that is, thai ere sene of god to be wriches and departid fra him. fra the tyme that thai ware consayued. and sithen thai erred fra wambe of halykirke. that is, thaire baptem thai honur noght with goed werkis. bot thai folow all [S ins. 'that is.'] contrary til thaire modire. that lufis sothfastnes, for thai speke fals.
4 Furor illis secundum similitudinem serpentis: sicut aspidis surde & obturantis aures suas. ¶ Wodenes til tha eftere the lykynynge of neddere: as of the snake doumbe and stoppand here eren. ¶ Rightly kalles he thaim wode. for thai hafe na witt to see whidire thai ga. for thai louke thaire eghen and rynnes til the fire. thaire woednes is clowmsched, that will not be turnyd, as of the snake that festis the ta ere til the erth, and the tothere stoppis with hire taile. swa do thai, that thai here not goddis worde. thai stope thaire eren with luf of erthly thynge, that thai delite thaim in, & with thaire taile, that is, with thaire alde synnes, that thai will not amend.
5. Que non exaudiet vocem incantancium: & venefici incantantis sapienter. ¶ The whilke sall not here the voice of charmand: and of the venym makere charemand wisely. ¶ This snake stoppis hire eren that sho be noght broght til light: for if sho herd it sho come forth sone, he charmys swa wisely in his crafte. swa the wickidmen will not here the voice of crist and his lufers, that ere wise charmers [S. U charmes.] for thai wild brynge thaim til light of heuen. witt ȝe wele that he lufes not charmers and venym makers, bot by vices of bestis he takis liknynge of vices of men.
6. Deus conteret dentes eorum in ore ipsorum: molas leonum confringet dominus. ¶ Gode sall alto breke the tethe of thaim in thaire mouth: tuskis of lyons breke sall lord. ¶ Thai dispise godis worde. and god sall altobreke thaire tethe. that is, thaire lithere speches, in thaire mouth. that is, with thaire aghen answers. for thai say agayn thaim selfe with thaire mouth. the tuskis of liouns, that is, the priue counsails of fendis & tirauntes, oure lord sall breke, that thai cum not til dede.
7. Ad nichilum deuenient tanquam aqua decurrens: intendit arcum suum donec infirmentur. ¶ Till noght thai sall cum as waytere rennand: he bendis his boghe til thai be made seke. ¶ Till noght thai sall cum. for thai sall lose riches delites and thaire life. as watere rennand, that is, at the manere of the
