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

CAP. VII.

[verse 1] Kniȝthod is the lif of man vpon erthe, and as the daȝes of an hirid man, the daȝis of hym. [verse 2] As an hert desireth sha|dewe, and as an hirid man abideth the [verse 3] ende of his werc; so and I hadde voide monethis, and trauailous nyȝtis I noum|bride out to me. [verse 4] If I shul slepen, I shal sey, Whanne shal I rise? and eft I shal abide the euetid, and I shal be fulfild with sorewis vnto dercnessis. [verse 5] My flesh is clad [clothed AEFH.] with roting, and with filthis of pouder; my fel driede, and is drawen to|gidere. [verse 6] My daȝes swiftliere passiden than of the weuere the web is kut of; and thei ben wastid withoute any hope. [verse 7] Haue mynde, for wind is my lif, and myn eȝe shal not be turned aȝeen, that I see goodis. [verse 8] Ne the siȝte of man shal beholde me; but thin eȝen in me, and I shal not stonden. [verse 9] As a cloude is wastid, and passeth, so that goth doun to helle, [verse 10] shal not steȝen vp; ne shal turne aȝeen more in to his hous, ne his place shal more ouer knowen hym. [verse 11] Wherfore and I shal not spare to my mouth; I shal speke in the tribulacioun of my spirit, and I shal talke with the bitternesse of my soule. [verse 12] Whether am I the se, or a whal, for ȝee han enuyround me with a prisoun? [verse 13] If I shal seyn, My bed shal coumforte me, and I shal be releued

[verse 14] spekende with me in my bed; thou shalt fere me bi sweuenys, and bi viseouns; thurȝ orrour thou shalt smyte me to gidere. [verse 15] Wherfore my soule ches hangyng vp, and my bones deth. [verse 16] I despeirede, now I shal no mor liue; spare to me, Lord, no thing forsothe ben my daȝes. [verse 17] What is a man, for thou magnefiest hym? or what thou settis to aȝen hym thin herte? [verse 18] Thou visitist hym the morutid, and feerli thou prouest hym. [verse 19] Hou longe thou sparist not to me, ne letist me, that I swolewe my spotele? [verse 20] I haue synned; what shal I don to thee, O! kepere of men? Whi hast thou put me contrarie to thee, and am maad to myself heuy? [verse 21] Whi takist thou not awei my synne, and [Om. C.] whi dost thou not awei my wickidnesse? Lo! nowe in pouder I slepe, and if erli thou seche [sechest AEFH.] me, I shal not stonde stille.