thou knowe that God had forgotten the, by∣cause of thy synnes.
Wylte thou fynde oute God with thy se∣kynge? wylt thou attayne to the perfectnesse of the almyghtye? He is hygher then heuen, what wylte thou doo? Deper then the hell, how wylte thou then knowe him? His length [ B] excedeth the lengthe of the earthe, and his breadeth the breadth of the see. Thoughe he turne all thynges vp set downe, close them in, or thrust them togither, who dare checke him therfore?
For it is he that knoweth the vanitie of men: he seeth their wyckednesse also, shoulde he not then consider it? A vayne bodye vaun∣teth [ C] him selfe, and the sonne of man is lyke a wylde asses toole. Yf thou haddest nowe a ryght hert, and lyftedst vp thyne handes to∣warde him: yf thou woldest put awaye the wyckednesse whiche thou haste in hande, so that no vngodlynesse dwelte in thy house: then mightest thou lyfte vp thy face without shame, then sholdest thou be sure, and haue no nede to feare.
[ D] Then sholdest thou forget thy miserie, and thynke no more of it then of the waters that runne by. Then shoulde thy lyfe be as clere as the noone daye, and sprynge forthe as the mornyng. Then myghtest thou haue comforte in the hope that thou hast: and slepe quietly when thou arte layde in. Then shouldest thou take thy rest, and no man to make the afrayde, yea many one sholde set moche by the. But the eyes of the vngodlye shall be consumed, and not escape: their hope shall be misery and so∣rowe of mynde.