Ptholome Euergeet, aftir that I cam in to Egipt, and whan myche of tyme I hadde ben there, I fond there bokes laft, not of litil doctrine, ne to ben dispisid. And soo good and necessarie trowede and I myself to adden sum diligence and trauaile of remenyng this bok, and with myche waking I leide to `besynesse of doctrine, in space of tyme to &yogh;yue this boc to tho thingus that leden to an ende, and to them that wiln the inwit bisiyn, and lernen, hou it behoueth to enformen maneres, that after the lawe of the Lord purposen lif to leden. Here endith the prolog, and now begynneth the book of Ecclesiasticus. Here begynnith the boke of Ecclesiastici. CAP. I.

1   Alle wisdam of the Lord God is, and with hym was euermor, and is biforn aungelis during. 2   The grauel of the se, and the dropis of reyn, and the da&yogh;es of the world, who distinctli hath noumbrede? The hei&yogh;te of heuene, and the brede of erthe, and the depthe of the se, who distinctli mesurede? 3   The wisdam of God goende beforn alle thingus, who enserchede? 4   First of alle formed is wisdam, and the vnderstonding of prudence, fro the during of aungelis. 5   The welle of wisdam the wrd of God in hei&yogh;tes; and the ingoyng of it euere lastende maundemens. 6   The roote of wisdam to whom is it shewyd? and the `sutil wittis of it who kne&yogh;? 7   The discyplyne of wisdam, to whom is it shewid, and

opened? and the multepliyng of the `incomyng of it who vnderstod? 8   Oon is the hei&yogh;est makere of no&yogh;t of alle thingus, al my&yogh;ti, and a my&yogh;ti king, and wrthi to be drad ful myche, sittende vp on the trone of hym, and Godd lordshipende. 9   He formede it in the Hoeli Goest, and sa&yogh;, and distinctli noumbrede, and mesurede; 10   and helde out it vpon alle his werkes, and vp on alle flesh aftir his &yogh;ifte; he &yogh;yueth it to men loouende itself. 11   The drede of the Lord glorie, and io&yogh;yng, and gladnesse, and coroun of outward io&yogh;yng. 12   The drede of the Lord shal delyten the herte; and shal &yogh;yue gladnesse and io&yogh;e in to the lengthe of da&yogh;es. 13   To the dredende God, wel shal be in the laste endys; and in the dai of his diyng he shal be blissid. 14   To whom forsothe it shal aperen in si&yogh;t, thei loouen it in seeyng, and in the knowing of his grete thingus. 15   The loouyng of God wrshepeful wisdam. 16   The bigynnyng of wisdam drede of the Lord; and with feithful men in the wombe he is togidere formed, and with chosen wymmen he goth, and with ri&yogh;twis and feithful men he is knowen. 17   The drede of the Lord religiosite of kunnyng. 18   Religiosite shal kepen, and iustefien the herte; ful myrthe and io&yogh;e it shal &yogh;yue. 19   To the dredende God wel shal be; and in the da&yogh;es of endynge of hym he shal be blessid. 20   Plente of wisdam to dreden God; and plente of the frutes of it. 21   Eche hous of hym it shal fulfille fro ieneraciouns, and the resceyuyng places fro the tresores of hym. 22   The croune of wisdam drede of the Lord, fulfillende pes, and the frut of helthe. 23   And it sa&yogh;, and distinctli noumbrede it; bothe forsothe ben the &yogh;iftis of God. 24   Kunnyng and vnderstonding of

prudence wisdam shal with departen; and the glorie of men holdende itself it enhaunceth. 25   The roote of wisdam is `to dreden God; the braunches forsothe of it long lyuyng. 26   In the tresores of wisdam vnderstonding, and religiosite of kunnyng; kursyng forsothe to synneres wisdam. 27   The drede of the Lord putteth awei synne, 28   for who withoute drede is, shal not moun be iustefied; wrathefulnesse forsothe of wilfulnesse `or hardynesse of hym is his turnyng vp so doun. 29   Vn to tyme the pacient shal suffre; and aftirward 30   is &yogh;eldynge a&yogh;een of ful myrthe. Good wit vnto time shal hide his wrdis; and the lippis of manye shuln tellen out the wit of hym. 31   In the tresores of wisdam is tocnyng of discyplyne; 32   cursing forsothe to the synnere is the heriyng of God. 33   Sone, coueitende wisdam, kep ri&yogh;twysnesse, and God shal &yogh;yue it to thee. 34   Wisdam forsothe and disciplyne the drede of the Lord, and that weel plesid is to hym, feith and debonernesse; 35   and it shal fulfille the tresores of hym. 36   Be thou not rebel, and `mys leeful to the dred of the Lord; and ne ne&yogh;he thou to hym with double herte. 37   Ne be thou an ipocrite in the si&yogh;te of men; and be thou not sclaundred in thi lippes. 38   Tac heed in tho thingus, lest parauenture thou falle, and bringe to thi soule vnwrsheping; 39   and God openeth in hid thingus, and in the myddel of the synagoge he hurtle thee; 40   for thou ne&yogh;hedist maliciously to the Lord, and thin herte is ful of treccherie and desceyt. CAP. II.

1   Sone, ne&yogh;hende to the seruage of God, stond in ri&yogh;twisnesse, and drede; and greithe thou thi soule to tempting. 2   Ber doun thin herte, and suffre, and bowe

in thyn ere, and vndertac the wrdis of vndirstonding, and hee&yogh;e thou not in tyme of opressing. 3   Sustene the sustenyngus of God; be thou with ioyned to God, and suffre, that thi lif waxe in the laste. 4   Alle that to thee shul ben leid to, tac, and in sorewe sustene, and in thi mecnesse haue pacience. 5   For in fyr is preued gold and siluer; men forsothe resceyuable in the chymne of mecnesse. 6   &YOGH;if feith to God, and he shal rekure thee; and dresse thi weye, and hope in to hym. Kep the drede of hym, and in hym wax old. 7   &YOGH;ee dredende the Lord, susteeneth the mercy of hym, and bowith not doun fro hym, lest &yogh;ee falle. 8   &YOGH;ee that dreden the Lord, &yogh;yueth feith to hym, and there shal not be voidid awei &yogh;oure meede. 9   &YOGH;ee that dreden the Lord, hopeth in to hym, and in to liking shal come to &yogh;ou mercy. 10   &YOGH;ee that dreden the Lord, looueth hym, and &yogh;oure hertes shul be li&yogh;tned. 11   Beholdeth, &yogh;ee sonus, the naciouns of men, and witeth, for no man hopide in the Lord, and is shent; 12   abod stille in his hestes, and is forsaken; or who inwardli clepede hym, and he dispisede hym? 13   For piteuous, and mercyful is God, and he shal for&yogh;yue in the day of tribulacioun synnes; and defendere he is to alle men, ful out sechende hym in treuthe. 14   Wo to the double in herte, and to the lippis of the `hidously giltende, and to the hondes euele doende; and to the synnere goende in to the erthe two weies. 15   Wo to the dissolut `or vnstable in herte, that &yogh;yuen not feith to God; and therfore thei `schul not ben defendid of hym. 16   Wo to them that han lost suffring, and that han forsake ri&yogh;t weies, and han turned aside in to shreude weies. 17   And what shul thei do, whan the Lord shal begynne to inwardli looken? 18   Who dreden the Lord, shul not ben of mysfeith to the wrd of hym; and who

loouen hym, shuln holli kepe the weie of hym. 19   Who dreden the Lord, shuln inwardli sechen, that ben wel plesid thingus to hym; and that loouen hym, shul be fulfild with the lawe of hym. 20   Who dreden the Lord, shul greithe ther hertes, and in the si&yogh;te of hym thei shul halewen ther soules. 21   Who dreden the Lord, shul kepen the hestis of hym, and pacience shuln han vnto the inwardly looking of hym; 22   seiende, If penaunce wee shul not do, wee shul falle in to the hondus of the Lord, and not into the hondis of men. 23   Forsothe aftir the mykilnesse of hym, so and his mercy is with hym. CAP. III.

1   The sonus of wisdam the chirche of ri&yogh;twis men, and the nacioun of hem obeisaunce and loouyng. 2   The dom of the fader hereth, &yogh;ee looued sones; and so doth, that &yogh;ee be saf. 3   God forsothe wrshepede the fader in sonus, and the dom of the moder ful out sechende he fastnede in to the sonus. 4   Who looueth God, shal full out pre&yogh;en for synnes, and shal withholden hym fro them, and in the orisoun of da&yogh;es he shal be ful out herd. 5   And as he that tresoreth, so and he that wrshepith his moder. 6   Who wrshepith his fader, shal be mad merie in sones, and in the dai of his orisoun he shal be full out herd. 7   Who wrshipith his fader, with lengere lif shal lyue; and who obesheth to the fadir, shal refreshe the moder. 8   Who dredeth the Lord, wrshepith fader and moder; and as to lordis he shal serue to them that geeten hym, 9   in werc, and wrd, and in alle pacience. 10   Wrshipe thou thi fader, that ther come vpon to thee blissing fro God; and the blessing of hym in the laste dwelleth. 11   The blissing of the fadir fastneth the houses of sones; the cursing

forsothe of the moder drawith out foundemens bi the roote. 12   Ne glorie thou in the wrong of thi fader; forsothe it is not to thee glorie, but shenshepe. 13   The glorie forsothe of a man, of the wrshepe of his fadir; and the vylenye of the sone, the fader withoute wrshepe. 14   Sone, mekeli tac the laste age of thi fader, and ne sorewe thou hym in his lif; 15   and if he faile in wit, &yogh;if for&yogh;yuenesse, and dispyse thou not hym in thi vertue; forsothe the almesse deede of the fader shal not be in for&yogh;etyng. 16   For whi for the synne of the moder shal be restored to thee good, 17   and in ri&yogh;twisnesse it shal ben bild vp to thee; and in the dai of tribulacioun it shal be remembrid of thee, and as iys in cleer, thi synnes shul ben loosed. 18   Of hou euel loos is he, that forsaketh the fader; and he is cursid of God, that terreth to wrathe the moder. 19   Sone, in debonernesse thi werkes parforme, and ouer the glorie of men thou shalt be looued. 20   Hou myche thou art gret, meeke thee in alle thyngus, and byforn God thou shalt fynde grace; for gret my&yogh;t is of God alone, 21   and of meeke men he is wrshipid. 22   He&yogh;ere thyngus than thiself seche thou not, and strengere thingus than thiself ne serche thou; but the thingus that God comaundide to thee, thenk hem euermor; and in manye werkes of hym `ne be thou kurious. 23   Forsothe it is not nedeful to thee, tho thingus that ben hid, to seen with thin e&yogh;en. 24   In oueruoide thingus wile thou not enserchen manyefold; and in manye werkes of hym thou shalt not be curious; 25   manye forsothe thyngus ouer the wit of men ben shewid to thee. 26   Manye forsothe supplauntede the suspisioun of hem, and in vanytee heeld doun the wittis of hem. 27   The harde herte shal han euel in the laste; and that looueth perile, in it shal pershen. 28   The

herte goende in to two weies, shal not han welsum chaunces; and the shrewde herte in them shal be sclaundred. 29   A wicke herte shal ben greeued in sorewes; and the synnere shal lei to to synnen. 30   To the synagoge of proude men shal not be helthe; forsothe the thicke bush of synne in hem shal ben taken vp bi the roote, and it shal not be vnderstonde. 31   The herte of the wise man is vnderstonde in wisdam, and the goode ere shal heren with alle coueitende wisdam. 32   The wis herte and vnderstandable shal abstenen hymself from synnes, and in werkes of ri&yogh;twisnesse welsum aftercomyngus shal han. 33   Brennende fyr water shal quenche, and almes deede a&yogh;enstandeth to synnes. 34   And God is the forlookere of hym that &yogh;eldeth grace; he hath mynde in to afterward, and in time of his falling he shal finde fastnyng. CAP. IV.

1   Sone, the almesse deede of the pore man ne begile thou, and ouerturne thou not thin e&yogh;en fro the pore. 2   The hungrende soule ne dispise thou, and terre thou not out to wrathe the pore in his myseise. 3   The herte of the helpeles ne tormente thou, and drawe thou not a long &yogh;ifte to the man put in streit. 4   The pre&yogh;ing of the troblid ne caste thou awei, and turne thou not awei thi face fro the nedi. Fro 5   the helpeles ne turne thou awei e&yogh;en for wrathe, and `leeue thou not, `or &yogh;if thou not cause, to men sechende to curse bihynde to thee. 6   Forsothe of the man cursende to thee in bitternesse of soule, ful out herd shal be the pre&yogh;eere of hym; forsothe he shall here hym, that made hym. 7   To the congregacioun of pore men mac thou thee homli to speken, and to the

prest meeke thou thi soule, and to the mad gret meeke thou thin hed. 8   Bowe doun to the pore thin ere withoute drerynesse, and &yogh;eld thi dette, and answere pesibli in debonernesse. 9   Delyuere hym that wrong suffreth fro the hond of the proude man, and egreli, `or heuyly, bere thou not in thi soule. 10   In demende be thou to the fadirles childer merciful as a fadir, and for a man, `or husbonde, to the moder of hem; 11   and thou shal be as an obeisaunt sone of the hei&yogh;est, and he shal han merci of thee more than a moder. 12   Wisdam to his sonus inbrethede lif, and receyueth the men out sechende him, and he shal go beforn in the weie of ri&yogh;twisnesse; and he that looueth it, 13   looueth lif, and that waken to it, shul clippe togidere the `gladnesse, or pesiblenesse, of it. 14   Who holden it, shuln eritagen lif; and whider it shal gon in, God shal blissen. 15   Who seruen to it, obeshende shul ben to the hoeli man; and hem that loouen it, God looueth. 16   Who hereth it, demeth folkis of kinde; and who biholdeth it, shal abide stille trostende. 17   If he schal &yogh;yue feith to it, he shal abide stille, and eritagen it; and the creatures of hem shul be in fastnyng togidere. 18   For in temptacioun it goth with hym, and in the first thyngus it chees hym. 19   Drede, and ferd, and prouyng it shal bringe in vp on hym, and schal tormenten hym in tribulacioun of his techyng, to the tyme that it tempte hym in his tho&yogh;tis, and he leeue to his soule. 20   And it shal fastne hym, and a ri&yogh;t euene weie bringe to hym, and gladen hym; 21   and nakenen his hidde thingus to hym, and tresoren vp on hym kunnyng, and vnderstonding of ri&yogh;twisnesse. 22   If forsothe he schal ful erre, it shal forsaken hym, and it shal taken

hym in the hond of his enemy. 23   Sone, waite tyme, and shone awei fro euel. 24   For thi soule, `or liyf, be thou not confoundid to seyn soth; ther is forsothe confusioun `bringende to synne, 25   and ther is confusioun bringende to glorie and grace. 26   Ne take thou to face a&yogh;en thi face, ne a&yogh;en thi soule lesing. 27   Ne shame thou thi ne&yogh;hebore in his falling, 28   ne a&yogh;een holde thou a woord in time of helthe. Hide thou not thi wisdam in the fairnes of hit; 29   in the tunge forsothe wisdam is knowen, and wit, and kunnyng, and techyng, in the wrd of the weel feelende; and fastnynge in the werkis of ri&yogh;twisnesse. 30   A&yogh;ensey thou not to the wrd of treuthe any maner; and of lesing of thi myslernyng be thou confoundid. 31   Be thou not confoundid to knoulechen thi synnes; and ne sochete thou thee to eche man for synne. 32   Wile thou not withstonde a&yogh;en the face of the my&yogh;ti, ne enforce thou a&yogh;en the stroc of the flood. 33   For ri&yogh;twisnesse fi&yogh;t for thi soule, and vnto deth strif for ri&yogh;twisnesse; and God shal outfi&yogh;ten, `or ouer come, for thee thin enemys. 34   Wile thou not be swift in thi tunge, and vnprofitable and slo&yogh; in thi werkis. 35   Wile thou not ben as a leoun in thin hous, turnende awei thin homli men, and opressende to men soget to thee. 36   Be not thin hond put forth to taken, and to &yogh;yuen drawen togidere. CAP. V.

1   Wile thou not taken heed to wickide possessiouns, and ne seye thou, Ther is to me suffisaunt lif; no thing forsothe it shal profiten in the tyme of veniaunce, and of opressing, `or deth. 2   Ne folewe thou in thi strengthe the coueiting of thin herte, and ne sey thou, 3   What maner my&yogh;te I, or who me shal subiecten for my deedis? 4   God forsothe veniende shal venien. Ne

sey thou, I synnede, and what to me falleth sorewy? Forsothe the hei&yogh;este is a pacient &yogh;eldere. 5   Of the for&yogh;yuenesse of synnes, wile thou not be withoute drede, ne ley thou to synne vp on synne. 6   And sey thou not, The merci of God is gret; of the multitude of my synnes he shal han mercy. 7   Mercy forsothe and wrathe fro hym soone ne&yogh;heth, and in to synneres beholdeth the wrathe of hym. 8   Ne tarie thou to be conuertid to the Lord, and ne putte thou it of fro dai in to day. 9   Sodeynii forsothe shal come the wrathe of hym, and in time of veniaunce he shal distro&yogh;e thee. 10   Wile thou not ben anguysht in vnri&yogh;t richesses; forsothe thei shul not profiten in the dai of deth and of veniaunces. 11   Ne throwe thou thee out in to eche wynd, and go thou not in to eche wei; so forsothe a synnere is proued in double tunge. 12   Be thou stedefast in the weie of the Lord, and in the treuthe of thi wit and kunnyng; and parfitli folewe thee the wrd of pes and of ri&yogh;twisnesse. 13   Be thou debonere to here the wrd of God, that thou vnderstonde, and with wysdam thou schalt bringe forth `a soth answere. 14   If ther is to thee vnderstonding, answere to thi ne&yogh;hebore; elles forsothe thin hond be vp on thi mouth, lest thou be take in an vndisciplined wrd, and thou be confoundid. 15   Wrshipe and glorie in the wrd of the weel felende; the tunge forsothe of the vnprudent is the turnyng vp so doun of hym. 16   Be thou not clepid a twisil tunge, `or a priue bacbiter, in thi lif, and be thou not take in thi tunge, and confoundid. 17   Forsothe vp on a theef is confusioun, and peyne taking, and werst repref vp on the twisel tunge. To the priue grucchere forsothe hate, and enemyte, and strif. 18   Iustefie thou lic maner the litle and the grete.

CAP. VI.

1   Wile thou not be mad for a frend enemy to thi ne&yogh;hebore; repref forsothe and strif the euel man shal eritagen, and eche synnere enuyous and twisil tungid. 2   Ne enhaunce thou thee in the thenking of thi soule, as a boole; lest perauenture be hurtlid awei thi strengthe bi folie, 3   and thi lefes it ete, and thi frutes it leese, and thou be laft as a drie tree in wildernesse. 4   A shreude forsothe soule shal destro&yogh;en hym that hath it, and in to io&yogh;e of his enemy it &yogh;yueth hym, and shal bringe doun in to the lot of vnpitous men. 5   A sweete wrd multeplieth frendis, and swagith enemys; and a gracious tunge in a good man shal abounde. 6   Manye pesible ben to thee, and counseilour be to thee oon of a thousend. 7   If thou weldist a frend, in temptacioun weld hym, and ne li&yogh;tli opene, `or trowe, thou thiself to hym. 8   Ther is forsothe a frend aftir his tyme, and `schal not abide stille in the dai of tribulacioun. 9   And ther is a frend that is turned to enemyte; and ther is a frend, that hate, and strif, and reprefes shal discoueren. 10   Ther is forsothe a frend, felawe of the bord, and abidith not stille in the dai of nede. 11   A frend if he abide stille stablid, he shal be to thee as euene with, and in thin homli thingus trostli he shal do. 12   If he shal meeken hymself a&yogh;en thee, and hiden hymself fro thi face, thou shalt han good frenshepe of o wil. 13   Fro thin enemys be thou seuered, and of thi frendis tac heed. 14   A `feithful frend a strong proteccioun; who forsothe fyndeth hym, fyndith tresor. 15   To a feithful frend is no comparisoun; ther is not wrthi peising of gold and of siluer a&yogh;en the goodnesse of the feith of hym. 16   A feithful frend leching of lif, and of vndeadlynesse; and who dreden

the Lord, shul finden hym. 17   Who dredeth the Lord, euenly shal han good frenshipe; for after hym shal ben his frend. 18   Sone, fro thi &yogh;outhe tac doctrine, and vn to hoore heris thou shalt finde wisdam. 19   As he that ereth, and that sowith, ne&yogh;he thou to it, and sustene the goode frutes of it. 20   In the work forsothe of it a litil thou shal trauailen, and soone thou shalt ete of the getingus of it. 21   Hou sharp ful myche is wisdam to vnwise men, and ther shal not abide stille in it the herteles. 22   As the vertue of a ston, prouyng shal be in them; and thei shul not abide to throwe it afer. 23   The wisdam forsothe of doctrine is after the name of it, and not to manye it is opened; to whom forsothe it is knowen, it abit stille, vnto the si&yogh;te of God. 24   Here, sone, and tac counseil of vnderstondyng, and caste thou not awei my counseil. 25   Thro&yogh; in thi feet in to the gyues of it, and in to the coleris of it thi necke. 26   Vnderlei thi shulder, and ber it, and ne bere thou heuysumli in the bondis of it. 27   In al thin inwit ne&yogh;he to it, and in al thi vertue kep the weies of it. 28   Enserche it, and it shal be mad open to thee; `and thou mad withholding, ne forsake thou it. 29   In the laste thingus forsothe thou shalt finde reste in it, and it shal be turned to thee in to liking. 30   And the gyues of it shul be to thee `in to proteccioun of strengthe, and the feet of vertue, and the coleris of it in a stoele of glorie. 31   The fairnesse forsothe of lif is in it, and the bondis of it holsum binding. 32   Stoele off glorie thou shalt clothen it, and a crowne of thanking thou shalt putte aboue to thee. 33   Sone, if thou schalt take heed to me, thou shalt lerne it; and if thou lenest to, `or dressist, thin inwit, thou shalt be wis. 34   If thou bowest in thin ere, thou shalt take doctrine; and if thou looue to heren,

thou shalt be wis. 35   In the multitude of prudent prestis stond thou, and to the wisdam of hem of herte be thou ioyned; that al the telling of God thou mowe heren, and the prouerbis of preisyng ascape not fro thee. 36   And if thou see the wel felende man, wake out to hym, and thi foot ofte trede the grees `of the dores of hym. 37   Thenking haue thou in the hestes of God, and in the maundemens of hym most bisi be thou; and he shal &yogh;yue to thee an herte, and coueytinge of wisdam shal ben &yogh;oue to thee. CAP. VII.

1   Wile thou not don eueles, and thei shul not cacche thee. 2   Go awei fro the wicke, and ther shul failen eueles fro thee. 3   Sowe thou not eueles in foorewes of vnri&yogh;twisnesse, and thou shalt not repen them in to the seuethe fold. 4   Wile thou not sechen of a man the dignete of a ledere, ne of a king the cha&yogh;er of wrshepe. 5   Iustefie thou not thee bifor God, for he ys knowere of the herte; and anent the king wile thou not wilne to ben seen wys. 6   Wile thou not sechen to be mad a domes man, but if thou mowe bi vertue breken wickidnesses; lest parauenture thou out drede the face of the my&yogh;ti, and putte sclaunder in thin hider and thider deliuernesse. 7   Synne thou not in the multitude of the cite, ne poote thee in to the puple; 8   ne bynde thou to double synnes, ne forsothe thou shalt be in oon gilteles. 9   Wile thou not ben a couward in thi soule, to pre&yogh;en; 10   and to don almesse deede, ne dispise thou. 11   Ne sei thou, In the multitude of my &yogh;iftus God shal beholde; and me offrende to the he&yogh;est God, my &yogh;iftis he shal take. 12   Scorne

thou not a man in the bitternesse of soule; God forsothe the lokere aboute is, that enhaunceth and meketh. 13   Wile thou not looue lesing a&yogh;en thi brother; and in to a frend lic maner do thou not. 14   Wile thou not wilne to lien eche lesing; the besynesse forsothe of hem is not good. 15   Wile thou not be ful of wrdis in the multitude of prestus; and reherse thou not a wrd in thin orisoun. 16   Hate thou not trauailous werkes, and cherlish doing foormed of the hei&yogh;est. 17   Ne acounte thou thee in the multitude of men withoute discipline. 18   Haue mynde of wrathe, for it shal not tarie. 19   Meeke gretli thi spirit, for veniaunce of the flesh of the vnpitous, fyr and werm. 20   Wile thou not trespasen `in to thi frend dela&yogh;ende monie; ne dispise thou thi derwrthe brother for gold. 21   Wile thou not gon awei fro a wel felende womman, and a good, whom thou hast goten in the drede of the Lord; forsothe the grace of the shamefastnesse of hir ouer gold. 22   Hurte thou not a seruaunt in treuthe werchende, ne an hired man &yogh;yuende his lif. 23   A wel felende seruaunt be to thee looued as thi soule; bygile thou not hym fro fredam, ne forsake thou hym helpeles. 24   Beestis to thee ben? tac heed to them; and if thei ben profitable, abide thei stille anent thee. 25   Sonus ben to thee? tech hem, and bowe hem fro the childhed of hem. 26   Do&yogh;tris ben to thee? keep the body of hem, and shewe thou not thi face glad to them. 27   Bytac a do&yogh;tir, and a gret werk thou shalt do; and to a wel felende man &yogh;if hyr. 28   A womman if she is to thee aftir thi soule, thro&yogh; hir not awei; and to an hateful tac thou not thee in al thin herte. 29   Honoure thi fader; and the weilingus of thi moder for&yogh;ete thou not. 30   Haue mynde for but bi them thou haddest not ben, and &yogh;eeld to them what maner and thei to thee. 31   In al thi soule dred God, and

the prestes of hym halewe. 32   In al thi vertue looue hym that made thee; and the seruauns of hym forsac thou not. 33   Wrshepe thou God of al thi soule; and wrshipe prestus, and purge thee forth with armes. 34   &YOGH;if to them part, as and maundement is to thee, of first frutes, and of purging; and of thi necgligence purge thee with fewe. 35   The &yogh;ifte of thin armes, and the sacrifise of halewing, thou shalt offre to the Lord, the bigynyngus of hoeli thingus. 36   And to the pore put forth thin hond, that plesing be parformed, and thi blessyng. 37   Grace of &yogh;ifte in the si&yogh;te of alle lyuyng; and to the deade forfende thou not grace. 38   Fayle thou not to wepende men to ben in coumforting; and with weilende men go thou. 39   No&yogh;e it not thee to visiten the sike; of these thingus forsothe in louyng thou shalt be fastned. 40   In alle thi werkes haue in mynde thi laste thyngus; and withoute ende thou shalt not synne. CAP. VIII.

1   Stryue thou not with a my&yogh;ti man, lest parauenture thou falle in the hondys of hym. 2   Striue thou not with a riche man, lest parauenture a&yogh;enward he sette strif to thee. 3   Manye men forsothe gold and siluer hath lost; and vnto the herte of kingus it streccheth, 4   and turneth. Striue thou not with a tungy man, and ne greithe thou in to the fir of hym wode. 5   Comune thou not to a man vnta&yogh;t, lest he speke euele of thi progenye. 6   Dispise thou not a man turnende awei hymself fro synne, ne putte thou repref to hym; haue mynde, for alle in corupcioun wee ben. 7   Ne dispise thou a man in his elde; forsothe of vs thei waxen olde. 8   Wile thou not of thin enemy dead io&yogh;en, witende for alle wee dien, and in to io&yogh;e wee wiln come. 9   Dyspise thou not the telling of wise prestis, and in the prouerbis of hem togidere dwelle thou;

of hem forsothe thou shalt lerne wisdam, 10    and doctrine of vndirstonding, and fructuousli vse grete men withoute pleynt. 11   Passe not biside thee the telling of elderes; thei forsothe lerneden of ther fadris. 12   For of hem thou shalt lerne vnderstonding; and in tyme of nede thou shalt &yogh;yue an answere. 13   Teende thou not colis of synneres, vndirnymende hem; and lest thou be tend with the flaume `of the fyr of the synnes of hem. 14   Stonde thou not a&yogh;en the face of the strifful; lest he sitte as a spiere to thi mouth. 15   Wile thou not leenen to a man strengere than thiself; that if thou leenest, haue it as lost. 16   Behote thou not ouer thi vertue; that if thou behote, as &yogh;elding bethenk. 17   Deme thou not a&yogh;en the iuge; for after that ys ri&yogh;twis, he demeth. 18   With a fool hardy man go thou not in the weie, lest par auenture he gregge his eueles in thee; he forsothe aftir his wil goth, and togidere with the folie of hym thou shalt pershen. 19   With the wratheful man make thou not ianglyng, and with the fool hardy go thou not in to desert; for as no&yogh;t is anent hym blod, and where is not helpe, he shal hurtle thee doun. 20   With fooles haue thou not counseil; forsothe they shul not moun loouen, but tho thingus that plesen to them. 21   Beforn a straunger make thou not counseil; forsothe thou wost not, what he bere out. To alle men thin herte opene thou not; lest par auenture it bringe in to thee fals grace, and yt poote reproof to thee. CAP. IX.

1   Be thou not gelouse to the womman of thi bosum; lest she shewe vp on thee the malice of shreude doctrine. 2   &YOGH;yue thou not to a womman power of thi soule; lest she go in to thi vertue, and

thou be confoundid. 3   Behold not a womman myche wilnende; lest par auenture thou falle in to the snares of hir. 4   With a leperesse, `or tumbler, be thou not besy, ne here hir; lest par auenture thou pershe in the delyuere doyng of hir. 5   A maiden beholde thou not; lest par auenture thou be sclandred in the fairnesse of hir. 6   &YOGH;yue thou not to lecchoures thi soule in any thing; lest thou leese thee, and thi soule, and thin eritage. 7   Wile thou not beholden aboute in the weies of the cite; ne erre thou aboute in the stretis of it. 8   Turne awei thi face fro a gai womman; and beholde thou not aboute straunge fairnesse. 9   For the fairnesse of a womman manye men persheden; and of it lust as fyr brenneth out. 10   Eche womman that is leccherous, as a thost in the weie shal ben `to-treden. 11   The fairnesse of an alien womman many men wndrid ben mad repreuable; forsothe the togidere speche of hir as fyr brenneth out. 12   With an alien womman outerli sitte thou not, ne ly thou with hir vp on the arm; 13   and striue thou not with hir in wyn, lest par auenture she bowe doun thin herte in to hir, and bi thi blod thou slyde in to perdicioun. 14   Forsake thou not an old frend; forsothe the newe shal not be lic to hym. 15   Newe wyn a newe frend; it shal waxen old, and with swetnesse thou shalt drinke it. 16   Looue thou not the glorie and the richessis of the synnere; forsothe thou wost not, what be to come the turnyng vp so doun of hym. 17   Plese not to thee the wrong of vnri&yogh;twis men, witende for vnto helle the vnpitous shal not plesen. 18   Aferr be thou awei fro a man hauende power of sleyng, and not of rering, and thou shalt not ouertrowen the dred of deth; 19   and if thou ne&yogh;hest to hym, wile thou not any thing don amys, lest par auenture he take awei thi lif.

The comunyoun of deth wite thou; 20   for in the myddil of grenes thou shalt gon in, and vp on the armes of men sorewende thou shalt gon. 21   Aftir thi vertue war thee fro thi `nexte, or ney&yogh;bore; and with wise men and prudent men trete thou. 22   Ri&yogh;twis men be thei to thee metefelawes; and in the drede of God be to thee gloriyng. 23   And in the wit be to thee thenking of God; and al thi telling out in the hestes of the he&yogh;est. 24   In the hond of `craftis men werkes shul ben preisid, and the prince of a puple in wisdam off his sermoun; in the wit forsothe of elderes a wrd. 25   Ferful is in his cite a tungy man; and the fool hardy in hys woord hateful shal ben. CAP. X.

1   A wis domesman shal demen his puple; and the princehod of the `wel felende, `or witti, shal ben stable. 2   Aftir the domesman of the puple, so and the seruauntis of hym; and whiche maner is the gouernour of the cyte, suche and the dwelleris in it. 3   An vnwis king shal leesen his puple; and cites shul ben enhabitid bi the wit of prudent men. 4   In the hond of God the power of the erthe, and abhominable alle wickidnesses of the Jentiles; and a profitable gouernour in tyme he shal reren vp on it. 5   In the hond of God is the power of man; and vp on the face of the `scribe, or man of lawe, he shal putte vp on his wrshipe. 6   Of alle the wrong of thi ne&yogh;hebore haue thou not mynde; and no thing do thou in the werkes of wrong. 7   Hateful biforn God and men is pride; and cursful alle wickidnessis of Jentiles. 8   Rewme fro folc in to folc is born ouer, for vnri&yogh;twisnesses, and wrongus, and striues, and dyuers treccheries. 9   Forsothe than the auerous man no thing is more

ful of hydous gilte. What pridist thou, erthe and asken? 10   No thing is more wicke, than to loouen moone; this forsothe hath his soule sillable, `or able to be sold, `for in his lif he thre&yogh; awei his inward thingus. 11   Of eche my&yogh;tihed short lif; lengere infyrmyte greeueth the leche. 12   Short sicknesse the leche kutteth of; so and a king to dai is, and to moru shal die. 13   Whan forsothe a man shal dien, he shal eritagen serpentes, and bestes, and wermes. 14   The bygynnyng of the pride of man to go bacward fro God; 15   for fro hym that made hym his herte wente awey. For the bygynnyng of alle synne is pride; who `schal holde it, shal be fulfild with cursis, and it shal turne hym vp so doun in to the ende. 16   Therfore the Lord dispisid the couentis of euele men, and destro&yogh;ede them `in to the ende. 17   The setes of proude dukes God distro&yogh;ede; and made mylde men to sitte for hem. 18   The rootis of proude folkis God driede; and plauntide meke men of tho folkis. 19   The londis of Jentiles the Lord turnede awei; and destro&yogh;ede them vn to the foundement. 20   He made drie of them, and scaterede them; and made to cesen the mynde of hem fro the erthe. 21   God lost the mynde of proude men; and lafte the mynde of meke men in wit. 22   There is not shapen to men pride; ne wrathefulnesse to the nacioun of wymmen. 23   The sed of men shal be wrshipid, that that dredeth God; that sed forsothe shall ben put out of wrshipe, that passeth the maundemens of `the Lord. 24   In the myddel off brethern the gouernour of them in wrshipe; and that dreden God, shul ben in the e&yogh;en of hym. 25   The glorie of wrshepid riche men and of pore is the drede of God. 26   Wile thou not dispisen the ri&yogh;twis pore man; and not magnefien the riche synful man. 27   Gret is a iuge, and the my&yogh;ti is in wrshipe; and he is

not more than he that dredeth God. 28   To the seruaunt wel felende shul seruen fre men; and a man prudent and lerned shal not grucchen chastisid, and the vnkunnende shal not be wrshipid. 29   Wile thou not enhaunce thee in thi werk to be do; and wile thou not dispeire in the time of anguysh. 30   Betere is that wercheth, and aboundeth in alle thingis, than that glorieth, and nedeth bred. 31   Sone, in debonernesse kep thi soule; and &yogh;if to it wrshepe, aftir his dissert. 32   The synnende in to his soule, who shal iustifien? and who shal worschip the puttere his soule out of wrshipe? 33   The pore glorieth bi disciplyne and his drede; and ther is a man that is wrshipid for his substaunce. 34   Who forsothe glorieth in porenesse, hou myche more in substaunce? and who glorie in substaunce, porenesse `shame he. CAP. XI.

1   The wisdam of the mekid shal enhauncen the hed of hym; and in the myddel of grete men to sitten shal maken hym. 2   Preise thou not a man in his fairnesse; ne dispise thou a man in his si&yogh;t. 3   Short in foules is a bee; and the bigynnyng of swetnesse the frut of hym hath. 4   In clothing glorie thou neuermor, ne in the dai of thi wrshipe be thou enhauncid; for merueilous the werkes of the he&yogh;est alone, and glorious, and hid, and vnseen the werkes of hym. 5   Manye tirauntis seten in trone; and the vntrouable, `or of whom was no suspicioun, 6    bar the diademe. Manye my&yogh;ti ben opressid gretly; and the glorious ben taken in `to the hondis of othere men. 7   Beforn that thou aske, ne blame thou any man; and whan thou shalt asken, chastyse thou ri&yogh;tly. 8   Beforn that thou here, ne answere thou a wrd; and in the myddel of eldere men ne ley thou to to speken. 9   Of that thing that greeueth not thee, striue thou not; and in the myddel of synneres ne abide thou. 10   Sone, be not in manye thingis thi deedus; and if thou

were riche, thou shalt not ben gilteles fro trespas. If forsothe thou shalt folewe, thou shalt not ouertaken; and if thou shul renne biforn, thou shalt not scapen. 11   Ther is a man trauailende, and he&yogh;ende, and sorewende vnpitous; and so myche more he shal not abounde. 12   Ther is a man welewid, nedende rekuring, more failende in vertue, and abundende in porenesse; 13   and the e&yogh;e of God beheeld hym in goode, and rerede hym fro his lownesse, and enhauncide his hed; and manye merueileden in hym, and wrshepiden God. 14   Goodis and eueles, lif and deth, porenesse and honeste, ben of God. 15   Wisdam, and disciplyne, and kunnyng of the lawe anent the Lord; loouyng and the weies of goode men anent hym. 16   Errour and dercnesses to synneres ben foormed; who forsothe ful out io&yogh;en in to euell, waxen old togidere in to euelis. 17   The &yogh;yuyng of God abidith stille to ri&yogh;twis men; and the profitus of it welsum aftircomyngus shuln han in to withoute ende. 18   Ther is that is mad riche scarsly doende, and this the part of the meede of hym, 19   in that that he seith, I fond reste to me, and now I shal eten of my goodis alone. 20   And he wot not that tyme passe biside hym, and deth ne&yogh;heth, and he forsaketh alle thingus to othere men, and die. 21   Stond in thi testament, and in it spec togidere; and in the werk of thin hestis wax old. 22   Abide thou not in the werkes of synneres; troste forsothe in God, and dwel in thi place. 23   Li&yogh;t is forsothe in the e&yogh;en of God, sodeynly to honesten the pore. 24   The blissing of God in to the meede of the ri&yogh;twise hee&yogh;eth; and in swift wrshipe the forth goyng of hym maketh fruyt. 25   Ne sey thou, What to me is nede? and what `godis `schulen be to me her aftir? 26   Ne

sey thou, I am suffisaunt, and what of this I shall be mad werse? 27   In the day of goodis be thou not vnmyndeful of eueles, and in the dai of eueles be thou not vnmyndeful of goodis; 28   for li&yogh;t is bifor God in the day of deth to &yogh;elden to eche aftir his weies. 29   The malice of oon hour maketh for&yogh;etynge of most leccherie; and in the ende of a man ful nakenyng of the werkis of hym. 30   Bifor deth preise thou not any man; for in his sonus is knowen a man. 31   Not eche man bringe thou in to thin hous; manye forsothe ben the spies of the treccherous. 32   As forsothe the entrailes of stinkende thingus bolken out, and as the partrich is bro&yogh;t in to the pit falle, and as a capret in to the grene, so and the herte of proude men; and as the forlookere seende the falling of his ne&yogh;hebore. 33   Forsoothe goode thingus in to euel turnyng he aspieth, and in chosen men he leith vp a wem. 34   Of oo sparcle fyr is eechid, and of oon treccherous blood is encresid; a man forsothe synnere waiteth to blood. 35   Tac heed to thee fro the deth berere, forsothe he forgeth eueles; lest perauenture he bringe vp on thee scornyng in to with oute ende. 36   Resceyue to thee an alien womman, and she shal turne thee vp so doun in a whirlewynd, and alienen thee fro thi propre weies. CAP. XII.

Iff thou shul wel do, 1   wite thou to whom thou shalt wel do; and ther shal be myche grace in thi goodys. 2   Wel do to the ri&yogh;twis, and thou shalt finde gret &yogh;elding; and if not of hym, certes of the Lord. 3   It is not weel to hym that is besi in eueles, and to the not &yogh;yuende almes deede; for and the hei&yogh;est to hate hath syneres, and hath merci to penaunce doeres. 4   &YOGH;if to the merciful, and vndertake `or resseyue thou not the synnere; and to

vnpitouse and synneres he shal &yogh;elde veniaunce, kepende them in the day of veniaunce. 5   &YOGH;if to the goode, and resceyue thou not the synnere. 6   Weel do to the meeke, and &yogh;yue thou not to the vnpitous; forfende to &yogh;yuen to hym loeues, lest in hem he be my&yogh;tiere than thou. 7   For double eueles thou shalt fynde in alle goodus, what euere thou shalt do to hym; for and the hei&yogh;este to hate hath synneres, and to the vnpitous he shal &yogh;elde veniaunce. 8   A frend shal not be knowen in goodis, and an enemy shal not ben hid in eueles. 9   In the goodes of a man the enemys of hym; and in the sorewe and in the malice of hym the frend is knowen. 10   Ne trowe thou to thin enemy vnto withoute ende; forsothe as bras rusteth out the shreudenesse of hym. 11   And if meekid he go crookid, thro&yogh; awei thi wil, and keep thee fro hym. 12   Set not hym biside thee, and sitte he not at thi ri&yogh;t half, lest turned he stonde in thi place; lest perauenture turned in to thi place he inwardli seche thi chai&yogh;er, and in the laste thou knowe my wrdes, and in mi wrdis thou be prickid. 13   Who shal lechen to the enchauntere smyten of the eddere, and to alle that ne&yogh;hen to bestes, and that folewith with the wicke man, and is aboute wrappid in his synnes? 14   Oon hour with thee he shal abide stille; if forsothe thou bowe doun, he shal not vnderbern. 15   In his lippis the enemy putteth in swetnesses, and in his herte he spieth, that he turne thee vp so doun in to the dich. 16   In thin e&yogh;en the enemy wepith; and if he shul fynde tyme, he shal not be fulfild with blod. 17   If ther shul falle to thee eueles, thou shalt finde hym there rathere, `or former. 18   In thin e&yogh;en the enemy shal wepen, and as helpende he shal vnderdelue thi plantes. 19   His hed he shal moue, and flappe for io&yogh;e with the hond; and many thingus grucchendeli whistrende shal with chaunge his chere.

CAP. XIII.

1   Who shal touche pich, shal be defoulid of it; and who shal comunen to the proude man, shal clothin pride. 2   Berthen vp on hym he taketh, that comuneth to the honestere than hymself; and to the richere than thou, thou shalt not ben felawe. 3   What shal comune the caudron to the pot? whan forsothe thei shuln hurtle themself, it shal ben to-broken. 4   The riche man vnri&yogh;twisly dide, and shal gnaste; the pore man forsothe hurt shal holde his pes. 5   If thou shul &yogh;yue, he shal take thee; and if thou haue not, he shal forsake thee. 6   If thou haue, he shal lyue with thee, and auoide thee out; and he shal not sorewen vpon thee. 7   If thou were necessarie to hym, he shal bigile thee; and vnder la&yogh;hende hope he shal &yogh;yue, tellende to thee alle goodes; and shal seyn, What nede is to thee? 8   And he shal confounde thee in his metes, to the tyme he neentishe thee twies or thries, and in the laste he shal scorne thee; aftirward seende he shal forsake thee, and hys hed moue to thee. 9   Be thou mekid to God, and abid his hondis. 10   Tac heed, lest desceyued in folie thou be mekid. 11   Wile thou not be meeke in thi wisdam, and lest lowid in to folie thou be lad aside. 12   Clepid to of the my&yogh;tyere, go awey; of that forsothe more he shal clepe thee to. 13   Be thou not `to gredi, lest thou be put a&yogh;een; and be thou not fer fro hym, lest thou go in to for&yogh;eting. 14   Ne withholde thou of euene to speken with hym, and trowe thou not to the manye wrdis of hym; forsothe of myche speche he shal tempte thee, and vnder la&yogh;hende the vnmylde inwit of hym shal aske thee

of thin hid thingus. 15   And he shal `to gedir kepe thi wrdis, and not sparen fro malice, and fro bondis. 16   War to thee, and tac heed bisili to thin heering; for with thy turnyng vpsodoun thou gost. 17   Heerende forsothe tho thingus, as in sweuenes see, and thou shalt waken. 18   In al thi lif looue God, and inwardli clep hym in thin helthe. 19   Eche beste looueth lic to hym; so and eche man the nexte to hym. 20   Eche flesh to his lijch shal be ioyned, and eche man to his lic shal be felashepid. 21   As a wlf shal comune to a lomb otherwhile, so a synnere to a ri&yogh;twis. 22   What comunycacioun to an hoeli man at a dogge? or what good parti to a riche man at a pore? 23   Hunting of a leoun an asse in wildernesse; so pore men ben the leswe of riche men. 24   And as abhominacioun to a proud man is meknesse, so and cursing of the riche is the pore. 25   The riche man stirid is confermed of his frendis; the meeke forsothe, whan he shal falle, shal be put out also fro knowen. 26   To the riche desceyued manye ben rekureres; he spac proudli, and thei iustefieden hym. 27   The meeke is desceyued, ferthermor and vndirnomyn; he spac felendely, `or wisely, weel, and ther is not &yogh;oue to hym a place. 28   The riche spac, and alle heelden ther pes; and the wrd of hym vnto the cloudys thei shul bern. 29   The pore spac, and thei seyn, Who is this? and if he schal offende, thei shul turne hym vp so doun. 30   Good is substaunce, to whom is not synne in concience; and most wicke is porenes in the mouth of the vnpitous. 31   The herte of a man chaungeth the face of hym, or in good or in euel. 32   The step of a good herte, and a good face, hard thou shalt fynde, and with trauaile.

CAP. XIV.

1   Blisful the man, that is not sliden in wrd fro his mouth, and is not prickid in sorewi slouthe of gilte. 2   Sely, `or blessid, that hadde not sorewi slouthe of his inwit, and falleth not awei fro his hope. 3   To the coueitous man, and hard, withoute resoun is substaunce; and to an enuyous man, wherto gold? 4   Who hepith of his inwit vnri&yogh;twisly, to othere men gedereth; and in the goodis of hym an other shal don leccherie. 5   Who to hymself is shreude, to what other shal he ben good? and he shal not ben merie in his goodus. 6   No thing is wers, than he that enuyeth to hymself; and that is the &yogh;elding of his malice. 7   And if he shul weel don, vnwitendely, and not wilnende he doth; and in the laste he shewith his malice. 8   Shreude is the e&yogh;e of the pale, and turnende awei face, and dispisende his soule. 9   Vnfillable the e&yogh;e of the coueitous; in to the part of wickidnesse he shal not be fild, to the tyme that he fulli ende vnri&yogh;twisnesse, makende drie his soule. 10   The euele e&yogh;e to eueles, and nedy shal not ben fild with bred; and in sorewi slouthe he shal be vp on his bord. 11   Sone, if thou hast, wel do with thee, and offre to God wrthi offringis. 12   Be thou myndeful for deth shal not tarien, and the testament of helle, that is shewid to thee; the testament forsothe of this world bi deth shal dien. 13   Biforn deth wel do to thi frend, and aftir thi strengthis puttende out &yogh;if to the pore. 14   Be thou not bigilid fro the good day, and the parcel of the goode day passe thee not. 15   Whether not to othere thou shalt lefe thi sorewis, and thi trauailes? 16   In departing of lot &yogh;if, and tac; and iustefie thi soule. 17   Bifor thi deth werch ri&yogh;twisnesse; for to finde mete is

not anent helle. 18   Eche flesh as hei&yogh; shal waxe old, and as a lef beryng frut in a grene tree. 19   Othere ben iendred, and othere fallen doun; so ieneracioun of flesh and of blod, an other is endid, and an other is born. 20   Eche coruptible werc in the ende shal faile; and he that wercheth it, shal go with it. 21   And eche chosen werc shal be iustefied; and he that wercheth it, shal be wrshipid in it. 22   Blisful the man, that shal dwelle in wisdam, and that in ri&yogh;twisnesse sweteli shal thenke, and in wit shal thenke the looking aboute of God. 23   Who thenketh out the weies of hym in his herte, and in hid thingus of it vnderstonding shal be; goende aftir it as enserchere, and in the weies of it beende stille. 24   Who byholdeth bi the wyndowes of it, and in the &yogh;atis of it is herende; 25   who resteth biside the hous of it, and in the walles of it `piccheth a pale. He shal ordeyne his litle hous at the hondis of it, and ther shuln reste in the litle houses of it goodis, bi aungelis during; 26   he shal setten his sonus vnder the roof of it, and vnder the braunchis of it he shal wone; 27   he shal be defendid vnder the roof of it fro brennende hete, and in the glorie of it he shal reste. CAP. XV.

1   Who dredeth God, shal do goode thingus; and who withholding is of ri&yogh;twisnesse, shal taken it. 2   And it shal meete to hym as a moder wrshipid, and as a womman fro maidynhed it shal vndirtake hym. 3   It shal feede hym with the bred of lif, and of vnderstonding; and with the water of holsum wisdam it shal &yogh;yue drinke to hym; and it shal be fastned in hym, and not ben bowed. 4   And it shal withholden hym, and he shal not be confoundid; and it shal enhaunce hym

anent his ne&yogh;hebores. 5   And in the myddel of the chirche it shal opene his mouth, and shal fulfille hym with spirit of wisdam, and of vnderstonding; and with stoele of glorie it shall clothin hym. 6   Myrthe and ful out io&yogh;ing it shal tresoren vp on hym; and in euerlastende name it shal eritagen hym. 7   Men foolis shul not take it, and men wel feelende shul meete to it. Men foolis shul not seen it; ferr forsothe it is, ferre awei fro pride, and fro treccherie. 8   Men lieres shul not be myndeful of it, and sothfast men ben founden in it; and welsum aftir comyng thei shul han vnto the looking in of God. 9   Feir preising is not in the mouth of the synnere, for he is not sent of the Lord. 10   For gon forth is wisdam of God; forsothe to the wisdam of God preising shal stonden at, and in the feithful mouth shal abounde, and the lordshipere shal &yogh;yuen it to hym. 11   Thou shalt not seyn, Bi God it is awey; tho thingis forsothe that it hateth, thou shalt not do. 12   Ne sey thou, He me disceyuede; forsothe vnpitous men ben not nedeful to hym. 13   The Lord hateth al cursing of errour, and it shal not ben looueful to men dredende hym. 14   God fro the bygynnyng ordeynede man, and lafte hym in the hond of his counseil. 15   He leide to maundemens, and his hestes; 16   if thou wilt the maundemens kepen, thei shul kepe thee, and to kepen plesid feith in to withoute ende. 17   He putte to thee watir and fyr; to what thou wilt, put forth thin hond. 18   Bifor man is lif and deth, good and euel; that plesith to hym, shal `be &yogh;oue to hym. 19   For myche is the wisdam of God, and strong in my&yogh;t, and seende alle men withoute cesing. 20   The e&yogh;en of the Lord to the dredende hym; and he knowith al the besynesse of man. 21   To no man he comaundide vnpitously to do; and to no man he &yogh;af space of synnyng.

22   Forsothe he coueiteth not the multitude of vnfeithful sonus and vnprofitable. CAP. XVI.

1   Mac thou not myrie in vnpitous sonus, if thei ben multeplied; ne delite thou vp on hem, if ther is not the drede of God in hem. 2   Ne &yogh;yue thou feith to the lif of hem, and ne biholde thou in to the trauailes of hem. 3   Betere ys forsothe oon dredende God, than a thousend vnpitous sonus. 4   And profitable it is to die withoute sonus, than to lefen vnpitous sones. 5   Of oon weel felende man shal ben enhabitid the cuntre; and of thre vnpitous it shal be forsaken. 6   Manye othere thingis myn e&yogh;e sa&yogh;, and the strengere thingus of these myn ere herde. 7   In the synagoge of synnende men fyr shal out brenne, and in the vnbileeueful folc of kinde wrathe shal waxe ful out tend. 8   Olde ieauntis that ben destro&yogh;id, trostende to ther vertue, fulli pre&yogh;eden not for ther synnes; 9   and he sparede not to the pilgrimaging of hem, but smot hem, and wariede hem, for the pride `of the word of hem. 10   He dide not mercy to them, destro&yogh;ende al the folc of kinde and enhauncende itself in his synnes. 11   And as sixe hundrid thousend of footmen, that ben gadered in the hardnesse of ther herte; and if oon were rered vp the nol, wnder if he hadde ben harmles. 12   Mercy forsothe and wrathe is with hym; my&yogh;ty is the ful out orisoun, and heeldende out wrathe. 13   After his mercy, so the chastising of hym; he demeth a man aftir his werkes. 14   The synnere shal not scapen out in to raueyn; and `the suffryng of the doynge mercy schal not tary by hynde. 15   Eche mercy shal make place to echon, aftir the desert of his werkis, and after the vnderstonding of the pilgrimaging of hym. 16   Sey thou not, Fro God I shal ben hid; and fro the hei&yogh;est, who of me shal han

mynde? 17   In a gret puple I shal not be knowen; what forsothe is my soule in so gret a creature with oute mesure? Loo! heuene, 18   and heuenus of heuenus, the se, `or depnesse, and al erthe, and that in hem ben, in the si&yogh;te of hym shul be moued togidere; mounteynes togidere, 19   and hilles, and the foundemens of the erthe; and whan God shal biholde them, bi trembling thei shul be smyte togidere. 20   And in alle these thingus mys felende, `or vnwittie, is the herte, and eche herte is vnderstonden of hym. 21   And the weyes of hym who vnderstondith? and the tempest, that nouther the e&yogh;e sa&yogh; `of man? 22   For whi manye werkis of hym ben in hid thingus, but the werkis of the ri&yogh;twisnesse of hym who shal tellen out, or who shal suffren? Fer forsothe is the testament fro summe; and the asking of men is in the ful ending. 23   Who is lassid in herte, thenketh idil thingus; and the vnprudent man and errende thenketh folies. 24   Heere me, sone, and lerne disciplyne of wit, and in my wrdis tac heed in thin herte; and I shal seyn in equite discyplyne, and enserchen to tellen out wisdam. And in my wrdis tac heed in thin herte; 25   and I sey in equyte of spirit vertues, that God putte in to his werkes fro the bigynnyng, and in treuthe I telle out the kunnyng of hym. 26   In the dom of God his werkis fro the bigynnyng; and fro the ordeynyng of tho men he seuerede the partes of them, and the bigynnyngus of them in ther folkis of kinde. 27   He enournede in to withoute ende the werkis of hem; and thei hungreden not, ne trauaileden, and lefeden not of fro ther werkis. 28   Eche the ne&yogh;hebore to hym shal not anguysshen, vnto the spirituel world `or aungelus duryng. 29   Be thou not vnleeuable to the wrd of hym. 30   Aftir these

thingus God biheeld in to the erthe, and fulfilde it with his goodis. 31   Eche forsothe soule ful of lif told of bifor the face of hym; and it eft the turnyng a&yogh;een of hem. CAP. XVII.

1   God with the ri&yogh;t hond foormede man; and after his ymage made hym. 2   And eft turnede hym in to it; and after hymself clothide hym with vertue. 3   Noumbre of da&yogh;es and time he &yogh;af to hym; and &yogh;af to hym power of them that ben vpon erthe. 4   He putte the drede of hym vpon alle flesh, and lordshipide of bestes and of foules. 5   He foormede of hym helpe lic to hymself; counseil, and tunge, and e&yogh;en, and eren, and herte, he &yogh;af to them, of thenking out; and the discyplyne of vnderstonding fulfilde them. 6   He foormede to them kunnyng of the spirit, bi wit he fulfilde the herte of hem; and eueles and goodis he shewide to them. 7   He putte the e&yogh;e of hem vpon the hertes of hem, to shewen to them the grete thingus of his werkis, 8   that the name of his halewing thei preise togidere; and to glorien in the merueilous thingus of hym, that thei telle out the grete thyngus of his werkis. 9   He addede to them disciplyne; and the lawe of lif he eritagede them. 10   Euerlastende testament he sette with them; and ri&yogh;twisnesse and his domes he shewide to them. 11   And the grete thingus of his wrshipe the e&yogh;e of hem sa&yogh;, and the wrshipe of vois herden the eres of hem; and he seide to them, Taketh heed fro alle wicke thing. 12   And he comaundide to them, to eche of his ne&yogh;hebore. 13   The weies of hem biforn hym ben euermor; and thei ben not hid fro the e&yogh;en of hym. 14   In to eche folc of kinde he beforn sette a gouernour; 15   and Irael the part of God is mad open. 16   And alle the werkes of hem as the sunne in the si&yogh;te of God; and the e&yogh;en of hym with oute cesing biholdende in the weies of hem. 17   The testamentis ben not hid for

the wickidnesse of hem; and al the wickidnesse of hem in the si&yogh;t of God. 18   The almes deede of a man as a litil sac with hym, and the grace of man as the e&yogh;e appil it shal kepen; 19   and aftirward it shal rise a&yogh;een, and &yogh;elde to them &yogh;elding, to eche in to the hed of hem; and turnen in to the lowere partus of erthe. 20   To men doende penaunce forsothe he &yogh;af the weie of ri&yogh;twisnesse, and confermede men failende to suffren, and ordeynede to them the lot of treuthe. 21   Turne thou to the Lord, and lef thi synnes; 22   pre&yogh;e thou bifor the face of the Lord, and make lasse the occasiouns of giltis. 23   Turne a&yogh;een to the Lord, and turne awei fro thin vnri&yogh;twisnesse, and myche hate thou cursing. 24   And knowe thou ri&yogh;twisnesses, and the domes of God; and stond in the lot of putting forth, and of orisoun of the hei&yogh;est God. 25   `In to the partes go of the hoeli world, with men on lyue, `and &yogh;yuyng knouleching to God. 26   Ne fast abide thou in the errour of vnpitous men. Bifor deth kuouleche; fro the deade as no&yogh;t persheth confessioun. 27   Thou shalt knoulechen lyuende, lyuende and hoel thou shalt knouleche, and preisen God; and glorien in the mercy doyngus of hym. 28   Hou gret the merci of God, and the mytigacioun, `or helpe, 29   of hym to men conuertende to hym. Ne forsothe alle thingus mown ben in men; for the sone of man is not vndeadly, and `in to vanyte of malice thei pleseden. 30   What more cleer than the sunne? and this shall faile; or what wers than that flesh tho&yogh;te out, and blod? and that shal ben vndernomen. 31   The vertue of the hei&yogh;nesse of heuene he biholdith; and alle men erthe and asken.

CAP. XVIII.

1   He that lyueth in to withoute ende, made of no&yogh;t alle thingus togidere; God alone shall be iustefied, and dwelleth vnuenkushid king withoute ende. 2   Who shal suffise to telle out the werkis of hym? 3   who shal enserche the grete wrthi thingis of hym? 4   The vertue forsothe of his gretnesse who shal telle out? or who shal leyn to to tellen out the merci of hym? 5   There is not to lassen, ne to echen; ne ther is to fynde the grete wrthi thingus of God. 6   Whan a man hath ful endid, thanne he bigynneth; and whan he hath restid, he shal werchen. 7   What is a man, and what is the glorie of hym? and what is good, or what the wicke thing of hym? 8   The noumbre of the da&yogh;es of men, as myche an hundrid &yogh;er, as dropis to the watir of the se thei ben ordeyned; and as a litil ston of grauel, so fewe &yogh;eres in the dai of the spirituel world. 9   For that pacient is God in them, `and he schal heelde out vpon hem his mercy. 10   He sa&yogh; the presumpcioun, `or pride, of the herte of hem, for it ys euel; and he kne&yogh; the turnyng vp so doun of hem, for it is shreude. 11   Therfore he fulfilde hys mercy in hem, and shewede to them the weie of equyte. 12   The mercy doyng of man aboute his ne&yogh;hebore; the merci forsothe of the Lord vp on alle flesh. 13   He that hath mercy, and lerneth, and techeth as a shepperde his floc, 14   haue he mercy, takende out doctrine of mercy doyng; and that hie&yogh;en in the domes of hym. 15   Sone, in goode thingus &yogh;yue thou not pleynt, and in alle &yogh;ifte &yogh;yue thou not sorewi slouthe, `or heuynesse, of an euel wrd. 16   Whether not brennende hete the dew shal a&yogh;een keelen? so and a wrd betere than a

&yogh;ifte. 17   Lo! whether not a wrd ouer a good &yogh;ifte? but either with a iustefied man. 18   The fool sharpli shal &yogh;yue repref; and the &yogh;ifte of the vndisciplyned maketh e&yogh;en to waxe failende. 19   Bifor dom greithe ri&yogh;twisnesses to thee; and er that thou speke, lerne. 20   Bifor sicnesse tac medicyne; and bifor dom aske thou thiself, and in the si&yogh;te of God thou shalt finde mercy. 21   Bifor siknesse meeke thee, and in tyme of infirmyte shew thou thi conuersacioun, `or lyuyng. 22   Be thou not lettid to pre&yogh;en euermor, and drede thou not vnto the dead to be iustefied; for the meede of God dwellith in to withoute ende. 23   Biforn orisoun greithe thou thi soule; and wile thou not be as a man that tempteth God. 24   Haue mynde of wrathe in the day of endyng; and tyme of &yogh;elding in conuersacioun thou shalt make. 25   Haue mynde of pouert in tyme of plente; and the nede of pouert in the dai of richesses. 26   Fro erli vnto euen the tyme shal ben chaungid; and alle these thingus hastid in the e&yogh;en of God. 27   A wys man in alle thingis dredeth; and in the da&yogh;es of giltes shal taken heed fro slouthe. 28   Eche witti knowith wisdam; and to hym that fyndeth it, it shal &yogh;yue knoulechyng. 29   The wel felende in wrdus and thei wisly diden, and vnderstoden treuthe, and ri&yogh;twisnesse; and biso&yogh;ten prouerbes and domes. 30   After thi lustis go thou not; and fro thi wil turne thee awei. 31   If thou &yogh;yue to thi soule his lustis, it shal make thee in to io&yogh;e to thin enemys. 32   Ne delite thou in cumpanyes, ne in smale thyngus; sotheli the trespasing of hem is contynuel. 33   Ne be thou mene in strif for monee, and ther is not to thee no thing in the world; forsothe thou shalt be enuyous to thy soule.

CAP. XIX.

1   The drunkelew wercman shal not be mad riche; and who dispisith lytle thingis, litil mele doun falleth. 2   Wyn and wymmen maken also wise men to go bacward; and shuln vndernyme weel felende men. 3   And who hymself ioyneth to lecchoures, shal be wicked; rotennesse and wormes shuln eritagen hym, and his soule shal be taken awei fro the noumbre. 4   Who leeueth soone, is li&yogh;t in herte, and shal be lessid; and who trespaseth in to his soule, ferthermor shal ben had. 5   Who io&yogh;eth in wickidnesse, shal ben vndernomen; and who hateth correccioun, shal be lassid in lif; and who hateth myche speche, quenchith malice. 6   And who synneth in to his soule, shal not do penaunce; and who is merie in malice, shal be repreued. 7   Reherce thou not an hard wrd, and a shreude; and thou shalt not be lassid. 8   To frend and enemy wile thou not telle thi wit; and if ther is to thee gilte, wile thou not nakenen. 9   Forsothe he shal heren thee, and kepe thee, and as defendende synne he shal hate thee; and so he shal be nee&yogh;h to thee. 10   Euermor hast thou herd a wrd a&yogh;en thi ne&yogh;hebore; abide it stille in thee, trostende for it shal not to-breke thee. 11   Fro the face of the wrd berth out the fool, as the weiling of the birthe of a child. 12   An arewe ficchid `in to the hipe of an hound, so a wrd in the herte of a fool. 13   Chastise a frend, lest par auenture he vnderstond not, and seye, I dide not; or if he haue do, lest eftsoone he adde to do. 14   Chastise a ne&yogh;hebore, lest par auenture he shal not seyn; and if he seide, lest par auenture he reherse. 15   Chastise a frend, ofte forsothe is don trespas; 16   and not to eche wrd leeue thou. Ther is that slideth in

his tunge, but not of inwit. 17   Who is forsothe, that gilteth not in his tunge? Chastise a ne&yogh;hebore, er that thou threte; 18   and &yogh;if place to the drede of the hei&yogh;est. For eche wisdam the drede of God, and in it to dreden God; and in alle wisdam the disposing of the lawe. 19   And wisdam is not the disciplyne of shreudenesse; and good thenking is not the prudence of synnes. 20   Ther is shreudenesse of prudence, and in it cursing; and ther is an vnwis man, that is lassid in wisdam. 21   Betere is a man that is lassid in wisdam, and failende wit in the drede of God, than that aboundith in wit, and ouerpassith the lawe of the hei&yogh;est. 22   Ther is certeyn sleeynesse, and it is wicke. 23   And ther is, that sendeth out a certeyn wrd, tellende out the treuthe. Ther is, that shreudely meketh hymself; and the entrailes of hym ben ful of treccherie. 24   And ther is a ri&yogh;twis, that myche vnderputtith hymself of myche meknesse; and ther is a ri&yogh;twis, that bowith in the face, and feyneth hym not to seen that is vnknowen. 25   And if of infirmyte `of strengthis he `is forbeden to synnen; if `he shal fynde tyme of euel doyng, he shal euele do. 26   Of the si&yogh;te is knowen a man; and of the a&yogh;een comyng of the face is knowen the weel felende. 27   The clothing of the body, and the la&yogh;hing of teth, and the goyng in of a man, tellen out of hym. 28   Ther is liyng correccioun in wrathe of the wrongful; and ther is dom that is not preued to ben good; and ther is a beere stille, and he is prudent. CAP. XX.

1   Hou good is to vndernymyn, than to wrathen, and to not forbeden the knoulechere in orisoun. 2   The lust of the gelding deflourede the &yogh;unge womman, `or birefte hir meydenhed, 3   so he that doth bi fors

wicke dom. 4   Hou good is, the chastisid to schewe penaunce; so forsothe thou shalt fleen awei wilful synne. 5   Ther is a stille man, that is found wis; and ther is an hateful, that is gredy to speken. 6   Ther is forsothe a stille man, not hauende wit of speche; and ther is a stille man, witende tyme of couenable tyme. 7   A wys man shal be stille vnto tyme; the reccheles forsothe and the vnprudent shul not kepe time. 8   Who vseth manye wrdis, hurteth his soule; and who taketh to hym power wrongfulli, shal ben hatid. 9   Ther is goyng forth in euelis to a man vndisciplyned; and ther is finding in to harm. 10   Ther is &yogh;ouen thing, that is not profitable; and ther is &yogh;oue thing, whos &yogh;elding is double. 11   Ther is lassing for glorie; and ther is, that fro mecnesse shal rere the hed. 12   There is, that manye thingis a&yogh;een bie for litil pris, and restorende them in to seuen fold. 13   A wys man in wrdis maketh hym self loouable; the graces forsothe of foolis shul ben held out. 14   The &yogh;ifte of the vnwise shall not be profitable to thee; the e&yogh;en forsothe of hym ben seuennfold. 15   Fewe thingus he shal &yogh;yue, and many thingus he shal vpbreiden; and the openyng of the mouth of hym is enflaumyng. 16   To day leeneth a man, and to moru he asketh it bi ple; and hateful is such a maner man. 17   To a fool shal not ben a frend, and ther shal not be grace to the goodis of hym. 18   Who forsothe eten the bred of hym, ben of fals tunge; hou ofte sithes and hou fele shul thei scorne hym? 19   Ne forsothe that were to ben had, with euene ri&yogh;t wit he delede; lic maner and that, that were not to ben had. 20   The slidyng of the false tunge `as he that is falling in the pament; so the fallingus

of euele men hastili shal come. 21   An vnkinde man as a veyn fable; and it shal be ofte in the mouth of the vndisciplyned. 22   Of the mouth of the fool shal ben repreued a parable; forsothe he seith it not in his tyme. Ther is, that is forbedun for myseisete to synnen; and in his reste shal be prickid. 23   And ther is, that shal leese hys soule for confusioun; and of vnprudence of persone he shal leesen it. 24   Forsothe bi excepcioun of persone he shal leese hymself. 25   Ther is, that for confusioun bihotith to a frend; and hath woonnen hym an enemy wilfully. 26   Wicke repref in a man a lesyng; and in the mouth of the vndisciplyned it shal be besily. 27   Betere is a thef than the besynesse of a man liere; forsothe bothe shuln eritagen perdicioun. 28   Maneres of men lieres withoute wrshipe; and the confusioun of hem with them withoute cesing. 29   A wys man in wrdis shal bringe forth hymself; and a prudent man shal plesen to grete men. 30   Who wercheth his lond, shal myche he&yogh;en the hep of frutes; and who wercheth ri&yogh;twisnesse, he shal myche ben enhauncid. Who forsothe pleseth to grete men, shal fleen awei, `or ascape, wickidnesse. 31   Presentes and &yogh;iftes ful out blenden the e&yogh;en of domysmen; and as a doumb in the mouth he turneth awei the chastisingus of hem. 32   Hid wisdam, and tresor vnseen, what profit in eithir? 33   Betere is, that hilith his vnwisdam, than a man that hidith his wisdam. CAP. XXI.

1   Sone, hast thou synned? ne adde thou to eftsoone; but of thi rathere louly preye, that to thee thei be for&yogh;yuen. 2   As fro the face of a shadewe eddere flee

synnes; and if thou schalt ne&yogh;he to them, thei shul take thee. 3   The teeth of a leoun the teth of it, sleende the soules of men. 4   As a swerd two bitende eche wickidnesse; of the wounde of it is no helthe. 5   A&yogh;een chiding and wrongis to no&yogh;t shul bringe substaunce; and the hous that ful myche is riche, shal be bro&yogh;t to no&yogh;t bi pride; so the substaunce of the proude shal be taken vp bi the roote. 6   The lowe pre&yogh;yng of the pore fro the mouth vnto the ere shal come; and dom hastili shal com to hym. 7   Who hateth chastising, the step is of a synnere; and who dredeth God, shal ben conuertid to his herte. 8   Knowen fro aferr is the my&yogh;ty in fool hardy tunge; and the weel felende woot hym to slyde fro hym. 9   Who bildith his hous with other mennes costes, as that gedereth his stonus in wynter. 10   A flax top gedered togidere the synagoge of synneres; and the ful ending of them flawme of fyr. 11   The weie of synneres togidere plauntid with stones; and in to the ende of them helle, and peynes, and derknesses. 12   Who shal kepe ri&yogh;twisnesse, shal withholde the wyt of hym. 13   Ful ending of the drede of God wisdam and wit. 14   He shal not be lerned, that is not wis in goode. 15   Ther is forsothe vnwisdam, that abundeth in euel; and there is not wit, where is bitternesse. 16   The kunnyng of the wise man as flowing shal abunde; and the counseil of hym as a welle of lif abit stille. 17   The herte of the fool as a vessel to-broken; and alle wisdam shal not holden. 18   A wis wrd what euer he shal heren, the kunnyng shal preisen, and echen. The leccherous herde, and it shal displesen hym; and he shal throwe it bihinde his bac. 19   The telling of a fool

as berthen in the weie; for in the lippes of the wel felende shal be founde grace. 20   The mouth of the prudent is so&yogh;te in the chirche; and the wrdis of hym thei shul thenke in ther hertes. 21   As an hous set out of termes, so a wisdam to a fool; and the kunnyng of the mys felende vntellable wrdis. 22   Gyues in feet doctrine to a fool; and as bondis of hondis vpon the ri&yogh;t hond. 23   The fool in la&yogh;hing enhaunceth his vois; forsothe a wis man vnnethe stilleli shal la&yogh;hen. 24   A goldene ournement doctrine to the prudent; and as an armcercle in the ri&yogh;t arm. 25   The foot of the fool li&yogh;t in to the hous of the ne&yogh;hebore; and a wis man shal be confoundid of the persone of the my&yogh;ty. 26   The fool fro the wyndowe biholdith in to the hous; the lered man forsothe withoute shal stonde. 27   The folie of a man to herknen thur&yogh; the dores; and the prudent shal be greued with strif. 28   The lippes of vnprudent men folies shul tellen; the wrdis forsothe of prudent men in a balaunce shul ben peisid. 29   In the mouth of foolis the herte of hem; and in the herte of wise men the mouth of hem. 30   Whan the vnpitouse curseth the deuel, he curseth his owne soule. 31   The rownende grucchere shal defoule his soule, and in alle thingus he shal ben hatyd, and that abideth, shal ben hatid; the stille and the wel felende shal ben wrshipid. CAP. XXII.

1   In a cle&yogh;y ston shal ben stoned the slowe; and alle shuln speke of the grete dispising of hym. 2   Of the drit of oxen stoned is the slowe; and eche that toucheth hym, shal shaken out hondes. 3   The confusioun of the fader is of the vndisciplyned sone; forsothe a fool do&yogh;tir in gret mynushing shal be. 4   A prudent do&yogh;tir eritage to hir husbonde; for she that confoundith, in repref is mad of the

getere. 5   The fader and man she fool hardi confoundeth, and of the vnpitous man she shal not be lassid; of either forsothe she shal be vnwrshipid. 6   Melodie in weiling vnkouenable telling; scourges and doctrine in alle tyme wisdam. 7   Who techeth a fool, as that glueth togidere a sherd. 8   He that telleth a wrd to the not herende, as that rereth a slepende man fro an heuy slep. 9   With the slepende he speketh, that telleth to the fool wisdam; and in the ende of the telling he shal sey, Who is this? 10   Ouer the deade weepe thou, forsothe the li&yogh;t of hym failede; and ouer the fool weepe thou, forsothe he failede wit. 11   A litil weep vp on the deade, for he restede. 12   Forsothe of the most wicke most wicke lif, on the deth of a fool. 13   The weiling of the deade seuene da&yogh;es; of the fooll forsothe and of the vnpitous alle the da&yogh;es of the lif of hem. 14   With a fool ne speke thou myche, and with a mys felende go thou not awey. 15   Kep thee fro hym, that thou haue not greef; and thou shalt not ben defoulid in the synne of hym. 16   Boowe awei fro hym, and thou shalt finde reste; and thou shalt not be maad sorewi slo&yogh; in the folie of hym. 17   Ouer leed what shal ben heuy? and what othir name to hym than a fool? 18   Li&yogh;tere is to bern grauel, and salt, and a gobet of iren, than an inprudent man, and a fool, and vnpitous. 19   As ioynyng of tres, bounde togidere to the foundement of the bilding, shal not ben vnloosid, so and the herte fastned togidere in the thenking of counseil. 20   The thenking of the wel felende in alle tyme, or drede, shal not be beshrewid. 21   As chaf in he&yogh;e thingus, and morter withoute due cost, sett a&yogh;en the face of the wynd, shul not abide; 22   so and the dredeful herte in the thenking of a fool a&yogh;en the bure of drede a&yogh;en stont not. 23   As grauely enournyng

in a bri&yogh;t wal, so and the tremblende herte in the thenking of a fool, alle time he shal not dreden; so and that in the hestis of God abit stille euermor. 24   The prickende the e&yogh;e leteth out teres; and that pricketh the herte, bringeth forth wit. 25   Throwende a ston in to foules, `schal throwe hem doun; so and that putteth reprof to a frend, looseth frenshipe. 26   To the frend and if thou bringe forth a swerd, thou shalt not dispeiren; ther is forsothe a&yogh;eengoyng to a frend. 27   If he shul opene a drery mouth, ne drede thou; ther is forsothe acording, out take putting to of vice, and dispit, and pride, and openyng of priuyte, and treccherous veniaunce; in alle these thingus shal flee awei a frend. 28   Feith welde thou with a frend `in the porenesse of hym, that and in the goodis of hym thou glade. 29   In tyme of tribulacioun of hym abid stille to hym feithful, that and in the eritage of hym thou be togidere eir. 30   Biforn fir of the chymnee, moiste issue, and the smoke of fyr, is enhauncid; so and befor blod cursis, and wrongis, and thretes. 31   A frend to saluten I shal not be confoundid, and fro the face of hym I shal not hiden me; and if eueles schulen comen to me bi hym, I shal suffre. 32   Eche that shal heren, shal shonen hymself fro hym. 33   Who shal &yogh;yue to my mouth warde, and vpon my lippis a certeyn marke, that I falle not fro them, and my tunge leese me? CAP. XXIII.

1   Lord, fader, and lordshipere of my lif, ne forsake thou me in the thenking and the counseil of them; and suffre thou me not to fallen in that reprouyng. 2   Who puttith vp on in my thenking scourgis, and in myn herte doctrine of wisdam, that to the vnknowyngus of them he spare not to me, and apere not the giltis

of them? 3   Lest waxen to myne vnkunnyngnesses, and ben multeplied my giltis, and my synnes abunden; and I falle in the si&yogh;te off myn aduersaries, and myn enemy io&yogh;e. 4   Lord, fader, and God of my lif, ne forsake thou me in the thenking of hem. 5   The enhauncyng of myn e&yogh;en ne &yogh;yue thou to me; and al desyr turne awei fro me. 6   Do awei fro me lustis of the wombe, and the liggyngus of lust ne take thei me; and to vnreuerent inwit and vndiscreet ne take thou me. 7   The doctrine of the mouth here &yogh;ee, sonis; and that shal kepen it, shal not pershen in his lippis, ne shal be sclaundrid in `the werste werkes. 8   In his vanyte is ca&yogh;t the synnere and the proude man; and the cursid shal be sclaundred in hem. 9   To swering vse not thi mouth; manye forsothe fallingus in it. 10   The nemnyng forsothe of God be not contynuel in thi mouth, and to the names of seyntus be thou not mengd; for thou shalt not ben harmles of hem. 11   As forsothe a seruaunt askid bisily, fro wannesse, `or enuye, is not mynusht; so eche swerere and nemnyng, in al fro synne shal not be purgid. 12   A man myche swerende shal be fulfild with wickidnesse; and ther shal not gon awei fro the hous of hym veniaunce. 13   And if he shul bigile the brother, the gilte of hym vpon hym shal be; and if he shul feyne, he shal trespasen double. 14   And if in veyn he shul swern, he shal not be iustefied; forsothe with werst &yogh;elding shal be fulfild the hous of hym. 15   Ther is and an other speche a&yogh;eenward in to deth; `be it not founde in the eritage of Jacob. 16   Forsothe of mercyful men alle these thingus shul be don awey; and in giltis thei shul not

often turne. 17   To the vndisciplynous speche vse not thi mouth; forsothe ther is in it the wrd of synne. 18   Haue mynde of fader and thi moder; in the myddel forsothe of grete men thou stondist. 19   Lest parauenture God for&yogh;ete thee in the si&yogh;te of hem; and thur&yogh; thi bisynesse gretli maad foul, repref thou suffre, and haddest leuere not to be born, and the dai of thi birthe thou curse. 20   A man vsid in wrdys of repref, in alle his da&yogh;es shal not be lered. 21   Two kindis abundyn in synnes, and the thridde bringeth to wrathe and perdicioun. 22   A fel soule as fyr brennende shal not be quenchid, to the tyme sum what he swolewe; 23   and a shreude man in the mouthe of his flesh shal not leuen, to the time he teende fyr. 24   To a leccherous man eche bred sweete; he shal not be weri, trespasende vnto the ende. 25   Eche man that ouergoth his bed, dispisende in to his soule, and seiende, Who seeth me? 26   Dercnesses cumpassen me, and the walles coueren me aboute, and no man aboute biholdeth me. Whom drede I? Of my giltis the hei&yogh;est shal not han mynde. 27   And he vndirstont not, for alle thingus the e&yogh;e of hym seeth, for he putte awei fro hym the drede of God; of such a maner man is drede, and the e&yogh;en of men dredende hym. 28   And he kne&yogh; not, for the e&yogh;en of the Lord ben myche more li&yogh;tere ouer the sunne, biholdende aboute alle the weies of men, and the depthe of the se, and the hertes of men biholdende in to the hidde partis. 29   To the Lord God forsothe, er thei weren foormed, alle thingis ben knowen; so and aftir the parformed he biholdith alle thingus. 30   This in the stretes of the cite shal be vengid; as an horse colt he shal be dryue, and wher he hopeth not, he shal be ca&yogh;t. 31   And he shal ben vileny to alle; forthi that he vnderstod not the drede of the Lord. 32   So and eche womman forsakende hir man,

shal synnen, and settende eritage of an aliene matrimoyne. 33   First in the lawe of the he&yogh;est she was vnleeueful, and the secunde hir man she forsok; the thridde in auoutrie she dide leccherie, and of an othir man sonus she sette to hirself. 34   This in to the chirche shal be bro&yogh;t, and in to the sonus of hir shall ben lookid. 35   The sonus of hir shul not taken rootis, and the braunches of hir shul not &yogh;yuen fruyt. 36   Thei shul leuen in to curs the mynde of hir, and the vilenye of hir shal not be don awei. 37   And thei shul knowe, for thei ben forsaken; for no thing betere than the dred of God, and no thing swetere than to biholden in the maundemens of the Lord. 38   Gret glorie is to folewe the Lord; lengthe forsothe of da&yogh;es shal ben taken to of hym. CAP. XXIV.

1   Wisdam shal preisen his soule, and in the Lord he shal ben wrshepid; and in the myddel of his puple he shal glorien. 2   And in the chirches of the he&yogh;est he shal opene his mouth; and in the si&yogh;te of the vertue of hym he shal glorien. 3   And in the myddel of his puple he shal ben enhauncid; and in hoeli plente he shal myche wndren. 4   And in the multitude of chosen men he shal han preising; and among blissid men he shal ben blessid, seiende, 5   I of the mouth of the he&yogh;est cam forth, first goten biforn eche creature. 6   I made in heuenus, that vnfailende li&yogh;t shulde springe, and as a litil cloude I coueryd eche flesh. 7   I in the he&yogh;est thingus dwellede, and my trone in a piler of a cloude. 8   The cercle of heuene I cumpasside alone, and the depthe of the se I thirlede; and in the flodis of the se I wente, and in al erthe I stod. 9    10   And in alle puple, and in alle folc of kinde the firsthed I hadde; 11   and of alle he&yogh;e and

lowe the hertes bi vertue I trad; and in alle these thingus reste I so&yogh;te, and in the eritage of hym I shal wone. 12   Thanne comaundide, and seide to me, the foormere of alle thingus; and he that foormede me, restede in my tabernacle; 13   and seide to me, In Jacob dwelle thou, and in Irael eritage thou, and in my chosene put rootes. 14   Fro the bigynnyng and bifor worldis I am foormed, and vnto the world to come I shal not cesen to ben; and in hoeli wonyng beforn hym I seruede. 15   And so in Sion I am fastned, and in an halewid cite lic maner I restede, and in Jerusalem my power. 16   And I rootede in a puple wrshipid; and in to the parties of my God the eritage of hym, and in plente of halewes my withholding. 17   As a cedre I am enhauncid in Liban, and as a cipresse in the hil of Sion. 18   And as a palm I am enhauncid in Cades, and as the plaunting of a rose in Jericho. 19   As a fair olyue in feeldis; and as a platan I am enhauncid biside the water in stretes. 20   As canel and balsam smellende, I &yogh;af smel; and as chose myrre I &yogh;af swotnesse of smel. 21   And as torax, and galban, and vngula, and gutta, and as Liban not kut, I smekede my dwelling; and as balsame not mengd is my smel. 22   I as terebynt strei&yogh;te out my braunchis; and my braunchis of wrshipe, and of grace. 23   I as a vyne frutede swotnesse of smel; and my floures frutes of honour, and of honeste. 24   I modir of fair loouyng, and of drede, and of knowing, and of hoeli hope. 25   In me alle grace of weie, and of treuthe; in me alle hope of lif and of vertue. 26   Passeth to me, alle that coueiten me; and of my ieneraciouns `be &yogh;ee fulfild. 27   My spirit forsothe

ouer hony sweete; and myn eritage ouer hony, and hony comb. 28   My mynde in the ieneracioun of worldis. 29   Thei that eten me, &yogh;it shul hungrin; and that drinken me, &yogh;it shuln thristen. 30   Who hereth me, shal not be confoundid; and who werchen in me, shul not synnen; and who declaren me, 31   euere lastende lif shuln han. 32   Alle these thingus the boc of lif, and the testament of the he&yogh;est, and the knouleching of treuthe. 33   Moises comaundide the lawe in the hestus of ri&yogh;twisnesses, and the eritage `to the hous of Jacob, and the behestus to Irael. 34   He sette to Dauid, his child, to reren vp a king of hym most strong, and in the trone of wrshipe sittende in to euer mor. 35   The which fulfillith, as Fison, wisdam; and as Tigris in the da&yogh;es of newes. 36   That fulfilleth, as Eufrates, wit; that multeplieth, as Jordan in the tyme of rip. 37   That sendeth disciplyne as li&yogh;t; and stondynge to, as Jyon in the dai of vyndage. 38   That parformeth first to knowen it; and the feblere shal not enserchen it. 39   Fro the se forsothe shal abunde the thenking of hym; and the counseil of hym in the grete depnesse. 40   I wisdam heelde out floodis; 41   I as an ouerthwert weie of watir with oute mesure fro the flood. I as the flood Dorex, and as watir kundute wente out fro paradis. 42   I seide, I shal watrin the gardyn of my plauntingus; and I shal make drunke the frut of my birthe. 43   And lo! he is mad to me a plenteuous path; and my flood ne&yogh;hede to the se. 44   For doctrine as morutid li&yogh;t I li&yogh;te to alle; and I shal tellen out it vnto aferr. 45   I shal persen alle the nethere partis of the erthe, and I shal biholde alle slepende; and I shal li&yogh;tnen alle hopende in the Lord. 46   &YOGH;it doctrine as profecie I shal heelden out, and I shal leuen it to men sechende wisdam; and I shal not cesen in to the progenyes of

them, vnto the hoeli spirituel world. 47   Seeth, for not to me alone I trauailede, but to alle sechende out the treuthe. CAP. XXV.

1   In thre thingus plesid is to my spirit, that ben proued bifor God and man; the acord of brethern, 2   and the looue of ne&yogh;hebores, and man and womman wel to themself consentende. 3   Thre spices hatede my soule, and I am greued gretli to the soule of them; 4   a pore man proud, and a riche man a liere, and an old man a fool and dotid. 5   What thingis in thi &yogh;outhe thou hast not gedered, hou shalt thou finde in thin eelde? 6   How fair the dom in hoornesse, and to prestis to knowe kounseil. 7   How fair to olde men wisdam, and glorious vnderstonding, and counseil. 8   The coroun of olde men myche wisdam; and the glorie of them dred of God. 9   Nyne vnouertrowable thingus of the herte I magnefiede; and the tenthe I shal telle in tunge to men. 10   A man that is io&yogh;id in sones lyuende, and seende the turnyng vpsodoun of his enemys. 11   Blisful that dwellith with a womman weel felende, and that in his tunge is not slyden, and that seruede not to the vnwrthi hymself. 12   Blisful that findith a verre frend, and that telleth out ri&yogh;twisnesse to the herende ere. 13   Hou gret that findith wisdam and kunnyng; but not ouer the dredende God. 14   The drede of God ouer alle thingus hymself sett aboue. 15   Blisful the man to whom it is &yogh;oue to han the drede of God; who holdith it, to whom shal he be licned? 16   The dred of God the bigynnyng of his looue; the bygynnyng forsothe of feith is to be ioyned to hym. 17   Alle veniaunce is the drery slowthe of herte; and eche malice the

wickidnesse of a womman. 18   And eche wounde, and not wounde she shal seen of herte; 19   and al shreudenesse, and not shreudenesse of a womman; 20   and al hid thing, and not hid thing of hatende men; and al veniaunce, 21   and not veniaunce of enemys. 22   There is not an hed wickidere ouer the hed of a shadewe eddere; 23   and there is not wrathe ouer the wrathe of a womman. To dwelle with a leoun and a dragoun more shal plesen, than to wone with a shreude womman. 24   The shreudenesses of a womman chaungeth hir face; and she a&yogh;een blendide hir cheere as a bere, and as a sac she shal shewen in the myddel of ne&yogh;hebores. 25   The housebond of hir gretli weilede; and herende, si&yogh;hede a litil. 26   Short alle malice ouer the malice of a womman; the lot of synnes falle vpon hir. 27   As a graueli stee&yogh;ing vp in the feet of an old man, so a tungy womman to a quyete man. 28   Ne beholde thou the fairnesse of a womman, and coueite thou not a womman in fairnesse. 29   The wrathe of a womman and the mysreuerence, gret shenshipe. 30   A womman if she haue maistrie, she is contrarie to hir housebond. 31   A loe&yogh; herte, and a dreri face, and a wounde of deth, a shreude womman. 32   Feble hondis and vnloosid knees, a womman that maketh not blisful hir housebond. 33   Of a womman is mad the bigynnyng of synne; and bi hir alle wee die. 34   &YOGH;yue thou not to thi watir issue, ne a litil; ne to a shreude womman for&yogh;yuenesse, `or leeue, or fredam, of goyng out. 35   If she `schal not go to thin hond, she shal confounde thee in the si&yogh;te of enemys. 36   Fro thi flesh kut hir awei, lest euermore sche mysvse thee.

CAP. XXVI.

1   Blissid is the man of a good womman; the noumbre forsothe of the &yogh;eres of hym double. 2   A strong womman delytith hir man; and the &yogh;eres of `the liyf of hym she shal fulfille in pes. 3   A good part a good womman; in good part of men dredende God, she shal be &yogh;oue to a man for goode deedis. 4   Of riche forsothe and pore the goode herte; in alle tyme the chere of them gladsum. 5   Of thre thingus dradde myn herte, and in the ferthe my face was aferd. 6   The dyuyseoun of the cite, and the gederyng togidere of the puple, and lesing chaleng; 7   vp on deth alle thingus heuye. 8   Sorewe of herte, and weiling, a ielous womman. 9   In a ielous womman scourge of tunge, to alle comunende. 10   As a &yogh;ok of oxen that is moued, so and a shreude womman; who holdith hir, as he ca&yogh;te a scorpioun. 11   A drunkelew womman gret wrathe and strif; and the filtheed of hir shal not be couered. 12   The fornycacioun of a womman in the hauncing out of e&yogh;en; and in the e&yogh;elidis of hir she shal be knowen. 13   In a do&yogh;tir not turnende awey hirself fastne warde; lest, ocasioun founde, she mysuse hirself. 14   Fro alle irreuerence of the e&yogh;en of hir waar; and ne wndre thou, if she dispise thee. 15   As a weie goere at a welle threstende the mouth shal opene, and of alle next water shal drinke; and a&yogh;en eche pale shal sitte, and a&yogh;en alle arewe shal opene quyuere, to the tyme that she faile. 16   The grace of a bisi womman shal deliten hir man; and the boenes of hym she shal fatten. 17   The discipline of hir is the &yogh;ifte of God. 18   A wel felende womman and a stille is not the chaunging of the ta&yogh;t soule. 19   Grace vpon grace

an hoeli womman, and a shamefast. 20   Eche forsothe peising is not wrthi a contenent soule. 21   As the sunne risende in the world in the he&yogh;est thingus of God, so the fairnesse of a good womman in to the enournyng of hir hous. 22   A shynende lanterne vpon an hoeli candilsticke, and the fairnesse of the face vpon the stable age. 23   Goldene pileris vpon silueren feet, and fast feet upon the plauntes, `or soulis, of a stable womman. 24   Euere lastende foundemens vp on a sad ston, and the maundemens of God in the herte of an hoeli womman. 25   In two thingus myn herte is maad sorewful, and in the thridde wrathing to me cam. 26   A man fi&yogh;tere failende bi myseise, and a man wel felende dispisid. 27   And that ouergoth fro ri&yogh;twisnesse to synne, God greithede hym to a two bitende swerd. 28   Two spices harde and perilous to me semeden; hard is delyuered the chaffarere fro his necgligence, and the tauerner shal not be iustified fro synnes of lippis. CAP. XXVII.

1   For myseiste manye trespaseden; and he that secheth to be maad riche, turneth awei his e&yogh;e. 2   As in the myddel of a ioynyng of stones a paele, `or a stake, ficchid is, so bitwen the myddel of biyng and silling he shall ben anguysht with synnes. 3   He shal ben to-treden with giltende gilte. 4   If not in the drede of the Lord thou shul holde thee bisili, anoon shal ben turned vpsodoun thin hous. 5   As in the smyting of a cyue shal abide stille pouder, so the porenesse of a man in the thenking of hym. 6   The vesselis of the krockere preueth the furneis; and ri&yogh;twis men temptacioun of tribulacioun. 7   As the erthe werching of a tree

shewith the frute of hym, so a wrd of thenking the herte of a man. 8   Biforn a wrd ne preise thou a man; that forsothe tempting is of men. 9   If thou folewe ri&yogh;twisnesse, thou shalt taken it; and thou shalt clothen it as an aube of wrshipe, and thou shalt dwelle with it, and it shal defende thee in to euer mor, and in the dai of knouleching thou shalt finde fastnyng. 10   Foules to the lic to them comen togidere; and treuthe to them that werchen it shal turne a&yogh;een. 11   A leoun to hunting waitith euermor; so synnes to men werchende wickidnesse. 12   An hoeli man in wisdam woneth, as the sunne; for the fool as the moone is chaungid. 13   In the myddel of mys felende men kep a wrd to tyme; in the myddel forsothe of men thenkende the lawe of God be thou besi. 14   The telling of synneres hatesum; and the la&yogh;hing of them in the giltis of synne. 15   The myche swering speche shal sette stonding of heer, for fer, to the hed; and the irreuerence of it is stopping of eres. 16   Sheding out of blod in iangling of proude men; and the cursing of them greuous heering. 17   Who nakeneth priuytes, leeseth the feith of a frend; and he findeth not a frend to his inwit. 18   Looue a ne&yogh;hebore, and be thou ioyned in feith with hym. 19   That if thou shul nakene the hidde thingus of hym, `thou schalt not pursue aftir hym. 20   As a man forsothe that leeseth his frend, so that leeseth the frenshipe of his ne&yogh;hebore. 21   And as he that leteth a brid out of his hond, so thou that hast forsake thi ne&yogh;hebore, and thou shalt not taken hym. 22   Thou shalt not folewe hym, for ferr he is awei; forsothe he fley&yogh; out as a capret fro the grene, for woundid is the soule of hym. 23   Thou shalt not moun mor ouer hym binde togidere; but of the cursid is acording togidere. 24   To nakenen forsothe the priuytes of a frend, is the dispeiring

of the vnfeithful soule. 25   The twynclere with the e&yogh;e forgeth wicke thingus; 26   and no man hym shal casten awei. In the si&yogh;te of thin e&yogh;en he shal defoule thi mouth, and vp on thi wrdus he shal wndre; at the laste he shal peruerte his mouth, and in thi wrdis he shal &yogh;yue sclaundre. 27   Manye thingus I haue herd, and I haue not euened to hym; and the Lord shal hate hym. 28   Who in to hei&yogh; sendeth a ston, vp his hed it shal falle; and the wounde of the treccherous shal deuyde woundis. 29   And that delueth a dich, shal falle in to it; and that setteth a ston to a ne&yogh;hebore, shal stumble in it; and that setteth a grene to another, shal pershe in it. 30   To the doynge most wicke counseil, vpon hym it shal be turned a&yogh;een; and he shal not knowe whennes it shal come to hym. 31   Illusioun, `or scorne, and repref of proude men and veniaunce as a leoun `schal aspie to hym. 32   In a grene thei shul pershen, that deliten the falling of ri&yogh;twis men; sorewe forsothe shal waste them, er thei dien. 33   Wrathe and wodnesse, either ben wariable; and the man synnere, withholdere shal be of them. CAP. XXVIII.

1   Who wile taken veniaunce, of the Lord shal finde veniaunce; and the synnes of hym kepende he shal kepe. 2   For&yogh;if to thi ne&yogh;hebore no&yogh;ende to thee, and thanne to thee lowli pre&yogh;ende synnes shul ben for&yogh;oue. 3   A man to a man kepith wrathe; and of God he sechith leching. 4   In to a man lic to hymself he hath not mercy; and of his synnes he shal pre&yogh;en. 5   He whil he is flesh, reserueth ire, and mercy asketh of God; who shal pre&yogh;e for the giltis of hym? 6   Haue mynde

of thi laste thingus, and lef to ben enemy. 7   Rotenese forsothe and deth stonden on in the hestes `of hym. 8   Remembre the drede of the Lord, and thou shalt not wrathe to the ne&yogh;hebore. 9   Remembre the testament of the he&yogh;est, and dispise the ignoraunce of thi ne&yogh;hebore. 10   Abstene thee fro strif, and thou shalt lassen synnes. 11   A man forsothe wratheful teendith strif; and a man synnere shal disturbe frendis, and in the myddel of men hauende pes he sendith in enemyte. 12   Aftir forsothe the trees of the wode, so the fier brenneth; and aftir the vertue of a man, so the wrathe of hym shal be, and aftir his substaunce he shal enhaunce his wrathe. 13   An hastid strif shal teende fyr, and hastende chidyng shal sheden out blod; and a tunge witnessende shal bringe to deth. 14   If it shul blowen, as fyr it shal brenne; and if thou shul spitten vpon it, it shal ben queynt; either fro the mouth gon forth. 15   The whistrende grucchere, and the twisil tunge cursid; forsothe manye hauende pes disturbide. 16   The thridde tunge manye men stirede, and scaterede them fro folc in to folc. 17   Wallid cites of riche men it stro&yogh;ede, and the housis of grete men it mynede out. 18   The vertues of puples it to-heew&yogh;, and stronge folkys of kinde it vnknytte. 19   The thridde tunge stronge, `or weddid, wymmen caste out, and shal bynyme them ther trauailes. 20   Who biholdith it, shal not han reste; ne shal han a frend, in which he rest. 21   The wounde of a scourge maketh wannesse; the wounde forsothe of a tunge shal to-broosen boenes. 22   Manye fellen in the mouth of swerd; but not as thei dieden by ther tunge. 23   Blisful

that is couered fro a shreude tunge; `the which in the wrathe of it passide not, and `the which dro&yogh; not at the &yogh;oc of it, and in the bondis of `it is not bounde. 24   The &yogh;oc forsothe of it is an irene &yogh;oc, and the bond of it is a brasene bond. 25   The deth of it the werste deth; and profitable helle more than it. 26   The stedefastnesse of it shal not abide stille, but shal holde the weies of vnri&yogh;twis men; in his flaume he shal not brenne ri&yogh;twis men. 27   Thei that forsaken God, shul falle in to it; and it shal brenne out in them, and it shal not be queynt; and it shal be sent in to them as a leoun, and as a parde it shal hurte them. 28   Hegge thin eres with thornes, and wile thou not heren the shreude tunge; and to thi mouth mac thou dores, and lokes to thin eres. 29   Thi gold and thi seluer melt togidere; and to thi wrdis mac thou a balaunce, and ri&yogh;t bridelis to thi mouth. 30   And tac heed, lest parauenture thou slyde in the tunge, and thou falle in the si&yogh;te of the enemys, waitende to thee, and thi fallyng be vnheleable in to the deth. CAP. XXIX.

1   Who doth mercy, leeneth to his ne&yogh;hebore; and he that is more wrth in hond, kepeth the hestis. 2   Leene to thi ne&yogh;hebore in tyme of his neede; and eft &yogh;eld to a ne&yogh;hebore in his tyme. 3   Conferme a wrd, and feithfulli do with it; and in alle tyme thou shalt finde that is needful to thee. 4   Manye as finding eymeden vsure, and &yogh;eeuen gref to them that helpeden to them. 5   To the time that thei taken, thei kissen the hondis of the &yogh;yuere; and in behestis thei meken ther voys. 6   And in tyme of &yogh;elding `he shal aske dela&yogh;ing, and he shal speke

wrdis of noy&yogh;e, and of grucchingus, and the tyme he shal pleten. 7   If forsothe he shul moun &yogh;eelde, he shal be enemy; vnnethe of the hoele he shal &yogh;elde the half, and he shal counte it as finding. 8   Ellys forsothe he shal bigile hym his monee, and shal han hym enemy wilfully. 9   And repreues and cursis he shal &yogh;elde to hym; and for wrshipe and benefet he shal &yogh;elde to hym wrong. 10   Manye, not bicause of shreudenesse, `lenten not, but to be bigilid wilfulli, thei dradden. 11   Neuer the latere ouer the meke in inwit be thou strengere; and for almes deede drawe thou not hym. 12   For the heste tac to the pore; and for the myseise of hym ne lefe thou hym voide. 13   Lees monee for brothir and frend, and hide thou not it vnder a ston, in to perdicioun. 14   Put thi tresor in the hestes of the he&yogh;este; and it shal profite to thee more than gold. 15   Close almes deede in the bosum of the pore; and that for thee shal ful out pre&yogh;en fro alle euel. 16   The almes deede of a man as a litil sac with hym; and the grace of a man as the e&yogh;e appil it shal kepen. 17   And afterward it shal a&yogh;een risen, and &yogh;elde to them &yogh;elding, to eche in to the hed of hem. 18   Ouer the sheld of the my&yogh;ti, and ouer spere a&yogh;en thin enemy it shal fi&yogh;te. 19   A good man maketh feith to his ne&yogh;hebore; and he that hath lost, confusioun shal leue to hym. 20   The grace of the bor&yogh; ne forgete thou; forsothe he &yogh;af for thee his soule. 21   The synnere and the vnclene the a&yogh;een bihotere fleeth. 22   Goode wrdis of the a&yogh;een bihotere the synnere wijteth to hym; and the vnkinde in the wit forsaketh the delyuerende hym. 23   A man a&yogh;een bihoteth of his ne&yogh;hebore; and whan he hath lost reuerence, he shal be forsaken

of hym. 24   Most shreude a&yogh;een bihoting spilde manye loouende men, and `togidere sterede them as the flodis of the se. 25   Cumpasende it made my&yogh;ti men to gon out; and wandreden in aliene folkis. 26   The synnere ouer passende the maundement of the Lord shal fallen into shreude biheste; and he that forseth manye thingus to do, shall fallen in to dom. 27   Recouere thi ne&yogh;hebore after thi vertue; and tac heed to thee, that thou infalle not. 28   The bigynnyng of the lif of man watir, and bred, and clothing, and hous defendende filthehed. 29   Betere is the liflode of the pore vnder the roof of stoodes, than plenteuous shynende metes in pilgrymaging withoute hous. 30   The leste thing for grete plese to thee; the repref of pilgrimaging thou shalt not heren. 31   A shreude lif, of herberewing fro hous in to hous; and wher he shal ben herberewid, he shal not feithfulli don, ne openen the mouth. 32   He shal herberewen, and feeden, and &yogh;yue drinke the vnkinde; and to these bittere thingus he shal heren. 33   Go, gest, and enourne the bord; and tho `thingis that in thin hond thou hast, feed other. 34   Go out fro the face of wrshipe of my frendis, for nede of myn hous; to herberewe to me, brothir thou art maad. 35   Greuous these thingus to a man hauende wit; vndernymyng of the hous, and repref of the leenere. CAP. XXX.

1   Who looueth his sone, bisily &yogh;eueth to hym scourgis, that he glade in his laste, and that he grope not the dores of ne&yogh;hebores.

2   Who techeth his sone, shal be preisid in hym; and in the myddel of homli men in hym he shal glorien. 3   Who techeth his sone, in to enuye sendith the enemy; and in the myddel of frendus he shal glorien in hym. 4   Dead is the fader of hym, and he is as not dead; lic forsothe to hym he hath laft aftir hym. 5   In his lif he sa&yogh;, and gladide in hym; and in his deth he sorewede not, ne `is confoundid bifor the enemys. 6   Forsothe he hath laft the defendere of the hous a&yogh;en the enemys; and to frendus the &yogh;elding of grace. 7   For the soulis of the sonus he shal binde togidere his woundis; and ouer al vois shul be disturbid the boweles of hym. 8   The vntame hors shal scapen hard, and the slowe sone shal scape stumbling doun. 9   Flatere the sone, and he shal make thee dredende; pley with hym, and he shall sorewen thee. 10   Ne with la&yogh;he thou to hym, ne with sorewe, and in the laste thi teth shal waxe stoneyd. 11   &YOGH;yue thou not to hym power in &yogh;outhe, and ne dispise thou the tho&yogh;tus of hym. 12   Crooke the nol of hym in &yogh;outhe, and bet the sidis of hym, whil he is a faunt; lest parauenture he inwardly hardne, and leeue not to thee, and he shal be to thee sorewe of soule. 13   Tech thi sone, and werk in hym; lest in to the filthehed of hym thou gilte. 14   Betere is a pore man hool, and strong in strengthis, than a riche man feble, and scourgid with malice. 15   Helthe of soule in hoelynesse of ri&yogh;twisnesse, and betere is than alle gold and siluer; and a strong body than monee withoute mesure. 16   Ther is not monee ouer the monee of the helthe of body; and ther is not liking ouer the io&yogh;e of herte. 17   Betere is deth than bittere lyf, and euere lastende reste than durende sicknesse. 18   Goodis hid in a mouth closid, as leiyngis to of plenteuous metes, set aboute with a sepulcre.

19   What shal profiten sacrifise to the maumet? and forsothe he shal not eten, ne sauouren. 20   So he that is dryuen awei fro the Lord, and berende meedis of shreudenesse, 21   seende with e&yogh;en and weilende, so a geldyng clippende a maiden, and si&yogh;hende. 22   Sorewi idilnesse &yogh;yue thou not to thi soule, ne tormente thou thiself in thi counseil. 23   Myrthe of herte, that is the lif of man, and tresor withoute failing of hoelynesse; and ful out io&yogh;ing of a man ys long lyuyng. 24   Haue mercy to thi soule, plesende to God; and withhold and gedere togidere thin herte in the holynesse of hym, and sorewi idilnesse fer put awei fro thee. 25   Manye forsothe sorewy idilnesse sleth; and ther is not profit in it. 26   Enuye and wrathe shuln lassen da&yogh;es; and bifor tyme thenking shal bringe to elde. 27   A bri&yogh;t herte good in meteshipes; the meteshipis forsothe of hym diligentli ben made. CAP. XXXI.

1   The waking of honeste shal dwyne the flesh; and the thenking of it shal don awei slep. 2   The thenking of bifor kunnyng turneth awei wit; and heuy infirmyte sobre maketh the soule. 3   The riche man trauailede in the gedering of substaunce; and in his reste he shal be fulfild with his goodus. 4   The pore man trauailede in lassing of liflode; and in the ende he is mad helpeles, `or pore. 5   Who looueth gold, shal not ben iustefied; and who folewith wasting, shal be fulfild of it. 6   Manye ben &yogh;yuen in to the fallingus of gold; and the los of them is mad in the fairnesse of it. 7   The tree of offencioun is gold of men sacrefiende; wo to

them that folewen it, and eche vnprudent shal pershe in it. 8   Blisful is the riche man, that is founde withoute wem; and that aftir gold &yogh;ide not, ne hopide in monee, and in tresores. 9   Who is this, and wee shul preisen hym? forsothe he dyde merueilis in his lif. 10   Who is preued in it, and perfit is founde, and shal be to hym euere lastende glorie? that my&yogh;te trespasen, and trespaside not, and don euelis, and dide not. 11   Therfore stablid ben the goodis of hym in the Lord; and the almes deedis of hym shal out telle al the chirche of halewis. 12   Aboue the grete bord thou hast siten; ne opene thou out thi cheeke rathere. 13   Sei thou not, whethir manye thingus ben, that vp on it ben. 14   Haue mynde, for euel is the shreude e&yogh;e. 15   Shreudere thing than the e&yogh;e, what is foormed? therfore fro al his face he shal weepe, whan he hath seen. 16   Ne strecche thou out thin hond rathere; and bi enuye defoulid, thou shame. 17   Ne be thou thrist togidere in the feste with wyn. 18   Vnderstond what ben of thi ne&yogh;hebore, of thiself. 19   Vse as a temperat man these thingis that ben leid to thee; and not whan thou etist, myche to hate thou be had. 20   Cese rathere bicause of disciplyne; and wile thou not be to myche, lest parauenture thou offende. 21   And if in the myddel of manye thou seete, rathere than thei ne strecche thou out thin hond; ne rathere aske thou to drinke. 22   Hou suffisaunt is to a ta&yogh;t man a litil wyn; and in sleping thou shalt not trauailen of it, and thou shalt not feelen trauaile. 23   Waking, and colere, and anguysh to an vndiscreet man. 24   Slep of helthe in a scars man; he shal slepe vnto the morutid, and the lif of hym with hym shal deliten. 25   And if constreyned thou were in etyng to myche, ris from the myddel, and spew; and it shal refreshe thee, and thou shalt not bringe to

thi body siknesse. 26   Here me, sone, and dispise thou not me; and in the laste thou shalt fynde my wrdis. 27   In alle thi werkis be thou swift; and alle infirmyte shal not meete with thee. 28   The shynende in loeues `the lippis of manye shul blissen; and the witnessing of the treuthe of hym feithful. 29   In the most wycke bred grucchide the cite; and the witnessing of the wickidnesse of it is verre. 30   Bisi men in wyn wile thou not stiren; forsothe many men outlawide wyn. 31   Fyr proueth hard iren; so wyn drunken in drunkinhed shal vndernyme the hertes of proude men. 32   Euene lif to men wyn in sobrenesse; if thou drinke it mesurably, thou shalt ben sobre. 33   What is the lif that is lassid with wyn? 34   What bigilith the lif? deth. 35   Wyn in myrthe is foormed, not in drunkenhed, fro the bigynnyng. 36   The ful out io&yogh;yng of soule and of herte, wyn mesurably drunken. 37   Helthe is of soule and of body, sobre drink. 38   Wyn myche drunke terring, and wrathe, and manye fallingus maketh. 39   Bitternesse of soule wyn myche drunken. 40   The wilsumnesse of drunkenhed the offensioun of the vnprudent, lassende vertue, and makende woundis. 41   In the feste of wyn vndernyme thou not a ne&yogh;hebore; and dispise thou not hym in the myrthe of it. 42   Wrdis of repref sey thou not to hym; and bere thou not hym doun in a&yogh;ee asking. CAP. XXXII.

1   A gouernour thee thei han sett, wile thou not ben enhauncid; be thou in hem as oon of hem. 2   The cure of hem haue thou, and so bihold; and al thi cure mad out, reste. 3   That thou glade for hem, and the ournement of grace thou take; coroun, and dignete of the congregacioun thou gete. 4   Spec thou more

thur&yogh; birthe; 5   forsothe ther semeth thee ferst the wrd of loouende kunnyng; and lette thou not musik. 6   Where is not heering, heelde thou not out a sermoun; and vncouenabli wile thou not ben enhauncid in thi wisdam. 7   A litil iemme of karbuncle in the ournement of gold; and comparisoun of musikes in the feste of wyn. 8   As in forging of gold signe is of a smaragd, so the noumbre of musikis in myrie and temperat wyn. 9   Here thou beende stille, and for reuerence shal falle to thee good grace. 10   Thou a &yogh;ung ful waxen man, spec in thin owne cause vnnethe, whan nede shul be. 11   If twies thou were askid, haue the hed thin answere. 12   In manye thingus be thou as vnkunnende, and here thou beende stille togidere and sechende. 13   To speken in the myddel of grete men ne bifor take thou; and wher ben olde men, not myche spec thou. 14   Biforn hail shal go leiting, and biforn shamefastnesse shal go grace, and for reuerence shal fallen to thee good grace. 15   And in the hour of rising `tyff thou thee not; ren biforn forsothe first in to thin hous, and there be thou clepid to, and there pleye. 16   And do thi conceyuyngus, and not in giltis, and in proud wrd. 17   Vp on alle these thingus blisse thou the Lord, that made thee, and inwardli drunkinge thee of alle his goodis. 18   Who dredeth God, shal take the doctrine of hym; and who shul wake to hym, shul finde blessing. 19   Who secheth the lawe, shal be fulfild of it; and who aspiendeli doth, shal be sclaundrid in it. 20   Who dreden God, shul finde ri&yogh;twis dom; and ri&yogh;twisnesses as li&yogh;t thei shul teende. 21   A man synnere shal schone

correccioun; and after his wil he shal finde comparisoun. 22   A man of counseil shal not distro&yogh;e vnderstonding; and an alien and a proud shal not ful dreden drede. 23   Also aftir that he dide with hym withoute counseil, and in his infolewingis he shal ben vndernome. 24   Sone, withoute counseil no thing do thou; and aftir thi deede thou shalt not othynke. 25   In the weie of falling go thou not, and thou shalt not offende a&yogh;en stones. Ne betake thou thee to a trauailous wey, ne poote thou to thi soule sclaunder; 26   and of thi sones be war, and of thi homli men tac heed. 27   In al thi werk leeue of the feith of thi soule; this is forsothe the keping of the hestes. 28   Who leeueth to God, taketh heed to the hestes; and who trosteth in hym, shal not be lassid. CAP. XXXIII.

1   To the dredende God eueles shul not meete; but in tempting God shal kepen hym, and delyueren hym fro euelys. 2   The wise man hateth not hestes, and ri&yogh;twisnesses; and he shal not ben hurtlid, as in the tempest of a ship. 3   A weel felende man leeueth to the lawe of God, and the lawe feithful to hym. 4   Who the asking maketh open, shal greithe a wrd; and so louli pre&yogh;ende he shal be ful out herd, and he shal kepe disciplyne, and thanne he shal answern. 5   The entrailes of a fool as the whel of a carre, and as a turnende ful axtre the thenkingus of hym. 6   An hors courser, so and a frend priue scornere, vnder eche man vpon sittende ne&yogh;eth. 7   Whi dai the dai ouercometh, and eft li&yogh;t the li&yogh;t, and &yogh;er the &yogh;er, sunne the sunne? 8   Of the kunnyng of the Lord

thei ben seuered, the sunne mad, and kepende the heste; bi the wisdam of God thei ben deuydid. 9   And he shal chaunge the tymes and the feste da&yogh;es of hem, and in hem the feste da&yogh;es thei haleweden at the hour. 10   Of hem God enhauncede and magnefiede; and of them he putte in to the noumbre of da&yogh;es and &yogh;eres; and alle men of the soil, and of the erthe, wherof Adam was foormed. 11   In the multitude of the disciplyne of the Lord he seuerede them, and chaungide the weies of them. 12   And of them he blissede, and enhauncede; and of hem he halewide, and to hymself he presentede; of hem he curside, and mekede, and turnede them to the seueryng of hem. 13   As the cley of the crockere in the hond of hym, to foormen and to disposen it, 14   alle the weies of it aftir his disposicioun; so a man in his hond that made hym; and he shal &yogh;eelde to them aftir his dom. 15   A&yogh;en euel is good, and a&yogh;en lif deth; so and a&yogh;en the ri&yogh;twis man the synnere. And so bihold in to alle the werkis of the he&yogh;est; two a&yogh;en two, oon a&yogh;en oon. 16   And I the laste wakide, and as that gedereth clustris, aftir the grape kutteres. 17   In the blessing of God and I myself hopede; and as he that grapes kutteth, I fulfilde presse. 18   Beholdeth, for not to me alone I trauailede, but to alle men sechende out disciplyne. 19   Hereth me, &yogh;ee grete men, and alle puples; and &yogh;ee gouernoures of the chirche, with eres parceyueth. 20   To sone, and wif, brother, and frend, &yogh;if thou not power vp on thee in thi lif; and &yogh;yue thou not to an other thi possessioun, lest it othinke thee, and thou louli pre&yogh;e for hem. 21   Whil &yogh;it thou art aboue, `or lyuest, and brethest, shal not chaungen thee alle flesh. 22   Betere is forsothe, that thi sonus thee pre&yogh;en, than thee to beholden in to

the hondus of thi sonus. 23   In alle thi werkes beforn passende be thou; 24   ne &yogh;yue thou a wem in to thi glorie. In the dai of the ful endyng of the da&yogh;es of thi lif, and in tyme of thi deth dele thin eritage. 25   Metes, and &yogh;erde, and berthene to an asse; bred, and disciplyne, and werk to a seruaunt. 26   He werketh in disciplyne, and the largid hond to hym secheth `to resten, and secheth fredam. 27   &YOGH;oc and brydil reyne crooken the harde necke; and the seruaunt bowen besy werkis. 28   To the euel willi seruaunt tormenting and gyues; put hym into werching, lest he be voide; 29   forsothe myche malice idilnesse ta&yogh;te. 30   In werk set hym, so forsothe it semeth hym; that if he here not, bowe hym with gyues, and make thou not large `vp on alle flesh, but with oute dom noo thing do thou heuy. 31   If ther is to thee a feithful seruaunt, be he to thee as thi lif; as a brother so trete hym, for in blod of lif thou bo&yogh;tyst hym. 32   If thou `schalt hurte hym vnri&yogh;twisly, in to fli&yogh;t he shal ben turned; 33   and if enhauncende he schal go awei, whom schalt thou seche, and in what weie thou schalt seche hym, thou wost not. CAP. XXXIV.

1   Veyn hope and lesyng to the mys felende man; and vnprudent men enhaunsun sweuenes. 2   As he that caccheth shadewe, and pursueth wynd, so and he that taketh heed to the seen lesingus. 3   Aftir that thing the si&yogh;te of sweuenes; beforn the face of a man the licnesse of an other man. 4   Of the vnclene what shal ben clensid, and of the liere what soth shal ben seid? 5   Deuynyng of errour, and `diuynyng bi chiteryng of briddis, lesingus, `or false, and sweuenes of euel doynge

men is vanyte. 6   And as of the womman berende child, thin herte suffreth fantasies; no but of the he&yogh;est were sent out visityng ne &yogh;yue thou in hem thin herte. 7   Manye men forsothe sweuenus maden to erre, and fellen awei hopende in hem. 8   With oute lesing shal be ful endid the wrd of the lawe; and wisdam in the mouth of the feithful shal be maad pleyn. 9   Who is not temptid, what kan he? A man in manye thingus expert, shall thenke manye thingus; and he that manye thingus lernede, shal tellen out vndurstonding. 10   Who is not expert, fewe thingus knowith; who forsothe in manye thingus is a fool, shal multeplien malice. 11   Who is not temptid, what maner thingus kan he? Who is vnplauntid, shal abound shreudenesse. 12   Manye thingus I sa&yogh; in tellinge out, and manye customes of wrdis. 13   Other while vn to the deth I was in perile, bi the enchesoun of these; and I was delyuered bi the grace of God. 14   The spirit of men dredende God is so&yogh;t, and in respyt of `hym it shal be blissid. 15   The hope forsothe of them in to the sauende hem; and the e&yogh;en of the Lord in to men loouende hym. 16   Who dredeth God, no thing shal quaken, and he shal not inwardly dreden; for he is his hope. 17   Of the dredende the Lord, blissid is his soule. 18   To whom biholdith he, and who is the strengthe of hym? 19   The e&yogh;en of the Lord vp on men dredende hym. Defendere of my&yogh;t, firmament of vertue, coueryng of brennyng, and the hilet, `or the schadowyng place, of the mydday; louli pre&yogh;ende of gilte, 20   and helpe of falling, enhauncende the soule, and li&yogh;tnende e&yogh;en, &yogh;yuende helthe, and lif, and blessing. 21   Of the offrere of the wicke thing the offring is defoulid; and

the scornyng of vnri&yogh;twis men ben not wel plesende. 22   The Lord alone to men sustenende hym in the weie of treuthe, and of ri&yogh;twisnesse. 23   The &yogh;iftus of wicke men proueth not the he&yogh;est, ne biholdeth in the offringus of wicke men, ne in the multitude of sacrifises of hem he shal han mercy to synnes. 24   Who offreth sacrifises of the substaunce of pore men, as he that sleth to sacrifise the sone in the si&yogh;te of his fader. 25   The bred of nedy men is the liff of the pore; who bigilith hym, is a man of blod. 26   Who doth awei in swot bred, as he that sleth his ne&yogh;hebore. 27   That shedeth blod, and that doth gile to the hirid man, ben brethern. 28   Oon bildende, and oon distro&yogh;ende; what profiteth to them, no but trauaile? 29   Oon pre&yogh;ende, and oon cursende; whos vois shal the Lord ful out heren? 30   That is baptisid fro the deade, and eft towcheth the deade, what profitith his washing? 31   So a man that fasteth in his synnes, and eft the same thingus doende, what profitith he mekende hymself? the orisoun of hym who shal ful out heren? CAP. XXXV.

1   Who kepeth the wrd, multeplieth orisoun. 2   Holsum sacrifise is to taken heed to the maundemens, and to gon awei fro alle wickidnesse. 3   And to sacrifien plesing of sacrifise vp on vnri&yogh;twisnesses, and louli pre&yogh;ing for synnes, to gon awei fro vnri&yogh;twisnesse. 4   He shal &yogh;elde grace, that offreth tried flour; and that doth mercy, offreth sacrifise. 5   `Weel plesid thing is to the Lord, to gon awei fro wickidnesse; and louly pre&yogh;ing to gon awei fro vnri&yogh;twisnesse. 6   Thou shalt not aperen bifor

the si&yogh;te of the Lord voide; 7   forsothe alle these thingus for the hestus of God ben mad. 8   The offring of the ri&yogh;twis fatteth the auter; and the smel of swotenesse is in the si&yogh;te of the he&yogh;est. 9   The sacrifise of the ri&yogh;twis is acceptid, and the mynde of hym the Lord shal not for&yogh;ete. 10   With good wil &yogh;elde glorie to God, and lasse thou not the cheef frutis of thi hondis. 11   In alle &yogh;ifte glad mac thi chere, and in ful out io&yogh;ing halewe thi dymes. 12   &YOGH;if to the he&yogh;este aftir the free &yogh;ifte of hym; and in good e&yogh;e mac thou the finding of thin hondis. 13   For &yogh;eldende is the Lord, and seuensithe as myche he shal &yogh;elde to thee. 14   Wile thou not offren shreude &yogh;iftus; forsothe he shal not taken hem. 15   And wile thou not biholden the vnri&yogh;twis sacrifise; for the Lord is domes man, and ther is not anent hym glorie of persone. 16   The Lord shal not taken a persone in to pore; and the pre&yogh;ing of the hurt he shall ful out heren. 17   He shal not dispise the pre&yogh;eres of the faderles child, ne the widewe, yff she heelde out the speche of weiling. 18   Whether not the teres of the widewe at the cheeke gon doun, and the outcry of hir vp on the ledyng doun of hem? 19   Fro the cheke forsothe thei ste&yogh;en vp to heuen, and the Lord herere shal not delyten in them. 20   Who honourith God in liking, shal ben resseyued; and the lowe pre&yogh;yng of hym vnto the cloudis shal ne&yogh;he. 21   The orisoun of the meekende hymself shal persen cloudis, and to the tyme that it ne&yogh;he, he shal not be coumfortid, and not gon awei, to the tyme that the he&yogh;est beholde. 22   And the Lord shal not longen awey, but demen ri&yogh;twis men, and don dom; and the strengeste shal not han in hem pacience, that he to-truble the rigge of hem. 23   And to Jentiles he shal &yogh;elde veniaunce, to the tyme that he take awei the plente of proude men, and the kingus dignetees of wicke men he totruble;

24   to the tyme that he &yogh;elde to men aftir ther deedus, and aftir the werkis of Adam, and aftir the presumpcioun of hym; 25   to the tyme that he deme the dom of his folc, and `he schal delite ri&yogh;twis men with his mercy. 26   Fair the mercy of God in tyme of tribulacioun, as a cloude of reyn in tyme of dro&yogh;te. CAP. XXXVI.

1   Haue mercy of vs, God of alle thingus; and behold vs, and shew to vs the ly&yogh;t of thi mercy doyngus. 2   And send in thi drede vp on Jentilis, that so&yogh;ten not thee, that thei knowe for ther is not God, but thou; that thei telle out thi grete wrthi deedis. 3   Rere vp thin hond vp on aliene folkis, that they see thi my&yogh;t. 4   As forsothe in the si&yogh;te of hem thou art halewed in vs, so in oure si&yogh;te thou shalt be magnefied in hem; 5   that thei knowe thee, as and wee han knowe, for ther is noon other God, saue thee, Lord. 6   Ennewe thou signes, and chaunge merueiles; 7   glorifie the hond, and the ri&yogh;t arm. 8   Rere vp wodnesse, and heeld oute wrathe; enhaunce the aduersarie, 9   and tormente the enemye. 10   Hee&yogh;e thou the tyme, and haue mynde of the ende, that thei telle out thi merueilis. 11   In the ire of flaume be he deuoured that is saued; and that werst treten thi folc, finde thei perdicioun. 12   To-brose thou the hed of princes, and of the enemy, seiende, Ther is noon other, saue wee. 13   Gedere togidere alle the lynagis of Jacob, and knowe thei for ther is no God but thou, that thei telle out thi grete wrthi deedis; and thou shalt eritage them, as fro the bigynnyng. 14   Haue mercy to thi puple, vp on the whiche is inwardli clepid thi name; and to Irael, whom thou hast euened to thi first goten. 15   Haue mercy to Jerusalem, the cyte of thin halewing, the cite of thi reste. 16   Fulfil Syon with thin vntellable

vertues, and thi puple with thi glorie. 17   &YOGH;if witnessing, for fro the bigynnyng thi creatures thei ben; and rere the pre&yogh;eres, that the rathere profetes speeken in thi name. 18   &YOGH;if meede, Lord, to men sustenende thee, that thi profetes feithful bee founden; and heere thou the orisoun of thi seruauns. 19   Aftir the blissing of Aron &yogh;if to thi puple, and ri&yogh;te reule vs in to the weie of ri&yogh;twisnes; that thei alle wite, that dwellen the erthe, for thou art God, biholdere of worldis. 20   Eche mete the wombe schal ete, and ther is mete betere than mete. 21   Cheekes touchen ne&yogh;h the mete, and the mysfelende herte lesyng wrdys. 22   The shreude herte shal &yogh;yue sorewy slouthe, and the wise man shal withstonde to it. 23   The womman schal taken eche male child, and ther is a do&yogh;ter betere than the sone. 24   The fairnesse of a womman gladith out the face of hyr man, and ouer alle lust of the man she shal `ouer leden desyr. 25   If ther is tunge of curing, ther is and of swaging, and of mercy; the man of hir is not aftir the sonus of men. 26   Who weldith a good womman, bigyneth possessioun; helpe aftir hym she is, and a piler as reste. 27   Wher is not hegge, shal ben to-broken the possessioun; and where is not a womman, weileth the nedy. 28   To whom byleeueth he that hath not a nest, and bowing doun wher euere shal ben derk, as a gird vp thef, lepende out fro cite in to cyte? CAP. XXXVII.

1   Eche frend shal seyn, And I frenshipe couplede; but ther is a frend, bi only name a frend. Whether not sorewe is in vnto deth? 2   A mete felawe forsothe and a frend to enemyte shul ben turned. 3   O! most shreude presumpcioun, whennus

art thou foormed to coueren drie malice, and the treccherie of it? 4   The mete felawe to the frend shal be merie in likingus, and in the dai of tribulacioun he shal be aduersarie. 5   A mete felawe to the frend sorewith with, bi cause of the wombe; and a&yogh;en the enemy he shal take sheld. 6   For&yogh;ete thou not of thi frend in thin inwit, and be thou not vnmyndeful of hym in thi werkis. 7   Wile thou nott counselen with thi wyues fader; and fro men enuyende to thee hyd counseil. 8   Eche counseiler discouereth counseil, but ther is a counseiler in hymself. 9   Fro an euel counseiler kep thi soule; first wite thou, what be the nede of hym, and what he in his inwit shal thenken; 10   lest par auenture he poote a pol, `or a stake, in to the erthe, and sey to thee, 11   Good is thi wey, and stonde a&yogh;eenward, to seen what falle to thee. 12   With an vnreligious man trete of hoolynesse, and with the vnri&yogh;twis man of ri&yogh;twisnesse, and with a womman of tho thingus that she enuyeth. Wile thou not counseilen with hym that hath thee suspect, and fro men enuyende to thee, hid thou thi counseil. With the dredful trete of bataile, and with the marchaund, `of castinge out of schyppe; with the biere, of silling, with the enuyous man, of graces to be don; 13   with the vnpitouse, of pite, with the vnhonest, of honeste, with the werkere, of alle werk; 14   with the annuel werker, of the ful endyng of the &yogh;er, with the slowe seruaunt, of myche werchyng. Tac thou not heed to `these in al counseil, 15   but with an hoely man be thou bysy, whom euere thou shalt knowe kepende the drede of God, 16   whos

soule is aftir thi soule. Who euere shal wageren in dercnesses, shal not togidere sorewen to thee. 17   And herte of good counseil sette thou with thee; ther is not forsothe to thee other more than it. 18   The soule of an hoely man telleth out other while sothis; more than seuene lookeres aboute sittende in to hei&yogh;te to beholden. 19   And in alle these thingus louliche pre&yogh;e the he&yogh;est, that he ri&yogh;t reule in treuthe thi wey. 20   Biforn alle werkes a verre wrd go bifor thee; and biforn alle deede stable counseil. 21   A shreude wrd `schal chaunge the herte, of the whiche foure partis springen; good and euel, lif and deth; and the lordshipere of these is a bysy tunge. 22   A wys man many men ta&yogh;te, and to his soule is sweete. 23   Who sofistically speketh, is hateful; in alle thing he shal ben bigilid. 24   Forsothe ther is not &yogh;yuen to hym of the Lord grace, forsothe he is bigilid of alle wisdom. 25   Ther is a wys man wiys to his soule, and the frutes of the wit of hym ben preisable. 26   A wis man techeth his folc, and the frutis of the wit of hym ben feithful. 27   A wys man shal be fulfild with blissingus, and men seende hym shul preisen. 28   The lif of a man in the noumbre of da&yogh;es; the da&yogh;es forsothe of Irael ben vnnoumbreable. 29   A wis man in puple shal eritagen wrshipe, and the name of hym shal ben lyuende in to withoute ende. 30   Sone, in thi lif tempte thou thi soule; and if it were shreude, &yogh;if thou not to it power; forsothe not alle thingus to alle speden, 31    and ne to eche soule eche kinde pleseth. 32   Wile thou not ben gredy in alle plenteuous mete &yogh;yuyng, and heeld thee not out vpon eche mete. 33   In manye forsothe metus shal ben infirmyte, and gredynesse shal ne&yogh;hen vnto colre. 34   For glotonye manye men dieden; who forsothe is abstenent, shal eechen lijf.

CAP. XXXVIII.

1   Honoure the leche, for nede; forsothe hym foormede the he&yogh;est. 2   Of God forsothe is alle leching; and fro the king he schal take &yogh;yuyng. 3   The disciplyne of the leche shal enhaunse the hed of hym; and in the si&yogh;te of grete men he shal ben preisid. 4   The he&yogh;est foormede of the erthe medycyne; and the prudent man shal not agrisen it. 5   Whether not of the tree is mad sweete the bitter water? 6   At the knowleching of men the vertue of them; and the he&yogh;est &yogh;af to men kunnyng, to be wrshipid in his merueiles. 7   In these thingus he curende shal swage sorewen, and the oynement makere shal make pymentis of swotenesse, and enoyntingus he shal make of helthe; and the werkis of hym shul not ben ful endid. 8   The pes forsothe of God vpon the face of the erthe. 9   My sone, in thin infirmytee ne dispise thou thiself; but prei the Lord, and he shal cure thee. 10   Turne awei fro gilte, and dresse thou the hondis, and fro alle gilte clense thin herte. 11   &YOGH;if swetnesse, and mynde of tried flour, and mac fat the offring; and &yogh;if stede to the leche. 12   Forsothe the Lord foormede hym, and go he not awei fro thee; for his werkis ben nedeful. 13   Ther is forsothe tyme, whan thou renne in to the hondis of hem. 14   Thei forsothe the Lord shul louly prei&yogh;en, that he ri&yogh;t reule the reste of hem, and helthe for ther conuersacioun. 15   Who gilteth in his si&yogh;t, that made hym, shal falle in to the hondus of the leche. 16   Sone, in to the deade bringe forth teris, and as harde thingus suffrid bigyn to wepe; and aftir dom touche his body, and dispise thou not the biriyng of hym. 17   For the acusing forsothe bitterly ber weilyng `of hym o dai; and tac coumfort for heuynesse. 18   And do weilyng after the deseruyng of hym o dai, or two,

for bacbiting. 19   Of sorewi slouthe forsothe hee&yogh;eth deth, and couereth vertue; and sorewi slouthe of herte boowith the nol. 20   In ledyng awei dwellith stille sorewy slouthe; and the substaunce of the helpeles aftir the herte of hym. 21   Ne &yogh;yue thou thin herte in sorewy slouthe, but putte it awei fro thee; and haue mynde of the laste thingus, and wile thou not for&yogh;eten. 22   Ne forsothe ther is conuersacioun, and to this thou schalt no thing profiten; and thi self thou shalt werst treten. 23   Myndeful be thou of my dom; so forsothe it shal ben and thin, to me &yogh;istay, and to thee to day. 24   In the reste of the deade mac to resten the mynde of hym; and coumforte hym in the goyng out of his spirit. 25   Wisdom wrijt in tyme of voydenesse; and who is lassid in deede, wisdom shal parceyue; for with wisdom he shal be fulfild. 26   Who holdeth the plo&yogh;, and who glorieth in the spere, with the pricke stereth the oxen, and woneth in the werkis of hem; and the telling of hym in the sonus of booles. 27   His herte he shal &yogh;yue `to ben turned the forewis; and the wach of it in the fatnesse of kyn. 28   So eche smythe, and cheef werkere, the whyche the ny&yogh;t as the day ouerdoth; the whyche grauede grauen broochis, and the bysynesse of hym varieth the peynture; his herte he shal &yogh;yue into the licnesse of peynture, and his waking parformeth the werk. 29   So the iren smyth sittende biside the stithie, and biholdende the werk of the iren, the humour of the fyr brenneth his flesh; and in the hete of the furneys he trauailith with stryif. 30   The vois of hamer ennewith his ere; and a&yogh;en the licnesse of the vessel the e&yogh;e of hym. 31   His herte he shal &yogh;yue in to the ful ending of the werkis; and his waking shal enourne the inparfitnesse. 32   So the crockere sittende at his werk, turnende with his feet the whel, the

whiche in besynesse is put euermor for his werk; and with oute noumbre is al the werking of hym. 33   In his arm he shal foormen the cley; and bifoorn his feet he shal crooken his vertue. 34   His herte he shal &yogh;yue, that he ful ende the daubing; and his waking shal clense the furneys. 35   Alle these in ther hondis hopeden; and echon in ther `craft is wys. 36   Withoute alle these `is not bild vp the cyte. 37   And thei shul not wonen in, ne gon in; and in to the chirche thei shul not ouerlepen. 38   Vpon the sete of the domys man thei shul not sitte; and the testament of dom thei shul not vnderstonde, ne maken opene disciplyne, and dom; and in parablis thei shul not ben founde. 39   But the creature of spirituel tyme thei shul confermen, and the lowe pre&yogh;ing of hem in werking of craft; leeuende to ther soule, and togidere sechende in the lawe of the he&yogh;este. CAP. XXXIX.

1   The wisdom of alle olde men the wise man shal ful out sechen; and in profetes he shal take heed. 2   The telling of the nemned men he shal kepen; and in to the slei&yogh;tes of parables togidere he shal entre. 3   The hid thingus of prouerbis he shal sechen out; and in the hid thingus of parables he shal dwelle. 4   In the myddel of grete men he shal mynystre; and in the si&yogh;t of the chef domes man he shal apere. 5   In to the lond of alien folkys he shal passe; goodus forsothe and euelis in alle thingus he shal asa&yogh;e. 6   His herte he shal take to wake the morutid to the Lord that made hym; and in the si&yogh;t of the he&yogh;este he shal louli pre&yogh;en. 7   He shal opene his mouth in orisoun; and for his giltus he shal louli pre&yogh;e. 8   If forsothe

the grete Lord wile, with the spirit of vnderstondyng he shal fulfille hym. 9   And he, as reynes, shal sende the speches of his wisdam; and in orisoun he shal knouleche to the Lord. 10   And he shal ri&yogh;t reule the counseil `of hym, and dyscyplyne; and in his hid thingus shal counseilen. 11   He open shal make the disciplyne of his lore; and in the lawe of the testament of the Lord he shal glorien. 12   Manye shal preise the wisdam of hym; and vnto the world he shal not be don awey. 13   The memorie of hym shal not go awei; and the name of hym shal be so&yogh;t fro ieneracioun in to ieneracioun. 14   His wisdam folkis of kynde shul telle out; and his preising the chirche shal shewen out. 15   If his name schal abijde stille, he shal leue more than a thousend; and if he shul resten, it shal profiten to hym. 16   &YOGH;it I shal counseilen that I telle out, as with wodnesse forsothe I am fulfild; 17   and in voys he seith, Al aboute hereth me, &yogh;ee Goddus frutes, and as roses plauntid vpon ryueres of watris, maketh frutes. 18   As Liban, smel of swotenesse haue &yogh;ee. 19   Floureth floures, as lilie; &yogh;yueth smel, and brauncheth in to grace. And preisith togidere the song dite; and blisseth the Lord in his werkis. 20   &YOGH;yueth to his name gret doyng, and knoulecheth to hym in the vois of &yogh;oure lippis, in song dites of lippis, and in harpis; and thus &yogh;ee shuln seyn in knoulechyng, 21   The werkis of the Lord, alle thei ben ful goode. 22   In the wrd forsothe of hym stood the water as an hep; and in the wrd of the mouth of hym as resceyuyng places of watris. 23   For in the heste of hym a pes makere is mad; and ther is not lassyng in the helthe of hym. 24   The werkes of alle flesh biforn hym; and ther is not any thing hid fro

his e&yogh;en. 25   Fro the world vnto the world he biholdith; and no thing is merueilous in the si&yogh;t of hym. 26   Ther is not to sey, What is this, or, What is that? forsothe alle thingus in ther tyme shul be so&yogh;t. 27   The blissing of hym as a flod shal flowe; 28   and as the vnyuersel flod drunkede the erthe, so the wrathe of hym shal eritagen Jentyles, that so&yogh;ten hym not out. 29   What manere he turnede watris in to dro&yogh;te, and the erthe is dried, and the weies of it to the weies of them ben forth stra&yogh;t; so to synneres offenciouns in the wrathe of hym. 30   Goodis to goode men ben foormed fro the bigynnyng; so to most wicke men goodis and eueles. 31   The bygynnyng of necessarie thing to the lif of men, water, fyr, iren, and salt, and mylc, and bred of tried flour, and hony, and clustre of grape, and oile, and clothing. 32   Alle these to hoely men in to goodus; so and to vnpitous men and to synneres in to eueles thei shul ben al turned. 33   Ther ben spirites that to veniaunce ben formed; and in ther wodnesse thei confermeden ther tormentes. 34   And in tyme of ful endyng thei shul heelden out vertue; and the wodnesse of hym that made them thei shul shende. 35   Fyr, hail, hungir, and deth; alle these to veniaunce ben foormed; 36   teeth of bestes, and scorpiouns, and serpentes, and two bitende swerd veniende in to outlawyng vnpitous men. 37   In the hestes of hym thei shul plenteuously eten, and vpon erthe in nede thei shul be greithid; and in ther tymes thei shul not passe biside a wrd. 38   Therfore fro the bygynnyng I am confermede; and I counseilede, and tho&yogh;te, and scrites lafte. 39   Alle the werkes of the Lord good; and ech werk in his hour shal vndermynestren. 40   Ther is not to

seyn, this than that is werse; forsothe alle thingus in ther tyme shul be proued. 41   And now in alle herte and mouth preyseth togidere, and blisseth the name of the Lord. CAP. XL.

1   Gret ocupacioun is shape to alle men, and a greuous &yogh;oc vp on the sonus of Adam, fro the day of the goyng out fro the wombe of the moder of hem, vn to the day of the biriyng in to the moder of alle thingus. 2   The tho&yogh;tis of hem, and the dredes of herte, the fyndyngus of abidyng, and the da&yogh;es of endynge; 3   fro the cheef sittere `vp on the glorious sete, vn to the meekid vn to the erthe and asken; 4   fro hym that vseth blu silc, and berth the croune, vn to hym that is couered with raw lynen, wodnesse, enuye, noyse, wagering, and dred of deth, wrathefulnesse stedefastly bidende, and striuyng; 5   and in tyme of repast in the bed, slep of ny&yogh;t chaungeth his kunnyng. 6   Litil forsothe as no&yogh;t in reste; and of hym in slepes as in the day respit. 7   He ys disturbid in the si&yogh;te of his herte, as he that is scapid in the dai of bataile. In the tyme of his helthe he ros out, and wndrende at no drede, with alle flesh, 8   fro man vn to beste, and vp on the synneres seuenfold. 9   To these thingus, deth, blod, strif, and two bitende swerd, opressiouns, hungres, and totreding, and scourges; 10   vp on wickid men ben formed alle these thingus, and for hem was mad the ieneral flod. 11   Alle thingus forsothe that of the erthe ben, in to erthe shul ben turned; and alle watris in to the se shuln be turned. 12   Alle &yogh;ifte and wickidnesse shal ben don awey; and feith in to world shal stonde. 13   The substaunces of vnri&yogh;twis men as a flod

shul ben dried; and as gret thunder in reyn thei shul sowne ful. 14   As the ri&yogh;twis man in openyng his hondis shal gladen; so the lawe brekeres in the ende shuln wanen awey. 15   The sonus sonus of vnpitous men shul nott multeplie braunches; and vnclene rootes vp on the cop of the ston sounen. 16   Vp on eche water grenenesse; and at the hour of the flod biforn al the hey it shal be pullid vp. 17   Grace as paradis in blissingus; and mercy in to the world abit stille. 18   The lif of the suffisaunt werkere to hymself shal be mad swete; and in it thou shalt fynde tresor. 19   The bilding vp of the cite shal confermen the name; and ouer this an vndefoulid womman shal be countid. 20   Wyn and melodye gladen the herte; and ouer either the loouyng of wisdam. 21   Trumpes and sautre maken swete melody; and ouer eithir the swete tunge. 22   Grace and fairnesse the e&yogh;e shal desyren; and ouer these grene tilthis. 23   A frend and a mete felawe in tyme comende togidere; and ouer either a womman with a man. 24   Brethern in to help in tyme of tribulacioun; and ouer them mercy shal delyueren. 25   Gold and siluer, and setting of feet; and ouer either counseil wel plesid. 26   Facultes and vertues enhauncen the herte; and ouer these the drede of the Lord. 27   Ther is not in the drede of the Lord lassing; and ther is not in it to seche helpe. 28   The drede of the Lord as paradis of blessing; and ouer alle glorie thei couereden it. 29   Sone, in the tyme of thi lif ne nede thou; betere is to dyen, than to neden. 30   A man biholdende in to an other mannes bord, the lif of hym is nott in the thenking of liflode; forsothe he nursheth his lif with other mennus metes. 31   A man forsothe disciplyned

and ta&yogh;t, shal kepe hymself. 32   In the mouth of the vnprudent shal be maad myseise; and in the wombe of hym fyr shal brenne. CAP. XLI.

1   O! deth, hou bitter is thi mynde to an vnri&yogh;twis man, and hauende pes in his substaunces; 2   to a quyete man, and whos weies ben ri&yogh;t stra&yogh;t in alle thingus, and &yogh;it my&yogh;ti to taken mete. 3   O! deth, good is thi dom to a man nedy, and that is lassid in strengthe, 4   failende thur&yogh; age, and to whom of alle thingus is cure, and to the vnbeleeueful, that leeseth wisdam. 5   Wile thou not dreden the dom of deth; haue mynde what biforn thee weren, and what vp on ben to come to thee; this dom fro the Lord to alle flesh. 6   And that shuln ouercomen to thee in the wel plesid thing of the he&yogh;est; whether ten, or an hundred, or a thousend &yogh;er. 7   Forsothe ther is not in helle acusing of lif. 8   The sonus of abhominaciouns ben mad the sonus of synneres; and that wonen biside the housis of vnpitous men. 9   The eritage of the sonus of synneres shal pershen; and with the sed of hem the besynesse of repref. 10   Of the vnpitouse fader pleynen, `or weilen, sonus, for for hym thei ben in repref. 11   Wo to &yogh;ou, vnpitous men, that han forsaken the lawe of the he&yogh;est Lord. 12   And if &yogh;ee shul ben born, in cursing &yogh;ee shul ben born; and if &yogh;ee shul dien, in cursing shal be &yogh;oure part. 13   Alle thingus that of the erthe ben, in to erthe shul ben turned; so vnpitouse men fro cursing in to perdicioun. 14   The weylyng of men in the body of hem; the name forsothe of vnpitous men shal ben don awey. 15   Cure haue thou of a good name; that forsothe more shal abide stille with

thee, than a thousend grete tresores and precious. 16   Of good lif the noumbre of da&yogh;es; forsothe good name shal abide stille in to the spirituel world. 17   Disciplyne in pes kepeth, &yogh;ee sonus; hid forsothe wisdam, and tresor vnseen, what profit in euere either? 18   Betere is a man that hidith hys folie, than a man that hidith his wisdam. 19   `Ner the latere turneth a&yogh;een in these thingus that gon out of my mouth. 20   Forsothe it is not good to waiten aboute, `or to kepen, alle vnreuerence, and not alle thingus in alle plesen in feith. 21   Shame &yogh;ee of the fader, and of the moder, of fornycacioun; and fro the cheef sittere, and of the my&yogh;ty, 22   of lesyng; and of the prince, and of the domes man, of gilte; of the synagoge, and of the folc, of wickidnesse; of felawe, 23   and of frend, of vnri&yogh;twisnesse; 24   and of the place in the whiche thou dwellist, of thefte; of the treuthe of God, and the testament; of sitting doun in loeues, and of the derknyng of the &yogh;oue thing, and of taken; fro men salutende, of stillnesse; 25   fro biholdyng of a fornycarie womman, and fro the turnyng awei of the chere of the cosyn. 26   Ne turne thou awei face fro thi ne&yogh;hebore; and fro taking awei part, and not restoring. 27   Bihold thou not a womman of an other man; and ne enserche thou the hand womman of hym, and stonde thou not at the bed of hir. 28   Bewar of frendus, of wrdus of repref; and whan thou hast &yogh;yue, ne vpbreide thou. CAP. XLII.

1   Ne double thou the sermoun of heering, of the openyng of the hid wrd; and thou shalt ben verrely withoute confusioun, and thou shalt fynde grace in the si&yogh;t of alle men. Ne for alle these thingus be thou confoundid; and ne accepte thou

persone, 2   that thou gilte of the lawe of the he&yogh;est, and of the testament of dom, to iustefien the vnpitouse; 3   of the wrd of felawes, and of weie goeres, and of the &yogh;yuyng of the eritage of frendis; 4   of the euenes of balaunces, and of wei&yogh;tes, of purchasyng of manye thingus, and of fewe; 5   of the corrupcioun of biyng, and of marchaundis, and of myche disciplyne of sonus; and of the werst seruaunt, to make the side to bleden. 6   Vp on a shreude womman good is a signe. 7   Where ben many hondis, close thou; and what euere thou shalt take, `noumbre thou, and peise; the &yogh;yuen thing forsothe, and the taken, al diskryue, `or wryte. 8   Of the disciplyne of the mysfelende, and of the fool, and of the elderes, thatt ben demed, of the &yogh;unge waxen men; and thou shalt ben lerned in alle thingus, and prouable in the si&yogh;te of alle men. 9   The do&yogh;ter of the fader is hid, the wache and the bysynesse of hir shal don awey slep; lest par auenture in hir &yogh;unge waxen age auoutresse she be mad, and with a man dwellende, hatefull she be mad; 10   lest any tyme she be pollutid in hir maydenhed, and in hir fader keping she be founde with child; lest par auenture with hir man dwellende, she trespasse, or certus bareyn she be mad. 11   Vp on a leccherous do&yogh;tir set warde, lest any tyme she make thee in to repref to comen to thin enemys, of bacbiting in the citee, and of casting awey of the puple; and she confounde thee in the multitude of the puple. 12   To alle men wile thou not `taken heed in the fairnesse; and in the myddel of wymmen wile thou not dwellen. 13   Forsothe of clothis cometh the mo&yogh;he, and of a womman the wickidnesse of a man. 14   Betere forsothe is the wickidnesse of a man, than a womman doende benefet,

and a womman confoundende in to repref. 15   Myndeful be `Y shal therfore of the werkes of the Lord; and which I sa&yogh;, I shal shewen out, in the wrdis of the Lord, his werkus. 16   The sunne shynende thur&yogh; alle thingus biheeld; and of the glorie of the Lord ful is his werk. 17   Whether not the Lord made seyntes to tellen out alle his merueiles, the whiche the Lord almy&yogh;ty shal confermen stable in his glorie? 18   The depthe of the se, and the herte of men he shal enserchen; and in the `sly&yogh;e wit, or gile, of hem he shal out thenke. 19   The Lord forsothe kne&yogh; al kunnyng, and beheeld in to the tocne of the spiritueell world; shewende out that ben passid, and that ben ouer to come; openende the steppis of hid thingus. 20   And ther passeth not biside hym any thenking, and any wrd hidde not it self fro hym. 21   He made faire the grete wrthi werkes of his wisdam, the whiche is biforn the world, and vnto the world; ne it is echid, 22   ne it is lassid, and it nedeth not the counseil of any man. 23   Hou desirable ben alle the werkes of hym, and as a sparcle that is, to beholden. 24   Alle these thingus lyuen, and dwellen in to the world; and in alle nede alle thyngus obeshen to hym. 25   Alle thingus double, oon a&yogh;en oon; and he made not any thing to failen. Of euery thing he shal conferme the goodus; and who shal be fulfild, seende the glorie of hym, and who witende shal conferme the strengthe of hym? CAP. XLIII.

1   The firmament of the hei&yogh;te is the fairnesse of hym; and the fairnes of heuene in the si&yogh;te of glorie. 2   The sunne in the si&yogh;te, shewende out in the issue, a

merueilous vessel, the werk of the he&yogh;e. 3   In the myddai it brenneth out the erthe; and in the si&yogh;te of his brennyng who shal moun suffre? Kepende the furneys in the werkis of brennyng; 4   thre maner the sunne brennende oute hillis, blastende out fyrene bemes, and a&yogh;een shynende with his bemes, blendeth the e&yogh;en. 5   Gret the Lord, that made it; and in the wrdis of it he hee&yogh;ede the weye. 6   And the moone in alle thingus in his tyme shewende of tyme, and tokne of the spirituel world. 7   Of the moone the signe of the holy day; a li&yogh;t &yogh;yuere that is lassid in the ending. 8   The mooneth aftir his name is waxende, merueylously in to the ful endyng. 9   A vessel of tentes in `hei&yogh;e thingis, in the firmament of heuene shynende gloriously. 10   The fairnesse of heuene glorie of sterres; the Lord li&yogh;tnende the world in hei&yogh;tes. 11   In woordis hoely men shuln stonden at the dom; and thei shul not failen in ther wacches. 12   See the bowe, and blisse hym that made it; ful fair it is in his shynyng. 13   He cumpaside heuene in the circuyt of his glorie; the hondus of the he&yogh;e openeden it. 14   Bi his maundement hee&yogh;ede the sno&yogh;; and he hee&yogh;eth li&yogh;tnyngus to senden out of his dom. 15   Therfore opened ben the tresores, and flowen awey the litle cloudys as briddes. 16   In his mykilnesse he putte the cloudus; and ben to-broke the stones of the hail. 17   In his si&yogh;te shul ben stired togidere the hillis; and in his wil shal spiren, `or brethen, out the south. 18   The vois of his thunder `schal beten the erthe; and the tempest of the north, and the gederyng of wynd. 19   And as a brid puttende doun to sitten sprengeth the sno&yogh;, and as a locust drenchende the descendingus of it. 20   The fairnesse of the shynyng of it the e&yogh;e shal merueilen;

and vp on the weder of hym the herte quaketh. 21   Frost as salt he shal heelden out vp on the erthe; and whil he blowith, he shal be mad as the coppis of the brembil. 22   The cold northerne wind blee&yogh;, and the cristal freesede fro the watyr; vp on al the gederyng of watris it resteth, and as an habirioun, it clothide hymself watris. 23   And it shal deuouren hillis, and brennen out the desert; and quenchen out the greene as fyr. 24   Medecyne of alle thingus in the hee&yogh;yng of the litle cloude; the dew, metende to the comende brennyng, low&yogh; shal maken it. 25   In his wrd the wynd heeld his pes; bi his thenking he shal pese the se; and the Lord Jhesus plauntide yt. 26   Who seilen the se, shuln tellen out the periles of it; and herende with oure eres wee shuln wndre. 27   There ful cleer werkis, and merueilous, and dyuers kindis of no&yogh;ouse bestes, and of alle helpely bestes, and the creature of bestes. 28   For hym is confermed the ende of the wey; and in the wrd of hym alle thingus ben mad togidere. 29   Many thinges we seyn, and failen in wrdis; ful endyng forsothe of wrdis he is. 30   In alle thingus gloriende, to what shul we be my&yogh;ty? he forsothe almy&yogh;ti ouer alle his werkes. 31   Ferful the Lord, and gret hugely; and merueilous the power of hym. 32   Glorefiende the Lord hou myche euere &yogh;ee schul moun, he shal ben ouer wrthi &yogh;it; and ful merueilous the gret doyng of hym. 33   Blissende the Lord, enhaunce &yogh;ee hym as myche as &yogh;ee moun; more forsothe he is than alle preising. 34   Enhauncende hym &yogh;ee shul be fulfild with vertue; ne trauaile &yogh;ee, forsothe &yogh;ee shul not ful comen. 35   Who sa&yogh; hym, and shal tellen out? and who shal magnefien hym, as he is fro the bigynnyng? 36   Many hid thingus ben more

than these; forsothe fewe thingus wee han seen of his werkes. 37   Alle thingus forsothe the Lord made; and to men pitously doende he &yogh;af wisdam. CAP. XLIV.

1   `Preisen we glorious men, and oure fadris and modris in ther generacioun. 2   Myche glorie the Lord dide in his grete doyng. 3   Fro the world ben men lordschipende in ther poweres, grete men in vertue, and bi ther prudence biforn othere mad riche; tellende in profetes the dignete of profetes, 4   and comaundende in the present puple, and bi vertue of prudence of the puple, most hoely wrdis. 5   In ther wisdam sechende the musyk manerys, and tellende the dytes of scriptures. 6   Riche men in vertue, hauende the study of fairnesse, pes makende in ther houses. 7   Alle these in the ieneraciouns of their folc han taken glorie; and in ther da&yogh;es ben had in preisyngus. 8   Who of hem ben born, laften the name of telling the preisingus of hem. 9   And ther ben, of whom is no mynde; thei persheden as that weren not, and ben born as not born; and the sonus of hem with hem. 10   But they men of mercy ben, of whom the pitoustees faileden not; 11   and with the seed of hem dwellide stille good eritage. 12   And the sed of the sonus sonus of hem stod in the testament, 13   and the eritage of the sonus of hem for hem, in to with oute ende dwelleth; the sed of hem, and the glorie of hem, shal not be forsaken. 14   The bodies of hem in pes ben biried; and the name of hem shal lyue in to ieneraciouns and ieneraciouns. 15   The wysdam of hem puples shul tellen; and the preising of hem the chirche shal shewen. 16   Enoc plesede to God, and is translatid in to paradis, that he &yogh;yue wisdam to folc of kynde. 17   Noe is founde a parfit ri&yogh;twis man, and in tyme of wrathe

he is mad recounsylyng. 18   Therfore is laft the remnaunt of the erthe, whan the flod was do. 19   The testaments of the world ben put anent hym, ne `my&yogh;te be do awey with the flod eche flesh. 20   Abraham the grete fader of the multitude of the folc of kinde; and ther is not founde lijc to hym in glorie, that kepte the lawe of the he&yogh;est, and was in testament with hym. 21   In his flesh he made to stonde the testament; and in tempting he is founde feithful. 22   Therfore by oth he &yogh;af to hym glorie in his folc of kinde, to encresen hym as an hilloc of erthe; 23   and to enhauncen `the sed of hym as the sterres, and to eritagen hym fro the se vn to the se, and fro the flod vnto the termes of the erthe. 24   And to Isaac he dide the same maner, for Abraham, his fader. 25   The blissing of alle folc of kinde the Lord &yogh;af to hym; and his testament he confermede vp on the hed of Jacob. 26   He kne&yogh; hym in his blessingus, and &yogh;af to hym the eritage; and he deuydede to hym part in the twelue lynagis. 27   And he kepte to hym sonus of mercy, findende grace in the si&yogh;t of al flesh. CAP. XLV.

1   Moises looued of God and of men; whos mynde is in blessyng. 2   Lic he made hym in the glorie of seyntes, and he magnefiede hym in the drede of enemys; and in his wrdis he cesede hidous wondris. 3   He glorefiede hym in the si&yogh;t of kyngus, and he comaundide to hym biforn al his puple, and he shewede to hym his glorie. 4   In feith and softenesse of hym he made hym hoely; and he chees hym of alle flesh. 5   Forsothe he herde hym, and the vois of hym; and he ladde hym in a cloude. 6   And he &yogh;aff hym an herte to the hestes, and to the lawe of

lif, and of disciplyne; to techen Jacob the testament, and Irael his domes. 7   Hee&yogh; he made Aaron, his brother, and a lic to hym of the lynage of Leuy. 8   He sette to hym an euere lastende testament, and he &yogh;af to hym the presthod of the folc of kinde; and he made hym blisful in glorie. 9   And he girde hym aboute with the girdil of ri&yogh;twisnesse, and he clothide hym the stoele of glorie, and crounede hym in vesselis off vertue. 10   Shon, and breches, and coepe he putte to hym, and girde hym aboute with manye litle goldene belles in cumpas; 11   to &yogh;yue soun in his goyng in, and to make the soun herd in the temple, in to mynde to the sonus of hys folc. 12   An hoely stoele, with gold, and blyu vyolet silc, and sanguyn silc, the werk wouen, thur&yogh; the dom of the wise man, and thur&yogh; the treuthe of the enourned; with fyr red silc foldun a&yogh;een, the werk of the craftis, 13   with precious iemmes figured in binding of gold, and with werk of the lapidarie grauen, in to the mynde, after the noumbre of the lynagis of Irael. 14   A goldene croune vp on the mytre of hym, expressid with the tocne of hoelynesse, the glorie of wrshipe, and the werc of vertue, `to the desir of e&yogh;en enourned. 15   So faire bifor hym weren not `suche thingus, vnto the est. 16   Ther is nott clad with it any alyen, but only alone the sonus of hym, and the cosynes of hym, bi alle tyme. 17   The sacrifices of hym ben ful endid with fyr eche day. 18   Moises fulfilde the hondis of hym, and enoyntede hym with his hoely oile. 19   It is mad to hym an euerelastende testament, and to his sed as the da&yogh;es of heuene, to vsen the offis of presthed, and to han preysyng, and his puple to be glorified in his name. 20   Hym he chees of alle lyuende, to offre sacrifice to God, encens, and good smell, in to mynde, to make pes for his puple. 21   And he &yogh;af to hym power in his

hestes, in testamentes of domes, to teche Jacob witnessingus, and in his lawe li&yogh;t to &yogh;yue to Irael. 22   For a&yogh;en hym stoden alienus, and for enuye ther cumpasseden hym men in desert, that weren with Dathan and Abiron, and the congregacioun of Chore, in to ful wrathe. 23   The Lord sa&yogh;, and it plesede not to hym; and thei ben wastid in the bure of ful wrathe. 24   He made to hem hidous veniaunces, and he wastede them in the flaume of fyr. 25   And he eechede to Aron glorie, and he &yogh;af to hym eritage; and the chef of the frutes of the erthe he deuydide to hym. 26   The bred of hym `in the firste, in to fulnesse he greithede; for whi and the sacrifise of the Lord thei shul ete, the whiche he &yogh;af to hym, and to the sed of hym. 27   `For whi in thel ond he shal not eritagen Jentiles, and part is not to hym in the folc; he is forsothe the part of hym, he is and the eritage. 28   Fynees, the sone of Eleasar, the thridde is in glorie, folowende hym in the drede of God, and to stonde in reuerence of the folc; 29    in goodnesse and gladnesse of his soule he pleside to God of Irael. 30   Therfore he sette to hym a testament of pes, and a prince of seyntes, and of his folc; that ther be to hym and to his sed dignete of presthed, in to with oute ende. 31   And the testament of Dauid, `the king, sone of Jesse, of the lynage of Juda, eritage to hym, and to the sed of hym; that he schuld &yogh;yue wisdam in to oure herte, to demen his folc in ri&yogh;twisnesse, lest were don awei the goodis of hem; and the glorie of hem, in to the folc of hem, he maade euere lastende. CAP. XLVI.

1   Strong in bataile Jesus Nauee, the successour of Moises in profetes, that was gret aftir his name. 2   Most in to the helthe of the chosen men of God, to

fi&yogh;ten out the enemys a&yogh;enrisende, that he shulde han afterward the eritage of Irael. 3   What glorie he hadde in taking vp his hondis, and in castynge a&yogh;en the cites twey bitende swerdis. 4   Who biforn hym so withstod? for whi the enemys the Lord smot. 5   Or not in wrathefulnesse of hym is lettid the sunne, and o dai is mad as two? 6   He inwardli clepede the he&yogh;est, my&yogh;ti in a&yogh;enfi&yogh;ting his enemys on either side; and the grete and hoely God herde hym, in the grete stones of hail of ful gret vertue. 7   A bure he made a&yogh;en the enmyable folc; in the goyng doun he distro&yogh;ede the contrarious; 8   that the Jentilis knowe the my&yogh;t of hym, for a&yogh;en the Lord to fi&yogh;te is not li&yogh;t; and he folowede the my&yogh;ti men bihinde. 9   And in the da&yogh;es of Moisy mercy dide he, and Calef, the sone of Jefone; to stonde a&yogh;en the enemy, and to forfende the folc fro synnes, and to drawen awei the grucching of the malice. 10   And thei two ordeyned fro the perile ben deliuered, fro the noumbre of six hundrid thousend foot men, to bringe them in to the eritage, in to the lond that flowith mylc and hony. 11   And the Lord &yogh;af to Calef strengthe, and vnto eelde abod stille to hym vertue; that he shulde ste&yogh;e in to the he&yogh;e place of the erthe, and the sed of hym heeld the eritage. 12   And alle the sonus of Irael se&yogh;en, for it is good to obeshe to the hoeli God. 13   And alle the iugis bi ther name, of whom the herte is not corrupt, the whiche ben not turned awei fro the Lord; 14   that the mynde of hem be in blessing, and the boenes of hem buriounen fro ther place; 15   and the name of hem abit stille in to with oute ende, the glorie of hoely men abidende stille to the sonus of hem. 16   Samuel, the profete of the Lord, looued of the Lord his God, renewede the empire, and enoyntede princes in his folc. 17   In the lawe of

the Lord he demede the congregacioun, and he sa&yogh; the Lord of Jacob, and in his feith he is proued a profete. 18   And he is knowen in his wrdis feithful, for he sa&yogh; the Lord of li&yogh;t. 19   And he inwardly clepide the almy&yogh;ty Lord, in a&yogh;enfi&yogh;ting the enemys aboute stondende on eche side, in the offring of the man vndefoulid. 20   And the Lord thundrede in fro heuene, in a gret soun his vois he made herd. 21   And he to-trad the princes of Tyres, and alle the dukes of Filisteys. 22   And bifore the tyme of the ende of his lif, and he &yogh;af witnessing of the world, in the si&yogh;t of the Lord, and of Crist; monees and vnto the shon, of alle flesh he toc not; and ther acuside hym not a man. 23   And aftir that he slepte, and made knowen to the kyng, and shewede to hym the ende of his lif; and enhauncede his vois fro the erthe in profecie, to don awey the vnpitouste of the folc. CAP. XLVII.

1   Aftir these thingus ros Nathan, the profete, in the da&yogh;es of Dauid. 2   And as tal&yogh; seuered fro the flesh, so Dauid fro the sonus of Irael. 3   With leouns he pleyede, as with lombis; in beres lijc maner he dide, as in lombis of shep. 4   In his &yogh;outhe whether he slo&yogh; not a ieaunt, and toc awei repref fro the folc? 5   In takinge the hond in the ston of the slynge, he thre&yogh; doun the io&yogh;e of Golie, 6   where he inwardly clepede the Lord almy&yogh;ty; and he &yogh;af in his ri&yogh;t hond to don awey a strong man in bataile, and to enhaunce the horn of his folc. 7   So in ten thousendis he glorifiede hym, and preisede hym in the blessingus of the Lord, in offringe to hym a croune of glorie. 8   Forsothe he to-brosede the enemys on eche side, and distro&yogh;ede Filisteys contrarious, vnto the day that is now; he to-brosede the horn of hem, vnto with oute ende. 9   In alle werk he &yogh;af knouleching to the

hoely, and to the hee&yogh;e in the wrd of glorie. 10   Of alle his herte he preisede God, and loouede the Lord that made hym, and &yogh;af to hym a&yogh;en the enemyes my&yogh;t. 11   And he made to stonde syngeres a&yogh;en the auter; and in the soun of hem he made sweete motetes. 12   And he &yogh;af wrshepe in solempnysingus, and ournede the tymes vnto the ful endyng of lyf; that thei shulden preisen the hoely name of the Lord, and make large erly the hoelynesse of God. 13   Crist purgede the synnes of hym, and enhauncede in to with outen ende the horn of hym; and he &yogh;af to hym the testament of kingus, and a sete of glorie in Irael. 14   Ater hym ros a son weel felende; and for hym he cast doun alle the my&yogh;te of enemys. 15   Salomon comaundide in da&yogh;es of pes, to whom God sogetede alle the enemyes, that he shulde maken an hous in his name, and greithen hoelynesse in to euermor, as he was ta&yogh;t in his &yogh;outhe. 16   And he is fulfild as a flod with wisdam; and his soule a&yogh;een couerede the erthe. 17   And thou fulfildist in comparisouns derk prouerbis; to ylis aferr is pupplisht thi name, and thou art looued in thi pes. 18   In songus, and in prouerbis, and comparisouns, and in remenyngus wndreden the londis; 19   and in the name of the Lord, to whom is the toname God off Irael. 20   Thou gederest as latoun gold, and as led thou fulfildist syluer. 21   And thou bowedist in thin hipes to wymmen; power thou haddest in thi body. 22   Thou &yogh;eue a wem in thi glorie, and cursedest thi sed, to bringen in wrathefulnesse to thi free childer, and in othere thingus thi folye; 23   that thou shuldist make the empire partid on two, and of Effreym to comaunden an hard maundement. 24   God forsothe shall not leuen his mercy, and he shal not spille, ne don awey his werkes, ne leese fro the stoc his chosun sonus sonus; and the sed

of hym that looueth the Lord he shall not shende. 25   He &yogh;af forsothe an other Jacob, and Dauid of that lynage. 26   And Salomon hadde ende with his fadris. 27   And he lafte after hym of his sed the folie of the folc, 28   and the mynusht fro prudence, Roboam; the whiche turnede awey the folc bi his counseil. 29   And Jeroboam, the sone of Naboth, that made to synnen Irael, and &yogh;af the weie of synnyng to Effraym; and ful manye redoundeden the synnes of hem gretli, 30   forsothe thei turneden hem awei fro ther lond. 31   And he so&yogh;te alle wickidnesses, vnto the tyme that defending ful cam to them; and fro alle synnes he delyuerede them. CAP. XLVIII.

1   And Helie, the profete, ros as fyr; and his wrd as a brond brende. 2   The whiche bro&yogh;te in to hem hunger, and folewende hym bi ther enuye ben mad fewe; forsothe thei my&yogh;ten not suffre the hestes of the Lord. 3   Thur&yogh; the wrd of the Lord he withheeld heuene, and cast doun fro hym fyr to the erthe. 4   So mad large is Helie in his merueiles; and who mai lic maner glorien to thee, 5   `the whiche hast borne vp the deade fro helle, fro the lot of deth, in the wrd of the Lord God? 6   The whiche thre&yogh; doun kingus to deth, and thou breeke li&yogh;tli the my&yogh;t of hem, and the gloriouse fro ther bed. 7   Thatt herdist in Syna dom, and in Oreb domes of defensioun. 8   That enoyntist kingus to penaunce, and profetes makest successoures after thee. 9   That art resceyued in whirlewynd of fyr, in a char of fyrene hors. 10   That art inwrite in domes of tymes, to swage the wrathe of

the Lord, and to ioynen, `or acorde, the herte of the fader to the sone, and to restoren the lynagis of Jacob. 11   Blisful ben thei, that thee han herd, and in thi frenshepe ben mad faire; 12   `for why wee with lijf lyuen only, after deth forsothe such shal not ben oure name. 13   Helie forsothe in a whirlewynd is couered; and in Helyse fulfild is his spirit. In his da&yogh;es he dradde not a prince, and bi my&yogh;t no man ouer cam hym; 14   ne ouercam hym any wrd, and his body dead profeciede. 15   In his lif he dide huge wondris; and in deth merueilouse thingus he wro&yogh;te. 16   In alle these thingus the puple dide not penaunce, and thei wenten not awey fro ther synnes, vn to the tyme that thei ben cast awey fro ther lond, and ben scatered in to eche lond. 17   And ther is laft ful fewe folc, and a prince in the hous of Dauid. 18   Summe of hem dyden that shulde plesen to God; othere forsothe diden manye synnes. 19   Esechias strengthede his cite, and bro&yogh;te in to the myddel of it water; and dalf with iren the roche, and bilde vp to the water a pit. 20   In his da&yogh;es ste&yogh;ede vp Senacherub, and sente Rapsacen; and vnderputte his hond a&yogh;en hem, and putte out his hond in to Sion, and proud is mad in his my&yogh;t. 21   Thanne moued ben the hertes and the hondis of hem; and thei soreweden as wymmen trauailende with child. 22   And thei inwardly clepeden the mercyful Lord, and strechende out hondis thei rereden `vp to heuene; and the hoely Lord God herde anon the vois of hem. 23   He remembrede not the synnes of hem, ne &yogh;af hem to ther enemys; but purgede hem in the hond of Ysaye, the hoely profete. 24   He thre&yogh; doun the tentes of Assiries, and hem to-brosede the aungil of the Lord. 25   For whi Ezechie dide that plesede to the Lord, and strongli he wente in the weie of Dauid, his fader; that Isaie, the grete profete, and feithful in

the si&yogh;te of God, sente to hym. 26   In his da&yogh;es bacward wente a&yogh;en the sunne; and addede to the king lif. 27   With a gret spirit he sa&yogh; the laste thingus; and coumfortede the weilende men in Sion, vn to euermor. 28   He shewide thingus to come, and hid, er that thei fellen. CAP. XLIX.

1   The mynde of Josie mad in a making of smell, is a werk of a pyment makere. 2   In eche mouth as hony shal be inwardly sweete the mynde of hym, and as melody in the feste of wyn. 3   He is euene ri&yogh;t godly in the penaunce of folc; and he took awey the abhomynaciouns of vnpitousnesse. 4   And he gouernede to the Lord his herte; and in the da&yogh;es of synnes he strengthede pite. 5   Saue Dauid, and Esechie, and Josie, alle the kingus diden synne 6   For whi the kyngus of Juda laften the lawe of the my&yogh;ty, and dispiseden the drede of God. 7   Forsothe thei &yogh;euen ther kingdam to othere, and ther glorie to an alien folc. 8   Thei brenden vp the chosen cite of hoelynesse; and desert thei maden weies of it in the hond of Jeremye. 9   For whi euele thei treteden hym, that fro the wombe of the moder is sacrid a profete, to turnen vpsodoun, and to leesen, and eft to bilden vp, and to renewen. 10   Esechiel, that sa&yogh; the si&yogh;te of glorie, that he shewede to hym in the char of cherubyn. 11   For whi he remembrede of the enemys in weder, to wel don to them, that sheweden ri&yogh;t weies. 12   And the boenes of the twelue profetes springen oute fro ther place; for whi thei strengtheden Jacob, and a&yogh;eenbo&yogh;ten themself in feith of his vertue. 13   What maner shul wee make large Zorobabel? for whi and he as a tocne in the ri&yogh;t hond of Irael; 14   and Jesum, the sone of Josedech? the whiche in ther da&yogh;es bildun vp the hous, and enhaunceden the hoely temple to the Lord, mad redy in to euermor glorie. 15   And Neemye in the mynde of myche tyme, that rerede

vp to vs the turned vpsodoun walles, and made to stonde &yogh;ates and lokes; that rerede vp oure houses. 16   No man is born in the erthe such as Enoch; for whi and he is resceyued fro the erthe. 17   And Joseph, that is born of man, prince of brethern, fastnyng of folc of kynde, gouernour of brethern, stablyng of puple; and the bones of hym ben visitid, 18   and aftir the deth thei profecieden. 19   Seth and Sem, these anent men hadden gote glorie, and ouer alle lif in the springyng of Adam. CAP. L.

1   `Symon, Onyes sone, the grete prest, that in his lif vndersette the hous, and in his da&yogh;es strengthede the temple. 2   Also the hei&yogh;te of the temple of hym is foundid, the double bilding, and the he&yogh;e walles of the temple. 3   In his da&yogh;es sprungen out the pittes of watris; and as the se thei ben fulfild ouer maner. 4   That curede his folc, and delyuerede it fro perdicioun. 5   That hadde the maistrie to make large the cite; that gat glorie in to the lyuynge of folc; and the incomyng of the hous, and of the porche he made large. 6   As the morutid sterre in myddel of the litle cloude, and as the fulle moone in his da&yogh;es he li&yogh;tneth; 7   and as the shynende sunne, so he shyneth out in the temple of God; 8   as the a&yogh;enshynende bowe betwene the litle cloudis of glorie, and as the flour of roses in the da&yogh;es of ver, and as lilies, that ben in goyngus of water, and as cense smellende in the da&yogh;es of somyr; 9   as fyr shynende out, and sens brennende in fyr; 10   as a massee vessel of gold, enourned with alle maner precious ston; 11   as a buriounende olyue, and cipresse in to hei&yogh;te puttende out itself; in takynge hym the stoele of glorie, and to be clad hym in the ful endyng of vertue. 12   In the ste&yogh;yng vp of the hoely

auter, glorie he &yogh;af the amyse of hoelynesse. 13   In takynge forsothe partes of the hond of prestes, and he stondende biside the auter. Aboute hym the croune of brethern, as the plaunting of a ceder in Liban hil; 14   so aboute hym thei stoden as palm braunches, and alle the sonus of Aron in ther glorie. 15   The offring forsothe of the Lord in the hondis of hem, biforn al the gedering of Irael; and the ful endyng vsyng in to the auter, to make large the offring of the he&yogh;e king, 16   he stra&yogh;te out his hond in the sacrifiyng of likoures; and he sacrifiede in the blod of a grape. 17   He helde out in the foundement of the auter, godly smel to the he&yogh;e prince. 18   Thanne crieden out the sonus of Aron; in beten out trumpes thei souneden, and herd thei maden a gret vois in to the mynde bifor God. 19   Thanne al the puple togidere wenten forth, and fellen in to the face vp on the erthe, to honoure the Lord ther God, and to &yogh;yue pre&yogh;eeres to the almy&yogh;ty he&yogh;e God. 20   And thei largeden synging in ther voises; and in the grete hous is mad a vois ful of swetnesse. 21   And the puple pre&yogh;ede the he&yogh;e Lord in pre&yogh;ere, vn to the tyme that ful don is the honour of the Lord, and his &yogh;ifte thei parformeden. 22   Thanne comende doun, his hondis he putte out in to al the congregacioun of the sonus of Irael, to &yogh;yue glorie to God of his lippes, and in his name to glorien. 23   And he rehercede his orisoun, willende to shewe the vertue of God. 24   And aftir eft more he pre&yogh;ede the God of alle, that grete thingus dide in al erthe; that encreside oure da&yogh;es fro the wombe of oure moder, and dide with vs aftir his mercy. 25   &YOGH;yue he to vs inward io&yogh;e of herte, and to be mad pes in oure da&yogh;es in Irael bi euere lastende da&yogh;es; Irael to leeuen, 26   with vs to ben the mercy of God, that he deliuere them in ther da&yogh;es. 27   Two folkis hateth my soule; the thridde forsothe is, that noon more folc

I shulde haten. 28   That sitten in the hil of Seir, and Filisteym, and the fool puple, that dwellith in Sichemys. 29   The doctrine of wisdam, and of disciplyne wrot in this boc Jhesus, the sone of Sirac, Jerosolomytane; that renewede the wisdam of his herte. 30   Blisful that in these goodus abit; that putteth tho thingus in his herte, wys shal ben euermor. 31   If forsothe these thingus he shul do, to alle thingus he shal ben my&yogh;ty; for the li&yogh;t of God is the step of hym. CAP. LI.

1   I shal knoulechen to thee, Lord king; and I shal al preisen thee, God my saueour. 2   I shal knoulechen to thi name, for helpere and defendere thou art mad to me; 3   and thou hast delyuered my body fro perdicioun, fro the gnare of a wicke tunge, and fro the lippes of men werkende lesyng; and in the si&yogh;t of men stondende nee&yogh; thou art mad to me an helpere. 4   And thou hast delyuered me, after the multitude of the mercy of thi name, fro the rorende men greithed to mete; 5   fro the hondis of men sechende my soule, and of manye tribulaciouns that enuyrouneden me; 6   fro the tormenting of flaume that cumpasede me, and in the myddel of the fyr I am not brend out; 7   fro the hei&yogh;te of the wombe of helle, and fro the defoulid tunge, and fro the wrd of lesing; fro a wicke king, and fro an vnri&yogh;twis tunge. 8   Shal preisen vn to the deth my soule the Lord; 9   and my lif ne&yogh;hende was in helle benethe. 10   Thei cumpasseden me on eche side, and ther was not that wolde helpen; biholdende I was to the helpe of men, and ther was not. 11   I hadde mynde of thi mercy, Lord, and of thi with werching, that fro the world ben; 12   for thou takest out men sustenende thee, and delyuerest hem fro the hond of Jentiles. 13   Thou enhancedest

vp on the erthe my dwelling; and for the deth flowende doun I louly pre&yogh;ede. 14   `I inwardly clepede the Lord, fader of my Lord, that he forsake not me in day of my tribulacioun, and in tyme of proude men, with oute helpe. 15   I shal preisen thi name bysyly, and I shal withpreisen it in confessioun; and ful out herd is myn orisoun. 16   And thou hast delyuered me fro perdicioun, and thou hast ca&yogh;t me out fro the wicke tyme. 17   Therfore I shal knoulechen, and preisyng I shal sey to thee; and I shal blisse the name of the Lord. 18   Whan &yogh;it &yogh;ungere I am, bifor that aboute I shulde erre, I so&yogh;te wisdam openly in myn orisoun. 19   Biforn tyme I askede for it, and `vn to in the laste thingus I shal gretli sechen it; and it shal floure as a first rip grape. 20   Myn herte gladide in it, my foot wente a ri&yogh;t weye; fro my &yogh;outhe I enserchede it. 21   I bowede in a litil myn ere, and I toc it. 22   Myche I fond in myself wisdam, and myche I profitede in it. 23   To the &yogh;yuende to me wisdam I shal &yogh;yue glorie. 24   I counseilede forsothe to don it; gretly I loouede good, and I `schal not be confoundid. 25   `My soule wrastled in it; and in doing it I am confermed. 26   My hondis I stra&yogh;te out in to hei&yogh;; and in the wisdam of hym weilede my soule, and myn vnkunnyngus he li&yogh;tede. 27   My soule I ri&yogh;t reulede to it; and in knowyng I fond it. 28   I weldede with hem herte fro the bigynnyng; for that I shal not ben forsaken. 29   My wombe is disturbid in sechyng it; therfore good possessioun I shal welde. 30   The Lord forsothe &yogh;af to me a tunge my meede; and in it I shal preisen hym. 31   Cometh ny&yogh; to me, &yogh;ee vnta&yogh;t; and gedereth &yogh;ou togidere in the hous of disciplyne. 32   What &yogh;it &yogh;ee tarien? and what sey &yogh;ee in these thingus? &yogh;oure soules thristen hugely. 33   I openede my mouth, and I spac, Bieth to &yogh;ou withoute siluer

wisdam, 34   and &yogh;oure necke vnderleith to the &yogh;oc of it, and &yogh;oure soule vndertake he discyplyne; in the nexte forsothe is to fynden it. 35   Seeth with &yogh;oure e&yogh;en, for a litil I trauailede, and I fond to me myche reste. 36   Taketh to discyplyne in myche noumbre of syluer, and plenteuous gold weldeth in it. 37   Glade &yogh;oure soule in the mercy of it; and `&yogh;e schul not be confoundid in the preising of it. 38   Werketh &yogh;oure werk bifor tyme; and it shal &yogh;yue to &yogh;ou &yogh;oure meede in his tyme. Here endith Ecclesiasticus.

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