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

[Here begynnith the boke of Ecclesiastici [From A. Heer gynneth the booc. E. No initial rubric in the other MSS.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] Alle wisdam of the Lord God is, and with hym was euermor, and is biforn aungelis during. [verse 2] The grauel of the se, and the dropis of reyn, and the daȝes of the world, who distinctli hath [Om. C pr. m.] noum|brede? The heiȝte of heuene [heuenes C pr. m.] , and the brede of [of the C pr. m.] erthe, and the depthe of the se, who distinctli mesurede? [verse 3] The wis|dam of God goende beforn alle thingus, who enserchede? [verse 4] First of alle formed is wisdam, and the vnderstonding of pru|dence, fro the during of aungelis. [verse 5] The welle of wisdam the wrd of God in heiȝtes; and the ingoyng of it euere lastende maundemens. [verse 6] The roote of wis|dam to whom is it shewyd? and the `sutil wittis [sutil wittynesses E pr. m. AGH. witnesses C pr. m.] of it who kneȝ? [verse 7] The discyplyne of wisdam, to whom is it shewid, and

opened? and the multepliyng of the `incomyng [inwit E pr. m. comyng E sec. m.] of it who vnderstod? [verse 8] Oon is the heiȝest makere of noȝt of alle thingus, al myȝti, and a myȝti king, and wrthi to be drad ful myche, sittende vp on the trone of hym, and Godd lord|shipende. [verse 9] He formede it in the Hoeli Goest, and saȝ, and distinctli noumbrede, [verse 10] and mesurede; and helde out it vpon alle his werkes, and vp on alle flesh aftir his ȝifte; he ȝyueth it to men loouende itself. [verse 11] The drede of the Lord glorie, and ioȝyng, and gladnesse, and coroun of outward ioȝyng. [verse 12] The drede of the Lord shal de|lyten the herte; and shal ȝyue gladnesse and ioȝe in to the lengthe of daȝes. [verse 13] To the dredende God, wel shal be in the laste endys; and in the dai of his diyng he shal be blissid. [verse 14] To whom forsothe it shal aperen in siȝt, thei loouen it in see|yng, and in the knowing of his grete thingus [hable thingis E pr. m.] . [verse 15] The loouyng of God wrshepe|ful wisdam. [verse 16] The bigynnyng of wisdam drede of the Lord; and with feithful men in the wombe he is togidere formed, and with chosen wymmen he goth, and with riȝtwis and feithful men he is knowen. [verse 17] The drede of the Lord religiosite of kun|nyng. [verse 18] Religiosite shal kepen, and iuste|fien the herte; ful myrthe and ioȝe it shal ȝyue. [verse 19] To the dredende God wel shal be; and in the daȝes of endynge [the coumforting C et E pr. m.] of hym [it E pr. m.] he shal be blessid. [verse 20] Plente of wisdam to dreden God; and plente of the frutes of it. [verse 21] Eche hous of hym it shal fulfille fro ieneraciouns, and the resceyuyng places fro [of A.] the tresores of hym. [verse 22] The croune of wisdam drede of the Lord, fulfillende pes, and the frut of helthe. [verse 23] And it saȝ, and distinctli noum|brede it; bothe [either C et E pr. m.] forsothe ben the ȝiftis of God. [verse 24] Kunnyng and vnderstonding of

prudence wisdam shal with departen; and the glorie of men holdende itself it en|haunceth. [verse 25] The roote of wisdam is `to dreden [the dreed of A.] God; the braunches forsothe [Om. C.] of it long lyuyng. [verse 26] In the tresores of wisdam vnderstonding, and religiosite of kunnyng; kursyng forsothe to synneres wisdam [is wisdam A.] . [verse 27] The drede of the Lord putteth [verse 28] awei synne, for [and A. for whi G.] who withoute drede is, shal not moun be iustefied; wrathefulnesse forsothe of [of the C pr. m.] wilfulnesse `or hardynesse [Om. C et E pr. m.] of hym is his turnyng vp so doun. [verse 29] Vn to tyme [the tyme E pr. m.] the pacient shal suffre; and aftir|ward [verse 30] is [Om. AGH.] ȝeldynge [turnyng C et E pr. m.] aȝeen of ful myrthe. Good wit vnto time shal hide his wrdis; and the lippis of manye shuln tellen out the wit of hym. [verse 31] In the tresores of wis|dam [verse 32] is tocnyng of discyplyne; cursing forsothe to the synnere is the [Om. C pr. m.] heriyng of God. [verse 33] Sone, coueitende wisdam, kep riȝt|wysnesse, and God shal ȝyue it to thee. [verse 34] Wisdam forsothe and disciplyne the drede of the Lord, and that weel plesid is to [verse 35] hym, feith and debonernesse; and it shal fulfille the tresores of hym. [verse 36] Be thou not rebel, and `mys leeful [mysbileueful AG.] to the dred of the Lord; and ne neȝhe thou to hym with double herte. [verse 37] Ne be thou an ipo|crite in the siȝte of men; and be thou not sclaundred in thi lippes. [verse 38] Tac heed in tho thingus, lest parauenture thou falle, and [verse 39] bringe to thi soule vnwrsheping; and God openeth in hid thingus, and [Om. C.] in the myddel of the synagoge [lynage G.] he hurtle thee; [verse 40] for thou neȝhedist maliciously to the Lord, and thin herte is ful of treccherie and desceyt.