erth, that is, the halnes of all creaturis thi possession, the whilke thou weldis with me as god. ȝe wate wele that the termes of the erth beltis [S bynden.] in all the erth. And forthi when he says that he gifs him the termes. he will that we wit that he [S. U om.] gifs all that is withinen tha termes: noght that we trou that all men sall be safe. bot that of all manere of men he chesis whilk he will.
9. Reges eos in virga ferrea: & tanquam vas figuli con|fringes eos. ¶ Thou sall gouern thaim in wand of yren; and as vessel of the pottere thou sall thaim breke. ¶ There wordis the fadere spekis til the son. and the twa versis byfore. contynue the lettere thus. I sall gif til the men. & thou sall noght be tyraunt til thaim. to pil thaim & spoile thaim, as wicked princes dos. bot thou sall be thaire kynge and gouern thaim in wand of yren. that is, in stabile and vnflichand [S unflechande.] rightwisnes and kyngs pouste. and in this wand, noght bresil ne falland. bot stalworth and lastand. thou sall thaim breke. that is, thou sall distroye in thaim thurgh pen|aunce erthly couaityse, ald synne. and layry [S ins. or clayly.] lustes. swa that thai leue to be fleschly and lif gastly: forthi sais. he, as vessel of the pottere. that is [S. U om.] , in als mykil as thai ere layre. that is, vile & synful. thai that will noght be now broken thus. thai sall be broken in hell, and neuere reparaild.
10. Et nunc reges intelligite: erudimini qui iudicatis terram. ¶ And now kyngs vndirstandis; ȝe ere lerid that demes the erth. ¶ As wha say. the laire in ȝou is brokyn, and now ȝe ere newid, & made kynges, that is, right reuland ȝoure lyf. and settand vndire ȝoure fote ȝoure enmys. tha ere wickid sterynge. of pride. ire. enuye. couaitis. iolifte. and other vices. swa that ȝe be lordes of thaim, and thai noght of ȝou. swilk kynges ere cristen men & haly men. all other, of thai be honourd of men. thai ere the sugetis til the deuel. forthi kynges, all that will luf crist, vndirstandis what is said. and what godis son has doen: and if ȝe suffis noght thurgh ȝoure self. ȝe ere lerid of other. swa that ȝe may noght be excused by ignoraunce. ȝe that demes the erth. that is, that dampnes in ȝou erthly thynges. for ȝoure consciens sais ȝou that ȝe doe wrange lufand thaim out of mesure and hafand besynes for thaim agayns ȝoure saule.
11. Seruite domino in timore: & exultate ei cum tremore.
