CAP. II.

[verse 1] Vpon my keepyng Y shal stonde, and Y shal picche a greese vpon the ward|yng; and Y shal byholde, that Y see what thing shal be saide to me, and what Y shal answere to the reprouynge me. [verse 2] And the Lord answerde to me, and saide, Write thou the siȝt, and make it pleyn Page  732 vpon tablis, that he renne, that shal reede it. [verse 3] For ȝit the visioun fer, and it shal apeere in to eende, and shal not leeȝe; ȝit it shal make dwellyng, abijde thou it, for it cummynge shal cum, and shal not tarie. [verse 4] Loo! he that is vnbi|leeful, the soule of hym shal not be riȝt in hym self; forsothe the iust man shal lyue in his feith. [verse 5] And as wijn disceiu|eth a man drinkynge, so shal the proude man be, and shal not be maad faire; for as helle he alargide his soule, and he as deth, and he shal not be fulfillid; and he shal gedre to hym alle folkis, and he shal hepe*. [kepe K.] to gydre to hym alle peplis. [verse 6] Wher not alle these vpon hym shuln take a parable, and the spekyng of derk sen|tencis of hym? And it shal be saide, Wo to hym that multiplieth thingus not his owne; how long, and he aggregith aȝeinus hym thicke clay? [verse 7] Wher not sudeynly thei shuln ryse to gydre, that shuln bite thee? And thei shuln be reisid to-terynge thee, and thou shalt be in to raueyne to hem; and thin aspiers in yuel shuln wake. [verse 8] For thou robbidist many folkis, alle shuln robbe thee, whiche shuln be relikis of peplis, for blood of man, and wickidnesse of lond of the citee, and of men dwellynge in it. [verse 9] Woo to hym that gadrith euyl coueitise to his hous, that his nest be in heeȝ, and gessith hym for to be delyuered of the hond of yuel. [verse 10] Thou thouȝtist confusioun to thin hous; thou hast slayn many peplis, and thi soule synnede. [verse 11] For a stoon of the wall shal crie, and a tree that is bitwixe ioyntours of beeldingis shal answere. [verse 12] Woo to hym that beeldith a citee in blodis, and makith redy a cytee in wick|idnesse. [verse 13] Wher not these thingis ben of the Lord of oostis? Forsothe peplis shuln traueile in myche fijr, and folkis in veyn, and thei shuln faile. [verse 14] For the erthe shal be fulfillid, that thei knowe the glorie of Page  733 the Lord, as waters hillynge the se. [verse 15] Woo to hym that ȝeuith drinke to his frend, sendynge his galle, and makynge drunken, that he biholde his nakidnesse. [verse 16] He is fulfillid with yuel fame for glorie; and drynke thou, and be aslept*. [asleepe A.]; the cup of the riȝt half of the Lord shal aboute ȝeue thee, and casting vp of yuel fame vpon thi glorie. [verse 17] For the wickidnesse of Liban shal keuere thee, and the distruc|cioun of beestis shal fere thee, of blodis of man, and*. [Om. A.] of wickidnesse of lond*. [the lond H.] of the citee, and of alle dwellynge theryn. [verse 18] What profitith the sculptile, for his maker grauede it; a wellid thing to gi|dre, and a fals ymage, for the maker therof hopide in the makyng, that he made dumbe symulacris? [verse 19] Woo to hym that saith to a tree, Wake thou; Ryse thou, to a stoon beynge stylle; wher he shal mowe teche? Loo! this is keuered in gold and syluer, and eche spirit is not in his entrailis. [verse 20] Forsothe the Lord in his holy temple, al erthe be stille fro his face.