¶ The Iewes are reproued, and also called.
CAPI. L.
THus sayth the Lord: Where is the byll [ A] of youre mothers deuorcemente, that I sent vnto her, or who is the vsurer, to whome I solde you? Beholde, for your owne off••nces are ye solde, & because of youre trans∣gression, is youre mother forsaken. For why wolde no man receyue me, when I came? and when I called, no man gaue me an answere. Was my hand clene smyten of, that it might not helpe? or had I not power to delyuer? lo, at a worde I drynke vp the see, and of water floudes I make drye lande, so that for wante [ B] of water, the fysh corruppt and dye of thurst. As for heauen, I clothe it with darknesse, and put a sack vpon it.
The Lorde God hath geuen me a wel ler∣ned tunge, so that I can comfort them which are troubled, yea and that in due season. He waked myne eare vp by tymes in the mor∣nynge (as the scolemasters do) that I myght herken. The Lorde God hath opened myne eare, therfore can I not saye naye, nor with∣drawe my selfe, but I offre my backe vnto the smyters, and my chekes to ye nippers. I turne not my face from shame and spittyng, for the [ C] Lorde God helpeth me, therfore shall I not be confoūded. I haue hardened my face lyke a flynte stone, for I am sure, that I shall not come to confusion. Myne aduocate speaketh for me, who wyll then go with me to lawe? Let vs stande one agaynste another, yf there be any that wyl reason with me, let him come here forthe to me. Beholde, the Lorde God standeth by me, what is he that can cōdemne me? lo, they shalbe all lyke as an olde clothe, [ D] which the mothes shall eate vp.
Therfore who so feareth the Lord among you, let hym heare the voyce of his seruaunt. Who so walketh in darkenesse, and no lyght shyneth vpon hym, let hym hope in the Lord, and holde hym by his God. But take hede, ye haue all kyndled a fyre, and gyrded youre selues with the flame. ye walke in the gly∣strynge of youre owne fyre, and in the flame that ye haue kyndled. This cōmeth vnto you fro my hande, namelye that ye shall slepe in sorowe.