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

COLOSSIANS.

Prolouge [From Y. No initial rubric in KOSVW. No prologue in AGMPQX. In N and T the prologue is of the second text.] .

COLOCENSIS [To Colocensis KY.] also thes as Laodicensis ben [beth VY sec. m.] men of Asye, and thei weren forgon [foregoeris Y.] of false apostlis. And to thes the [Om. V.] apostle cam not him self, but thes also he corect|ith by his pistle [epistell OSVW.] ; thei hadden herd sothli the word of treuthe of Archippis, the which took [Om. O.] mynisterie into hem. Ther|fore the apostle, thennis [than O. thenne SW. thanne V.] boundyn [ybounde OVY sec. m.] , writ|ith [wroot OVY. writ SW.] to hem fro Effecie bi Tyte, a dekene, `and Honesym, acolite [Om. OSVWY.] .

Here endeth the prologe [From O. Ende of the prolog; bigynnynge the epistle. K. No final rubric in SVWY.] .

[The epistle to the Colocensis [From M. The pistle to Colosensis. PQ. Here bigynneth the pistle. W. No initial rubric in AGNSTV.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] Poul, apostle of `Crist Jhesu [Jhesu Crist GMNOPQTVY.] , by the [verse 2] wille of God, and Tymothe, brother, to hem that ben [beth O.] at Colose [Colocense GMNPQT.] , hooly and feith|ful [verse 3] britheren [brether GT.] in Crist Jhesu, grace to ȝou

and pees of God oure [the O.] fadir and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. We don thankingis to God, and [and to N. Om. O.] the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu [verse 4] Crist, euermore `for ȝou preiynge [preiynge for ȝou V.] , we [Om. SX.] heeringe ȝoure feith in Crist Jhesu, and the loue that ȝe han into [to VX.] alle hooly men, [verse 5] for the hope that is kept to ȝou in [in to G.] he|uenes. The [Om. V.] which ȝe herden in the word [verse 6] of treuthe of the gospel, that cam to ȝou, as and it is in al the world, and makith fruyt, and wexith, as [as it is N. as and OV.] in ȝou, of [fro V.] that day in which ȝe herden and knewen the grace [grace of God NV.] in treuthe. [verse 7] As ȝe lerneden [lereden SX.] of Epaphras, oure euene seruaunt moost dereworthe, the [Om. V.] which is a trewe mynistre of Jhesu [verse 8] Crist for ȝou; the [Om. V.] which also schewide to vs ȝoure louyng [lyuyng K.] in spirit. [verse 9] Therfore and we fro the day in which we herden, ceessen not for ȝou preiynge, and axynge, that ȝe be fulfilled [fillid V.] with the [Om. SY pr. m.] knowynge of his will in al wysdom and goostly vn|dirstondyng [verse 10] ; that ȝe walke worthily to God `by alle plesynge [pleesinge by alle V.] thingis, makinge [that ȝe make S.] fruit in al good werk, and wexynge in [verse 11] the science of God, `in al vertu comfortid [coumfortid in al vertu V.] vp [after GMPQT. bi V.] the myȝt of his cleernesse, in al pa|cience [verse 12] and [in QT.] long abidinge with ioye, do|ynge thankingis to God the [and the V.] fadir, the [Om. VX.] which [that X.] made vs [ȝou V.] worthi in to the [Om. G pr. m.] part [party O.] of sort [sort, or grace QT. eritage V.] of hooly men in liȝt [heiȝt S.] . [verse 13] The [Om. V.] which delyuerede [delyuere G.] vs fro the [Om. G.] power of derk|nessis [derknesse Y.] , and translatide into [vs into NV.] the kyng|dom [verse 14] of the [his WY pr. m.] sone `of his [Om. G pr. m.] louynge, in whom we han aȝenbyinge and remyscioun of synnes. [verse 15] The [Om. V.] which is the ymage of God inuysible [visible O. vnuysible V passim.] , that may not be seyn [Om. GMOPQTX. either that may not be seyn V.] , the firste bigetun of ech creature. [verse 16] For in hym alle thingis ben maad, in heuenes and in erthe, visyble and invisyble, ether trones, ether domynaciouns, ethir princi|patis, ether potestates [potestis G.] , alle thingis ben

[verse 17] maad of noȝt by him, and in him, and he is bifore alle, and alle thingis ben in hym. [verse 18] And he is heed [heuyd G. heued OQT.] of the body of the chirche; the [Om. VX.] which is the [Om. XY.] bigynnynge, `or the firste thing of alle [Om. OX. or firste thing of alle Q. or the firste of alle SY pr. m.] , and the [Om. QT.] firste bi|getun [geten X.] of deede men [Om. X.] , that he be holdinge primacie [the firste dignyte O.] , `or the firste dignyte [Om. OX.] , in alle thingis. [verse 19] For in hym it [Om. S.] pleside `to gidere [Om. V.] [verse 20] al plente for [Om. SX.] to inhabite, and by him alle thingis for [Om. SX.] to be reconsylid in to hym, he pesynge [pesing, or maad pees N. pesende to S pr. m.] by the blood of his cross, ether tho thingis that ben in erthis, ether [or GX.] that ben in heuenes. [verse 21] And whanne ȝe weren sum tyme aliened, `or maad straunge [Om. OX. and maad straunge S.] , [verse 22] and enemyes by witt in yuel werkis, now forsothe he hath recouncilid ȝou [Om. G pr. m. O.] in the body of his fleisch bi deeth, for [Om. SX.] to haue ȝou hooly, and vnwemmid, and with oute re|prof bifore hym. [verse 23] If nethelees ȝe dwellen in the feith, foundid, and stable [stabled O.] , and vnmou|able fro [for Q.] the hope of the gospel that ȝe han herd, the [Om. V.] which is prechid in al [Om. K.] creature that is vndir heuene. Of which [the whiche S.] I [verse 24] Poul am maad mynistre, `the which now [and now V.] I [Om. SX.] haue ioye in passiouns [passioun V.] for ȝou, and [and I QT.] fulfille [fulfille, as is ordeyned to me and eche seynte QT. fulle S. I fille V.] tho [the PWX.] thingis that faylen of the passiouns of Crist [Crist, the whiche in my lot fallen to me to fulfille QT.] in my fleisch, for his body, that is the chirche. [verse 25] Of the [Om. QSTX.] which I Poul am maad mynistre [seruaunt Q. a seruaunt T.] , `or seruaunt [Om. OPVX.] , vp [after QT. bi V.] the dispensacioun of God, that is ȝouun to me in ȝou, that I fulfille [fille V.] the [verse 26] word of God, the mysterie, `or priuete [Om. OX.] , that was hid fro worldis [the world S. the worldis XY.] and genera|ciouns. Now forsoth it is schewid to his [verse 27] seyntis, to whom [whiche V.] God wolde [will S. wole Y.] make `the richessis knowun [knowun the richessis V.] of the glorie of this [his QT.] sacrament in hethen men, that [the whiche sacrament QT. which V.] is Crist in ȝou, the hope of glorie. [verse 28] Whom we [ȝe G.] schewen, reprouynge ech man, and tech|inge ech man in al wysdom, that we

ȝyuen [offre V.] ech man parfyt [perfit, bothe Jewe and hethen man QT.] in Crist Jhesu. [verse 29] In which thing and I trauele, stryuynge [in stryuynge V.] vp [after QT. bi V.] the worchinge of him, that he worchith in me in vertu.

CAP. II.

[verse 1] Sothli I wole `ȝou for to [ȝou to SX. that ȝe V.] wite, what bisynesse I haue for ȝou, and for hem that ben at Laodice, and whiche euere sayen [verse 2] not my face in fleisch, that `the hertis of hem be [be not O.] comfortid [thei coumforte the hertis of hem V.] , thei [Om. GMPQTY sec. m.] tauȝt in charite, and `in to [in T.] alle richessis of plente of vn|dirstonding, into the [Om. G pr. m. PQTY sec. m.] knowyng of mys|terie [the priuytee QT.] [verse 3] of God, the fadir of Jhesu Crist, in whom ben [Om. V.] al the [Om. GMPQT.] tresours `hid of wys|dom and science [and science of wisdam S. of wisedom and science ben hid V. of wisdam and kunnyng hid X. and science of wisdom hid Y.] . [verse 4] Forsoth this thing I seie, that no man disceyue ȝou in hiȝthe of wordis. [verse 5] Forwhi `and if [and P. thouȝ V.] I be absent in body, but by spirit I am with ȝou, ioy|inge and seinge ȝoure ordre [ordre, or ȝoure ordynel maner QT.] and the [Om. SX. of Y.] sadnesse of that [Om. O.] ȝoure bileue that is in [Om. O.] Crist. [verse 6] Therfore as ȝe han takun Jhesu [verse 7] Crist oure Lord, walke ȝe in hym, ȝe [Om. GMPQSTXY sec. m.] rootid and byldid [bild SX.] aboue in Crist [him V.] , and confermyd in the bileue, as and ȝe han lerud [lernyd GMNPQTY.] , haboundinge in hym in [and in N. Om. Y.] doynge of thankyngis [thankis GMPT.] . [verse 8] Se ȝe that no man dis|seyue ȝou by philosofye and veyn fallace, `or gilouse falshede [Om. OX.] , vp [after GMPQT. bi V.] the tradicioun of men, vp [after GMPQTV. vp the SY pr. m.] elementis of this [the V.] world, and not vp [after GMPQTV.] Crist. [verse 9] For in hym dwellith bodilich al plente of Godhede [the Godhede GMQT.] . [verse 10] And ȝe ben fulfillid [fillid V.] in him, that is [Om. O.] heed [heuyd GQT.] of al principat and power. [verse 11] In whom and ȝe ben circumsidid in circumcisioun not maad with hond, in nakidnesse of the body of fleisch, but in [Om. SY.] [verse 12] circumcisioun of Crist; to gidere biryed to [with V.] hym in baptym, in whom and ȝe han risun aȝen by feith of the worching of God, that reyside hym fro deede men [Om. X.] . [verse 13] And whanne ȝe weren deede in giltis, and in the prepucie [prepucie, or custom QT.] of ȝoure fleisch, he quykenyde

to gidere ȝou with hym; forȝyuynge to [Om. S.] ȝou alle giltis, `or trespassis [Om. GMOPQTX.] , [verse 14] doynge awey that [the N.] wryting [wryting, or obligacioun V.] of decree, `or dom [Om. X.] , `that was aȝens [Om. X.] ȝou, [us V. Om. X.] that was contrarie to ȝou; [us V.] and he took that [ awey that V.] fro the myddel, [mydil of ȝou the synne of Adam AT.] picchinge [puttinge G.] it to [in to T. on V.] the cross, [crosse, clensynge it by his blode QT.] [verse 15] spoylinge [and he spoilinge V.] princepatis and poweris, [poweris, or feendis QT.] led out tristily, [tristily fro hem his chosen QT.] openly ouercomynge hem in him silf. [verse 16] Therfore no man iuge ȝou in mete, or [or in V.] drynke, or in part [party S.] of feeste day, or neomenye, [neomenye, that is, the feste of [a T] newe mone, or of cryinge QT.] [verse 17] or of [Om. OSX.] sabotis, the [Om. V.] whiche ben schadowe of thingis to come; [comynge V.] forsoth the body is of Crist. [Crist; that is, the treuthe hid vndir this shadew signefieth Crist QT.] [verse 18] No man disseyue ȝou, willinge [willinge to teche V.] in [Om. N.] mekenesse, and religioun [the religioun V.] of aungels, the [tho thingis the V.] whiche thingis he hath not seyn, walkynge veynly; ynblowyn [bolned V.] with witt of his fleisch, [verse 19] and not holdynge [byholdyng O.] the heed, [heued GQT.] of which [whome GMPQT.] al the body, by bondis and ioynyngis to gidere vndirmynistrid and maad, wexith into the [Om. G pr.m. V.] encreessyng of God. [verse 20] Forsothe if ȝe ben deede with Crist [Crist, that is, ful departid QT.] fro the [Om. X.] elementis of this worlde, what ȝit as men lyuynge to the world deme ȝe? [verse 21] Nether `ȝe schulen touche [touche ȝe V.] , nether taste, [verse 22] nether trete with hondis `tho thingis [Om. G pr. m.] , the [Om. VX.] which alle ben into deeth by `the ilke [that X.] vss, vp [after GMPQT. bi V.] preceptis [comaundementis V.] and techingis of men; [verse 23] the [Om. V.] whiche ben sotheli hauynge resoun of wysdom in supersticioun, `or veyn religioun, or honour [Om. OX. or veyn religioun SVWY.] , and mekenesse [mekenes, for by these sygnys thei mown most desceyue QT.] , and not for [Om. SX.] to spare the body [bodie, sugettynge it with penaunce QT.] , not in [hauynge it in QT.] ony honour to the fulnesse of fleisch [fleische, as thei feynen QT.] .

CAP. III.

[verse 1] Therfore if ȝe han risun to gidere [in Crist with N.] with Crist, `seke ȝe [seketh X.] tho thingis that be aboue, where Crist is sittinge in the riȝthalf of

God. [verse 2] Sauere [Vndirstonde O.] , `or vndirstonde [Om. G pr. m. MOPQTX. or vndirstondeth S.] , ȝe tho thingis that ben aboue, not tho [Om. X.] that ben [Om. X.] vpon [on VX.] the [Om. SWX.] erthe. [verse 3] Forsoth [For V.] ȝe ben deede, and ȝoure lyf is hid with Crist in God. [verse 4] Forsothe [For V.] whanne Crist schal appere [appere, or schewe QT.] , ȝoure lyf, thanne and ȝe schulen appeere with him in glorie. [verse 5] Therfore sle ȝe [Om. G pr. m.] ȝoure membris, the [Om. VX.] whiche [that X.] ben on [of O.] the [Om. X.] erthe, fornycacioun, vnclennesse, leccherie, yuel couetyse, and auarice, the [Om. V.] which is seru|age [verse 6] of symylacris; for whiche thingis the wraththe of God cam vpon [on VX.] the [suche O.] sones of [verse 7] vnbileue [mysbeleue S.] ; in the [Om. VX.] whiche and ȝe walkiden sumtyme, whanne ȝe lyueden in hem. [verse 8] `Now forsoth [But now V.] and `ȝe putte [putte ȝe MPQT. potith S. ȝe potteth X.] awey alle thingis, wraththe, indignacioun, malice, blasfemye, foul word of ȝoure mouth. [verse 9] Nyle ȝe lyie, `or gabbe [Om. AGK pr. m. MNOPQSTVWXY.] , to gidere, spul|inge [spoilinge ȝou fro V.] [verse 10] the olde man with his [Om. G pr. m.] deedis, and clothinge [clad SX. clothid Y.] the newe man, that is maad newe aȝen into the knowynge of God, vp [aftir V.] [verse 11] the ymage of him that maad hym; wher is [it is Q.] not male and female, hethen man and Jew, circumcisioun and prepucie, barbar [barbara PQTY. barbarus V.] and Scita, seruaunt, `or thral [Om. G pr. m. MOPQTX. of Yrael Y.] , and fre man [Om. OX.] , but alle thingis and in alle thingis Crist. [verse 12] Therfore clothe [clotheth S. clothe ȝe V.] ȝou, as the chosun of God, and [Om. G sec. m. SV.] hooly, and [Om. MP.] the [Om. GMPQTV.] loued `of God [Om. GQTV.] , the [with the V.] entrailis of mercy, benygnite, and mekenesse, temperaunce, and [Om. G pr. m. PQSTVWXY.] paci|ence [verse 13] ; supportinge [beringe O.] , `or beringe [Om. OX.] vp to gi|dere, and ȝyuynge [forȝeuynge QTV.] to ȝou [ȝour GMPQT.] silf, if ony man aȝens any hath `querel, or pleynt [pleynt, or querel S. querel X.] ; as and the Lord Crist [Om. V.] ȝaf [forȝaf QTV.] to ȝou, so and ȝe. [verse 14] Forsoth vpon [on VX.] alle thes thingis [thingis, that is, more bisily QT.] haue ȝe charite, that [the whiche GMPQT.] is the [Om. GMP.] bond of perfeccioun. [verse 15] And the pees of Crist enioye [enioie ȝe V.] in ȝoure hertis, in the [Om. V.] which and ȝe ben clepid in o body, and `be ȝe [beth SX.] kynde, `or fre of good

will or ȝifte [Om. O. lastynge in oo good wille in alle these QT. of good wil X.] . [verse 16] The word of Crist dwelle in ȝou plenteuously, in al wysdom, tech|inge and monestinge ȝou silf in salmes, and ymnes, and spiritual [goostly O.] songis, in [and G.] grace syngynge in ȝoure hertis to the Lord. [verse 17] Al thing, what euere thing [Om. GMPQT.] ȝe don, in word or in [Om. QT.] dede, alle thingis in the name of the [oure AGMNOPSVWXY.] Lord Jhesu Crist, doynge thankyngis to God the [and the V.] fadir by hym. [verse 18] Wymmen, be ȝe [Om. V.] suget [sugettes OY.] to ȝoure housbondis, as it bi|houeth in the Lord. [verse 19] Men, loue ȝe ȝoure wyues, and nyle ȝe be bitter to hem. [verse 20] Sones, obeye [obesche MSX.] ȝe [Om. G.] to [to ȝour GV. to the N.] fadir `and modir [Om. V.] by [in O.] alle thingis; forsothe this is wel ples|ynge [plesid N.] to [in V.] the Lord. [verse 21] Fadris, nyle ȝe terre ȝoure sones to [in S. in to X.] indignacioun, that thei be not maad of litel ynwitt, `or resoun [Om. OX.] . [verse 22] Seruauntis, obeye [obesche M.] ȝe by alle thingis to fleischly lordis [lordis, lordschipyng aftur the flesche T.] , not seruynge at yȝe, as plesynge to men, but in symplenesse of herte, dredinge the Lord [Lord God QT.] . [verse 23] What euere ȝe don, worche ȝe of ynwitt [witte V.] , as to the [verse 24] Lord and not to men; witinge that of the Lord ȝe schulen take `retribucioun, or ȝeldinge aȝen [retribucioun, or aȝein ȝeeldinge GMPQT. reward O. ȝeldinge V. retribucioun X.] , of heritage. Serue ȝe to the Lord Crist. [verse 25] Forsoth [For V.] he that doth in|iurie [wrong O.] , `or wrong [Om. OX.] , schal resseyue that that he dide yuele; and accepcioun [acceptacioun A. takynge O.] of persoones is not anentis God.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] Lordis, that that is iust and euene ȝyue [ȝelde O.] ȝe to seruauntis, witinge that `and ȝe [also the V.] han a [OO M. Om. X.] Lord in heuene. [verse 2] Be ȝe bisy to [in V.] preier, wakinge in it, in doyngis [doynge GMNPQSTVWXY.] of [verse 3] thankyngis; preiynge to gidere and for vs, that God opene to vs the dore of word, for [Om. SX.] to speke the mysterie [mynysterie XY.] of Crist; for [verse 4] which also I am boundun, that I schewe

it, so as it bihoueth me for [Om. SX.] to speke. [verse 5] In wysdom walke ȝe to hem that ben with|oute forth, aȝen byynge tyme [tyme, by prudence hou ȝe schulen best edefie the pepul QT.] . [verse 6] Ȝoure word be sauerid in salt, `that is, wysdom [Om. X.] , euermore in grace; that [and that N.] ȝe wite, hou `it bihoueth ȝou [ȝou bihoueth X.] for [Om. SX.] to answere to ech man. [verse 7] Titicus, moost dere brother, and feithful mynystre, and euene seruaunt in the Lord, schal make alle thingis knowun to ȝou, that ben aboute me. [verse 8] Whom I sente to ȝou to this [the X.] same thing, that he knowe what thingis ben aboute ȝou, and comforte ȝoure [verse 9] hertis, with Onesyme, moost dere and feithful brother, the [Om. V.] which is of ȝou; the [Om. VX.] which [that X.] schal make alle thingis that ben don [Om. O.] here, knowun to ȝou. [verse 10] Aristark, myne euene caytyf, `or prisoner with me [Om. OX.] , greetith ȝou wel, and Mark, the cosyn of Barnabas, of whom ȝe han take maunde|mentis [maundementis, hou he departide fro me QT.] ; if he schal [Om. V.] come to ȝou, resceyue [verse 11] ȝe him; and Jhesus [ech W.] , that is seid [Om. MV.] Just; the [Om. V.] whiche ben of circumcisioun; thei aloone ben myne helperis in the kingdom of God, that weren to me in [Om. O.] solace. [verse 12] Epa|phras, that is [was O.] of ȝou, the seruaunt of Jhesu Crist, greetith ȝou wel; euere bisy for ȝou in preieris, that ȝe stonde perfyt and ful in al the wyll of God. [verse 13] Sothli I bere witnessyng to him, that he hath moche trauel [trauelid AN.] for ȝou, and for hem that ben at Laodice, and that ben at Ierepo|lym. [verse 14] Luk, leche [the leche GMNPQTY sec. m.] moost dere, and Demas, greeten ȝou wel. [verse 15] Greetith [Grete GMNPQSTVWX.] ȝe wel the britheren that ben at Laodice, and Nym|pham [the womman Nym|fam V.] , and the chirche that is in his [her V.] hous. [verse 16] And whanne this pistle [epistele O.] `schal be [is V.] rad at ȝou, do ȝe, that it be rad in the chirche of Laodicencis; and `that that [rede ȝe that pistle that V.] is of Laodi|censis `be rad at [to GMNPSXY.] ȝou [Om. V.] . [verse 17] And seie ȝe to Archyp, Se the mynisterie [mysterie Q.] , that thou hast takun of [in V.] the Lord, that thou fulfille [fille V.] it. My salutacioun, by the hond of Poul. [verse 18] Be

ȝe myndeful of my boondis. The grace of the [oure OQT.] Lord Jhesu [Jhesu Crist OQT.] be with ȝou. Amen.

Here endith the epistle to Colocensis, and bigynneth the prolog to Tessalony|censis [Here endith the pistle to Colocensis, and here bygynneth the fyrste epistle to Tessalonycensis. A. Here endith the pistle to Colocensis, and bigynneth the prolog, and aftur the pistil to Thessalonycensis. N. Here endith the epistel to Colocensis, and bygynneth the prologe of the first epistel to Thessalonicenses. O. Here endith the pistel to the Colocense, and bygynneth the fyrste pistel to the Tessalonycenses. Q. Here endith Colocensis, and bigynneth the prologe to the firste pistle of Tes|salonicensis. V. Here eendith Colosencis, and bigynneth prologe. W. No final rubric in GMPSTXY.] .