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

CAP. XVI.

[verse 1] For these, and lic thingus to these, wrthily thei suffreden tormentis, and bi multitude of bestes thei ben destroȝed. [verse 2] For whyche [the whyche C pr. m.] tormentis thou disposid|ist wel thi puple, bi whiche thou ȝeue coueiting of ther delit a newe sauour, greithende curleeu mete to them. [verse 3] That thei forsothe coueitende mete, for tho thingus that to them ben shewid, and sent, also fro nedeful coueiting thei shulden be turned awei; these forsothe nedi mad in short, tasteden newe mete. [verse 4] Forsothe it bihouede to them, hauntende tiraundise, deth to [forsothe to C.] comen on with oute excusacioun; to them forsothe onli to shewen, hou the enemys of them weren destroȝid. [verse 5] Forsothe whan to them cam on the cruel wrathe of bestis, bi the bit|yngis [bites C pr. m.] of shreude shadewe edderes thei weren distroȝid. [verse 6] But not in to euermor thi wrathe abod stille; but to the cor|reccioun in short thei ben disturbid, tocne hauende of helthe, to the remem|bring of the maundement of thi lawe. [verse 7] Who forsothe is turned, not bi that that he saȝ, he was heled, but bi thee [the AGH.] , saueour of alle [alle thingis E pr. m.] . [verse 8] In that forsothe thou shewdist

to oure enemys, for thou art, that de|lyuerest fro alle euel. [verse 9] Hem forsothe the bityngis of fleȝes and of locustis slowen, and ther is not founden helthe to the soule of hem; for wrthi thei weren of suche thingus to ben destroȝed. [verse 10] Thi sonus forsothe, nouther the teth of dra|gounes, ne of venymed thingus ouer|camen; forsothe thi mercy comende to, helede them. [verse 11] In the mynde forsothe of thi wrdis thei weren distroȝid, and swiftli thei weren saued; lest in to heeȝ for|ȝeting fallende, thei myȝten not vse thin helpe. [verse 12] Forsothe neither erbe, ne plastre helde [helide AGH.] them; but thi wrd, Lord, that heleth alle thingus. [verse 13] Thou art, Lord, that of lif and deth hast power; and bringest doun to the ȝatis of deth, and aȝeen bringest. [verse 14] A man forsothe [Om. G sec. m.] sleth bi malice forsothe [Om. A.] his soule; and whan the spirit goth out, he shal not turne aȝeen, ne the soule, that is resceyued, [verse 15] shal aȝeen clepen; but thyn hond to fleen is [it is A.] vnpossible. [verse 16] Vnpitouse men for|sothe, denyynge [demynge AGH.] to han knowen thee, bi the strengthe of thin arm ben scourgid; with newe watris, and hailis, and reynes, they suffreden persecucioun, and bi fijr ben wastid. [verse 17] That forsothe was mer|ueylous, in water, that alle thingis quencheth, more the fir myȝte; the world forsothe is veniere of riȝtwis men. [verse 18] Forsothe sum tyme the fyr was tamed, that the bestes, that weren sent to vn|pitous men, weren not brent; but that thei seende shulden witen, for bi the dom of God thei suffren [suffreden CE pr. m.] persecucioun. [verse 19] And sum tyme in water, aboue vertue, fyr brende out on either side, that the wicke nacioun of the lond it shulde de|stroȝen. [verse 20] For the whiche with the mete of aungelis thou nurshedist thi puple, and thou ȝeue to them bred mad redi

fro heuene, with oute trauaile; hauende alle deliting in itself, and swetnesse of alle sauour. [verse 21] Forsothe thi substaunce, and thi swetnesse, that in to sones thou hast, thou shewedist; and deseruende to the wil of echone, to what eche wolde, it was conuertid. [verse 22] Snoȝ forsothe and ijs suffreden the strengthe of fyr, and flow|eden not; that thei shulden witen, for brennende fyr, leiting in hail and reyn, destroȝede the frutes of the enemys. [verse 23] That forsothe eft, that the riȝtwis man shulde ben nurshid, the fyr also forȝat his vertue. [verse 24] Forsothe the creature to thee makere deseruende, brenneth out in to torment aȝen vnriȝtwis men, and softere [liȝtere E pr. m.] is mad to weel don, for them that trosten in thee. [verse 25] For that and thanne thi graces deserueden in to alle thingus, transfigured to the vertue of alle, at the wil of them, that of thee ben de|sired; [verse 26] that thi sones, whom thou loou|edyst, Lord, shulden wite, for not the frut of birthe fedde men, but thi wrd kepte them, that in thee leeueden. [verse 27] That forsothe that of fijr myȝte not ben de|stroȝed, anoon of a litil bem of sunne [verse 28] chaufid, flowede; that it were knowen to alle, for it byhoueth to comen beforn the sunne to thi [the A.] blessing, and at the springing of liȝt to honoure thee. [verse 29] For|sothe the hope of the vnkinde as cold ijs shal flowen, and dispershen as watir ouer voide.