greet heelth. [verse 13] Also and before wenten doun the three,

that weren princis amonge thretti, and camen in tyme of rijp to Dauid into the spelunk of Odollam. Forsothe the tentis of Philisteis weren sett in the valey of geauntis. [verse 14] And Dauid was in the strength; forsothe the stacioun [staciouns A pr. m.] of Philistees thanne was in Bethlem. [verse 15] Dauid desiride thanne the watir of the laak, and seith, If eny man wolde ȝyue to me drynke of the watir of the systern, that is in Bethleem, biside the ȝaat. [verse 16] Thanne breken out three stronge men the tentis of Philisteis, and drewen water of the sistern of Bethleem, that was biside the ȝaat, and brouȝten to Dauid; and he wolde not drynke, but offride it to the Lord, [verse 17] seiynge, Merciful be to me the Lord, lest Y doo this; whether the blood of thes men, that ben goon forth, and the perile of lyues I shal drynke? Thanne he wolde not drynke. Thes thingis diden the three moost stronge. [verse 18] For|sothe Abisay, the brother of Joab, the sone of Saruye, was prince of the three; he is that reride his spere aȝens thre hundrid, whom he slewȝ, nemned in the [verse 19] three, and amonge the three the nobler, and he was the prince of hem; but vnto the three first men he ful cam not. [verse 20] And Banayas, the sone of Joiade, man moost strong of greet werkes, of Capseel, he smoot the two lyouns of Moab; and he cam doun, and smoot a lioun in the mydil cistern in the dais of snowȝ. [verse 21] For|sothe he slewȝ an Egipcian man worthi beholdynge, hauynge in the hoond a spere; and so whanne he was comyn doun to hym in a ȝerd, bi force he pul|lide out the spere fro the hoond of the Egipcien, and he slewȝ hym with his [the B.] speere. [verse 22] Thes thingis dide Banayas, the [verse 23] sone of Joiade; and he namyd among the three stronge, that weren amonge

the thretti nobler; neuerthelater vnto the three he ful cam not. And Dauid made hym [Om. A.] to hym a secretarie of pryuete. [verse 24] Asahel, the brother of Joab, among the thretti; Elianan, the sone of [verse 25] his eem [gem. E.] , of Bethleem; Seruma, of Arary; [verse 26] Elka, of Arodi; Helias, of Phelu; Hyra, [verse 27] the sone of Aches, of Thekua; Abiazer, [verse 28] of Anathoth; Nobanay, of Vsathi; Selmon [verse 29] Acothes [of Acothes B.] ; Macharoy Nethophatites; E|led, the sone of Baana, and he Netho|phatite; Hitai, the sone of Rabai, of Je|beeth, [verse 30] of the sonis of Beniamyn; Banai Affrotonyte; Heddai, of the streem of [verse 31] Gaas; Albiabon Arbachite; Asmanech, of [verse 32] Berromy; Elyala, of Sobony; the sones of [verse 33] Jonathan, and Jeson; Semma, of Horodi; [verse 34] Hayam, the sone of Saray, Saratite; Eli|pheleth, the sone of Saasbai, the sonys of Maachati; Heliam, the sone of Achi|tophel, [verse 35] Gilonyte; Esrai, of Carmeel; Pha|rai, [verse 36] of Arbi; Igaal, the sone of Natha, [verse 37] of [Om. A.] Soba; Bony, of Gaddi; Selech, of Am|mony; Naamy Berothite, the squyer of [verse 38] Joab, the sone of Saruye; Ira Yatrite; [verse 39] Gareb, and he Yatrite; Vrie Ethee; alle, seuen and thretti.

CAP. XXIV.

[verse 1] And the woodnes of the Lord addide to be wrooth aȝens Irael, and stiride Da|uid in hem, seiynge to Joab, Go, and noumbre Yrael and Juda. [verse 2] And the kyng seide to Joab, prince [the prince E pr. m.] of his oost, Go thurȝ alle the lynagis of Irael fro Dan vnto Bersabe, and noumbreth [nowmbre CE pr. m.] the puple, that I knowe the noumbre of it. [verse 3] And Joab seide to the kyng, The Lord thi God eeche to thi puple, as myche as it is now, and eft encrees it to the hundred so myche in the siȝt of my lord the kyng; but [Om. B.] what to hym wole my lord the kyng in siche a maner thing? [verse 4] Forsothe the word of the kyng hadde the ouer hoond aȝens the wordis of Joab, and of the

princis of the oost; and Joab wente out, and the princis of knyȝtis, fro the face of the kyng; `and thei noum|bren [and thei nowmbriden E pr. m. that thei noumbren CE sec. m.] the puple `of Yrael [Om. E pr. m.] . [verse 5] Whanne thei hadden passid ouer Jordan, thei camen into Aroer, at the riȝt half of the citee [verse 6] that is in the valey of Gad; and bi Jaser thei passiden into Galaad, and into the nether loond of Odsi, and camen into the wodi placis of Dan; and goynge about [verse 7] beside Sidon thei passiden nyȝ the walles of Tyri, and al the loond of Euey, and of Chananei; and thei camen into [to BCEFH.] the sowth of Juda, into Bersabe. [verse 8] And passid al the loond, thei weren after nyne monethis and twenty dais comen into Jerusalem. [verse 9] Thanne Joab ȝaf the noum|bre of the discryuynge of the puple to the kyng. And there ben founden of Yrael nyn hundrid thousandis of stronge men, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] myȝten drawe out swerd; and of Juda fyue hundrid thou|sandis of fiȝtynge men. [verse 10] Forsothe the herte of Dauid smoot hym, aftir that the puple is noumbred; Dauid seide to the Lord, I haue synned greetli in this deede; but I preye, Lord, that thou bere ouer the wickidnes of thi seruaunt, for foleli I haue doo to myche. [verse 11] And so Dauid roos eerli, and the word of the Lord is maad to Gad, the prophete and seear, [verse 12] seiynge, Go, and spek to Dauid, Thes thingis seith the Lord, Of three thingis to thee is ȝouun choys; chees oon, that thou wolt of thes, that I doo to thee. [verse 13] And whanne Gad was comen to Dauid, he toold to hym, seiynge, Outher seuen ȝeer shal come to thee hungre in thi loond; or three monethis thou shalt flee thin ad|uersaries, and thei shulen pursue thee; or certeyn three days pestilence shal be in thi loond; now thanne delyuer, and see, what word I shal answere to hym that sente me. [verse 14] Forsothe Dauid seide to

Gad, I am constreyned ful myche `on alle sides [Om. E pr. m.] ; but [Om. B.] beter it is that I falle into the hoondis of the Lord, forsothe manye ben the mercies of hym, than in the hoondis of men. [verse 15] And the Lord sente yn pestilence into Irael fro eerli vnto the set tyme; and there ben deed of the puple fro Dan vnto Bersabee seuenti thou|sandis of men. [verse 16] And whanne the aungel of the Lord hadde strauȝt out his hoond vpon Jerusalem, that he scater it, the Lord hadde rewth vpon the tourment|ynge; and he seith to the aungel smyt|ynge the puple, Yt suffisith now; with|hoold thin hoond. Forsothe the aungel of the Lord was beside the corn flore of Arewna of Jebusei. [verse 17] And Dauid seide [seith B.] to the Lord, whanne he hadde seen the aungel sleynge the puple, I am that haue synnede, and I wykidli dide; thes that ben sheep, what diden thei? I biseche, be thin hoond turned aȝens me, and aȝens the hows of my fader. [verse 18] Forsothe Gad, the prophete, cam to Dauid in that day, and seide to hym, Stye vp, and ordeyn an auter to the Lord in the corn flore of Arewna of Jebusei. [verse 19] And Dauid stiede vp, after the word of Gad, the which the Lord hadde comaundide to hym. [verse 20] And beholdynge Arewne vndurstoode the kyng and his seruauntis to comen ouer to hym; [verse 21] and, goon out, he honourde the kyng, bowid the cheere into the erthe; and seith, What of cause is, that my lord the kyng cometh to his seruaunt? To whom Dauid seith, That I bye of thee the corn flore, and bilde an auter to the Lord, and cees the slauȝter, that is ful plenteuous in the puple. [verse 22] And Arewna seith to Dauid, Tak, and offre my lord kyng, as it plesith to him; hast thou oxen into brent sacri|fice, and a wayn, and ȝockis of oxen into the vse of trees? [verse 23] Arewna ȝaf alle thingis to the king. And Arewna seide to the

king, The Lord thi God take thi vowe. [verse 24] To whom answeringe the king seith, Not as thou wolt, but I shal bye bi prijs of thee, and I shal not offre to the Lord my God brent sacrifice freeli ȝeuen. Than Dauid bouȝte the corn flore for sexe hun|drid siclis of gold, and the oxen for fifti siclis of siluer. [verse 25] And Dauid bilde there an auter to the Lord, and he offride brent sacrifices and pesible; and the Lord is plesid aȝen to the loond, and the ven|iaunce is forfendyd fro [of B.] Yrael.

Here endith the secounde book of Kingis, and bigynneth the thridde book [From E. Here endith the secounde bok of Kyngis, and here bygynneth the thrid bok. F. No final rubric in ABCH.] .