A fourteenth century English Biblical version, edited by Anna C. Paues ...

JAMES [S folio 20] [Heading: Jacobus in a later hand on fol. 20, subsequently Ja-cobi on facing pages, with the second stroke of u and the s erased. S.] .

[verse 1] James [C ^m 1^m in an early hand, S.] [P folio 23] þat is a seruaunt of oure Lord & oure God Iesu Crist, to þe twelue kynredes þat beþ in dyspersyon, hele and gretynge. [verse 2] Breþeren, trowe ȝe þat it be eferych gladnesse whan ȝe falleþ in-to dyuerse temptacyons, [verse 3] knowynge þat þe prefynge of ȝoure feiþ worcheþ pacyence. [verse 4] And pacyence haþ a [om. P.] parfyt werk, þat ȝe ben parfyt & hol, faylynge in no þing. [verse 5] And who-efere of ȝou nedeþ wysdom, axe he of God, þat graunteþ eferich man plentyuouslyche and obbraydeþ no man. [verse 6] & axe he in feiþ & trust, doutynge no þing: For he þat douteþ is lyche to þe flod of þe see [an e in the margin, S.] þat is y-mefed & y-boren aboute of þe wynd. [verse 7] And þerfore þilke man ne trowe noȝt þat he schal vnderfonge any þing of God; [verse 8] A man þat is doubel in soule, he is vnstabel in alle his weyes. [verse 9] , [verse 10] And an humel broþer ioye he in hys hyȝenesse, & a ryche man [ryche man repeated in margin, 1st corrector, S.] in his lowenesse: For as þe flour of þe gras he schal passe forþ his weye. [verse 11] For þe sunne haþ y-rysen up wiþ hete, & haþ y-druyed [uyed on erasure, S. ydreyed P.] ·þe heþ; & his flour is y-fallen a-down, & his fayrnesse is y-perysched: so a ryche man schal welewen in his iourneyes. [verse 12] Þat man is y-blessed þat suffreþ temptacyoun: for whanne he is y-prefed, he schal vnderfonge [P folio 23b] a coroune of lyf, þat God haþ byhoten to þilke þat loueþ hym. [verse 13] & no man

seye whan he is y-temptyd, þat he is y-tempted [þat he is y-tempted in margin in 1st corrector's hand, S. om. P.] of God: for God ne is no temptour of wyckednesse, For he ne tempteþ no [verse 14] man: bote eferiche man is i-tempted [i added above line by a later hand, S. om. P.] þoroȝ sterynge & drawynge of his owne coueytyse. [verse 15] & after whan þat mannes coueytyse haþ y-conseyued, he bryngeþ forþ [S folio 20b] synne: & whan þe synne is y-don, it bygeteþ [te on erasure, S.] deþ. [verse 16] & þerfore, my leueste bryþeren, ne erre ȝe noȝt. [verse 17] Eferich ȝeft þat is best & parfyt is from abouen, comynge adoun from þe Fader of lyȝtes, at whom ne is non [no P.] chaungynge, ne ouer-schadewynge of re|wardynge. [verse 18] For wylfullyche he haþ bygeten ous þoroȝ þe word of trewþe, þat we ben sum bygynnynge of his creature. [verse 19] & wyte ȝe [an e in the margin, S.] wel, my dereste breþeren, eferich man be swyft [verse 20] forte heren & slow for-to speken & slow to wraþþe: For a mannes wraþþe ne worcheþ noȝt þe ryȝtfulnesse of God. [verse 21] & þerfore caste ȝe awey from ȝow eferych vnclennesse & plente of wyckednesse, & in goodnesse vnderfonge ȝe þe word þat is y-sowe to ȝow, þat may saue ȝoure soules. [verse 22] Bote be ȝe doeres of þe word, and noȝt onlyche hereris, bygylynge ȝow|selfe. [verse 23] For who þat is an herer of þe word, & noȝt a [om. P.] doere, þerafter he schal be lyckned to a man þat byholdeþ hym|selfen [verse 24] in a myrour: for [P folio 24] he haþ byholden hymself, & wente forþ his weye, and anon he haþ forȝeten whyche he was. [verse 25] Bote he þat byholdeþ in þe lawe of parfyt fredom, & duelleþ þerynne, & ne is noȝt y-mad a forȝetful herer, bote a doere of þe werk, he is y-blessyd in his doynge. [verse 26] & who þat troweþ hym-selfe a relygyous man, & refreyneþ noȝt his tunge bote bygyleþ his owne herte, his relygyoun is veyn. [verse 27] A clene relygyoun & wiþ-outen wem to-fore God & þe Fader þis [þis written above þat (crossed out), P.] is, to vysyten faderles chyldren and moderles, & wydewes in hure trybulacyoun, & to kepen [S folio 21] hym-self wiþ-outen wem from þis worlde.

[verse 1] And [C ^m 2^m in the margin in an early hand, S.] my dere breþeren, ne haue ȝe noȝt þe feiþ of þe blysse of oure Lord Iesu Crist in vnderfongynge of mennes

persones. [verse 2] For ȝef þer come in-to ȝoure cumpanye a man in fayr cloþynge, hauynge a gold ryng [gold ryng repeated in margin, 1st corrector, S.] on his hond, & a pore [verse 3] man also in a foul cloþinge; þanne ȝef ȝe [he P.] byholdeþ in hym þat is [om. P.] wel cloþed [ycloþed P.] , & seye, Sytte þou here wel; & seyn to þe pore man, Stonde þou þere, oþer sytte vnder þe stol of my [verse 4] fet; ne deme ȝe noȝt þanne among ȝow-selfe, & be ȝe noȝt y-mad domes-men of wykkede þoȝtes? [verse 5] Y-hereþ, my dereste frendes; ne ches noȝt God pore men in þis worlde, & ryche men in feiþ, & heyres of þe kyngdom, þat God haþ [P folio 24b] by-hoten to þilke þat loueþ hym? [verse 6] & ȝe haueþ vnworschuped þe pore man. & ne doþ noȝt þese ryche [an e in the margin, S.] men þoroȝ hure myȝt þruste ȝou adoun? & þei draweþ ȝou to domes. [verse 7] & ne doþ noȝt þei blaspheme þe goode name þat is y-cleped [y om. P.] on ȝow? [verse 8] And so ȝef ȝe parformeþ þe kynglyche lawe, after scripturis, Þou [verse 9] schalt loue [þy nexte neiȝeboure] [þy nexte neiȝeboure P. In S þ ⁱ neȝbour as thy self on erasure in a later hand.] , þann do ȝe wel; & ȝef ȝe vnderfongeþ mennes persones, ȝe doþ synne, & beþ vndernome of þe lawe as trespassoures. [verse 10] & who þat kepeþ al þe lawe, & offendeþ in on þing, he is y-mad gulty of al þe lawe. [verse 11] For he þat seyde, Þow schal do no leccherye, seyde also, Þow schalt not sleen. & ȝef þow dost no leccherye, bote sleest, þow art y-mad a trespasour of þe lawe. [verse 12] So speke ȝe, & so do ȝe, as [S folio 21b] þouȝ ȝe bygonne to ben y-demed by þe lawe of fredom. [verse 13] For to hym þat doþ no mercy þer is a dom wiþ-outen mercy: for mercy heueþ vp an hyȝ dom. [verse 14] And my [my leue, P.] breþeren, what pro|phyteþ it, ȝef a man sayþ þat he haþ feiþ, & ne haþ noȝt werkes [an e and nota in the margin, S.] ? wheþer his feiþ mowe sauen hym? [verse 15] And ȝef a broþer oþer a [om. P.] suster be naked, oþer haue nede to hure [verse 16] eferyche dayes lyflode, & on of ȝow seye, Be ȝe y-warmed [y om. P.] , oþer, Be ȝe fulfillyd; & ne ȝefe hem noȝt þat is nedeful to þe body, what profyteþ it? [verse 17] Ryȝt so feiþ, ȝef he ne haue none werkes, he is deed in hym-selfen. [verse 18] Bote sum man seyþ [syþ P.] , Þow [P folio 25] hast feiþ, & ich haue werkes: schewe me þi feiþ wiþouten werkes, & ich wole of my werkes schewe þe my feiþ. [verse 19] Þow

[verse 20] byleuest þat þer ne is bote on God, & þow dost wel: & fendes byleueþ & quakeþ for drede. Bote wolt þou y-wyte, þow veyn man, þat feiþ is ded wiþ-outen werkus? [verse 21] Abraham oure fader ne was noȝt he y-iustyfyed [y om. P.] of his werkes, offrynge Ysaac his sone up-on þe auter? [verse 22] Ne seest þou þanne, þat feiþ helped [helpeþ P.] his werkes, & of werkes feiþ was y-broȝt to an [verse 23] ende; & þe scripture was fulfilled þat seyde, Abraham byleued to his God, & it was y-holde to hym for ryȝtfulnesse; & he was y-cleped Godes frend. [verse 24] Ne seo ȝe not þanne þat a man is y-iustyfyed of his werkes, & noȝt of feiþ alone? [verse 25] Also Raab þe hore ne was noȝt heo y-iustyfyed of hure werkes, vnderfongynge Goddes messyngeres, & letynge hem gon out an oþer weye? [verse 26] & ryȝt as þe body is deed wiþ-outen spiryt, so feiþ is ded with-outen werkes.

[verse 1] And [S folio 22] [ C ^m 3^m in the margin, S.] my breþeren, ne wylne ȝe noȝt to ben y-mad many maystres, wytynge þat ȝe takeþ þe grettere dom. [verse 2] For we offendeþ in many þinges euerychone. & who þat offendiþ in non word, he is a parfyt man, & he may wiþ a brydul leden al þe body aboute. [verse 3] For we putte brydeles [brydeles repeated in margin, 1st corrector's hand, S.] in-to [P folio 25b] horses mouþes [the two first strokes of m on erasure, S.] to maken hem assente to ous, and we bereþ aboute al hure body. [verse 4] And grete schyppes þat beþ y-meued wiþ grete wyndes, þei beþ y-turned aboute wiþ a lytul gouernynge, whydur þat he wole þat is gouernour of þe schypp. [verse 5] And so þe tonge is a lytul membre, bote he arereþ up grete þinges. [verse 6] And lo, how lytul a fuyr wole brennen up a gret wode! & þe tonge is fuyr & uniuersyte of wikkednesse; & þe tonge is y-set in oure membres, þat defouleþ al þe body; & heo is y-tend of þe fuyr of helle, & tendeþ þe wheol of [of added above line in a later hand. An e in the margin, S.] oure natyuyte. [verse 7] For eferich kynde of bestes, of bryddes, of eddres, [verse 8] & of alle oþer, beþ y-temed of mankynde, bote þe tonge no man may temen; for it is a wicked þing, & wiþ-outen reste, & ful of dedlyche venym. [verse 9] In þe tonge we blesseþ [blessed P.] God þe Fader; & in hure we curseþ men, þat beþ y-mad after þe [verse 10] ymage of God: of þe same mouþ passeþ forþ blessynge &

cursynge. My breþeren, it byhoueþ noȝt þat it be y-don þus. [verse 11] Wheþer þer sprynge out of hol a [of a P, of in margin, 1st corr. S.] welle þat welleþ boþe suete watyr & bytter watyr? [verse 12] & my breþeren, wheþer a fyge-tre mowe brynge forþ grapes, oþer a vyne fyges? so salt water may maken no fresch watyr [S folio 22b] . [verse 13] Who is a wys man & a wel y-tauȝt [a crossed through, S.] man a-mong ȝow? schewe he of his good conuer|sacyoun his worchynge in goodnesse of wysdom. [verse 14] & ȝef ȝe [on erasure, S. he P.] haueþ [P folio 26] bytter hate & stryuynges [streynynges P.] in [of P.] ȝoure hertes, ne ioye ȝe noȝt to ben lyerys aȝeyn trewþe. [verse 15] For þis wysdom ne comeþ not doun from a-boue, bote it is an erþelyche wysdom, & a [om. P.] bestysch wysdom, & þe [om. P.] defeles wysdom. [verse 16] For þer is hate & stryuynge [streyneynge P.] , þer is vnstabelnesse & eferych schrewyd [schrede P.] werk. [verse 17] Bote þe wysdom þat is of a-bouen heo is furst chaste, & seþþe discret, & temperat, pesybel, and bleþelyche wole be conseyled, & assentynge to goode þinges, ful of mercy & of goode fruytys, demynge wiþoute symulacyoun. [verse 18] & þe fruyt of ryȝtfulnesse is y-sowen in pees to þilke þat doþ pees.

And [C ^m 4^m in the margin, early hand, S.] of whennes beþ þe batayles & þe stryuynges þat beþ a-mong ȝow? ne beþ þei noȝt of ȝoure coueytyses þat beþ in ȝoure membres? [verse 2] Ȝe coueyteþ, & ȝe ne haueþ noȝt: ȝe sleþ [ȝe sleþ repeated in margin, 1st corr. S.] , & ȝe hateþ, & ȝe mowe noȝt geten: ȝe stryueþ [streyneþ P.] & ȝe werreþ; ȝe ne haueþ noȝt, for ȝe ne axeþ noȝt. [verse 3] Ȝe axeþ, & ȝe ne vnder|fongeþ noȝt,. for ȝe axeþ in yuel manere, as ȝe scheweþ openlyche in ȝoure coueytynges. [verse 4] Ȝe spousbrekeres, ne knowe ȝe noȝt þat þe frendschype of þis world [word P.] is enemy to God? & þerfore, who euere þat wol ben frend of þis world, he schal ben y-mad Goddes enemy. [verse 5] What wene ȝe? Þat scripture seye in veyn, þat þe spiryt þat is in ȝow coueyteþ [P folio 26b] to enuye. Bote he ȝeueþ þe more grace. [verse 6] & þerfore he say [S folio 23] , God aȝeyn|stondeþ proude men, & ȝeueþ grace to humel men. [verse 7] & þerfore be ȝe suget to God; & aȝeynstonde ȝe þe deuel, & he schal fleen a-wey from ȝow. [verse 8] Come ȝe nyȝ to God, & he wole neyȝleche to ȝow: ȝe synful men, make ȝe clene ȝoure honden;

& ȝe þat beþ of doubel soule, make ȝe clene ȝoure hertes. [verse 9] Be ȝe sory, & make ȝe waymentacion: & be ȝoure lawȝwynge y-turnyd in-to sorewynge, & ȝoure ioye in-to drerynesse [dreynesse P.] . [verse 10] & be ȝe y-humeled in þe syȝt of oure Lord, & he wole arere ȝou vp yn tyme of trybulacion [yn tyme of trybulacion in margin, 1st corr. S. om. P.] . [verse 11] And my breþeren, ne bakbyte ȝe noȝt eferychone to oþer: for who þat bakbyteþ his broþer, oþer demeþ his broþer [his broþer om. P.] , he bakbyteþ þe lawe, & demeþ þe lawe: & ȝef þou demest þe lawe, þou ne art not a doer of þe lawe, bote a domes-man. [verse 12] And þer is on þat is makere of þe lawe & domes-man, þat may boþe sauen & distroye: & what art þou þat demest þi nexte neyȝebore? [verse 13] And lo, now ȝe seye [ȝe seye on erasure. Nota in the margin S.] , We schuleþ gon to day oþer to morewe in-to þat cyte, & þere we woleþ abyden a ȝer, & chaffaren, & wynne muche: & ȝe ne wyteþ noȝt what schal fallen a-morewe. [verse 14] For what is ȝoure lyf? A breþ þat scheweþ hym-seluen a lytel whyles, & soone þer-aftur it is ydon. [verse 15] & þer-fore seye ȝe, Ȝef God wole, &, Ȝef we lyfeþ [P folio 27] , we woleþ don þis oþer þat. [verse 16] Bote now ȝe ioyeþ in ȝoure pruydes, & eferich such ioye is wikked. [verse 17] And þerfore who þat can do wel, & doþ noȝt wel, it is synne to hym.

And [C ^m 5^m in the margin, early hand, S.] ȝe riche men [ryche men repeated in the margin, 1st corrector, S.] , wepe ȝe & make ȝe sorewe in þe wrecchydnessys þat schuleþ come to ȝow her-after. [verse 2] Ȝoure rycchesse beþ y-roted, & ȝoure cloþes beþ [S folio 23b] y-eten of mowtþes [moþþes P.] . [verse 3] Ȝoure gold and ȝoure seluer is y-rousted; & þe roust of hem schal ben in wytnesse to ȝow & ete ȝoure flesch as fuyr. Ȝe tresoureþ to ȝow-self wraþþe in þe laste dayes. [verse 4] & þe mede of ȝoure werk-men þat han y-repe ȝoure kyndomes, þat ȝe haueþ bygyled hem of, cryeþ an hiȝ: & hure cryynge haþ y-entred [y om. P.] in-to þe eres of oure Lord of Sabaoth. [verse 5] Ȝe habbeþ y-mad festes up-on þe erþe, & ȝe habbeþ y-noresched ȝoure hertes in leccheryes in þe day of slauȝt. [verse 6] Ȝe han y-broȝt forþ & y-slawen þe ryȝtful man, & he ne aȝeynstondeþ ȝow noȝt. [verse 7] & [fferia 4 ^a in pale ink in margin, S.] þerfore, briþeren, be ȝe pacyent to þe comynge of God. For

lo, an erþe-tylyere abydeþ þe precyous fruyt of þe erþe, & suffreþ pacyentlyche, forte he vnderfonge schoures þat per|teneþ to þe tyme, & efetydes schoures. [verse 8] & be ȝe pacyent, & confermeþ ȝoure hertes, for þe comynge of God wol neyȝlachen. [verse 9] And [P folio 27b] breþeren, ne make ȝe noȝt waymentacyoun to-gedere, þat ȝe ben noȝt y-demed: for lo, þe domes-man abydeþ to|fore þe ȝate. [verse 10] & briþeren, take ȝe ensampel of an efel yssew, & of longe [a longe P.] abydynge, & of pacyence, & of trafayl, of pro|phetes þat han y-spoken in þe name of oure Lord. [verse 11] & þei han y-seyd, þat þei beþ y-blessed þat habeþ y-suffred & abyde. And ȝe habbeþ y-herd þe suffrynge & þe abydynge of Iob, & ȝe han y-seye þe ende of oure Lord: for he is mercyful & doþ mercy [nota in the margin, S.] . [verse 12] And to-fore alle þinges, my dereste briþeren, ne swere ȝe noȝt by hefne, ne by erþe, ne be non oþer oþ: bote be [S folio 24] [ Heading Johannis, S.] ȝoure word ȝe, ȝe, & nay, nay; þat ȝe ne falle noȝt vnder dom. [verse 13] Ȝef any of ȝow is sory, preye he [ȝe P.] , & synge he [ȝe P.] wiþ an efene soule. [verse 14] And ȝef eny man is seek a-mong ȝow, brynge ȝe in prestes of þe churche, & preyen þei up-on hym, & [verse 15] anoynteþ hym wiþ oyle in þe name of oure Lord: & þe preyere of byleue schal saue þe sek man, and oure Lord wole maken hym lyȝtere of his sekenesse; & ȝef he is in synnes, þei schuleþ ben forȝeuen [forȝen P. nota in the margin, S.] hym. [verse 16] And þerfore knowleche ȝe ȝoure synnes eferychone to oþer, & preye ȝe for oþer, þat ȝe ben y-saued. For muche worþ is a bysy preyere of a [om. P.] riȝtful man. [verse 17] Helye was a man lyche to ȝow, & he preyed þat it schulde noȝt reyne upon þe erþe; & it reyned [P folio 28] noȝt þre ȝer & sixe moneþes. [verse 18] Eftsones he preyed; & hefne ȝef his reyn, & þe erþe his fruyt. [verse 19] My briþeren, ȝif eny of ȝow erre from [verse 20] trewþe, & eny man turne hym aȝeyn; he schal vnderstonde, þat who þat makeþ a synful man turnen hym from þe errour of his weye, he schal sauen his soule from deþ, & keuereþ þe multytude of synnes. Deo gracias.