Jump to content

Bible (Early Wycliffe)/Ezechiel

From Wikisource
2384079Wycliffe's Bible — Ezechiel

Her bigynneþ þe book of Ezechiel, þe prophete.

Capitulum I.

[edit]

And it is don, in þe þrittiþe ȝeer, in þe fourþe moneþ, in þe fyueþe day of þe moneþ, when I was in þe mydil of caitifs, biſydis þe floode Cobar, heuens wern openyd, and I ſeeȝ viſiouns of God. In þe fyueþe of þe moneþ; þe ylk is þe fyueþ ȝeer of tranſmygracioun, or paſſyng ouer, of Joachym, kyng of Juda; þe word of þe Lord is maad to Ezechiel, ſone of Buzi, preſte, in þe lond of Caldeis, biſijdis þe flode Cobar; and þe hond of þe Lord is maad þer vpon hym. And I ſeeȝ, and loo! a wynde of tempeſt, or whirlwynde, cam fro þe norþ, and a grete cloude, and fyre inwlappynge, and a ſchynynge in þe cumpas of it; and of þe mydil of it, þat is to ſaye, of þe mydil of fijre, as a lickeneſſe of electre, þat is, a metal of gold and ſyluere, cleerer þan gold. And of þe mydil of it a lickeneſſe of four beſtis. And þis þe byholdynge of hem, þe lickeneſſe of man in hem. And four facis to oon, and four pennys to oon. And þe feet of hem ſtreiȝt feet, and þe ſool of þe foot of hem as þe ſole of a calues fote, and ſparclis, as byholdyng of whyte metale. And an hond of man vnder þe pennys of hem, in four parties. And þei hadden faces and pennys by foure parties; and þe pennys of hem, of an oþer to þe toþer weren ioyned. Þei turneden not aȝein, when þei wenten, bot eche wente byfore his face. Forſoþ þe lickeneſſe of þe ſemblaunt of hem; a face of man and face of a lyoun at þe riȝþalf of hem foure. Forſoþ a face of an oxe at þe left half of hem foure; and þe face of an egle fro aboue of hem foure. And þe faces of hem and pennys of hem ſtreȝt out aboue. Two pennys of eche weren ioyned, and two keuerden þe bodies of hem. And eche of hem walkide befor his face. Where þe feerſneſſe of þe ſpirit was, þidir þei wenten, neþer þei turneden aȝein, whenne þei walkiden. And þe lickeneſſe of þe beſtis, and þe biholdynge of hem, as of brennynge coolis of fijre, and as biholdynge of laumpis. Þis was þe ſiȝt diuerſly rennynge in myddil of þe beſtis, ſhynyng of fijre, and of þe fijre leyt goynge forþ. And þe beſtes wenten, and turneden aȝein, into lickeneſſis of leyt ſhynynge. And when I behelde þe beſtis, oo whele apeerid vpon erþe biſijdis þe beſtis, hauynge foure faces. And þe biholdyng of wheelis and þe werk of hem as ſiȝte of þe ſe; and oo lickeneſſe of hem foure; and þe biholdynge of hem and werkis, as ȝif a wheel be in þe mydel of a wheel. Þei goynge wenten bi foure parties of hem, and þei turneden not aȝein, whenne þei wenten. To what place þat þat was firſt bowide, and þe oþir ſueden. Þei turneden not aȝein, whenne þei walkiden. And ſtature was to þe wheelis, and heeȝneſſe, and orrible biholdynge; and al þe bodye ful of eeȝen in cumpas of hem foure. And whenne þe beſtis walkiden, and þe whelis to gidir walkiden biſijdis hem. And whenn þe beſtis weren lift vp fro þe erþe, and þe wheelis weren lyft vp togidir. Whidir euer þe ſpirit wente, þidir goynge þe ſpirit, and þe wheelis weren lift vp to gidir ſuynge hym; forſoþe þe ſpirit of lyf was in þe whelis. Wiþ þe goynge þei wenten, and wiþ þe ſtondynge þei ſtoden. And wiþ þe reiſide fro þe erþe, and þe wheelis weren reyſid to gydir ſuynge hem; for þe ſpirit of lyf was in þe wheelis. And þe lickeneſſe of þe firmament vpon þe hedis of beeſtis, and as biholdynge of criſtal orrible, and ſtreiȝt forþ aboue vpon þe hedis of hem. Forſoþe vndir þe firmament þe pennis of hem ſtreiȝt, of þe toþer to þe toþer; eche hilide his bodye wiþ two weengus, and þe toþer alſo was hilide. And I herde þe ſoun of weengus, as þe ſoun of many watris, as þe ſoun of heeȝ God. When þei walkiden, þere was as þe ſowne of multitude, as þe ſoun of caſtels, or ooſtis of men; and when þei ſtoden, þe pennys of hem weren leide doun. For whi whenne a vois was maad vpon þe firmament, whiche was vpon þe hedis of hem, þei ſtoden, and ſenten doun her weingis. And vpon þe firmament þat was neiȝinge to þe hede of hem, as þe biholdynge of a ſaphire ſtoone, a lickeneſſe of trone; and vpon liknes of þe trone þe liknes, as biholdynge of man fro a boue. And I ſeeȝ as þe liknes of electre, as þe biholdynge of fier wiþinforþ, bi þe compas of it; fro þe leendis of hym and aboue, and fro þe leendis of him and byneþe Y ſeeȝ as þe liknes of fier ſhynynge in þe cumpas, as þe biholdynge of a bowe, whanne it ſhal be in þe cloude in þe dai of rayn. Þis was þe biholdynge of ſhinynge bi compas. Þis ſiȝt of liknes of glorie of þe Lord. And Y ſeeȝ, and fel in to my face; and Y herde a vois of þe ſpekynge.

Capitulum II.

[edit]

And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, ſtoond vpon þi feet, and Y ſhal ſpeke wiþ þee. And a ſpirit entride in to me, after þat he ſpak to me, and ſette me vpon my feet. And Y herde þe ſpekynge to me, and ſeiynge, Sone of man, Y ſende þee to þe ſones of Iſrael, to folkis apoſtataas, þat han broken her religioun or lawe, whiche wenten awei fro me; þe fadris of hem braken my couenaunt vn to þis day. And þe ſones ben of hard face, and of herte vnchaaſtiſable, þat wole not be maad tame or meke, to whom I ſende þee. And þou ſhalt ſeye to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God; if perauenture eþer þei heren, and if perauenture þei reſten, for it is an hows ſtirynge to wraþþe. And þei ſhulen wite, for a prophete ſhal be in þe mydil of hem. Þerfor þou, ſone of man, drede not hem, ne drede þou þe wordis of hem; for vnbileueful men and diſtruyers ben wiþ þee, and þou dwelliſt wiþ ſcorpiouns. Drede þou not þe wordis of hem, ne drede þe ſemblaunte of hem, for it is an hous ſtyrynge to wraþþe. Þerfor þou ſhalt ſpeke my wordis to hem, if perauenture þei heren, and reſten, for þei ben wraþþers. Forſoþe þou, ſone of man, here what euer þingis I ſhal ſpeke to þee; and nyl þou be ſtyrynge to wraþþe, as þe hous of Iſrael is wraþþeres. Opyn þi mouþ, and eet what euer þingis Y ȝeue to þee. And I ſawȝ, and loo! an hoond was ſent to me, in whom was a boke foldyn. And he leide it abrood before me, þe which was writen wiþinforþ and wiþoutforþ. And lamentaciouns, and dite, or ſoong, and woo, was writen in it.

Capitulum III.

[edit]

And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, eet what euer þing þou ſhalt fynde, eet þis volym, or boke; and þou goynge ſpek to þe ſones of Iſrael. And Y openede my mouþ, and he fedde me wiþ þe ilk volym. And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, þi wombe ſhal ete, and þin entrailis ſhulen be fulfillid wiþ þis volym, which Y ȝyue to þee. And Y ete it, and it is maad in my mouþ as ſwete hony. And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, go þou to þe hows of Iſrael, and þou ſhalt ſpeke my wordis to hem. Forſoþe þou ſhalt not be ſent to a puple of deep word, and of vnknowyn tunge; to þe hows of Iſrael, neþer to manye puplis of deep word, and of vnknowyn tunge, of whom þou mayſt not here þe wordis. And if þou ſhuldis be ſent to hem, þei ſhulden here þee. Forſoþe þe hows of Iſrael wole not here þee, for þei wole not here me. Forſoþe al þe hows of Iſrael is of defoulid, or vnſhamfaſt, forhed, and hard herte. Loo! I haue ȝouen þi face myȝtier þan þe face of hem, and þi forheed harder þan þe forheed of hem. And Y ȝaue þi face as an adamaunt, and as a flynt; drede þou not hem, neþer drede þou þe face of hem, for it is an hows ſtyrynge to wraþþe. And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, tak to in þin herte, and wiþ þin erys here alle þes my wordis, whiche I ſpeke to þee. And go, entre to þe paſſynge ouere, to þe ſones of þi puple. And þou ſhalt ſpeke to hem, and þou ſhalt ſeie to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, if perauenture þei heren, and reſten. And þe ſpirit took me to, and Y herde after me a nois of greet mouynge togider, þe bleſſid glorie of þe Lord fro his place, and þe vois of weengis of beeſtis ſmytynge anoþer to þe toþer, and þe vois of wheelis ſuynge þe beeſtis, and þe vois of greet mouynge togidir. And þe ſpirit reiſide me, and took me to. And Y wente awey in bitter indignacioun of my ſpirit; forſoþe þe hoond of þe Lord was wiþ me, coumfortynge me. And Y cam to þe tranſmygracioun, or paſſinge ouer, to þe heep of newe fruytis, to hem þat dwellen biſidis þe flood Cobar. And I ſat where þei ſaten, and I dwellide þere ſeuene days, mournynge, in þe mydil of hem. Forſoþe whanne ſeuene days hadden paſſid, þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, I haue ȝouen þee a biholder, or a ſpier, to þe hows of Iſrael. And þou ſhalt here of my mouþ a word, and þou ſhalt telle it to hem of me. If me ſeiynge to þe vnpitous man, Bi deeþ þou ſhalt die, þou ſhalt not telle to hym, neþer ſpeke to hym, þat he be turned fro his vnpitous weie, and lyue; þe ilk vnpitous ſhal die in his wickidnes, forſoþe I ſhal aȝen ſeke þe blood of hym of þin hoond. Forſoþe if þou ſhalt ſhewe to þe vnpitous man, and he ſhal not be conuertid fro his vnpitouſnes, and fro his wickid weie; ſoþeli he ſhal die in his wickidnes, but þou haſt delyuerede þi ſoule. But and if þe riȝtwijs man ſhal be conuertid fro his riȝtwiſnes, and ſhal doo wickidnes, Y ſhal putte an hirtynge before hym; he ſhal die, for þou ſhewediſt not to hym; he ſhal die in his ſynne, and þe riȝtwiſneſſis, whiche he dide, ſhulen not be in mynde, ſoþeli Y ſhal aȝen ſeche his blood of þin hond. Forſoþe if þou ſhalt telle to þe iuſt man, þat þe iuſt man ſynne not, and he ſhal not ſynne, he lyuynge ſhal lyue, for þou tooldiſt to hym, and þou haſt delyuerede þi ſoule. And þe hoond of þe Lord is maad vpon me, and he ſeide to me, Þou riſynge go out in to þe feeld, and þere I ſhal ſpeke wiþ þee. And I riſynge wente out in to þe feeld. And loo! þe glorie of þe Lord ſtoode þere, as þe glorie which Y ſeeȝ beſidis þe flood of Cobar; and I felle in to my face. And þe ſpirit entride in to me, and ſette me vpon my feet. And he ſpak to me, and ſeide to me, Entre, and be þou cloſid in þe mydil of þin hows. And þou, ſone of man, loo! boondis ben ȝouen vpon þee, and þei ſhulen bynde þee in hem, and þou ſhalt not goon out in þe mydil of hem. And Y ſhal make þi tunge for to cleue to þe roof of þi mouþ, and þou ſhalt be doumbe, neþer as man chydynge, or ſharpli ſpekynge; for it is an hows ſtirynge to wraþþe. Forſoþe whanne Y ſhal ſpeke to þee, Y ſhal opyn þi mouþ, and þou ſhalt ſeie to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, He þat heriþ, here, and he þat reſtiþ, reſte; for it is an hows ſtirynge to wraþþe.

Capitulum IIII.

[edit]

And þou, ſone of man, take to þee a tijl ſtoon; and þou ſhalt putte it before þee, and þou ſhalt diſcriue in it þe citee of Jeruſalem. And þou ſhalt ordeyne aȝens it a biſegynge; and þou ſhalt bilde waardingis, þou ſhalt bere togidre an heep of erþe, and þou ſhalt ȝyue aȝens it caſtels, or ooſtis, and þou ſhalt putte engynes in compas. And take þou to þee an yren panne; and þou ſhalt putte it in to an yren wal bitwix þee and bitwix þe citee; and þou ſhalt vpon alle ſidis ſtable þi face to it, and it ſhal be in to biſegynge, and þou ſhalt about ȝyue it, or cumpas; it is a tokne to þe hows of Iſrael. And þou ſhalt ſlepe vpon þi left ſijde, and þou ſhalt putte þe wickidneſſis of þe hows of Iſrael vpon it in þe noumbre of dais, in whiche þou ſhalt ſlepe on it, and þou ſhalt take to þe wickidnes of hem. Forſoþe Y ȝaue to þee ȝeeris of þe wickidnes of hem, in noumbre of þre hundrid dais and nynti dais; and þou ſhalt bere þe wickidnes of þe hows of Iſrael. And whanne þou ſhalt fulfille þes þingis, þou ſhalt ſleepe vpon þi riȝt ſyde þe ſecounde tyme. And þou ſhalt take to þe wickidnes of þe hows of Juda fourty dais, a dai for a ȝeer, ſoþeli Y ȝaue to þee a dai for a ȝeer. And to þe biſegynge of Jeruſalem þou ſhalt turne þi face; and þin arm ſhal be ſtrauȝt forþ, and þou ſhalt prophecie aȝens it. Loo! Y ȝaue about, or cumpaſide, þee wiþ boondis, and þou ſhalt not conuerte þee fro þi ſide in to þe toþer ſide, til þou fulfille þe dais of þi ſegynge. And take þou to þee whete, and barli, and bene, and lent, and mylie, and vetche; and þou ſhalt ſende hem in to a veſſel. And þou ſhalt make to þee looues in noumbre of dais, whiche þou ſhalt ſleepe vpon þi ſide; þre hundrid and nynti dais þou ſhalt ete it. Forſoþe þi meet, which þou ſhalt ete, ſhal be in weiȝt twenti ſtateris, þat is, ten owncis, in þe dai; fro tyme vn to tyme þou ſhalt ete it. And þou ſhalt drynke water in meſure þe ſixt part of hyn; fro tyme vn to tyme þou ſhalt drynke it. And þou ſhalt ete it as a barly loof bakyn vndir aſſhen; and þou ſhalt hille it wiþ a toord þat goþ out of a man, in þe eyen, or ſiȝt, of hem. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, So þe ſones of Iſrael ſhulen ete her breed defoulid among heiþen men, to whom Y ſhal caſte hem out. And I ſeide, A! A! A! Lord God, loo! my ſoule is not defoulid, and fro my childhed til now Y ete not deed careyn, and to-drawyn of beeſtis; and al vnclene fleſh entride not in to my mouþe. And he ſeide to me, Loo! I ȝaue to þee dunge of oxen for mannus toordis; and þou ſhalt make þi breed in it. And he ſeide to me, Loo! Y ſhal defoule þe ſtaf of breed in Jeruſalem, and þei ſhulen ete her breed in weiȝt and in biſynes, and þei ſhulen drynke watir in meſure and in anguyſh; þat water and breed failynge eche man falle doun to his broþer, and waxe rotyn to gidre in her wickidneſſis.

Capitulum V.

[edit]

And þou, ſone of man, take to þee a ſharp ſwerd, or raſour, ſhauynge heeris; and þou ſhalt take it to, and þou ſhalt lede it bi þin heed, and bi þi beerd. And þou ſhalt take to þee a balaunce of weiȝt, and þou ſhalt departe hem. And þou ſhalt brenne þe þridde part in fier in þe mydil of þe citee, beſidis þe fulfilling of dais of ſegynge. And þou takynge to þe þridde part, ſhalt to gidir kitte bi ſwerd in cumpas of it. Soþeli þou ſhalt ſcatere in to wynd þe toþer þridde part; and Y ſhal make nakid, or vnſheþe, þe ſwerd after hem. And þou ſhalt take þerof a litil noumbre, and þou ſhalt bynde hem in þe heiȝt of þin ouermoſt clooþ. And eftſoone þou ſhalt take of hem, and þou ſhalt caſte hem in to þe mydil of fier. And þou ſhalt brenne hem in fier; and of it fier ſhal gon out in to al þe hous of Iſrael. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þis is Jeruſalem; in þe mydil of heiþen men Y haue putte it, and loondis in þe cumpas of it. And it diſpiſide my domys, þat it were more vnpitous þan heiþen men; and my maundementis more þan loondis þat ben in compas of it. Forſoþe þei han caſte a wei my domys, and þei walkeden not in my preceptis, or heeſtis. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For ȝe han ouerpaſſide, or ouercomyn, heiþen men þat ben in ȝour cumpas, and ȝe walkeden not in myn heeſtis, and my domys ȝe han not doo, and ȝe han not wrouȝte aftir þe domys of heiþen men þat ben in ȝour cumpas; þerfor ſeiþ þe Lord þes þingis, Loo! Y to þee, and Y my ſilf in þe mydil of þee ſhal make domys in þe eyen, or ſiȝt, of heiþen men; and I ſhal doo in þe whiche þingis I dide not, and to whiche I ſhal namore make lijc þingis, for alle þin abhomynaciouns. Þerfor faders ſhulen eete ſones in þe mydil of þee, and ſones ſhulen eete her faders; and in þee I ſhal make domys, and I ſhal wyndewe alle þi relikis in to eche wynd. Þerfor I lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God, no but for þat þat þou defoulidiſt myn hooli þing in alle þin offenciouns, and in alle þin abhomynaciouns; and I ſhal breke togider, and myn eye ſhal not ſpare, and Y ſhal not haue mercie. Þe þridde part of þee ſhal die bi peſtilence, and in hungre ſhal be waſtid in þe mydil of þee; and þe þridde part of þee ſhal falle doun bi ſwerd in þi compas; ſoþeli I ſhal ſcatere þi þridde part in to eche wynd, and I ſhal drawe out a ſwerd after hem. And I ſhal fulfille my woodnes, and Y ſhal make myn indignacioun for to reſte in hem, and Y ſhal be coumfortid. And þei ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord ſpake in my feruent wraþþe, whanne Y ſhal fulfille myn indignacioun in hem. And Y ſhal ȝeue þee in to ſcornynge and ſhenſhip to heiþen men þat ben in þi compas, in þe ſiȝt of eche man paſſynge forþ. And þou ſhalt be ſhenſhip and blasfemye, enſaumple and greet wondrynge, in heiþen men þat ben in þi compas, whanne Y ſhal doo in þee domys in woodnes, and in indignacioun, and in blamyngis of wraþþe. Y þe Lord; whanne Y ſhal ſende þe werſt arewis of hungre in to hem, whiche ſhulen be deedly; and whom Y ſhal ſende, þat I ſcatere ȝou. And I ſhal gedre hungre vp on ȝou, and Y ſhal defoule in ȝou þe ſtaf of breed. And I ſhal ſende in to ȝou hungre, and werſte beeſtis, vn to deeþ; and peſtilence and blood ſhulen paſſe bi þee, and Y ſhal lede in a ſwerd vpon þee; I þe Lord haue ſpokyn.

Capitulum VI.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, put þi face to þe hillis of Iſrael; and þou ſhalt prophecie to hem, and þou ſhalt ſeye, Hillis of Iſrael, here ȝe þe word of þe Lord God. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God to mounteyns, and reiſyngis of hillis, to rochis, and valeys, Loo! I ſhal lede to on ȝou a ſwerd, and I ſhal ſcatere ȝour heiȝe þingis. And I ſhal diſtruye ȝour auters, and ȝour ſymulacrys ſhulen be brokyn to gidre; and Y ſhal caſt doun ȝour ſlayn men before ȝour ydolis. And Y ſhal ȝeue þe deed careyns of þe ſones of Iſrael before þe face of ȝour ſymulacris, and Y ſhal ſcatere ȝoure boonus about ȝoure autres, in alle ȝour dwellyngis. Cytees ſhulen be deſeert, and heiȝe þingis ſhulen be diſtruyid, and ſhulen be diſparplid; and ȝour auters ſhulen periſhe, and ſhulen be brokyn togidre. And ȝoure ydolis ſhulen ceeſe, and ȝour wode maumentis ſhulen be troden togidre, and ȝour werkis ſhulen be don a wei. And a ſlayn man ſhal falle doun in þe mydil of ȝou; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y am Lord. And Y ſhal leeue in ȝou hem þat han fledde þe ſwerd in heiþen men, whanne I ſchal ſcatere ȝou in to londis. And ȝoure delyuered men ſchulen beþenke of me in heþen men, to whom þei ben lad caitifs; for Y haue defoulide þe herte of hem doynge fornycacioun, and goynge awey fro me, and þe eyen of hem doynge fornicacioun after her ydolis. And þei ſhulen diſpleſe to hem ſelf vp on þe yuel þingis, whiche þei diden in alle her abomynaciouns. And þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord ſpake not veynli, þat Y ſhulde doo to hem þis yuel þing. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Smyte þin hoond, and hurtle to gidre þi foot, and ſey, Allas! to alle abomynaciouns of yuel þingis of þe hows of Iſrael, þat ben to fallynge bi ſwerd, hungre, and peſtilence. Forſoþe he þat is nyȝ, ſhal falle bi ſwerd. And he þat ſhal be laft and be biſegid, ſhal die bi hungre. And Y ſhal fulfille myn indignacioun in hem. And ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord, whanne ȝour ſlayn men ſhulen be in þe mydil of ȝour ydolis, in þe cumpas of ȝour auters, in eche heiȝ litle hil, and in alle heiȝþis of mounteyns, and vnder eche tree ful of wode, or bouwis, and vndir eche ook ful of bouwis, þat is to ſeye, a place where þei brenten encenſis ſwete ſauerynge to alle her ydolis. And I ſhal holde forþ myn hoond vpon hem, and Y ſhal make þe loond of hem deſolat, and deſtitute, or forſakyn, fro deſeert Deblaþa, in alle þe dwellingis of hem; and þei ſhulen wite, for I a Lord.

Capitulum VII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, And þou, ſone of man, þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God to þe loond of Iſrael, Ende comeþ, ende comeþ, vp on þe foure plagis, or parties, of þe erþe. Now ende vpon þee, and I ſhal ſende my woodnes in to þee, and Y ſhal deme þee after þi weies, and I ſhal putte aȝen þee alle þin abomynaciouns. And myn eye ſhal not ſpare vpon þee, and Y ſhal not haue mercye. But Y ſhal putte þi weies vpon þee, and þin abomynaciouns ſhulen be in þe mydil of þee; and ȝe ſhulen wyte, for I þe Lord. Þeſe þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Oon affliccioun, or tourment, loo! affliccioun comeþ; þe ende comeþ, þe ende comeþ; it ſhal wake out aȝens þee; loo! yt comeþ. Contricioun, or tredynge to gider, comeþ vpon þee, þat dwelliſt in erþe; tyme comeþ, þe dai of ſleinge is nyȝ, and not of glorie of hillis. Now of nyȝ Y ſhal heelde out my wraþþe vpon þee, and I ſhal fulfille my woodnes in þee; and I ſhal deme þee after þi weies, and Y ſhal putte to þee alle þi greet treſpaſſis. And myn eye ſhal not ſpare, neþer Y ſhal haue mercie; but þi weies Y ſhal putte to þee, and þin abomynaciouns ſhulen be in þe mydil of þee; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y am þe Lord ſmytynge. Loo! þe day, loo! it comeþ; contricioun, or defoulynge to gidir, is gon out. Þe ȝerde floriſhide, priyd buriounede, wickidnes roos in þe ȝerde of vnpitee; not of hem, and not of þe puple, neþer of þe ſown of hem, and reſte ſhal not be in hem. Tyme comeþ, þe dai neiȝede; he þat bieþ, glade not, and he þat ſelliþ, mourne not; for wraþþe vpon al þe puple of it. For he þat ſoulde, ſhal not turne aȝen to þat þing þat he ſoulde, and ȝit in men lyuynge þe lijf of hem; forſoþe a viſioun, or prophecie, ſhal not goo aȝen to al þe multitude of it, and a man ſhal not be coumfortid in þe wickidnes of his lijf. Synge ȝe wiþ trumpe, and be alle men maad redie, and þere is not þat ſhal goo to bateile; forſoþe my wraþþe vpon al þe puple of hym. Swerd wiþ out forþ, peſtilence, and hungre wiþ inforþ; he þat is in þe feeld, ſhal die bi ſwerde; and þei þat ben in þe citee, ſhulen be deuouride bi peſtilence and hungre. And þei of hem þat ſhulen flee, ſhulen be ſaued; and þei ſhulen be in mounteyns as culueres of euyn valeys, alle dreedful, eche in his wickidnes. Alle hoondis ſhulen be vndon, and alle knees ſhulen flowe wiþ waters. And þei ſhulen girde hem wiþ heiris, and inward dreed ſhal hille hem to gidre; and in eche face confuſioun, and in alle þe heedis of hem ballidnes. Þe ſiluere of hem ſhal be caſt fer wiþ outforþ, and þe gold of hem ſhal be in to dungehil; þe ſiluer of hem and þe gold of hem ſhal not mowe deliuere hem in þe dai of þe woodnes of þe Lord. Þei ſhulen not fulfille her ſoule, or lijf, and þe wombis of hem ſhulen not be fulfillid; for it is maad þe ſclaundre of wickidnes of hem. And þei puttiden þe ournement of her brochis in to pride; and þei maden of it þe ymagis of her abomynaciouns and ſymulacris. For þis þing Y ȝaue it to hem, in to vnclennes. And Y ſhal ȝyue it in to þe hoondis of alienys, for to take a wey, and to vnpitouſe men of erþe in to praye, and þei ſhulen defoule it. And I ſhal turne awey my face fro hem, and þei ſhulen defoule my priue þing; and foule men, or renners, ſhulen entre in to it, and ſhulen defoule it. Mak þou concluſioun, or ende; for þe erþe is ful of doom of bloodis, and þe citee ful of wickidnes. And I ſhal brynge þe werſt men of folk of kynde, and þei ſhulen weelde þe howſis of hem; and Y ſhal make þe pride of myȝti men for to reſte, and þei ſhulen weelde þe ſeyntuaries of hem. Anguyſh comynge vpon, þei ſhulen aȝen ſeche pees, and it ſhal not be. Trublynge to gidre ſhal come vpon trublyng to gidre, and herynge vpon herynge; and þei ſhulen ſeche a viſioun of þe prophete, and lawe ſhal periſhe fro preeſt, and counſeil fro eldre men. Þe kyng ſhal mourne, and þe prince ſhal be cloþid wiþ inward ſorew, and þe hoondis of puple of þe loond ſhulen be trublid togidir; after þe weie of hem Y ſhal do to hem, and after þe domes of hem Y ſhal deme hem; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord.

Capitulum VIII.

[edit]

And it is doon in þe ſixte ȝeer, in þe ſixte moneþ, in þe fifþe day of þe moneþ, Y ſate in myn hous, and þe oolde men of Juda ſaten before me; and þe hoond of þe Lord God fel þere vpon me. And I ſeeȝ, and loo! a liknes as þe biholdynge of fier; fro þe biholdynge of þe leendis of hym and byneþe was fier, and fro þe leendis of hym and aboue as biholdynge of ſhynynge, as þe ſeynge of electre, þat is, metal maad of gold and ſiluer, briȝter þan gold. And þe liknes of an hoond ſent out cauȝte me in þe heer of myn heed; and a ſpirit lifte me vp bitwix heuen and erþe, and ledde me in to Jeruſalem, in þe viſioun of God, beſidis þe inner dore þat biholdiþ to þe norþ, where þe idol of zele, or enuye, was ſet, for to ſtyre enuye. And loo! þere þe glorie of God of Iſrael, after þe viſioun which Y ſeeȝ in þe feeld. And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, reys þin eyen to þe weye of þe norþ; and loo! fro þe norþ of þe ȝaat of þe auter, þe ydol of enuye in þat entrynge. And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, geſſiſt þou wheþer þou ſeeſt what þes men don, þe greet abomynaciouns whiche þe hows of Iſrael doþ here, þat Y goo a wey fer fro my ſeyntuarie? and ȝit þou conuertid ſhal ſee gretter abomynaciouns. And he ledde me in to þe dore of þe porche; and Y ſeeȝ, and loo! an hoole in þe wal. And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, dig þe wal; and whanne Y hadde þurȝ diggide þe wal, o dore aperide. And he ſeide to me, Go þou yn, and ſe þe werſt abomynaciouns, whiche þes men doon here. And I gon in, ſeeȝ; and loo! eche lyknes of crepynge þingis, and abomynacioun of beeſtis, and alle þe ydolis of þe hous of Iſrael, weren peyntid in compas in þe wal bi alle. And ſeuenti men of þe eldris of þe hous of Iſrael; and Jeconye, þe ſone of Saphan, ſtode in þe mydil of hem, ſtoondynge before þe peyntyngis; and eche hadde a cenſer in his hoond, and þe vapour, or ſmoke of a cloud roos togider of þe enſence. And he ſeide to me, Certis, ſone of man, þou ſeeſt whiche þingis þe eldre men of þe hows of Iſrael doon in derkneſſis, eche in þe hid place of his couche; forſoþe þei ſeyn, Þe Lord ſeeþ not vs, þe Lord haþ forſakyn þe loond. And þe Lord ſeide to me, Ȝit þou conuertid ſhal ſee gretter abomynaciouns, whiche þes men don. And he ledde me yn, bi þe dore of þe ȝate of þe hows of þe Lord, þat biheelde to þe norþ; and loo! þere ſaten wymmen, mournynge a mawmet of letcherie, þat is clepid Adonydes. And he ſeide to me, Certis, ſone of man, þou haſt ſeen; ȝit þou conuertid ſhal ſee gretter abomynaciouns þan þes. And he ledde me in, in to þe innermore porche of þe hows of þe Lord; and loo! in þe dore of þe temple of þe Lord, bitwixe þe veſtiarie and þe auter, as fyue and twenti men hauynge þe backis aȝens þe temple of þe Lord, and þe faces to þe eeſt; and þei worſhipeden at þe ryſynge of þe ſunne. And he ſeide to me, Certis, mannus ſone, þou ſhalt ſee, wheþer þis þing is liȝt to þe hous of Juda, þat þei ſhulden doo þes abomynaciouns, whiche þei diden here? For þei fulfillynge þe erþe wiþ wickidnes, ben turned to gidre to terre me to wraþþe; and loo! þei applien, or leyn to, a braunche to her noſe þrillis. Þerfor and Y ſhal doo in my woodnes; myn eye ſhal not ſpare to hem, neþer I ſhal haue mercy; and whanne þei ſhulen crie to myn erys wiþ greet vois, Y ſhal not here hem.

Capitulum IX.

[edit]

And he criede in myn eris wiþ greet voys, ſeiynge, Þe viſitaciouns of þe citee han neiȝed, and eche man haþ a veſſel of ſleynge in his hoond. And loo! ſixe men camen fro þe weye of þe heiȝer ȝaat, þat biholdiþ to þe norþ, and a veſſel of deeþ of eche man in his hoond; and o man in þe mydil of hem was cloþid wiþ lynnen, and an ynkhorn of a wryter in his reynes; and þei entriden, and ſtoden beſidis þe braſen auter. And þe glorie of þe Lord of Iſrael is takyn of cherubin, þat was on it, at þe þreſhfoold of þe hows; and he clepide þe man þat was cloþid wiþ lynnen, and hadde an enkhorn of a writer in his leendis. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, Go þou bi þe mydil cytee, in þe mydil of Jeruſalem, and mark Tau vpon þe forehedis of men mournynge and ſorewynge vpon alle þe abhomynaciouns þat ben don in þe mydil þerof. And he ſeide to hem, me herynge, Paſſe ȝe bi þe cytee ſuynge hym, and ſmyte ȝe; ȝour eye ſpare not, neþer haue ȝe mercy. Slee ȝe old man, ȝonge man, meyden, litil child, and wymmen, vn to þe periſhynge; forſoþe ſlee ȝe not eche man, vp on whom ȝe ſhulen ſee Tau; and bigynne ȝe of my ſeyntuarie. Þerfor þei bigunnen at þe eldre men, þat weren before þe face of þe hous. And he ſeide to hem, Defoule ȝe þe hous, and fulfille ȝe þe porchis wiþ ſlayn men; goo ȝe out. And þei wenten out, and þei han ſmyten hem þat weren in þe citee. And þe ſleynge fulfillid, Y dwelte. And Y felle vpon my face, and criynge Y ſeide, Allas! allas! allas! Lord God, þerfor wheþer þou ſhalt diſtruye alle þe relikis of Iſrael, ſhedynge out þi woodnes vpon Jeruſalem? And he ſeide to me, Þe wickidnes of þe hous of Iſrael and Juda is ful greet, and þe erþe is fulfild wiþ blodis, or ſynnes, and þe citee is fulfillid wiþ turnynge awei; forſoþe þei ſeiden, Þe Lord haþ forſakyn þe loond, and þe Lord ſeeþ not. Þerfor and myn eye ſhal not ſpare, neþer Y ſhal haue mercy; Y ſhal ȝeelde þe weies of hem vpon þe heed of hem. And loo! þe man þat was cloþid wiþ lynnen, þat hadde an enkhorn in his rigge, anſwerde a word, ſeiynge, Y haue don, as þou commaundideſt to me.

Capitulum X.

[edit]

And Y ſeeȝ, and loo! in þe firmament þat was vpon þe heed of cherubyn, as a ſaphir ſtoon, and as þe fourme of a ſeet aperide vpon it. And he ſeide to þe man þat was cloþid wiþ lynnen, and he ſeiþ, Go þou yn in þe mydil of whelis, þat ben vndir cherubyn, and fil þin hoond wiþ coolis of fier, þat ben amonge cherubyn, and ſheed out vpon þe citee. And he wente in my ſiȝt; forſoþe cherubyns ſtoden vpon þe riȝþalf of þe hous, whanne þe man wente in, and a cloude fulfillide þe porche wiþ inneforþ. And þe glorie of þe Lord is lift vp aboue cherubyn at þe þreſhfoold of þe hows; and þe hows is fulfillid wiþ a cloude, and þe porche is fulfillid wiþ ſhynynge of þe glorie of þe Lord. And þe ſoun of weengis of cherubyn was herd vn to þe vttermore porche, as þe vois of almyȝti God ſpekynge. And whanne he hadde commandide to þe man þat was cloþid wiþ lynnen, ſeiynge, Tak þou fier of þe mydil of þe wheelis, þat ben wiþ inne cherubyn, he goon in, ſtoode beſidis þe wheelis. And cherub helde forþ his hoond fro þe mydil of cherubyn, to þe fier þat was bitwix cherubyn; and took, and ȝaf in to þe hoondis of hym þat was cloþid wiþ lynnen; whiche takyn, wente out. And þe liknes of an hoond of man aperide in cherubyn, vndir þe pennys of hem. And Y ſeeȝ, and loo! foure wheelis beſidis cherubyn; o wheel beſidis o cherub, and anoþer wheel beſidis o cherub; forſoþe þe fourme of wheelis was as þe ſiȝt of a ſtoon criſolitus. And þe biholdynge of hem, o liknes of foure, as if a wheel be in þe mydil of a wheel. And whanne þei walkiden, þei wenten in to foure parties; þei walkynge turneden not aȝen, but to þe place to whom þat þat was þe firſt bouwid for to goo, and þe oþere ſueden, neþer þei turneden aȝen. And al þe werk of hem, and neckis, and hoondis, and pennys, and cerclis, weren ful of eyen, in þe cumpas of foure wheelis. And he clepide þe ilk wheelis volible, or turnynge about, me herynge. Forſoþe oon hadde foure faces; o face þe face of cherub, and þe ſecounde face a face of man, and þe þridde face of a lioun, and in þe fourþe a face of an egle; and þe cherubyns ben lift vp. Þe ilk is þe beeſt, whom Y ſeeȝ beſidis þe flood Cobar. And whanne cherubyns walkiden, and þe wheelis wenten togidir beſidis hem; and whanne þe cherubyns liften vp her weengis, þat þei ſhulden be rerid fro þe erþe, þe wheelis abiden not, but and þei weren beſidis hem. Hem ſtondynge, þei ſtoden, and wiþ þe lift vp þei weren lift vp; forſoþe þe ſpirit of lijf was in hem. And þe glorie of þe Lord wente out fro þe þreſhfold of þe temple, and ſtoode vpon cherubyn. And þe cherubyns liftynge vp her weengis, ben reyſid fro þe erþe before me; and hem goynge out, and þe wheelis ſueden; and it ſtode in þe entre of þe eeſt ȝaat of þe hows of þe Lord, and þe glorye of God of Iſrael was vpon it. Þe ilk is þe beeſt, whom Y ſeeȝ vndir God of Iſrael, beſidis þe flood Cobar. And Y vndirſtode for foure cherubyns weren, bi foure cheeris, or facis, to oon, and foure weengis to oon; and a liknes of mannus hoond vnder þe weengis of hem. And þe liknes of þe cheeris of hem, þe ilk cheeris whom Y ſeeȝ beſidis þe flood Cobar; and þe biholdinge of hem, and þe feerſnes of eche, for to goo before his face.

Capitulum XI.

[edit]

And þe ſpirit lifte me vp, and ledde me in at þe eſt ȝate of þe hous of þe Lord, which biholdiþ þe ryſynge of þe ſunne. And loo! in þe entre of þe ȝate weren fyue and twenti men; and Y ſeeȝ in þe mydil of hem Jeconye, þe ſone of Aſur, and Pheltia, þe ſone of Banaye, pryncis of puple. And he ſeide to me, Sone of man, þes men þat þenken wickidnes, and treten þe worſt counſeil in þis citee, ſeiynge, Wheþer not a litil while gon ben houſis bildid? þis is þe caudrun, forſoþe we fleſſhes. Þerfor prophecy þou of hem, prophecy þou, ſone of man. And þe Spyrit of þe Lord felle in to me, and ſeide to me, Spek þou, Þe Lord ſeiþ þes þingis, Þus, hows of Iſrael, ȝe ſpaken, and Y knewȝ þe þouȝtis of ȝour hertis; ȝe ſlewen ful manye in þis cytee, and ȝe fulfilliden þe weies of it wiþ ſlayn men. Þerfor þe Lord ſeiþ þes þingis, Ȝour ſlayn men, whom ȝe han put in mydil of it, þes ben fleſh, and þis is þe caudrun; and Y ſhal lede ȝou out of þe mydil of it. Ȝe dredden ſwerd, and I ſhal in lede ſwerd vpon ȝou, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And I ſhal caſte ȝou out of þe mydil of it, and Y ſhal ȝyue ȝou in to þe hoond of enemyes, and Y ſhal make domys in ȝou. Ȝe ſhulen falle bi ſwerd, in þe endis of Iſrael Y ſhal deme ȝou; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. Þis ſhal not be to ȝou in to a caudrun, and ȝe ſhulen not be in to fleſſhis in þe mydil of it; in þe endis of Iſrael Y ſhal deme ȝou, and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. For ȝe walkiden not in myn heeſtis, and ȝe diden not my domes, but ȝe wrouȝten after þe domes of heþen men, þat ben in ȝour cumpas. And it is don, whanne Y propheciede, Pheltia, þe ſone of Banaye, is deed; and Y felle doun in to my face, criynge wiþ greet voys, and ſeide, Allas! allas! allas! Lord God, þou makiſt an eendynge of þe relikis of Iſrael. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, þi breþeren, and þi neiȝ men, and al þe hows of Iſrael, and alle men, to whom dwellers of Jeruſalem ſeiden, Goo ȝe a wey fer fro þe Lord, þe loond is ȝouen to vs in to poſſeſſioun. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, For Y made hem fer in heiþen men, and for I ſcatride hem in loondis, Y ſhal be to hem in to a litil halewinge, in loondis to whom þei camen. Þerfor ſpek þou, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Y ſhal gadre ȝou fro puplis, and Y ſhal gadre ȝou fro loondis, in whiche ȝe ben ſcatered; and Y ſhal ȝyue to ȝou þe loond of Iſrael. And þei ſhulen go in þidir, and þei ſhulen doo awei alle offenſiouns, or greuyngis, and alle abomynaciouns of it in þe ilk day. And Y ſhal ȝeue to hem a newe herte, and I ſchal ȝeue a new ſpirit in þe entrails of hem; and Y ſhal take awey a ſtonen herte of þe fleſhe of hem, and Y ſhal ȝyue to hem an herte of fleſh; þat þei walken in myn heeſtis, and kepen my domys, and doo hem, and be to me in to puple, and I be to hem in to God. Forſoþe þe herte of whom goþ after her offendyngis and abomynaciouns, Y ſhal putte þe weie of hem in her heed, þe Lord God ſeiþ. And cherubyns liftiden vp her weengis, and þe wheelis wiþ hem, and þe glorie of God of Iſrael was vpon hem. And þe glorie of þe Lord ſtiede vp of þe mydil of þe citee, and ſtode vpon þe hille, þat is at þe eeſt of þe citee. And þe ſpirit reiſide me, and ledde me in to Caldea, to tranſmygracioun, in a viſioun in þe ſpirit of God; and þe viſioun which Y ſeeȝ, is takyn a wey fro me. And Y ſpak to þe tranſmygracioun, or to þe puple led out of her loond, alle þe wordis of þe Lord, whiche he ſhewide to me.

Capitulum XII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, þou dwelliſt in mydil of an hous terrynge to wraþþe, whiche han eyen for to ſee, and ſeen not, and eris for to here, and heren not; for it is an hous terrynge to wraþþe. Þerfor þou, ſone of man, mak to þee veſſels of tranſmygracioun, or paſſyng ouer, and þou ſhalt paſſe ouer bifore hem bi dai; forſoþe þou ſhalt paſſe ouer fro þi place to anoþer place, in þe ſiȝt of hem, if perauenture þei biholden, for it is an hows terrynge to wraþþe. And þou ſhalt bere out þi veſſelis, as veſſelis of a man paſſynge ouer bi dai, in þe ſiȝt of hem; forſoþe þou ſhalt gon out in þe euenynge before hem, as a man paſſynge ouer goþ out. Before þe eyen of hem dig to þee a wal, and þou ſhalt gon out bi it in þe ſiȝt of hem. In ſhulders þou ſhalt be born, in derkneſſis þou ſhalt be born out; þou ſhalt hide þi face, and þou ſhalt not ſee þe erþe, for Y ȝaue þee a wondrynge, ſignyfiynge þing to comynge after to þe hous of Iſrael. Þerfor Y dide as þe Lord comaundide me; Y brouȝte forþ my veſſelis, as veſſelis of a man paſſynge ouer bi dai, and in þe euenynge I diggide a wal wiþ hoond; in derknes Y wente out, and in ſhuldris Y am born, in þe ſiȝt of hem. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me erli, ſeiynge, Sone of man, wheþer þe hous of Iſrael ſeide not to þee, an hous terrynge to wraþþe, What doſt þou? Sey þou to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þis charge vpon þe duyk, which is in Jeruſalem, and vpon alle þe hows of Iſrael, þat is in þe mydil of hem. Þerfor ſey þou, Y ȝour wondrynge; as Y dide, ſo it ſhal be don to hem; þei ſhulen goo in to tranſmygracioun, and in to caitiftee. And þe duyk þat is in þe mydil of hem, ſhal be born in ſhuldris, and ſhul goo out in derknes; þei ſhulen digge þe wal, for to lede out hym; þe face of hym ſhal be couered, þat he ſee not wiþ eye þe erþe. And Y ſhal ſtretche out my nette vpon hym, and he ſhal be takyn in my nette; and I ſhal lede hym in to Babiloyne, in to þe loond of Caldeis, and he ſhal not ſee it, and he ſhal dye þere. And Y ſhal diſparple in to eche wynd alle þat ben about hym, his helpe, and his cumpanyes; and Y ſhal drawe out a ſwerd after hem. And þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord, whanne Y ſhal ſcatere hem in heiþen men, and I ſhal ſowe hem abrood in loondis. And I ſhal leeue of hem a fewe men fro ſwerd, and hungre, and peſtilence, þat þei telle out alle þe greete treſpaſſys of hem in heiþen men, to whom þei ſhulen entre; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, ete þou þi breed in trublynge to gidir, but and drynke þi water in haſt and mournynge. And þou ſhalt ſeie to þe puple of þe loond, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God to hem þat dwellen in Jeruſalem, in þe loond of Iſrael, Þei ſhulen eete her breed in biſynes, and þei ſhulen drynke her water in diſcoumfort; þat þe loond be deſolatid fro his multitude, for þe wickidnes of alle men þat dwellen in it. And þe citees þat ben now enhabitid, ſhulen be deſolat, and þe loond deſeert, and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, what is þis prouerbe, or enſaumple, to ȝou in þe loond of Iſrael, of men ſeiynge, Dais ſhulen be differrid, or drawen, in to loong, and eche viſioun, or prophecie, ſhal periſhe? Þerfor ſey þou to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Y ſhal make þis prouerbe for to reſte, neþer opynli, or euery where, it ſhal be ſeide ouer in Iſrael; and ſpek þou to hem, for dais han neiȝede, and þe word of eche viſioun. Forſoþe not eche viſioun ſhal be void, neþer dyuynacoun douty in þe mydil of þe ſones of Iſrael; for Y þe Lord ſhal ſpeke what euere word Y ſhal ſpeke, and it ſhal be don; it ſhal namore be drawen along, but in ȝour dais, ȝe hous terrynge to wraþþe, I ſhal ſpeke a word, and I ſhal doo it, þe Lord God ſeiþ. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, loo! þe hous of Iſrael, of men ſeiynge, Þe viſioun which þis ſeeþ, þis prophecieþ in to manye dais, and in to loonge tymes. Þerfor ſey þou to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Eche my word ſhal not be drawen alonge; þe word þat I ſhal ſpeke, ſhal be fulfillid, þe Lord God ſeiþ.

Capitulum XIII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, prophecy þou to þe prophetis of Iſrael þat prophecien; and þou ſhalt ſey to men propheciynge of her herte, Here ȝe þe word of þe Lord. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Woo to vnwiſe prophetis, þat ſuen her ſpirit, and ſeen no þing; as foxes in deſeertis, Iſrael, þi prophetis weren. Ȝe ſtieden not vp forn aȝens, neþer ȝe aȝen puttiden a wal for þe hous of Iſrael, þat ȝe ſtoden in bataile in dai of þe Lord. Þei ſeen veyn þingis, and deuynen leeſynge, ſeiynge, Þe Lord ſeiþ, whanne he ſente not hem; and þei laſtiden for to confeerme þe word. Wheþer ȝe ſawen not a veyn viſioun, and ȝe ſpaken a fals dyuynynge, and ſeiden, Þe Lord ſeiþ, whanne Y ſpak not? Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For ȝe ſpaken veyn þingis, and ȝe ſawen leſynge, þerfor loo! Y to ȝou, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And myn hoond ſhal be vpon þe prophetis þat ſeen veyn þingis, and deuynen leeſynge; þei ſhulen not be in þe counſeyl of my puple, and þei ſhulen not be writyn in þe writynge of þe hous of Iſrael, neþer þei ſhulen entre in to þe loond of Iſrael; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord God. For þat þei diſſeyueden my puple, ſeiynge, Pees, pees, and pees is not; and he bildide a wal, forſoþe þei dawbeden, or pargetiden, it wiþ fen wiþ outen chaffis. Sey þou to hem þat dawben, or leyn morter, wiþ outen temperynge, þat it is to fallynge doun; forſoþe a reyn flowynge ſhal be, and Y ſhal ȝyue ful grete ſtoonus fallynge doun fro aboue, and a wynde of tempeſt diſtruyinge. Forſoþe loo! þe wal felle doun. Wheþer it ſhal not be ſeid to ȝou, Wher is þe dawbynge, þat ȝe dawbiden? Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, And Y ſhal make a ſpirit of tempeſtis for to breke out in myn indignacioun, and a reyn flowynge ſhal be in my woodnes, and grete ſtoonus in my wraþþe in to waſtynge. And Y ſhal diſtruye þe wal, whom ȝe daubiden wiþ outen temperynge, and I ſhal make it euen to þe erþe; and þe foundement of it ſhal be ſhewid, and it ſhal falle doun, and it ſhal be waſtid in þe mydil of it; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y am þe Lord. And Y ſhal fulfille myn indignacioun in þe wal, and in hem þat dauben it wiþ outen temperynge; and Y ſhal ſeye to ȝou, Þe wal is not, and þe prophetis of Iſrael þat dauben it, ben not, whiche prophecien to Jeruſalem, and ſeen to it a viſioun of pees, and pees is not, þe Lord God ſeiþ. And þou, ſone of man, put þi face aȝens þe douȝtris of þi puple, whiche prophecien of her herte; and prophecie þou of hem, and ſey, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Woo to hem þat ſewen to gidre cuſſhens vndir eche cubit of hoond, and maken pilewis vnder þe heed of eche age, for to take, or diſſeyue, ſoulis; and whanne þei token þe ſoulis of my puple, þei quyckeneden þe ſoulis of hem. And þei defouliden me to my puple, for an handful of barli, and a gobet of breed, þat þei ſlewen ſoulis whiche dien not, and quikeneden ſoulis whiche lyuen not, liynge to my puple, byleeuynge to leeſyngis. For þis þing þe Lord God ſeiþ, Loo! Y to ȝoure cuſſhens, bi whom ȝe taken ſoulis fleynge; and Y ſhal al tobreke hem of ȝour armes, and Y ſhal diſmytte, or delyuere, þe ſoulis for to flee, whom ȝe taken. And Y ſhal breke ȝour pilewis, and Y ſhal delyuere my puple fro ȝour hoond; neþer þei ſhulen be ouer in ȝour hoondis, for to be robbid; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. For þat þat ȝe maden leeiȝyngli þe herte of þe iuſt man for to mourne, whom Y made not ſorewful; and ȝe coumfortiden þe hoondis of þe vnpitous man, þat he ſhulde not turne aȝen fro hys yuel weie, and ſhulde lyue. Þerfor ȝe ſhulen not ſee veyn þingis, and ȝe ſhulen namore deuyne dyuynacions; and I ſhal delyuere my puple fro ȝoure hoond, and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord.

Capitulum XIIII.

[edit]

And men of þe eldris of Iſrael camen to me, and ſaten before me. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, þes men han putte her vnclennes in her hertis, and han ſette þe ſclaundre of her wickidnes aȝens her face. Wheþer Y axyd, ſhal anſwere to hem? For þis þing ſpek þou to hem, and þou ſhalt ſeie to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, A man, a man of þe hous of Iſrael, þat haþ putte his vnclennes in his herte, and haþ ſette þe ſclaundre of his wickidnes aȝens his face, and ſhal come to þe prophete, axynge bi hym me, Y þe Lord ſhal anſwere to hym in þe multitude of his vnclennes; þat þe hous of Iſrael be takyn in her herte, in whiche þei wenten awey fro me in alle her ydolis. Þerfor ſey þou to þe hous of Iſrael, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Be ȝe conuertid, and departe ȝe fro ȝoure ydolis, and turne awei ȝoure facis fro alle ȝoure defoulyngis. For a man, a man of þe hous of Iſrael, and of proſelitis, or men new comen to þe lawe of Jewis, who euer ſhal be cumlynge, or geſt, in Iſrael, if he ſhal be alienyd fro me, and ſhal putte his ydolis in his herte, and ſhal ſette þe ſclaundre of his wickidnes aȝens his face, and ſhal come to þe prophete, þat he axe bi hym me, I þe Lord ſhal anſwere to hym bi my ſilf. And Y ſhal putte my face vpon þat man, and I ſhal make hym in to enſaumple, and in to a prouerbe, and I ſhal diſtruye him fro þe mydil of my puple; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord. And whanne þe prophete ſhal erre, and ſhal ſpeke a word, Y þe Lord ſhal diſſeyue þe ilk prophete; and I ſhal ſtretche out myn hoond on him, and ſhal doo hym awey of þe mydil of my puple of Iſrael. And þei ſhulen bere her wickidnes; aftir þe wickidnes of þe man axinge, ſo þe wickidnes of þe prophete ſhal be; þat þe hows of Iſrael erre namore fro me, neþer be defoulid in alle his treſpaſſyngis, but be to me in to a puple, and Y be to hym in to a God, þe Lord of ooſtis ſeiþ. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, whanne þe erþe ſhal ſynne aȝens me, þat it treſpaſſynge treſpaſe, I ſhal ſtretche out myn hoond vpon it, and I ſhal togidir trede þe ȝeerd of breed of it; and I ſhal ſende in to it hungre, and I ſhal ſlee of it man and werk beeſt. And if þes þree men, Noe, Danyel, and Job, ſhulen be in þe mydil of it, þei bi her riȝtwiſnes ſhulen delyuere her ſoulis, þe Lord God of ooſtis ſeiþ. Þat and if I ſhal lede yn werſt beeſtis vpon þe loond, þat I waſte it, and it ſhal be vnwaied, or wayles, for þat þere is no paſſynge bi it for beeſtis, and þes þre men þat ſhulen be in it, þe Lord God ſeiþ, Y lyue, for neþer þei ſhulen delyuere ſones, neþer douȝters, but þei aloon ſhulen be delyuered; forſoþe þe loond ſhal be deſolat. Or if I ſhal lede yn a ſwerd vpon þat loond, and Y ſhal ſey to þe ſwerd, Paſſe bi þe loond, and I ſhal ſlee man and beeſt of it, and þes þree men ſhulen be in þe mydil of it, I lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God, þei ſhulen not delyuere ſones neþir douȝtris, but þei aloon ſhulen be delyuered. And forſoþe if Y ſhal ſende yn vpon þat loond peſtilence, and I ſhal ſheede out myn indignacioun vpon it in blood, þat Y doo awei fro it man and beeſt, and Noe, Danyel, and Job, ſhulen be in þe mydil of it, Y lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord, for þei ſhulen not delyuere ſone and douȝter, but þei aloon bi her riȝtwiſnes ſhulen delyuere her ſoulis. For þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þat and if I ſhal ſende in to Jeruſalem my foure werſt domys, ſwerd, and hungre, and yuel beeſtis, and peſtilence, þat Y ſlee man and beeſt of it, and neþeles ſauynge of men ledynge out ſonys and douȝtris ſhal be laft in it. Loo! þei ſhulen goo out to ȝou, and ȝe ſhulen ſee þe weie of hem, and þe fyndyngis of hem; and ȝe ſchulen be coumfortid on þe yuel which Y haue ledde in to Jeruſalem, in alle þingis whiche I haue brouȝte in on it. And þei ſhulen conforte ȝou, whanne ȝe ſhulen ſee þe weie of hem, and þe fyndyngis of hem; and ȝe ſhulen knowe, for not idely Y dide alle þingis, what euere Y dide in it, ſeiþ þe Lord almiȝti.

Capitulum XV.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, what ſhal be don to tree of þe viyn, of alle trees of þe wodis, þat ben among þe trees of woodis? Wheþer a tree ſhal be takyn of it, þat werk be maad? or a litil paal ſhal be forchid of it, þat eny maner veſſel hange in it? Lo! it is ȝouun to þe fier in to meet; þe fier haþ waaſtid eche eiþer parti of it, and þe mydil of it is brouȝt in to a deed broond; wheþer it ſhal be profitable to werk? Ȝhe, whanne it was hool, it was not able to werk; hou myche more whanne fier haþ deuouride and brende to gidre, no þing of werk ſhal be maad of it? Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Hou þe tree of viyn amonge þe trees of woodis, whom I ȝaue to fier for to deuoure, ſo Y ſhal bitake þe dwellers of Jeruſalem, and I ſhal putte my face in to hem. Þei ſhulen gon out of þe fier, and þe fier ſhal waaſte hem; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord, whanne Y ſhal putte my face in hem, and ſhal ȝyue þe loond vnwaied and deſolat, for þat þat þei weren treſpaſſours, ſeiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XVI.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, mak þou knowyn to Jeruſalem her abomynaciouns; and þou ſhalt ſeie, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God. Jeruſalem, þi roote and þi generacioun, of þe loond of Chanaan; þi fader Amorrei, and þi moder Ceþei. And whanne þou art born, in þe dai of þi birþ þi naule is not before kit, and in water þou art not waſſhen in to helþ, neþer bi ſalt ſaltid, neþer wlappid in cloþis. Myn eye ſparide not vpon þee, þat I ſhulde doo to þee oon of þes þingis, Y hauynge mercie of þee; but þou art caſt forþ vpon þe face of erþe, in þe caſtynge a wei of þi ſoule, in þe dai in which þou art born. Forſoþe Y paſſinge bi þee, ſawȝ þee for to be defoulid in þi blood; and I ſeide to þee, whanne þou were in þi blood, Lyue þou; ſoþeli Y ſeide to þee in þi blood, Lyue þou. And I ȝaue þee multipliede as buriounynge, or ſeed, of þe feeld, and þou art multiplied, and maad greet; and þou wentiſt in, and þou parfietli cameſt to wommanus aparaile; þi breeſtis, or teetis, waxeden greete, and þin heer buriounede; and þou was nakid, and ful of confuſioun. And I paſſide bi þee, and Y ſeeȝ þee, and loo! þi tyme, þe tyme of louers; and Y ſtretchide forþ my cloþinge vpon þee, and Y hilide þi ſhame. And Y ſwore to þee, and Y entride in couenaunt wiþ þee, ſeiþ þe Lord God, and þou art maad boundyn to me. And I waſſhide þee in water, and Y clenſide þi blood of þee, and anoyntide þee wiþ oyle. And I cloþide þee wiþ cloþis of dyuerſe colours, and ſhodde þee wiþ iaſynct; and I girde þee wiþ bijs, or whijt ſilk; and I cloþide þee wiþ ſotil þingis, and Y ournede þee wiþ ournementis. And I ȝaf ryngis in þin hoondis, and a bee about þi necke; and I ȝaue a reng vpon þi mouþ, and ceerclis to þin eeris, and a coroun of fayrnes in þi heed. And þou art ourned wiþ gold and ſiluer, and þou art cloþid wiþ bijs and wiþ clooþ many foold ſteyned wiþ rounde ymagis, and wiþ manye colours. Þou haſt etyn flour, and hony, and oyle, and myche þou art maad fayr; and þou profitidiſt in to a rewme, and þi name is gon out in to heþen men for þi fairnes; and þou waſt perfit in my fairnes, which Y hadde putte vpon þee, ſeiþ þe Lord. And þou hauynge truſt in þi fairnes, haſt don fornycacioun in þi name; and þou haſt putte þi fornycacioun to eche man paſſynge, þat þou were maad his. And þou takynge of my cloþingis, madiſt to þee heiȝ þingis, on eche ſide ſewide togidre; and þou haſt don fornicacoun vpon hem, as it was not don bifore, neþer is to beynge. And þou tokiſt þe veſſels of þi fairnes, of my gold and of my ſiluer, whiche Y ȝaue to þee; and þou madiſt to þee ymagis of men, and didiſt fornycacioun in hem. And þou tokiſt þi cloþingis of manye colours, and þou was cloþid in hem; and þou puttidiſt myn oyle and my tymyame, or encenſe, in þe ſiȝt of hem. And my breed, which I ȝaue to þee, flour, and oyle, and honye, wiþ whiche Y nurſhide þee, þou puttidiſt in þe ſiȝte of hem, in to odour of ſwetnes; and it is don, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And þou tokiſt þi ſones and douȝtris, whom þou gendrediſt to me, and offrediſt to hem, for to be deuourid. Wheþer þi fornycacioun is litil? Þou offrediſt my ſones, and ȝaueſt hem, togider halewynge to hem. And after alle þin abomynaciouns and fornycaciouns, þou haſt not mynde of þe dais of þi ȝongþ, whanne þou was nakid, and ful of confuſioun, þou was defoulid in þi blood. And woo, woo bifelle to þee, after al þi malice, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And þou haſt bildid to þee a bordel hous, and madiſt to þee hordom in alle ſtretis. At eche heed of weie þou bildidiſt a tokne of þi hordom, and madiſt þi fayrnes abomynable; and departidiſt þi feet to eche man paſſynge, and multipliediſt alle þi fornycaciouns. And þou didiſt fornycacioun wiþ ſones of Egipt, þi neiȝboris of grete fleſſhis, and multipliediſt þi fornycacioun, for to terre me to wraþþe. Loo! Y ſhal hoolde forþ myn hoond vpon þee, and Y ſhal take awey þi iuſtifiynge; and Y ſhal ȝyue þee in to þe hoondis of þe hatynge þee, of þe douȝtris of Paleſtyn, þat ſhamen in þi curſid weie. And þou haſt don fornycacioun in þe ſones of Aſſiriens, for þat þou was not ȝit fulfillid; and after þat þou didiſt fornycacioun, neþer ſo þou art ſwagid. And þou multipliediſt þi fornycacioun in þe loond of Canaan wiþ Caldeis, and neþer ſo þou art fulfillid. In what þing ſhal Y clenſe þin herte, ſeiþ þe Lord God, whanne þou doſt alle þes werkis of a womman hoore, and bold to hordom? For þou haſt forgid þi bordel hous in þe heed of eche weie, and þou madiſt þin heiȝe þingis in eche ſtrete; neþer þou art maad as an hoore anoyed, or ful of werynes, encreſynge prijs, but as a womman auowtreſſe, þe whiche lediþ in aliens vpon hir huſboond. To alle hooris hijris ben ȝouen, forſoþe þou haſt ȝouun hijre, or mede, to alle þi loueris; and þou ȝauiſt to hem, þat þei ſhulden entre to þee on eche ſide, for to doo fornycacioun wiþ þee. And it is don in þee aȝen þe cuſtom of wymmen in þi fornycaciouns, and after þee ſhal not be fornycacioun; forſoþe in þat þing þat þou ȝaueſt hijris, and reſſeyuediſt not hijris, þe contrarie is don in þee. Þerfor, þou hoore, here þe word of þe Lord. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þi monee is ſhed out, and þin euyl fame is ſhewid in þi fornycaciouns vpon þi loueris and vpon þin idolis of þin abomynaciouns, in þe blood of þi ſones, whom þou haſt ȝouen to hem; loo! Y ſhal gedre alle þi loueris, wiþ whom þou art meynd, and alle men whom þou louediſt, wiþ alle men whom þou hatidiſt; and Y ſhal gadre hem vpon þee on eche ſide, and Y ſhal make nakid þin yuel fame before hem, and alle ſhulen ſee þi filþ. And I ſhal deme þee wiþ domes of auoutreſſis, and of ſhedynge blood; and Y ſhal ȝyue þee in to blood of woodneſſe, and enuye. And Y ſhal ȝeue þee in to þe hoondis of hem, and þei ſhulen diſtruye þi bordel hous, and þei ſhulen diſtruye þin hoore hous; and þei ſhulen make þee nakid fro þi cloþis, and ſhulen take awei þe veſſelis of þi feirnes, and þei ſhulen forſake þee nakid, and ful of yuel fame. And þei ſhulen lede to vpon þee a multitude, and þei ſhulen ſtoone þee wiþ ſtoonus, and þei ſhulen ſlee þee wiþ her ſwerdis. And þei ſhulen togider brenne þin houſis in fier, and þei ſhulen doo domys in þee, in þe eyen of ful manye wymmen; and þou ſhalt faile, or ceeſe, for to do fornycacioun, and þou ſhalt namore ȝyue hijris. And myn indignacioun ſhal reſte in þee, and my loue ſhal be takyn awei fro þee; and I ſhal reſte, neþer Y ſhal be wrooþ more, for þat þat þou haddiſt not mynde of þe dais of þi ȝongþ, and haſt terrid me to wraþþe in alle þeſe þingis. Wherfor and Y haue ȝouen þi weies in þin heed, ſeiþ þe Lord God, and Y dide not after þi greet treſpaſſis, in alle þin abomynaciouns. Loo! eche man þat ſeiþ euery where, or comounli, a prouerbe in þee, ſhal take it to, ſeiynge, As þe modir, ſo and hir douȝter. Þou art þe doȝter of þi modir, which caſtide awei hir huſboond and hir ſones; and þe ſiſter of þi ſiſtris, whiche caſtiden awey her huſbondis and her ſones. Þi modir Ceþei, and þi fader Ammorrei; and þi more ſiſter Samarie, ſhe and hir douȝtris, þat dwellen at þi left ſide. Forſoþe þi ſiſter laſſe þan þou, þat dwelliþ at þi riȝt half, Sodom and hir douȝtris. But neþer þou haſt gon in þe weies of hem, neþer þou haſt don after her grete treſpaſſis; almeſt a litil leſſe gretter treſpaſſis þou haſt don þan þei, in alle þi weies. Y lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God, for Sodom, þi ſiſter, dide not, ſhe and hir douȝtris, as þou didiſt and þi douȝtris. Loo! þis was þe wickidnes of Sodom, þi ſiſter, prijde, and fulnes of breed, or glotonye, and aboundaunce, or plente, and idilnes of hir, and hir douȝtris; and þei dreſſiden not þe hoond to þe nedi and pore. And þei ben lift an heiȝ, and diden oþer abomynaciouns before me; and Y dide hem a wei, as þou haſt ſeen. And Samarie ſynnede not þe half of þi ſynnes, but þou haſt ouercomen hem in grete treſpaſſis, and haſt iuſtified þi ſiſtris in alle þin abomynaciouns, whiche þou wrouȝtiſt. Þerfor and þou bere þi confuſioun, which haſt ouercomyn þi ſiſtris wiþ þi ſynnes, doynge more curſidli þan þei; forſoþe þei ben iuſtified of þee. Þerfor and þou be confoundid, and ber þou þin yuel fame, þe which haſt iuſtifiede þi ſiſtris. And Y reſtorynge ſhal conuerte hem wiþ þe turnynge togidre of Sodom and hir douȝtris; and Y ſhal conuerte þi turnynge aȝen in þe mydil of hem, þat þou bere þin yuel fame, and be confoundid in alle þingis whiche þou didiſt, coumfortynge hem. And þi ſiſter Sodom and hir douȝtris ſhulen turne aȝen to her oldenes; and Samarie and hir douȝtris ſhulen turne aȝen to her oldenes; and þou and þi douȝtris turne aȝen to ȝour oldenes. Forſoþe Sodom, þi ſiſter, was not herde in þi mouþ, in þe dai of þi pride, before þat þi malice was ſhewid, as in þis tyme, in to þe ſhenſhip of douȝtris of Sirie, and of alle douȝters of Paleſtyn in þi cumpas, þat gon about þee bi enuyroun. Þou haſt born þi greet treſpas, and þin yuel fame, ſeiþ þe Lord God. For þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, And I ſhal doo to þee as þou diſpiſediſt þe ooþ, þat þou madiſt þe couenaunt voyd; and Y ſhal haue mynde of my couenaunt wiþ þee in þe dais of þi ȝongþ, and I ſhal reiſe to þee couenaunt euerlaſtynge. And þou ſhalt haue mynde of þi weies, and þou ſhalt be confoundid, whanne þou ſhalt reſſeyue þi ſiſtris more þan þou, wiþ þi leſſe; and Y ſhal ȝyue hem to þee in to douȝtris, and not of þi couenaunt. And Y ſhal reiſe my couenaunt wiþ þee, and þou ſhalt wite, for I þe Lord, þat þou haue mynde, and be confoundid; and þat it be namore to þee for to opyn þe mouþ, for þi confuſioun, whanne Y ſhal be pleſid to þee in alle þingis whiche þou haſt don, ſeiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XVII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeyynge, Sone of man, put forþ a derk enſaumple, or hard queſtioun, and telle a parable to þe hous of Iſrael; and þou ſhalt ſeye, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God. A greet egle of grete weengis, wiþ long ledynge of membris, ful of feþeris and dyuerſite, cam to þe Liban, and took þe merouȝ of cedre. He drowȝ of þe heiȝnes of his bouwis, or braunches, and bare it ouer in to þe loond of Canaan; in þe citee of marchauntis he puttide it. And he took of þe ſeed of þe erþe, and puttide it in þe erþe for ſeed, þat he ſhulde make ſad þe root vpon manye watris; in þe ouermeſt paart he puttide it. And whanne it had buriounede, it wexede in to a brodder viyn ȝerd, in lowe ſtature, þe braunches of it beholdinge to it, and þe rootis þerof weren vndir it; þerfor it is maad in to a viynȝerd, and made fruyte in to ſiouns, and ſente out braunchis. And anoþer greet egle is maad, wiþ greet weengis, and manye feþers; and loo! þis viynȝerd as ſendynge his rootis to it, ſtretchide out his ſiouns to it, þat it moyſtide it of þe litil placis of his buriounynge. Þat in good erþe vpon many waters is plauntid, þat it make bouwis, and bere fruyte, þat it be in to a greet viynȝerd. Sey þou, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þerfor wheþer it ſhal haue proſperite? Wheþer he ſhal not drawe vp þe rote of it, and ſhal diſtruye þe fruytis of it? And he ſhal drye alle þe ſyouns of his buriounynge, and it ſhal wexe drye; and not in a greet arme, neþer in myche puple, þat he ſhulde drawe it vp bi þe roote. Loo! it is plauntid; þerfor wheþer it ſhal haue proſperite? Wheþer whanne a brennynge wynde ſhal touche it, it ſhal not be dried, and it ſhal dwyne awey in þe placis of his buriounynge? And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sey þou to þe hows terrynge to wraþþe, Witen ȝe not what þes þingis bitoknen? Sei þou, Loo! þe kyng of Babiloyne comeþ in to Jeruſalem; and he ſhal take þe kyng and his princes, and he ſhal lede hem to hym ſelf in to Babiloyne. And he ſhal take of þe ſeed of þe rewme, and he ſhal ſmyte a boond of pees wiþ it, and of it he ſhal reſſeyue an ooþ; but and he ſhal take a wei þe ſtronge men of þe loond, þat þe rewme be lowe, and be not reiſid vp, but kepe þe couenaunt of hym, and kepe it, or ſaue. Whiche goynge a wey fro hym, ſente meſſageris to Egipt, þat he ſhulde ȝyue to hym horſis and myche puple. Wheþer he ſhal haue proſperite, or ſhal gete helþ, which dide þes þingis? and he þat vndoþ a couenaunt, wheþer he ſhal aſkape? Y lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God, for in þe place of þe kyng þat made hym kyng, whos ooþ he made voyd, and brak þe couenaunt þat he hadde wiþ hym, in þe mydil of Babiloyne he ſhal die. And not in greet ooſt, neþer in myche puple Pharao ſhal make batayle aȝens hym, in caſtynge of an heep of erþe, and in bildynge of paalis, þat he ſlee many ſoulis. Forſoþe he diſpiſide þe ooþ, þat he ſhulde breke þe boond of pees, and loo! he ȝaf his hoond; and whanne he haþ do alle þes þingis, he ſhal not ſkape. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, I lyue, for I ſhal putte in to his heed þe ooþ þat he diſpiſide, and þe boond of pees þat he brak. And I ſhal holde forþ vpon hym my nette, and he ſhal be cacchid in my nette, and Y ſhal lede hym in to Babiloyne; and Y ſhal deme hym in þe treſpaſſynge, in which he diſpiſide me. And alle þe fleers of hym wiþ al his company ſhulen falle togidre in ſwerd, forſoþe þe reſidues ſhulen be ſcatered in to eche wynd; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord haue ſpoken. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, And Y ſhal take of þe merewȝ of þe heeȝ cedre, and I ſhal putte of þe cop of his braunchis; þe tendre I ſhal diſtreyne, and Y ſhal plaunte vpon an heiȝ hil, and fer aperynge. And in þe heiȝ hil of Iſrael Y ſhal plaunte it; and it ſhal breſt vp in to buriownynge, and ſhal make fruyte, and ſhal be in to a greet cedre, and alle briddis ſhulen dwelle vndir it; al volatile ſhal make neſtis vndir þe ſhadewe of his bouwis. And alle þe trees of þe cuntre ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord haue mekid þe heiȝ tree, and reyſide þe meke tree, and Y driede þe grene tree, and Y made þe drye tree for to floriſſhe; Y þe Lord ſpak, and Y dide.

Capitulum XVIII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, What is it, þat amonge ȝou ȝe turnen a parable in to þis prouerbe, in þe loond of Iſrael, ſeyynge, Þe fadris eeten a ſoure grape, and þe teeþ of ſones wexen on egge? Y lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God, if þis parable ſhal be more to ȝou in to a prouerbe in Iſrael. Loo! alle ſoulis ben myne; as þe ſoule of þe fadir, ſo and þe ſoule of þe ſone is myne. Þe ſoule þat ſhal ſynne, þe ilk ſhal die. And if a man ſhal be iuſt, and ſhal doo doom and riȝtwiſnes, he ſhal not ete in þe hillis, and ſhal not reyſe his eyen to þe ydolis of þe hows of Iſrael; and he ſhal not defoule þe wijf of his neiȝbour, and ſhal not go to a menſtruat womman, or in vnclene blood flowing; and he ſhal not make a man ſorewful, he ſhal ȝeelde þe wed to þe dettour, and he ſhal rauyſſhe no þing bi ſtrengþ, he ſhal ȝyue his breed to þe hungrynge, and he ſhal hille þe nakid wiþ cloþing; he ſhal not leene to vſure, and ſhal not take more; he ſhal turne awey his hoond fro wickidnes, and he ſhal doo verre dom bitwix man and man; and ſhal walke in my comaundementis, and ſhal kepe my domys, þat he doo treuþ; he þis is iuſt, in lijf he ſhal lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Þat if he ſhal gendre a ſone, þeef, ſhedynge out blood, and ſhal doo oon of þes, and ſoþeli not doynge alle þes, but etynge in mounteyns, and defoulynge þe wijf of his neiȝbour; makynge þe nedy and pore ſorewful, rauyſhynge raueyns, not ȝeeldynge wed, reiſynge his eyen to ydolis, doynge abomynacioun; ȝyuynge to vſure, and takynge more; wheþer he ſhal lyue? he ſhal not lyue; whanne he ſhal doo alle þes curſyd þingis, he ſhal die bi deeþ, þe blood of hym ſhal be in hym. Þat if he ſhal gendre a ſone, whiche ſeynge alle þes ſynnes of his fader, which he haþ don, ſhal drede, and not doo liche þing to hem; ſhal not eete in hillis, and ſhal not reyſe his eyen to þe ydolis of þe hows of Iſrael; and ſhal not defoule þe wijf of his neiȝbour, and ſhal not make a man ſorewful, ſhal not wiþholde a wed, and ſhal not rauyſhe raueyne, ſhal ȝyue his breed to þe hungrynge, and ſhal hille þe nakid wiþ cloþing; ſhal turne awei his hoond fro wroong of þe pore man, ſhal not take vſure and ouere-aboundance, and ſhal doo my domys, ſhal walke in my preceptis; þis man ſhal not die in þe wickydnes of his fadir, but in lijf he ſhal lyue. Þe fadir of hym, for he dide fals chalenge, and dide ſtrengþe, or violence, to his broþer, and wrouȝte yuel þing in þe mydil of his puple, loo! he is deed in his wickidnes. And ȝe ſeyn, Whi beriþ not þe ſone þe wickidnes of his fader? Þat is for to wite, for þe ſone wrouȝte doom and riȝtwiſnes, he kepte alle my preceptis, and dide hem, in lijf he ſhal lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Þe ſoule þat ſhal ſynne, þe ilke ſhal die; þe ſone ſhal not bere þe wickidnes of þe fader, and þe fadir ſhal not bere þe wickidnes of þe ſone; þe riȝtwiſnes of þe iuſt man ſhal be vpon hym, and þe vnpitouſnes of þe vnpitous man ſhal be vpon hym. Forſoþe if þe vnpitous man ſhal doo penaunce of alle his ſynnes whiche he haþ wrouȝte, and ſhal kepe alle myn heeſtis, and ſhal doo doom and riȝtwiſnes, in lijf he ſhal lyue, and he ſhal not die. I ſhal not haue mynde of alle þe wyckidneſſis whiche he wrouȝte; in his riȝtwiſneſſe whiche he wrouȝt, he ſhal lyue. Wheþer þe deeþ of þe vnpitous man is of my wil, ſeiþ þe Lord God, and not þat he be conuertid fro his weies, and lyue? Forſoþe if a iuſt man ſhal turne hym a wei fro his riȝtwiſnes, and ſhal doo wickidnes, after alle þe abomynaciouns whiche þe vnpytous man is wont for to worche, wheþer he ſhal lyue? Alle his riȝtwiſneſſis whiche he dide, ſhulen not be recordid; in þe treſpaſſynge in which he treſpaſſide, and in þe ſynne in which he ſynnede, in hem he ſhal dye. And ȝe ſeiden, Þe weie of þe Lord is not euen. Þerfor here ȝe, hous of Iſrael, wheþer my weye is not euen, and not more ȝoure weies ben ſhrewid? Forſoþe whanne a iuſt man ſhal turne awei him fro his riȝtwiſnes, and ſhal do wickidnes, he ſhal die in hem, in þe vnriȝtwiſnes which he wrouȝt, he ſhal die. And whanne þe vnpitous man ſhal turne hym a wey fro his vnpite which he wrouȝte, and ſhal doo doom and riȝtwiſnes, he ſhal quykne his ſoule. Forſoþe biholdynge and turnynge awei hym fro alle his wickidneſſis whiche he wrouȝte, he ſhal lyue in lijf, and ſhal not die. And þe ſones of Iſrael ſeyn, Þe weie of þe Lord is not euen. Wheþer my weies ben not euen, ȝe hous of Iſrael, and not more ȝoure weies ben ſhrewid? Þerfor I ſhal deme eche man after his weies, ȝe hous of Iſrael, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Be ȝe conuertid, and doo ȝe penaunce fro alle ȝour wyckidneſſis, and wickidnes ſhal not be to ȝou in to falling doun. Caſte ȝe awei fro ȝou alle ȝour treſpaſſyngis, in whiche ȝe han treſpaſſide, and make ȝe to ȝou a newe herte and a newe ſpirite, and whi ſhulen ȝe die, hous of Iſrael? For I wole not þe deeþ of þe diynge, but þat he be conuertid and lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God; turne ȝe aȝen, and lyue.

Capitulum XIX.

[edit]

And þou, ſone of man, take to þee weilynge vpon þe princis of Iſrael; and þou ſhalt ſeie, Whi þi modir, a liouneſſe, laie amonge lyouns? In þe mydil of ſmale liouns ſhe nurſhide hir whelpis, and ledde out oon of her litil liouns; he is maad a lioun, and lerned for to take pray, and for to ete man. And heiþen men herden of hym, and not wiþ outen his woundis þei tokyn hym; and ladden hym in cheynes in to þe loond of Egipt. Which whanne ſhe ſeeȝ, for ſhe is maad ſijk, and abidynge of hym periſhide, took oon of hir litil lyouns, ordeynde hym a lyoun. And he lernede for to take pray, and for to deuoure men. He lernede for to make wydewis, and for to brynge citees in to deſeert; and þe loond is deſolat and þe plente of it, of þe vois of his rorynge. And heiþen men camen togidre aȝens hym on eche ſyde fro prouyncis, and ſtretchiden out her net vpon hym; in þe woundis of hem he is takyn. And þei ſenten hym in to a caue in cheynes, and þei ledden hym forþ to þe kyng of Babiloyne; and þei ſenten hym in to priſoun, leſt his vois were herd more vpon þe hillis of Iſrael. Þi modir as a vynȝerd in þi blood vpon water is plauntid; þe fruytis of it and bouwis of it wexeden of many watris. And ſad ȝeerdis ben maad to it in to ſeptris of men hauynge lordſhip, and þe ſtature of it is enhaunſid among bouwis; and it ſeeȝ his heiȝnes in þe multitude of his ſiouns. And it is drawyn vp in wraþþe, and caſte in to þe erþe; and a brennynge wynd driede þe fruyte of it, þe ȝerdes of his ſtrengþ welewiden, and ben maad drie, fier ete it. And now it is plauntid ouere in deſeert, in loond not wayed, or not hauntid, and þriſtie. And fier wente out of þe ȝerde of his braunchis, which ete þe fruyte of it. And a ſtronge ȝerde, a ceptre, or kyngis ȝerde, of men hauynge lordſhip, was not in it. Weilynge is, and ſhal be in to weilynge.

Capitulum XX.

[edit]

And it is maad in þe ſeuenþe ȝeer, in þe fifþe moneþ, in þe tenþe dai of þe moneþ, men of þe eldris of Iſrael camen for to axe þe Lord, and ſaten before me. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, ſpeke þou to þe eldre men of Iſrael; and þou ſhalt ſeie to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Wheþer ȝe camen for to axe me? Y lyue, for Y ſhal not anſwere to ȝou, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Sone of man if þou demeſt hem, if þou demiſt, ſhew þou to hem þe abomynaciouns of her fadris. And þou ſhalt ſeie to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, In þe dai in which Y cheeſe Iſrael, and reiſide myn hoond for þe kynrede, or generaciouns, of Jacobs hows, and aperide to hem in þe loond of Egipt, and reiſide myn hoond for hem, ſeiynge, Y þe Lord ȝoure God, in þat dai Y reiſide myn hoond for hem, þat Y ſhulde lede hem out of þe loond of Egipt, in to þe loond which Y hadde purueiede to hem, flowynge wiþ mylk and hony, whiche is noble amonge alle loondis. And Y ſeide to hem, Eche man caſte awey þe offenſiouns of his eyen, and in þe ydols of Egipt nyl ȝe be defoulid; I þe Lord ȝour God. And þei wraþþiden me, and þei wolden not here me; eche man caſtide not awey þe abomynaciouns of his eyen, neþer forſoke þe ydols of Egipt. And Y ſeide, þat Y ſhulde ſheede out myn indignacioun vpon hem, and ſhulde fulfille my wraþþe in hem, in þe mydil of þe loond of Egipt. And Y dide for my name, þat it were not defoulid before heiþen men, in whos mydil þei weren, and among whom I aperide to hem, þat I ſhulde lede out hem fro þe lond of Egipt. Þerfor Y caſtide out hem fro þe lond of Egipt, and Y ledde out in to deſert, and ȝaf to hem myn heeſtis, and Y ſhewide to hem my domys, whiche a man ſhulde doo, and lyue in hem. More ouere and I ȝaue to hem my ſabotis, þat it were a ſigne bitwixe me and hem, and þei ſhulden wite, for I þe Lord halewynge hem. And þe hous of Iſrael wraþþide me in deſeert; in my preceptis þei walkiden not, and þei caſtiden awey my domys, whom a man doynge ſhal lyue in hem; and þei defouliden greetli my ſabotis. Þerfor I ſeide, þat I ſhulde ſhede out my woodnes vpon hem in deſeert, and deſtruye hem; and Y dide for my name, leſt I were defoulid before heiþen men, of whom Y caſtide hem out in þe ſiȝte of hem. Þerfor Y reiſide myn hoond vpon hem in deſeert, þat Y ledde hem not in to þe loond which Y ȝaue to hem, flowynge wiþ mylk and hony, þe beſt of alle loondis. For þei caſtiden awei my domys, and þei walkiden not in myn heeſtis, and þei defouleden my ſabotis; forſoþe þe herte of hem wente after idolis. And myn eye ſparide vpon hem, þat I ſhulde not ſlee hem, neþer Y waaſtide hem in deſeert. Forſoþe Y ſeide to þe ſones of hem in wildirnes, In þe preceptis of ȝoure fadris nyle ȝe goo, neþer kepe ȝe þe domys of hem, neþer be ȝe defoulid in þe idolis of hem. Y þe Lord ȝour God, in my preceptis walke ȝe, and kepe ȝe my domys, and doo ȝe hem. And halewe ȝe my ſaboþis, þat it be a tokne betwixe me and ȝou, and it be wiſt, for Y þe Lord ȝour God. And þe ſones of Iſrael wraþþiden me, and þei walkiden not in my preceptis, and þei kepten not my domys, þat þei ſhulden do hem, whiche whanne a man ſhal doo, he ſhal lyue in hem, and þei defouliden my ſabotis. And I þretenede, þat I ſhulde ſheede out my woodnes vpon hem, and ſhulde fulfille my wraþþe in hem in deſeert. Y turnede awei myn hoond, and Y dide þis þing for my name, þat it were not defoulid before heiþen men, of whom I caſtide out hem in þe eyen of hem. Eftſoone Y reyſide myn hoond in to hem in wildirnes, þat Y ſhulde ſcatere hem in to naciouns, and ſhulde wyndow hem in to loondis; for þat þat þei diden not my domys, and repreueden my preceptis, and defouleden my ſabotis, and þe eyen of hem weren after þe idolis of her fadris. Þerfor and Y ȝaue to hem preceptis not goode, and domys in whiche þei ſhulen not lyue. And Y defoulede hem in her ȝiftis, whanne þei offriden al þing þat opneþ þe wombe for her giltis; and þei ſhulden wite, for Y þe Lord. Wherfor, ſone of man, ſpek þou to þe hous of Iſrael, and þou ſhalt ſeie to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Ȝit and in þes þingis ȝoure faders blasfemeden me, whanne þei deſpiſynge hadden forſake me, and Y hadde ledde hem in to þe loond vpon which Y reyſide myn hoond, þat Y ſhulde ȝyue it to hem, þei ſawen eche heeȝ litil hil, or reiſynge of greet hil, and eche tree ful of wode, and þei offreden þere her ſlayn ſacrifices for victorie, and ȝauen þere her offryngis in to wraþþinge; and þei puttiden þere þe odour of her ſwetnes, and ſacrefieden her libaciouns, þat ben of fletynge þingis, as wiyn, oyle, and ſiche. And Y ſeide to hem, What is þe heiȝ þing, to whom ȝe entren in? And þe name of it is clepid Heeȝ Þing til in to þis dai. Þerfor ſey þou to þe hous of Iſrael, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Certis in þe weie of ȝoure fadris ȝe ben polut, or defoulid, and after her offenſiouns ȝe don fornycacioun, and in offrynge of ȝour ȝiftis, whanne ȝe leden ouer ȝoure ſones bi fier, ȝe ben defoulid in alle ȝour ydols til to dai, and Y ſhal anſwere to ȝou, þe hous of Iſrael? Y lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God, for I ſhal not anſwere to ȝou; neþer þe þenkynge of ȝour ſoule, or vnderſtondynge, ſhal be maad, of men ſeiynge, We ſhulen be as heiþen men, as þe kynredis of erþe, þat we worſhipe trees and ſtoonus. Y lyue, ſeiþ þe Lord God, for in ſtrong hoond, and in arm ſtrauȝt out, and in woodnes ſhed out, Y ſhal regne vpon ȝou. And I ſhal lede out ȝou of puplis, and Y ſhal gadre ȝou of loondis, in whiche ȝe ben ſcaterid; in ſtrong hoond and arm ſtrauȝt forþ, and in woodnes ſhed out I ſhal regne vpon ȝou. And Y ſhal lede ȝou in to deſeert of puplis, and I ſhal be demed þere wiþ ȝou face to face. As bi doom Y ſtroof aȝens ȝour fadris in deſeert of þe loond of Egipt, ſo Y ſhal deme ȝou, ſeiþ þe Lord; and I ſhal make you ſuget to my ceptre, and Y ſhal lede in ȝou in boondis of pees. And Y ſhal cheeſe of ȝou treſpaſſeris, and vnpitouſe men; I ſhal lede out hem fro þe loond of her cumlyngnes, and þei ſhulen not entre in to þe loond of Iſrael; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. And ȝe, þe hous of Iſrael, þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Ȝe eche walke after ȝour idolis, and ſerue ȝe to hem. Þat and if in þis þing ȝe ſhulen not here me, and ȝe ſhulen defoule ouer myn hooli name in ȝour ȝiftis, and in ȝour ydolis, in myn hooli hil, in þe heiȝ hil of Iſrael, ſeiþ þe Lord God, þere al þe hous of Iſrael ſhal ſerue to me; forſoþe eche in þe loond, in which þei ſhulen pleſe to me; and þere I ſhal ſeche ȝour prymyſies, or firſt fruytis, and þe bigynnynge of ȝour tiþis in alle ȝour halewyngis. In to odour of ſwetnes Y ſhal reſſeyue ȝou, whanne Y ſhal lede ȝou out of puplis, and ſhal gedre ȝou of loondis, in to whiche ȝe ben ſcatered; and I ſhal be halewid in ȝou in eyen, or ſiȝt, of naciouns. And ȝe ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord, whanne I ſhal lede ȝou in to þe loond of Iſrael, in to þe loond for which Y reyſide myn hoond, þat I ſhulde ȝyue it to ȝour fadris. And þere ȝe ſhulen biþenke in hem of ȝour weies, and of alle ȝour grete treſpaſſis, bi whiche ȝe ben defoulid in hem; and ȝe ſhulen diſpleſe to ȝou in ȝour ſiȝt, in alle ȝour malices whiche ȝe diden. And ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord, whanne I ſhal wel doo to ȝou for my name; not after ȝour yuel weies, neþer after ȝour werſt huge treſpaſſis, ȝe hous of Iſrael, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, put þou þi face aȝens þe weie of þe ſouþ, and drop to þe ſouþ wynd, and prophecy þou to þe wodi place, or wildernes, of þe myddai, or ſouþ, feeld. And þou ſhalt ſeie to þe myddai, or ſouþ, wodi place, Here þou þe word of þe Lord. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, Loo! I ſhal kyndle in þee fier, and I ſhal togider brenne in þee eche grene tree, and eche drye tree; þe flaume of brennynge ſhal not be quenchid, and eche face in it ſhal be brent togidre, fro þe ſouþ vnto þe norþ. And eche fleſh ſhal ſee, for I þe Lord brende it, and it ſhal not be quenchid. And Y ſeide, A! A! A! Lord God, þei ſeyn of me, What þis ſpekiþ bi parablis?

Capitulum XXI.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, put þou þi face to Jeruſalem, and drop to þe ſeyntuaries, and prophecy þou aȝens þe erþe of Iſrael. And þou ſhalt ſeie to þe loond of Iſrael, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I to þee, and I ſhal caſte out my ſwerd of his ſheeþe, and I ſhal ſlee in þee þe iuſt and þe vnpitous. Forſoþe for þat þat Y ſlew in þee þe iuſt man and vnpitous, þerfor my ſwerd ſhal goo out of his ſheeþe to eche fleſh, or man, fro þe ſouþ vn to þe norþ; þat eche fleſh wite, for I þe Lord ledde out my ſwerd of his ſheeþe irreuocable, or þat may not be clepid aȝen. And þou, ſone of man, ſorew wiþinforþ in þe contricioun of leendis, and þou ſhalt inwardli ſorewe in bitterneſſis bifore hem. And whanne þei ſhulen ſeie to þee, Whi ſorewiſt þou? þou ſhalt ſeie, For þe herynge, for it cummeþ; and eche herte ſhal faile, and alle hoondis ſhulen be vndon, and eche ſpirit ſhal be ſijk, and bi alle kneȝes watris ſhulen fleete; loo! it cummeþ, and it ſhal be maad, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, prophecy þou; and þou ſhalt ſeie, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Spek þou, Þe ſwerd, þe ſwerd is whettid, and furbuſhid; þat it kitte, or ſlee, ſlayn ſacrifices, it is whettid; þat it ſhyne, it is furbuſhid. Þe which mouynge þe ceptre of my ſone, haſt kitte doun eche tree. And Y ȝaue hym for to be maad pleyn, þat it be hold wiþ hoond; þis ſwerd is whettid, and þis is furbuſhid, þat it be in þe hoond of þe ſleynge. Sone of man, cry þou, and goul, for þis is maad in my puple, þis in alle þe duykis of Iſrael; þei þat han fledde fro ſwerd ben bitakyn wiþ my puple. Þerfor bete togidre hoondis vpon þe hipe, for it is proued; and þis þing whanne it ſhal diſtruye þe ceptre, and it ſhal not be, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Þerfor þou, ſone of man, prophecy, and ſmyit hoond to hoond, and þe ſwerd be doublid, and þe ſwerd of ſleers be treblid; þis is þe ſwerd of greet ſleynge, which ſhal make hem greetli abaiſt, or mad, and for to faile in herte, and it multiplieþ fallyngis. In alle þe ȝatis of hem Y ȝaue togidre ſturblynge of ſwerd, ſharp and furbuſhid for to ſhyne, cloþid to ſleynge. Be þou whettid, go þou to þe riȝt, or to þe left, whidir euere is þe appetit, or deſier, of þi face. For and Y ſhal ſmyte wiþ hoond to hoond, and Y ſhal fulfille myn indignacioun; Y þe Lord haue ſpokyn. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, And þou, ſone of man, put to þee two weies, þat þe ſwerd of þe king of Babiloyne come; boþe ſhulen goo out of o loond, and in hoond he ſhal take coniectynge, or ſuſpicioun; in heed of þe waie of þe citee he ſhal geſſe, or þenke, puttynge a weie, þat þe ſwerd come to Rabaþ of þe ſones of Amon, and to Juda in to Jeruſalem mooſt waardid, or ſtrengþid. Forſoþe þe kyng of Babiloyne ſtode in þe metynge of two weies, ſechynge dyuynacioun, mengynge arowis; he axede ydolis, he counſeilide entrailis. At þe riȝt half of hym dyuynacioun is maad vpon Jeruſalem, þat he putte engynes, þat he opyn þe mouþ in ſleynge, þat he reyſe þe vois in goulynge, þat he putte engynes aȝens ȝatis, þat he bere togidre an heepe of erþe, þat he bilde waardynge. And he ſhal be as veynly counſeilynge anſwere of God in þe eyen of hem, and chaungyng þe idilnes, or reſt, of ſabotis; forſoþe he ſhal haue mynde of wickidnes, for to take. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat ȝe han mynde of ȝour wickidnes, and han ſhewide ȝour treſpaſſingis, and ȝour ſynnes apereden in alle ȝour þouȝtis, for þat ſoþeli þat ȝe hadden mynde, ȝe ſhulen be takyn bi þe hoond. Þou ſoþeli, curſid vnpitous duyk of Iſrael, whos day determyned comeþ in tyme of wickidnes, þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Do a wey þe mytre, tak a wei þe coroun; wheþer þis is not which enhaunſide þe meke, and mekide þe heiȝ? Y ſhal putte it wickidnes, wickidnes, wickidnes; and þis þing is not don til he cam, whos þe doom of God is, and ſhal be take to hym. And þou, ſone of man, prophecy, and ſey, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God to þe ſones of Amon, and to þe ſhenſhip of hem; and þou ſhalt ſeye, Swerd, ſwerd, vnſheþe þee for to ſlee, furbiſhe þee, þat þou ſlee and ſhyne, whanne veyne þingis weren ſeen to þee, and leeſyngis weren dyuynyd, þat þou ſhuldiſt be ȝouen vpon þe neckis of vnpitouſe men woundid, of whom þe dai determyned ſhal come in tyme of wickidnes. Turn aȝen in to þi ſheeþe, in to þe place in which þou art maad. In þe loond of þi birþ Y ſhal deme þee, and Y ſhal ſhede out vpon þee myn indignacioun; in fier of my woodnes Y ſhal blowe in þee, and Y ſhal ȝeue þee in to þe hoondis of vnwijs men, and forgynge periſhynge, or deeþ. Þou ſhalt be meet to fier, þi blood ſhal be in þe mydil of erþe; þou ſhalt be bitakyn to forȝetynge, for I þe Lord haue ſpokyn.

Capitulum XXII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, And þou, ſone of man, wheþer þou demeſt not þe citee of bloodis? And þou ſhalt ſhewe to it alle her abomynaciouns, and þou ſhalt ſeie, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þe citee ſhedynge out blood in þe mydil of it, þat þe tyme of it cumme; and which made ydols aȝens it ſilf, þat it were polutid, or defoulid. In þi blood þat is ſhed out of þee, þou treſpaſſidiſt, and in þin ydolis whiche þou madiſt þou art defoulid; and þou madiſt þi daies for to neiȝ, and leddiſt to þe tyme of þi ȝeeris. Þerfor I ȝaue þee ſhenſhip to heiþen men, and ſcornynge to alle loondis þat ben beſidis; and þei þat ben fer fro þee ſhulen haue victorie of þee, þou foule, noble, greet in periſhing. Loo! þe princes of Iſrael, eche in her arm, weren in þee, for to ſhede out blood. Þei punyſhiden wiþ wroongis þe fadir and moder in þee, þei falſly chalengiden a cumlynge in þe mydil of þee, þei maden ſorewful fadirles and moderles and widewe anentis þee. Ȝe han diſpiſide my ſeyntuaries, and ȝe han defoulide my ſabotis. Men bacbiters weren in þee, for to ſhede out blood, and vpon mounteyns þei eten in þee; þei wrouȝten greet treſpas in þe mydil of þee. Fadris vnhilliden in þee more ſhameful þingis, þei meekeden in þee þe vnclennes of þe menſtruate womman. Eche man wrouȝte abomynacioun in to þe wijf of his neiȝbour, and þe huſbondis fader defoulide his ſonys wijf; vnleuefuli þe broþer oppreſſide in þee his ſiſtyr, þe douȝter of his fader. Þei token ȝiftis, for to ſheede out blood at þee; þou tokiſt vſure and oueraboundaunce, and gredili, or coueytouſly, þou falſly chalengidiſt þi neiȝbours, and haſt forȝete me, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Loo! I haue ſmytin togider myn hondis vpon þin aueryce, or gredynes, which þou didiſt, and vpon þe blood þat is ſhed out in þe mydil of þee. Wheþer þin herte ſhal ſuſteyne, or þin hoondis ſhulen haue power in þe dais whiche I ſhal make to þee? Forſoþe Y þe Lord ſpak, and Y ſhal doo. And I ſhal ſcater þee in to naciouns, and I ſhal wyndewe, or blowe, þee in to loondis; and I ſhal make þi vnclennes to fayle fro þee, and I ſhal weelde þee in þe ſiȝt of heiþen men; and þou ſhalt wyte, for I þe Lord. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, þe hous of Iſrael is turnyd in to droſſe, or ſyndre; alle þes bras, and tyn, and yren, and leed, in þe mydil of fourneys, ben maad droſſe of ſiluer. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat ȝe alle ben turned in to droſſe, þerfor loo! I ſhal gedre ȝou in þe mydil of Jeruſalem, a gedrynge of ſiluer, and bras, and yren, and tyn, and leed, in þe mydil of þe fourneys; and I ſhal teende a fier in it, to welle to gidre; ſo Y ſhal gedre ȝou in my woodnes, and in my wraþþe, and I ſhal reſte aȝen. And I ſhal welle ȝou togidir, and I ſhal gadre ȝou, and I ſhal kyndil ȝou in fier of my woodnes, and ȝe ſhulen be wellid to gidre in þe mydil of it. As ſiluer is wellid to gidre in mydil of þe fourneis, ſo ſhulen ȝe be in þe mydil of it; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord, whanne Y haue ſhedde out myn indignacioun vpon ȝou. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, ſey to it, Þou art þe vnclene loond, not reynyd togidir in þe dai of woodnes. Coniuriſoun of prophetis in þe mydil of it; as a lioun rorynge and takynge pray, þei deuoureden ſoule, or lijf, of þe nedi man, and þei token priys; þei multiplieden widewis of it in þe mydil of it. Þe preeſtis of it diſpiſeden my lawe, and defouleden my ſeyntuaries; þei hadden no difference bitwix hooli and vnhooli, þei vndirſtoden not bitwixe vnclene and clene þing; and þei turneden awey her eyen fro my ſabotis, and Y was defoulid in þe mydil of hem. Þe princis of it in þe mydil of it as wulues rauyſhynge pray, for to ſhede out blood, and for to leſe ſoulis, and gredili ſuynge wynnyngis. Forſoþe þe prophetis of it dawbiden hem wiþ outen temperure, ſeynge veyn þingis, and dyuynynge leſynges to hem, ſeiynge, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, whanne þe Lord ſpak not. Puplis of þe loond falſli chalengiden fals chalenge, and violentli rauyſheden þe nedi man, and tourmentiden þe pore man; and þei oppreſſiden þe cumlynge wiþ fals chalenge, wiþ outen doom. And Y ſouȝte of hem a man, þat ſhulde bitwene putte an hegge, and ſtonde ſette euen aȝens me fro þe loond, leſte Y ſhulde diſtruye it, and Y foond not. And Y ſhedde out myn indignacioun vpon hem, and in þe fier of my wraþþe Y waaſtide hem; Y ȝeelde þe weye of hem in to þe heed of hem, ſeiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XXIII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeyynge, Sone of man, two wymmen weren douȝtris of o modir, and þei diden fornycacioun in Egipt, in her ȝongþ þei diden fornycacioun; þere þe breeſtis, or tetis, of hem ben vndirled, and þe tetis of her puberte, þat is, tyme of mariage, ben broken. Forſoþe þe names of hem, Oolla þe more, and Ooliba þe leſſe ſiſter of hir. And Y hadde hem, and þei baren child, ſones and douȝtris; ſoþeli þe names of hem, Samarie Oolla, and Jeruſalem Ooliba. Þerfor Oolla dide fornycacioun vpon me, and wexe woode in to her loueres, in to Aſſiriens neiȝynge, cloþid wiþ iacynct, princis, and magiſtratis, ȝonge men of coueiting, alle knyȝtis, or rydynge men, ſtiers vp of horſis. And ſhe ȝaf her fornycaciouns vpon hem, þe choſyn ſonys of alle Aſſiriens, alle and in alle in to whom ſhe wexe woode, in þe vnclennes of hem ſhe is defoulid. More ouere and ſhe lefte not hir fornycaciouns, whiche ſhe hadde in Egipt; for whi and þei ſlepten wiþ hir in þe ȝongþ of hir, and þei togidre braken þe breſtis of hir puberte, and ſhedden out her fornycacioun vpon hir. Þerfor Y bitook hir in to þe hoondis of hir louers, in to þe hoondis of þe ſonys of Aſſur, vpon whos letchery ſhe was woode. Þei vnhilliden þe yuel fame of hir; þei token þe ſonys and douȝtris of hir, and ſlewen hir in ſwerd; and þei ben maad famous, or ſclaundrid, wymmen, and þei diden domys in to hir. Which þing whanne hir ſiſtir Ooliba hadde ſeen, ſhe wexe woode in lecherie more þan ſhe, and ſhe ȝaf vnchaſtili, or wiþ outen ſhame, hir fornycacioun, ouer þe fornycacioun of hir ſiſter, to þe ſonys of Aſſiriens, to duykys and magiſtratis comynge to hir, cloþide wiþ dyuerſe clooþ, to knyȝtis þat weren born in horſis, and ȝonge men in noble fourme, or ſhappli, to alle men. And Y ſawȝ þat o weye of boþe was defoulid, and ſhe encreſide hir fornycaciouns. And whanne ſhe ſeeȝ men peyntid in a wal, þe ymagis of Caldeis expreſſid, or opnyd, in colours, and gird þe reyns wiþ knyȝtis girdlis, and cappis died, or ſteyned, in þe heedis of hem, þe fourmes of alle duykis, liknes of þe ſones of Babiloyne, and of þe loond of Caldeis, in whiche þei ben born; and ſhe wexe woode aȝens hem in coueitiſe of hir eiȝen, and ſente meſſageris to hem in to Caldee. And whanne ſonys of Babiloyne cam to hir, to þe couche of hir tetis, þei defouleden hir in her lecheries of defoulynge of maydynhod; and ſhe is defoulid of hem, and þe ſoule of hir is fulfillid of hem. And ſhe made nakid hir fornycaciouns, and diſcouerede hir euyl fame; and my ſoule wente awey fro hir, as my ſoule hadde gon awey fro hir ſiſter. Forſoþe ſhe multipliede hir fornycaciouns, biþenkynge þe dais of hir ȝongþ, in whiche ſhe dide fornycacioun in þe loond of Egipt. And ſhe wexe woode bi letcherie vpon þe liggynge bi of hem, whos fleſſhis ben as þe fleſſhis of aſſis, and as fluxis, or rennyngis, of horſis þe fluxis of hem. And þou haſt viſitide þe grete treſpaſſis of þi ȝongþ, for þi breſtis ben vndirled in Egipt, and þe teetis of þi pubertee ben togidre brokyn. Þerfor, þou Ooliba, þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y ſhal reyſe alle þi loueris aȝens þee, of whiche þi ſoule is fulfild, and Y ſhal gadre hem aȝens þee in cumpas; þe ſonys of Babiloyne, and alle þe noble Caldeis, and tyrauntis, and princis, alle þe ſonys of Aſſyriens, and ȝonge men in noble fourme, duykis, and magiſtratis, alle princis of princis, and þe named ſtiers of horſis. And þei ſhulen come vpon þee, maad redy wiþ chaare and wheel, þe multitude of puplis ſhulen be armed aȝens þee on eche ſyde wiþ hauberioun, and ſheeld, and helme; and I ſhal ȝyue before hem doom, and þei ſhulen deme þee in her domys. And Y ſhal putte myn enuye, or wraþþe, in þee, which þei haunten wiþ þee in woodnes; þei ſhulen kitte of þi nooſe and þin eeris, and whiche þingis ſhulen dwelle, þei ſhulen kytte of wiþ ſwerd; þei ſhulen take þi ſonys and þi douȝtris, and þi laſt ſhal be deuoured in fier. And þei ſhulen vncloþe þee þi cloþis, and ſhulen take awei þe veſſels of þi glorie. And Y ſhal make þi grete treſpaſſis for to reſte of þee, and þi fornycacioun of þe loond of Egipt; neþer þou ſhalt reyſe þin eyen to hem, and þou ſhalt no more haue mynde of Egipt. For þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y ſhal bitake þee in to þe hoondis of hem whom þou hatidiſt, in to þe hoondis of whyche þi ſoule is fulfillid. And þei ſhulen doo wiþ þee in haate, and þei ſhulen take alle þi traueilis, and ſhulen leeue þee nakid, and ful of euyl fame; and þe euyl fame of þi fornycaciouns, ſhal be ſhewid. Þi greet treſpas and þi fornycaciouns han don þes þingis to þee; for þou didiſt fornycacioun after heiþen men, amonge whom þou art defoulid in ydolis of hem. Þou wandridiſt in þe weye of þi ſiſtir, and Y ſhal ȝyue þe cuppe of hir in þin hoond. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þou ſhalt drynke þe cuppe of þi ſiſter, deep and brood; and þou ſhalt be in to ſcornynge, and vndirmowynge, whiche þou art mooſt able to take. Þou ſhalt be fulfillid wiþ drunkenes and ſorewe, þe cuppe of mournynge and heuynes, þe cuppe of þi ſiſter Samarie. And þou ſhalt drynke it, and drynke of vn to þe dreſtis, and þou ſhalt deuoure þe relyues of it, and þou ſhalt to-teere þi breeſtis, for I ſpak, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þou haſt forȝete me, and caſte me fer after þi bak, and þou beere þi grete treſpaſſis and þi fornycaciouns. And þe Lord ſeiþ to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, wheþer þou demyſt Ooliba and Oolla, and ſhewiſt to hem þe grete treſpaſſis of hem? For þei han don auowtrie, and blood in þe hoondis of hem, and þei diden fornycacioun wiþ her ydolis; more ouere þei offren to hem her ſonys for to be deuourid, whiche þei gendriden to me. But and þis þing þei diden to me, þei defouleden my ſeyntuaries in þat dai, and þei prophaneden, or maden vnhooli, my ſabotis. And whanne þei offreden her ſonys to her ydolis, and entriden my ſeyntuarie in þat day, for to defoule it, and alſo þei diden þes þingis in þe mydil of myn hous. Þei ſenten to men comynge fro fer, to whom þei ſenten meſſageris. And ſo loo! þei camen, to whom þou waſhidiſt þee, and al about anoyntidiſt þin eyen wiþ oynement of wymmen, and art ourned wiþ wommans a tyre. Þou haſt ſetyn in a bed mooſt fayr, and a bord is ourned before þee; þou puttidiſt my tymyame, or encenſe, and myn oynement vpon it. And a voys of multitude ioiynge wiþout forþ was in it; and in þe men þat weren led to of þe multitude of men, and camen fro deſeert, puttiden rengis in þe hoondis of hem, and faire corownys in þe heedis of hem. And Y ſeide to hir, þat is defoulid in auowtries, Now alſo þis ſhal doo fornycacioun in hir fornycacioun. And þei wenten to hir as to a womman hoore, ſo þei entriden to Oolla and to Ooliba, curſid wymmen. Þerfor þes men ben iuſt, þes ſhulen deme hem in doom of auowtres, and in dome of ſheding out blood; for þei ben auowtreris, and blood in þe hoondis of hem, and wiþ her ydolis þei doon fornycacioun. Forſoþe þe Lord God ſeiþ þes þingis, Ȝit brynge þe multitudis, and bitak hem in to noys and raueyn; and be þei ſtonyd wiþ ſtoonys of puplis, and be þei doluen wiþ ſwerdis of hem. Þei ſhulen ſle þe ſones and douȝtris of hem, and þei ſhulen brenne wiþ fier þe houſis of hem. And Y ſhal doo awei greet treſpas fro erþe; and alle wymmen ſhulen lerne, leſt þei doon after þe greet treſpas of hem. And þei ſhulen ȝyue ȝour greet treſpas vpon ȝou; and ȝe ſhulen bere þe ſynnys of ȝour idolis, and ȝe ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord God.

Capitulum XXIIII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, in þe nynþe ȝeer, and in þe tenþe moneþ, þe tenþe day of þe moneþ, ſeiynge, Sone of man, wrijt þou to þee þe name of þis dai, in whom þe kyng of Babiloyne is confermyd aȝens Jeruſalem to day. And þou ſhalt ſeye bi prouerbe a parable to þe hous, terrer to wraþþe, and þou ſhalt ſpeke to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, Put þou a braſen pot, ſoþeli put þou, and ſend in to it water; tak to a beeſt mooſt fat. Put togidre þe gobetis of it in to it, eche good part, and þe þiȝ, and þe ſhuldre, choſyn and ful of boonus. And mak to gidre heepis of boonus vndir it; and þe ſeþinge of it buylide vp, and þe boonus ben ful ſoþen in þe mydil þerof. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Woo to þe citee of blodis, to þe pot whos ruſt is in it, and þe ruſt þerof wente not out of it; caſte it out bi partis, and bi his partis; ſoort, or lot, felle not vpon it. Forſoþe þe blood þerof is in þe mydil þerof; he ſhedde it out vpon þe mooſt cleer ſtoon, he ſhedde it not out vpon erþe, þat it may be keuered wiþ duſt, þat Y ſhulde lede in aboue myn indignacioun, and in veniaunce be vengid; Y ȝaue þe blood þerof vpon þe mooſt cleer ſtoon, leſt it were keuered. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Woo to þe citee of bloodis, of whom I ſhal make greet hepe of ſtickis in fier; gadir þe boonus, whom Y ſhal brenne wiþ fier; fleſhis ſhulen be waaſtid, and al þe making togidre ſhal be ſoþen, and boonus ſhulen faile. And put þou it void vpon coolis, þat it wexe hoot, and þe braſſe þerof melte, and þe foulynge þerof be wellid to gidre in þe mydil þerof, and þe ruſt of it be waaſtid. Wiþ myche traueile it is maad in ſweet, and þe myche ruſt of it wente not out þerof, neþer bi fier. Þin vnclennes curſid; for I wolde clenſe þee, and þou art not clenſid fro þi filþis; but neþer þou ſhal be clenſid eer, til Y ſhal make myn indignacioun for to reſte in þee. I þe Lord ſpak; it ſhal come, and Y ſhal doo, Y ſhal not paſſe, neþer ſpare, neþer Y ſhal be pleſid; after þi weies and after þi fyndyngis to Y demede þee, ſeiþ þe Lord. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, loo! Y take fro þee þe deſyrable þing of þin eyen in plage, or wounde, and þou ſhalt not mourne, neþer weepe, neþer þi teeris ſhulen flowe. Þou ſtillynge ſorewe inward, þou ſhalt not make mournynge of deede men; be þi coroun about boundyn to þee, and þi ſhoon ſhulen be in þi feet, neþer wiþ clooþ þou ſhalt veile, or hijde, mouþis, neþer þou ſhalt ete meet of mournynge men. Þerfor Y ſpak to þe puple in þe mornynge, and my wijf is deed in þe euenynge; and I dide, as he comaundide to me. And þe puple ſeide to me, Whi ſhewiſt þou not to vs what þes þingis bitokenen, þat þou doſt? And Y ſeide to hem, Þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Spek þou to þe hows of Iſrael, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y ſhal defoule my ſeyntuarie, þe pryde of ȝour empyre, and deſyrable þing of ȝour eyen, and vpon which ȝour ſoule drediþ; and ȝour ſonys and ȝour douȝters, whom ȝe laften, ſhulen falle in ſwerd. And ȝe ſhulen doo, as Y dide; ȝe ſhulen not hide mouþis wiþ clooþ, and ȝe ſhulen not ete metis of men mournynge. Ȝe ſhulen haue corouns in ȝour heedis, and ſhoon in feet; ȝe ſhulen not weile, ne wepe, but faile for leenes in ȝour wickidneſſis; and eche man ſhal ſorewe to his broþer. And Ezechiel ſhal be to ȝou in to a wonder bitoknynge þing to come; after alle þingis þat he dide, ȝe ſhulen doo; whanne þis þing ſhal come, ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord God. And þou, ſone of man, loo! in þe dai in which Y ſhal take fro hem þe ſtrengþ of hem, and ioye of dignytee, and deſyre of her eyen, vpon which þe ſoulis of hem reſten, þe ſones and þe douȝtris of hem; in þat dai whanne a man fleynge ſhal come to þee, þat he telle to þee; ſoþeli in þat dai þi mouþ ſhal be openyd wiþ hym þat fleeþ; and þou ſhalt ſpeke, and þou ſhalt not be ſtille more; and þou ſhalt be to hem in to a wonder, and ȝe ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord.

Capitulum XXV.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, put þou þi face aȝens þe ſonys of Amon, and þou ſhalt prophecie of hem. And þou ſhalt ſeie to þe ſonys of Amon, Here ȝe þe word of þe Lord God; þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat ȝe ſeiden, Wew! wew! or ſcorn, or repref, vpon my ſeyntuarie, for it is polutid, and vpon þe loond of Iſrael, for it is deſolatid, and vpon þe hous of Juda, for it is led in to caitifdoom; þerfor loo! Y ſhal bitake þee to ſones of þe eeſte in to eritage, and þei ſhulen togidir ſette her fooldis in þee, and ſhulen putte her tentis in þee; þei ſhulen ete þi fruytis, and þei ſhulen drynke þi mylk. And I ſhal ȝyue Ramaþ in to dwellynge of camelis, and þe ſonys of Amon in to couche of beeſtis; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. For þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat þou ioiediſt wiþ hoond, and ſmytidiſt wiþ foot, and ioiediſt of al þi wil vpon þe loond of Iſrael; þerfor loo! Y ſhal ſtretche forþ myn hoond vpon þee, and Y ſhal bitake þee in to rauyſhinge of heiþen men, and Y ſhal ſlee þee of puplis, and Y ſhal leeſe fro loondis, and togidre defoule; and ȝe ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat Moab and Seyr ſeyden, Loo! as alle heiþen men þe hous of Juda; þerfor loo! Y ſhal opyn þe ſhulder of Moab of cytees, ſoþeli of his cytees and of his cooſtis, þe noble of erþe, Bechieſmoþ, and Beelmoþ, and Cariaþaym, to þe ſones of þe eſte, wiþ þe ſones of Amon. And Y ſhal ȝeue it in to eritage, þat þe mynde of þe ſones of Amon be namore in folkis, and in Moab Y ſhal make domes; and þei ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat Ydume dide veniaunce, þat ſhe ſhulde venge hir of þe ſones of Juda, and ſynnede treſpaſynge, and axede veniaunce of hem; þerfor þes þingys ſeiþ þe Lord God, Y ſhal ſtretche out myn hoond vpon Ydume, and ſhal take a wey fro it man and beeſt, and Y ſhal make it deſeert fro þe ſouþ; and þei þat ben in Dedan ſhulen falle in ſwerd. And Y ſhal ȝyue my veniaunce vpon Ydume, bi þe hoond of my puple Iſrael; and þei ſhulen doo in Edom after my wraþþe, and my woodnes; and þei ſhulen wite my veniaunce, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat Paleſtyns diden veniaunce, and vengiden hem ſilf wiþ al inwit, ſleynge and fulfillynge oolde enemytees; þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, Loo! Y ſhal ſtretche out myn hoond vpon Paleſtyns, and Y ſhal ſlee þe ſleers, and Y ſhal leſe þe relyues of þe ſee cuntree; and Y ſhal doo in hem grete veniaunces, repreuynge in woodnes; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord, whanne Y ſhal ȝyue my veniaunce vpon hem.

Capitulum XXVI.

[edit]

And it is doon in þe elleuenþe ȝeer, in þe firſt of þe moneþ, þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, for þat þat Tyrus ſeide of Jeruſalem, Wew! or ioye, þe ȝatis of puplis ben togidre broken, it is conuertid to me; Y ſhal be fulfillid, it is deſeert; þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y vpon þee, Tyre; and Y ſhal make many folkis for to ſtie vp to þee, as þe ſee flowynge ſtieþ vp. And þei ſhulen ſcatere þe wallis of Tyre, and þei ſhulen diſtruye þe touris þerof; and I ſhal ſhaue þe duſt of it fro it, and Y ſhal ȝyue it in to a mooſt cleer ſtoon. Driyng of nettis it ſhal be in þe mydil of þe ſee, for Y ſpak, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And it ſhal be in to rauyſhynge to folkis. And þe douȝters þerof þat ben in þe feeld, ſhulen be ſlayn wiþ ſwerd; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. For þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Lo! I ſhal brynge to Tyre Nabugodonoſor, kyng of Babiloyne, fro þe norþ, kyng of kyngis, wiþ horſis, and charis, and horſmen, and cumpanye, and greet puple. He ſhal ſlee bi ſwerd þi douȝtris þat ben in þe feeld; and he ſhal enuyroune þee wiþ waardyngis, and he ſhal brynge togider þe heepe of erþe in cumpas, and he ſhal reiſe vp aȝens þee a ſheld. And he ſhal tempre engynes in maner of vynes, and engynes in maner of weþeres in to þi wallis; and he ſhal deſtruye þi touris in his aarmer. Wiþ ynne flowynge of his horſis, þe duſt of hem ſhal keuere þee; of þe ſowne of horſmen, and wheelis, and charis þi wallis ſhulen be moued; whanne he ſhal goo in þe ȝatis, as bi entryngis of þe citee diſtruyed, or ſcatered, wiþ þe feet of his horſis he ſhal defoule alle þi ſtretis. He ſhal ſle bi ſwerd þi puple, and þi noble ymagis ſhulen falle in to erþe. Þei ſhulen waaſte þi riȝtcheſſis, and þei ſhulen rauyſhe þi marchaundiſis; and þei ſhulen diſtruye þi wallis, and þei ſhulen vndir-turne þi ful clere houſis, and þei ſhulen putte þi ſtoonus, and þi trees, and þi poudre in þe mydil of watris. And Y ſhal make þe multitude of þi ſongſters for to reſte, and þe ſown of þin harpis ſhal namore be herd; and Y ſhal ȝyue þee in to a mooſt cleer ſtoon. Þou ſhalt be driynge of nettis in þe mydil ſee, neþer þou ſhalt more be bildid, for Y þe Lord ſpak, ſeiþ þe Lord God. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God to Tire, Wheþer not of þe ſoun of þi fallynge, and of þe ſorewynge of þi ſlayn men, whanne þei ſhulen be ſlayn in þe mydil of þee, ylys ſhulen be moued to gider? And alle princis of þe ſee ſhulen cum doun fro her ſeetis, and þei ſhulen doo awei her ſpuylis, and þei ſhulen caſte awei her dyuerſe cloþingis, and þei ſhulen be cloþid wiþ greet dreed. In þe erþe þei ſhulen ſitte, and þei aſtonyed vpon þi ſodeyn fal ſhulen wondre. And þei takynge to vpon þee lamentacioun, ſhulen ſeie to þee, How perſhidiſt þou, noble citee, þat dwelliſt in þe ſee, which was ſtroong in þe ſee wiþ þi dwellers, whom alle men dredden? Now ſhippis ſhulen wondre in þe day of þi dreed, and ylis in þe ſee ſhulen be ſturblid, for þat þat no man goþ out of þee. For þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Whanne Y ſhal ȝyue þee a citee deſolat, as cytees þat ben not enhabitid, and Y ſhal leede to vpon þee þe depnes, or þe ſee, and manye watris ſhulen hille þee. And Y ſhal drawe þee doun wiþ þes þat gon doun in to þe lake, to puple euerlaſtynge; and Y ſhal togidre ſette þee in þe laſt loond, as old wildirnes, wiþ þes þat ben lad forþ in to þe lake, þat þou be not enhabited. Soþeli whanne I ſhal ȝyue glorye in þe loond of men lyuynge, I ſhal dryue þee in to nouȝt, and þou ſhalt not be; þou ſowȝt aȝen ſhalt namore be foundyn in to wiþ outen ende, ſeiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XXVII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Þerfor þou, ſone of man, tak to vpon Tyre lamentacioun. And þou ſhalt ſeye to Tyre, þat dwelliþ in þe entre of þe ſee, þe marchaundiſynge of puplis to many ylis, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, O! Tyre, þou ſeidiſt, Y am of perfijt fayrnes, and ſet in þe herte of þe ſee. Men of þi cooſtis þat bildiden þee, fulfilliden þi fayrnes; þei bildiden þee wiþ bechis of Sanyr, wiþ alle makyngis of boord of þe ſee; þei token cedre of Liban, for to make to þee a maſt. Þei heweden okis of Baaſan in to þin ooris, and þei maden to þee þi ſeetis of rowers of yuer of Ynde, and þi litil cabans of þe ylis of Ytalie. Dyuerſe bijs of Egipt is wouun to þee in to veyl, þat it ſhulde be put in þe maſt; iaſynct and purpur of þe ylis Helyſa ben maad þin hillynge. Dwellers of Sidon and Aradie weren þi rowers; þou Tyre, þi wijſe men ben maad þi gouernours. Olde men of Bibly, and prudent men þerof, hadden ſhipmen to þe ſeruyce of þi diuerſe purtenaunce to houſhold; alle þe ſhippis of þe ſee, and þe maryners of hem, weren in þe puple of þi marchaundiſe. Men of Pers, and Lidienſe, and Libienſe weren in þi cumpanye, or ooſt; men þi fiȝters hangiden ſheld and helm in þee, for þin ournynge. Sonys of Aradi wiþ þin ooſt weren vpon þi wallis in þi cumpas; but and Pigmeis, þat weren in þi touris, hangiden her arewgirdlis in þi wallis bi cumpas; þei fulfilliden þi fayrnes. Cartagyneſſis, þi marchauntis, of multitude of alle ritcheſſis, wiþ ſiluer, and yren, tyn, and leed þei fulfilliden þi fayris. Grece, and Tubal, or Spayn, and Moſoch, or Capadocye, þei, þi biers, brouȝten ſeruauntis and braſen veſſels to þi puple. Of þe hous Togorma þei brouȝten to þi chepynge horſis, and horſmen, and mulis. Sonys of Dedan þi marchauntis; manye ilis þe marchaundiſynge of þin hoond, chaungiden togidre in þi prijs teeþ of yuer, and of hebenyf, þat is, a tre þat, after þat it is kit, waxiþ hard as ſtoon. Syrus þi marchaunt, for þe multitude of þi werkis þei puttiden forþ in þi market, or marchaundiſe, gemme, and purpur, and clooþ wiþ dyuerſe colours, and bijs, and ſilk, and chodchod, þat is, precious marchaundiſe. Juda and þe loond of Iſrael, þei þi biers in þe firſt whete, puttiden forþ in þi fayris bawm, and hony, and oyle, and roſyn, or gumme. Damaſcene þi marchaunt, in multitude of þi werkis, and multitude of dyuerſe ritcheſſis, in fat wiyn, in wullis of beſt colour. Dan, and Grece, and Mouſel, ſettiden forþ in þi fayris yren wrouȝt bi craft, myrre, or preciouſe gumme, and ſwete ſauerynge ſpice, in þi marchaundiſe. Dedan þi biers, in tapetis for to ſitte. Arabie and alle princis of Cedar, þei marchauntis of þin hoond; wiþ lambren, and weþeres, and kidis þi marchauntis camen to þee. Þe ſellers of Saba and Reema, þei þi marchauntis, wiþ alle þe firſt ſwete ſauerynge ſpicis, and precious ſtoon, and gold, which þei puttiden forþ in þi market. Aram, and Chemye, and Eden, þi marchauntis; Saba, and Aſſur, and Thelmaþ, þi ſellers. Þei þi marchauntis of manyfold wlappynge þing, of iacynct and ſteyned cloþis, wiþ ymagis and precious rytcheſſis, whiche weren wlappid and ſtreyned to gidre wiþ coordis. And ſhippis of þe ſee hadden cedris in her marchaundiſis; þi princis in þi marchaundiſe; and þou art fulfillid, and art glorified fulmyche in þe herte of þe ſee. In manye watris þi rowers, or mareners, ledden þee to; þe ſouþ wynde defoulide þee in þe herte of þe ſee. Þi ritcheſſis, and þi treſours, and þi many fold inſtrument, þi mareneres, and þi gouernours þat helden þi purtenaunce of houſhold, and weren bifore to þi puple, or ſouerayns, and men þi fiȝters þat weren in þee, wiþ al þi multitude þat is in þe mydil of þee, ſhulen falle in to þe herte of þe ſee. In þe dai of þi fallynge of þe ſoun of crye of þi gouernours multitude of ſhippis ſhulen be diſturbid togidre; and alle men þat helden oor, ſhulen cum doun of her ſhippis. Mareners and alle gouernours of þe ſee ſhulen ſtoonde vpon þe loond; and þei ſhulen weile vpon þee wiþ greet vois, and ſhulen crye bitterli, and ſhulen caſte powdre, or duſt, in her heedis, and ſhulen be ſpreyned to gidre wiþ aſſhen. And þei ſhulen ſhaue vpon þee ballidneſſ, and ſhulen be gyrd wiþ hairis, and ſhulen wepe þee in bitternes of ſoule, in mooſt bitter wepynge. And þei ſhulen take to vpon þee a weping ſoong, and ſhulen weile þee, Who is as Tyre, þat wax doumb in þe mydil of þe ſee? Which in þe outgoynge of þi marchaundiſes of þe ſee fulfillidiſt manye puplis; in þe multitude of þi ritcheſſis, and þi puplis þou madiſt riche kyngis of erþe. Now þou art defoulid of þe ſee, in depneſſis of watris; þi ritcheſſis and al þi multitude þat was in mydil of þe ſee fellen doun. Alle dwellers of ylis wondreden greetli vpon þee, and þe rowers, or þe kyngis, of hem. Alle ſmyten wiþ tempeſt chaungiden cheris; marchauntis of puplis hiſſiden, or ſcornyden, vpon þee. Þou art led forþ to nouȝt, and þou ſhalt not be til in to wiþ outen eende.

Capitulum XXVIII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, ſey þou to þe prince of Tyre, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat þin herte is lift vp, and þou ſeidiſt, Y am God, and Y ſatte in þe chaier of God, in þe herte of þe ſee, whanne þou art man and not God, and haſt ȝouen þin herte as þe herte of God; loo! þou art wyſer þan Danyel, eche priue þing is not hid fro þee; in þi wiſdam and prudence þou madiſt to þee ſtrengþ, and haſt wonne to þee gold and ſiluer in þi treſours; in multitude of þi wiſdam, and in þi marchaundiſe þou multepliediſt to þee ſtrengþ, and þin herte is lift vp in þi ſtrengþ; þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þin herte is reiſid vp as þe herte of God, þerfor loo! Y ſhal lede to þee aliens, mooſt ſtronge of folkis. And þei ſhulen make nakid her ſwerdis on þe fairnes of þi wiſdam, and ſhulen defoule þi feyrnes. Þei ſhulen ſlee, and drawe doun þee; and þou ſhalt die in þe periſhynge of ſlayn men, in þe herte of þe ſe. Wheþer þou ſeiynge ſhalt ſpeke, Y am God, before men ſleynge þee, whanne þou art man, and not God? In þe hoond of men ſleynge þee, in deeþ of vncircumcydid men, þou ſhalt die in þe hoond of aliens; for Y ſpak, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, reys weilynge vpon þe kyng of Tyre; and þou ſhalt ſey to him, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þou a ſignet of liknes, ful of wiſdam, perfijt in fayrnes, was in delicis of paradiſe of God. Eche precious ſtoon þi keuerynge, ſardius, topacius, and iaſpis, criſolitus, and onix, and berillus, ſaphirus, and carbuncle, and ſmaragd; and gold þe werk of þi fairnes, and þin hoolis ben maad redy, in þe day in which þou art maad. Þou cherub ſtreiȝt forþ, and keuerynge; and I putte þee in þe hooli hil of God. In þe mydil of fijry ſtoonus þou walkidiſt, perfijt in þi weies fro þe dai of þi makynge, til wickidnes is foundyn in þee. In þe multitude of þi marchaundiſe þin entrailis ben fulfillid wiþ wickidneſſe, and þou ſynnediſt; and Y keſte þee out of þe hil of God, and I loſt þee, þou cherub keuerynge, of þe mydil of firy ſtoonus. And þin herte is reyſid vp in þi fairnes, þou loſtiſt þi wiſdam in þi fayrenes. Y keſte þee doun in to erþe, Y ȝaue þee before þe face of kyngis, þat þei ſhulden ſee þee. In multitude of þi wickidneſſis, and in wickidnes of þi marchaundiſe þou defoulediſt þin halewynge; þerfor Y ſhal brynge forþ fier fro þe mydil of þee, which ſhal ete þee; and Y ſhal ȝyue þee in to aſſhe on þe erþe, in ſiȝte of alle men ſeynge þee. Alle men þat ſhulen ſee þee in folkis, ſhulen wondre greetli vpon þee; þou art maad nouȝt, and þou ſhalt not be in to wiþ outen ende. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, put þi face aȝens Sidon, and þou ſhalt prophecie of it; and þou ſhalt ſeie, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y to þee, Sydon, and Y ſhal be glorified in þe mydyl of þee; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord, whanne I ſhal doo in it domys, and Y ſhal be halewid in it. And Y ſhal ſende to it peſtilence and blood in þe ſtretis þerof, and men ſlayn ſhulen falle in þe mydil þerof bi ſwerd bi cumpas; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord God. And it ſhal no more be to þe hows of Iſrael hirtynge of bitternes, and a þorn brengynge in ſorewe on eche ſide bi cumpas of hem þat ben aduerſaries to hem; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord God. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Whanne I ſhal gadre þe hows of Iſrael of puplis, in whiche þei ben ſcaterid, Y ſhal be halewid in hem before folkis. And þei ſhulen dwelle in her loond, which Y ȝaue to my ſeruaunt Jacob. And þei ſhulen dwelle ſikir in it, and ſhulen bilde houſis, and ſhulen plaunte viyn ȝerdis, and þei ſhulen dwelle triſtili, whanne Y ſhal doo domys in alle men þat ben aduerſaries to hem bi cumpas; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord God of hem.

Capitulum XXIX.

[edit]

In þe tenþe ȝeer, in þe twelueþe moneþ, in o day of þe moneþ, þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, put þi face aȝens Pharao, kyng of Egipt; and þou ſhalt prophecie of hym, and of al Egipt. Spek þou, and þou ſhalt ſeie, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y to þee, Pharao, kyng of Egipt, greet dragoun, þat liggiſt in þe mydil of þi flodis, and þou ſeiſt, Þe flood is myn, and Y made myſilf. And Y ſhal putte a bridil in þi cheekis, and Y ſhal glewe to gidre þe fiſſhis of þi floodis to þi ſcalis; and I ſhal drawe þee out of þe mydil of þi flodis, and alle þi fiſſhis ſhulen cleue to þi ſcalis. And Y ſhal caſte þee fer in to deſeert, and alle fiſſhis of þi flood; vpon þe face of erþe þou ſhalt falle, þou ſhalt not be gadrid vp, neþer gadrid to gidre; to beeſtis of erþe, and to volatils of heuene Y ȝaue þee for to be deuourid. And alle þe dwellers of Egipt ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord. For þat þat þou was a ſtaf of reed to þe hows of Iſrael, whanne þei token þee to hoond, and þou art broken to gidre, and haſt drawe al þe ſhuldre of hem, and hem lenynge, or truſtinge, vpon þee, þou art maad litil, and haſt diſſoluyd, or vndon, alle þe reynes of hem; þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y ſhal leede to on þee ſwerd, and I ſhal ſlee of þee man and beeſt; and þe loond of Egipt ſhal be in to deſeert and wildirnes, and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. For þat þat þou ſeidiſt, Þe flood is myn, and I made it, þerfor loo! Y to þee, and to þi floodis. And Y ſhal ȝyue þe loond of Egipt in to wilderneſſis diſtried bi ſwerd, fro þe tour Syens til to þe termys of Eþiope. Þe foot of man ſhal not paſſe bi it, neþer foot of beeſt ſhal goo in it, and it ſhal not be enabitid fourti ȝeeris. And Y ſhal ȝeue þe loond of Egipt deſeert, or forſakyn, in þe mydil of deſeert loondis, and þe cytees þerof in þe mydil of citees vndir turned ſhulen be deſolat fourty ȝeris. And Y ſhal ſcatere Egipciens in to naciouns, and Y ſhal wyndewe hem in to loondis. For þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, After þe ende of fourti ȝeeris Y ſhal gedre Egipt fro puplis, in whiche þei were ſcatered; and Y ſhal lede aȝen þe caitifte of Egipt. And Y ſhal ſette hem to gydre in þe loond of Phatures, in to þe loond of her natiuyte; and þei ſhulen be þere in to a meke, or lowe, kyngdam, and among oþer rewmes it ſhal be þe mekeſt, and it ſhal namore be reyſid on naciouns. And Y ſhal make hem litil, leſt þei be lordis to folkis; neþer þei ſhulen be more to þe hous of Iſrael in triſt, techynge wickidnes, þat þei flee, and ſue hem; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord God. And it is maad in þe ſeuenþe and twenty ȝeer, in þe firſt, in oon of þe moneþ, þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, Nabugodonoſor, kyng of Babiloyne, made his ooſt for to ſerue in greet ſeruyce aȝens Tyre; eche heed maad ballid, and eche ſhuldre is vnheerid, and hijre is not ȝoldyn to hym, neþer to his ooſt of Tyre, for þe ſeruyce in which he ſeruede to me aȝens it. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y ſhal ȝyue Nabugodonoſor, kyng of Babiloyne, in þe loond of Egipt, and he ſhal take þe multitude of it; and he ſhal take by pray þe raueynes þerof, and he ſchal rauyſſhe þe ſpuylis of it, and it ſhal be hijre to þe ooſt of hym, and to þe werk for which he ſeruede aȝens it; Y ȝaue to hym þe loond of Egipt, for þat þat he traueilde to me, ſeiþ þe Lord God. In þat dai an horn ſhal ſprynge to þe hous of Iſrael, and to þee Y ſhal ȝeue a mouþe opened in þe mydil of hem; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord.

Capitulum XXX.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, prophecy þou, and ſey, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Gowle ȝe, Woo! woo! to þe dai, for þe dai is nyȝ; and þe dai of þe Lord neiȝeþ, a dai of cloude. Þe tyme of heþen men ſhal be; and ſwerd ſhal come in to Egipt, and dreed ſhal be in Eþiope, whanne men woundid ſhulen falle doun in Egipt, and þe multitude þerof ſhal be taken awei, and þe foundementis þerof deſtryed. Eþiope, and Libie, and Lidij, and al oþer comoun puple, and Chub, or Arabie, and þe ſones of boond of pees wiþ hem bi ſwerd ſhulen falle. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, And men vndir ſettynge Egipt ſhulen togidre falle doun, and pryde of lordſhip þerof ſhal be diſtruyed; fro þe tour of Syenes by ſwerd þei ſhulen falle doun þer yn, þe Lord of ooſtis ſeiþ. And þei ſhulen be ſcatered in mydil of loondis deſolatid, and þe cytees þerof ſhulen be in þe mydil of deſeert cytees. And þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord God, whanne Y ſhal ȝyue fier in Egipt, and alle þe helpers þerof ſhulen be defoulid. In þat dai meſſageris ſhulen go out fro my face in greet ſhippis, for to defoule, or deſtruye, þe truſt of Eþiope; and dreed ſhal be in hem in þe dai of Egipt, for wiþ outen doute it ſhal come. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, And Y ſhal make þe multitude of Egipt for to ceeſſe in þe hoond of Nabugodonoſor, kyng of Babiloyne. He and his puple wiþ hym, þe ſtrongeſt of folkis, ſhulen be led to, for to leeſe þe loond; and þei ſhulen drawe out her ſwerdis on Egipt, and þei ſhulen fulfille þee wiþ ſlayn men. And Y ſhal make þe botmes of floodis drye, and Y ſhal bitake þe loond in þe hoond of werſte men; and Y ſhal leeſe þe loond, and þe plente þerof in þe hoond of alienys; Y þe Lord ſpak. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, And Y ſhal deſtrye ſimulacris, and Y ſhal make þe ydols of Memphis to ceeſſe, and duyk of þe loond of Egipt ſhal namore be. And Y ſhal ȝyue dreed in þe loond of Egipt, and Y ſhal ſcatere, or deſtrie, þe loond of Phatures. And Y ſhal ȝyue fier in Thapnys, and Y ſhal make my domys in Aliſaundre. And Y ſhal helde out myn indignacioun on Peluſium, þe ſtrengþ of Egipt; and I ſchal ſlea þe multitude of Aliſaundre, and I ſchal ȝeue fijr in Egipt. As a womman beringe child, Peluſie ſhal ſorewe, and Aliſaundre ſhal be deſtruyed, and in Memphis eche dais anguyſhis. Þe ȝonge men of Heliopoleos and Bubaſti ſhulen falle bi ſwerd, and þei ſhulen be lad caytifis. And in Taphnys þe dai ſhal wexe blac, whanne Y ſhal debriſſe þere þe ceptris of Egipt, and þe pride of power þerof ſhal faile in it. A clowde ſhal hile it; forſoþe þe douȝters þerof ſhulen be led in to caitiftee, and Y ſhal make domes in Egipt; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord. And it is don in þe elleuenþe ȝeer, in þe firſt moneþ, in þe ſeuenþe dai of þe moneþ, þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, Y brak togidre þe arm of Pharao, kyng of Egipt; and loo! it is not wlappid about, þat helþe ſhulde be reſtorid to it, þat it were boundyn in cloþis, and faſtid, or boundyn, wiþ ſmale lynnen cloþis, and, ſtrengþ taken aȝen, he miȝte holde ſwerd. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Loo! Y to Pharao, kyng of Egipt; and Y ſhal make litil his ſtronge arm but broken togidre, and Y ſhal caſte doun þe ſwerd of his hoond. And Y ſhal ſcatere Egipt in folkis, and Y ſhal wyndewe hem in loondis. And Y ſhal coumforte þe armys of þe kynge of Babiloyne, and Y ſhal ȝyue my ſwerd in his hoond; and Y ſhal breke togidre þe armes of Pharao, and þei ſhulen weile wiþ weilyngis of a ſlayn man before þe face of hym. And Y ſhal coumforte þe armes of þe kyng of Babiloyne, and þe armes of Pharao ſhulen falle doun togidre. And þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord, whanne I ſhal ȝyue my ſwerd in þe hoond of þe kyng of Babiloyne; and he ſhal ſtretche it out vpon þe loond of Egipt. And I ſhal ſcatere Egipt in to naciouns, and I ſhal wyndewe hem in to loondis; and þei ſhulen wite, for Y þe Lord.

Capitulum XXXI.

[edit]

And it is maad in þe elleuenþe ȝeer, in þe þridde moneþ, in oon of þe moneþ, þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, ſey þou to Pharao, kyng of Egipt, and to his puple, To whom art þou maad lijk in þi greetnes? Loo! Aſſur as a cedre in Liban, fayr in braunches, and bouwis ful of wode, and heiȝ in heiȝþe; and þe top þerof is reiſid vp amonge þicke bouwis. Watris nurſhiden hym, depnes areyſide hym; þe flodis floweden in cumpas of his rootis, and he ſente out his ſtrondis to alle þe trees of þe cuntree. Þerfor his heiȝnes is reiſid vpon alle þe trees of þe cuntre; and his tendre trees ben multiplied, and his braunchis ben reyſid vp, for manye watris. And whanne he ſtrauȝte forþ his ſhadewe, alle þe volatils of heuen maden neſtis in his braunchis; and alle beeſtis of wijlde wodis gendreden vnder his bouwis, and þe cumpanye of ful many folkis dwellide vndre þe ſhadewynge place of hym. And he was mooſt fayr in his greetnes, and in ſpredynge of tendre trees; forſoþe his root was biſyde many watris. Cedris weren not heiȝer þan he in paradiſe of God; bechis weren not euen to his heiȝnes, and platan trees weren not euen to his bouwis. Eche tree of paradiſe of God is not maad lijc to hym, and to his fayrnes. For Y made hym fayre, and wiþ manye and þicke bouwis; and alle þe trees of voluptee, þat weren in paradiſe of God, ſueden hym. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat he is reyſid in hiȝnes, and Y ȝaue his heiȝnes waxynge grene and þicke, and his herte is lift vp in his hiȝnes; now Y haue bitake hym in to þe hoondis of þe ſtrengeſt of folkis. He doynge ſhal doo to hym; after þe vnpite of hym Y caſtide hym out. And aliens ſhulen kitte hym doun, and þe mooſte cruel men of naciouns ſhulen caſte hym fer vpon mounteynes. And his braunchis ſhulen falle doun togidre in alle valeys, and his tendre trees ſhulen be brokyn togider in alle þe rooches of erþe. And alle puplis of erþe ſhulen goo awey fro his ſhadewynge place, and ſhulen forſake hym. Alle volatilis of heuene dwelliden in his fallynge, and alle beeſtis of þe regioun weren in his braunchis. Wherfor alle trees of watris ſhulen not be lift vp in her heiȝnes, neþer ſhulen putte her heiȝnes amonge wody þingis, and ful of bouwis, neþer alle þingis þat ben moyſtid wiþ watris ſhulen ſtoonde in þe heiȝnes of hem. For alle men ben bitaken in to deeþ, to þe vtmooſt loond in þe mydil of ſones of men, to hem þat goon doun in to þe lake. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, In þe day þat Y ladde in mournynge in hellis, Y hillide hym wiþ depnes, and forbedde þe floodis of hym, and conſtreinede many watris. Liban is debroken on hym, and alle trees of þe feeld ben ſmyten togidre. Of þe ſoun of his fallynge Y mouede togidre folkis, whanne Y ledde forþ hym to helle, wiþ hem þat wenten doun in to þe lake. And alle loweſt trees of voluptee, noble and ful cleer in Liban, ben coumfortid in erþe, and alle þat weren moyſtid in watres. For whi and þei wiþ hym ſhulen gon doun in to helle, to þe ſlayn men in ſwerd; and þe arme of eche man ſhal ſitte vndre þe ſhadewynge place of hym, in þe mydil of naciouns. To whom art þou maad lijc, A! þou noble and heiȝe amonge trees of voluptee? Loo! þou art led forþ wiþ trees of voluptee to þe laſt loond, or vtmeſt. In þe mydil of vncyrcumcidid men þou ſhalt ſlepe, wiþ hem þat ben ſlayn wiþ ſwerd. He is Pharao, and al þe multitude of him, ſeiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XXXII.

[edit]

And it is maad in þe twelueþ ȝeer, in þe twelueþ moneþ, in oon of þe moneþ, þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeiynge, Sone of man, tak to a lamentacioun vpon Pharao, kyng of Egipt, and þou ſhalt ſeye to hym, To a lioun of folkis þou art lickened, and to a dragoun þat is in þe ſee. And þou wyndewiſt wiþ horn in þi flodis, and trubliſt to gidre watris wiþ þi feet, and þou defoulidiſt þe flodis of hem. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Y ſhal ſprede out upon þee my nette in multitude of many puplis, and Y ſhal drawe out þee in my nette; and Y ſhal caſte þee fer in þe loond. Vpon þe face of þe feeld Y ſhal caſte þee a wey, and I ſhal make vpon þee for to dwelle alle volatilis of heuene, and Y ſhal fulfille of þee þe beeſtis of al erþe. And Y ſhal ȝyue þi fleſhis vpon hillis, and Y ſhal fulfille þi ſmale hillis wiþ þi roote; and Y ſhal moyſte þe erþe wiþ ſtynke of þi blood, more ouere mounteyns and valeis ſhulen be fulfillid of þee. And Y ſhal keuere heuens, whanne þou ſhalt be quenchid, and Y ſhal make þe ſterris of it for to waxe blac; Y ſhal keuere þe ſunne wiþ cloude, and þe mone ſhal not ȝyue his liȝt. Y ſhal make alle liȝtmakers of heuen for to mourne vpon þee, and Y ſhal ȝyue derkneſſis vpon þi loond, ſeiþ þe Lord God; whanne þi woundid men ſhulen falle doun in þe mydil of erþe, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And Y ſhal ſtire to wraþþe þe herte of many puplis, whanne Y ſhal in leede þi contricioun in folkis, vpon loondis whiche þou knowiſt not. And Y ſhal make many puplis for to wondre greetli vpon þee, and þe kyngis of hem wiþ ful myche orrour ſhulen be agaſt vpon þee, for alle þi wickidneſſis whiche þou wrouȝtiſt, whanne my ſwerd ſhal bigynne for to flee vpon þe facis of hem. And þei ſhulen wondre ſodeynli, eche for his ſoule, in þe day of his fallyng. For þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þe ſwerd of þe kyng of Babiloyne ſhal come to þee; in ſwerdis of ſtronge men Y ſhal caſt doun þi multitude, alle þes folkis ben vnexpugnable, or mowen not be ouercomen. And þei ſhulen deſtruye þe pryde of Egipt, and þe multitude of it ſhal be ſcatrid. And I ſhal leeſe alle beeſtis þerof, þat weren vpon many watris; and þe foot of man ſhal namore truble hem togider, neþer þe clawe of beeſtis ſhal truble hem. Þanne I ſhal ȝelde þe watris of hem clenneſt, and Y ſhal leede to þe floodis of hem as oyle, ſeiþ þe Lord God, whanne Y ſhal ȝyue þe loond of Egipt deſolat. Forſoþe þe loond ſhal be forſakyn of his plentee, whanne I ſhal ſmyte alle þe dwellers þerof; and þei ſhulen wite, for I þe Lord. Þere is mournynge, and þe douȝters of folkis ſhulen weile hym; vpon Egipt, and vpon þe multitude þerof þei ſhulen weile hym, ſeiþ þe Lord God. And it is don in þe twelueþ ȝeer, in þe fiftenþe of þe moneþ, þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſeyynge, Sone of man, ſyng þou a mournynge ſong vpon þe multitude of Egipt, and draw doun þe ilke ſame, and douȝtris of ſtronge folkis to þe vttermeſt loond, wiþ þes þat wenten doun in to þe lake. Hou myche þou art fayrer, go doun, and ſleep wiþ vncircumcidid men. In þe mydil of ſlayn men þei ſhulen falle doun by ſwerd; a ſwerd is ȝouun, and þei drowen it to, and alle þe puplis þerof. Þe mooſt myȝti of ſtronge ſhulen ſpeke to it, fro þe mydil of helle, whiche wiþ helpers þerof wenten doun, and ſlepten vncircumcidid, and ſlayn bi ſwerd. Þere Aſſur, and al his multitude; in þe cumpas of hym þe ſepulcris of hym, alle þe ſlayn, and whiche fellen doun bi ſwerd, whos ſepulcris ben ȝeuen in þe laſt þingis of þe lake. And þe multitude of hym is maad by cumpas of his ſepulcre, alle ſlayn, and fallynge by ſwerd, whiche ȝauen ſumtyme her ſtrengþe in þe lond of lyuynge men. Þere Helam, and al his multitude bi cumpas of his ſepulcre; alle þeſe ſlayn, and fallynge by ſwerd, whiche wenten doun vncircumcidid to þe vttermoſt lond; þe whiche puttiden her dreed in þe lond of lyuynge men, and þei baren her yuel fame wiþ þeſe þat gon doun into þe lake. In þe mydil of ſlayn men þei puttiden þe couche of hym in alle his peplis; in þe cumpas of hym þe ſepulcre of hym. Alle þeſe vncircumcidid and ſlayn wiþ ſwerd, forſoþe þei ȝauen dreed in þe lond of lyuynge men, and baren her yuel fame wiþ þeſe þat gon don into þe lake; in þe mydil of ſlayn men þei ben putt. Þere Moſoch and Tubal, and al his multitude; in þe cumpas of hym þe ſepulcris of hym. Alle þeſe vncircumcidid ſlayn, and fallynge by ſwerd, for þei ȝauen her ferdfulneſſe in þe lond of lyuynge men. And nowe þei ſhuln ſleep wiþ þe ſtronge, and fallynge, and vncircumcidid, whiche wenten doun into helle wiþ her armers, and han putt her ſwerdis vndir her hedis. And her wickidneſſis weren in þe boons of hem, for þei ben maad þe dreed of hem in þe lond of lyuinge men. And þerfore in þe mydil of vncircumcidid þou ſhalt be defoulid, and ſhalt ſleepe wiþ ſlayn men by ſwerd, and whiche ſlepten wiþ vncircumcidid. Þere Ydume, and kyngis þerof, and alle duykis þerof, whiche ben ȝouen wiþ her ooſt, wiþ þe ſlayn bi ſwerd, and whiche ſlepten wiþ vncircumcidid, and wiþ þeſe þat wenten doun in to þe lake. Þere alle princis of þe norþ, and alle hunters, þat ben led forþ wiþ þe ſlayn, dreedynge and in her ſtrengþe confoundid, whiche ſlepten vncircumcidid wiþ þe ſlayn by ſwerd, and baren her confuſioun wiþ þeſe þat gon doun in to þe laake. Pharao ſaw hem, and was coumfortid vpon his multitude whiche is ſlayn by ſwerd. And þei baren her confuſioun, wiþ þeſe þat wenten down into þe laake, Pharao and al his ooſt, þe Lord God ſaiþ; for he ȝaaue his dreed in þe lond of lyuynge men, and he ſlepte in þe mydil of vncircumcided men, wiþ þe ſlayn in ſwerd, Pharao, and al his multitude, ſaiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XXXIII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſayinge, Sone of man, ſpeke þou to þe ſones of þi peple, and þou ſhalt ſaye to hem, Þe erþe, whann I ſhal brynge yn vp on it a ſwerd, and þe peple of þe lond ſhal take oon man of his laſt, and ſhal ordeyn hym a byholder vpon it, and he ſhal ſee a ſwerd cummynge vpon þe lond, and ſhal ſynge wiþ an horn, and ſhal ſhewe to þe peple, forſoþe a man heerynge, who euer he is, þe ſoun of þe horn, and ſhal not kepe hym ſelf, and þe ſwerd ſhal cum, and ſhal take hym, þe blood of hym ſhal be vpon his hed. He herd þe ſoun of þe horn, and kepte not him ſilf, þe blood of hym ſhal be in hym; forſoþe ȝif he ſhal kepe hym, he ſhal ſaaue his ſoule. Þat ȝif þe biholder, or aſpier, ſhal ſee þe ſwerd cummynge, and ſhal not ſoun in þe horn, and þe peple ſhal not keepe it ſelf, and þe ſwerd ſhal cum, and take a ſoule of hem, ſoþely he is taken in his wickidneſſe; forſoþe I ſhal aȝein ſeeke þe blood of hym of þe hond of þe biholder, not þe peple of þe lond, bot Y. And þou, ſone of man, Y ȝaue þee a biholder to þe hous of Yrael; þerfore þou heerynge a word of my mouþ ſhalt ſhewe to hem of me. Ȝif me ſayinge to þe vnpitous man, Vnpitous man, by deeþ þou ſhalt deye, þou ſhalt not ſpeke, þat þe vnpitous man kepe him ſilf fro his waye, þe ilke vnpitous man ſhal deye in his wickidneſſe; forſoþe I ſhal aȝen ſeeke þe bloode of hym of þin hond. Forſoþe ȝif þee tellynge to þe vnpytous man, þat he be conuertid, he ſhal not be conuertid fro his waye, he ſhal dye in his wickidnes; ſoþely þou haſt delyuered þi ſoule. Þerfore þou, ſone of man, ſaye to þe hous of Yrael, Þus ȝe ſpaken, ſayinge, Oure wickidneſſis and our ſynnys ben vpon vs, and in hem we failen not; hou þerfore ſhuln we mown lyue? ſaye þou to hem, Y lyue, ſaiþ þe Lord God, Y wole not þe deþ of þe vnpitous man, bot þat þe vnpitous man be conuertid fro his way, and lyue; be ȝe conuertid fro ȝour warſt wayes, and whi ſhuln ȝe dye, ȝe hous of Yrael? And ſo þou, ſone of man, ſaye to þe ſones of þi peple, Þe riȝtwijſneſſe of a iuſt man ſhal not delyuere hym, in whateuer day he ſhal ſynne; and þe vnpitee of þe vnpitous man ſhal not anoye to hym, in whateuer day he ſhal be conuertid fro his vnpitee; and a iuſt man ſhal not mowe lyue in his riȝtwiſneſſe, in whateuer day he ſhal ſynne. Ȝhe, if I ſhal ſaye to þe iuſt man, þat in lijf he ſhal lyue, and he triſtyng in his riȝtwiſneſſe ſhal do wickidneſſe, alle his riȝtwiſneſſis ſhuln be bitaken to forȝetyng, and in his wickidneſſe whiche he wrouȝte, in þe ylk he ſhal dye. Forſoþe ȝif I ſhal ſaye to þe vnpitous man, Bi deþ þou ſhalt die, and he ſhal do penaunce of his ſynne, and ſhal do dome and riȝtwiſneſſe, and þe ylk vnpitous ſhal reſtore þe wed, and ȝeeld þe rauyn, ſhall go in þe maundementis of lijf, neþer ſhal do any þing vniuſt, in lijf he ſhal lyue, and he ſhal not dye. Alle þe ſynnes whiche he ſynnyde, ſhuln not be rettid, or acountid, to hym; he dide dome and riȝtwyſneſſe, and in lijf he ſhal lyue. And þe ſones of þi peple ſaiden, Þe waye of þe Lord is not of euen weiȝte; and þe waye of hem is vniuſt. Forſoþe whan a iuſt man ſhal go awey fro his riȝtwijſneſſe, and ſhal do wickidneſſe, he ſhal dye in hem; and whann þe vnpitous man ſhal go awey fro his wickidneſſe, and ſhal do dome and riȝtwiſneſſe, he ſhal lyue in hem. And ȝe ſayn, Þe way of þe Lord is not riȝt. Ȝe hous of Yrael, I ſhal deeme eche of ȝou after his waies. And it is don in þe twelfþe ȝeer, in þe tenþe moneþe, in þe fifþe of þe moneþe of oure tranſmigracioun, he cam to me þat fleiȝ fro Jeruſalem, ſayinge, Þe cytee is diſtruyed. Forſoþe þe hond of þe Lord was maad to me in þe euen, byfore he came þat fleiȝ, and he opnyde my mouþe, til he came to me in þe morewnyng; and, my mouþ opnyd, Y was na more ſtille. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſayinge, Sone of man, þei þat dwellen in þeſe ruynouſe þinges vpon þe erþe of Yrael, ſayinge, ſayn, Abraham was oon, and by eritage he weeldide þe lond; forſoþe we ben manye, þe lond is ȝouen to vs in to poſſeſſioun. Þerfore þou ſhalt ſaye to hem, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Where ȝe ſhuln weelde þe lond by eritage, whiche eten blood, and reyſen ȝour eeȝen to ȝour vnclenneſſis, and ſheden out blood? Ȝe ſtoden in ȝour ſwerdis, ȝe diden ȝour abominaciouns, and eche man defoulide þe wijf of his neiȝbore; and ſhul ȝe weelde þe lond by eritage? Þeſe þingus þou ſhalt ſaye to hem, Þus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Y lyue, for þei þat dwellen in ruynouſe þingis, ſhuln falle by ſwerd, and he þat is in þe feeld, ſhal be taken to beeſtis for to be deuoured; forſoþe þei þat in ſtrengþis and dennys ben, by peſtilence ſhuln dye. And I ſhal ȝeue þe lond in to wilderneſſe, and into deſert, and þe pride and ſtrengþe þerof ſhall faile; and þe hillis of Yrael ſhuln be deſolat, for þat þat þer is no man þat paſſiþ by hem. And þei ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord, whanne I ſhal ȝeue þe lond of hem deſolate and deſert, for alle her abomynaciouns whiche þei wrouȝten. And þou, ſone of man, þe ſones of þi peple þat ſpeken of þee biſijdis wallis, and in doris of houſis, and ſayn, oon to an oþer, a man to his neiȝbore, ſpekynge, Cumme ȝe, and heere wee, whiche is þe word goynge out of þe Lord; and þei camen to þee, as ȝif my peple go yn, and my peple ſitten bifore þee, and heeren þi woordis, and don not hem; for þei turnen hem in to a ſonge of her mouþe, and þe herte of hem ſueþ her aueriſe; and it is to hem as a ſonge of muſyke, whiche is ſungen by ſoft and ſweet ſoun; and þei heren þi wordis, and don hem not; and whanne þat þing þat is byfore ſaide ſhal cume, forſoþe loo! it cummeþ, þanne þei ſhuln wite, for a prophete was among hem.

Capitulum XXXIIII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſayinge, Sone of man, prophecie þou of þe ſhepperdis of Yrael, prophecie þou; and þou ſhalt ſaye to þe ſheperdis, Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, Woo to þe ſheperdis of Yrael, þat fedden hemſelf; wher flockis ben fedd of ſheperdis? Ȝee eeten þe mylk, and ȝe weren keuered wiþ þe wollis, and ȝe ſlewen þat þing þat was fat; forſoþe ȝe fedden not my flok. Ȝe maden not ſad togidre þat þat was ſeek, or vnſtedefaſt, and ȝe heeliden not þat þat was ſeek, or ſoor; ȝe bounden not to þat þat was broken, and ȝe ledden not aȝein þat þat is caſt awey, and ȝe ſouȝten not þat þat periſhide; bot wiþ ſteerneſſe ȝe comaundide to hem, and wiþ power. And my ſheep ben ſcatrid, for þat þat þer was no ſheeperd; and þei ben maad in to deuouryng of alle beeſtis of þe feeld, and þei ben ſcatrid. My flockis erreden in alle hillis, and in eche heeȝ litil hill, and vpon al þe face of erþe my flockis ben ſcatrid, and þere was not þat aȝein ſouȝte. Þerfore, ȝe ſheperdis, heer þe word of þe Lord; Y lyue, ſaiþ þe Lord God, for þat þat my flockis ben maad in to rauyne, and my ſheep in to deuouryng of alle beeſtis of þe feld, for þat þat þer was no ſheperd, forſoþe neþer ſheperdis ſouȝten my floc, bot þe ſheperdis fedden hemſelf, and fedden not my flockis; þerfore, ȝe ſheperdis, heer ȝee þe word of þe Lord, Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I my ſelf vpon þe ſheperdis; I ſhal aȝein ſeeke my floc of þe hond of hem, and I ſhal make hem for to ceeſe, þat þei na more feede my floc, ne þe ſheperdis ſhuln more feede hemſelf. And I ſhal deliuer my floc of þe mouþe of hem, and it ſhal na more be to hem in to mete. For þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I myſelf ſhal aȝein ſeeke my ſheep, and I ſhal viſite hem. As a ſhepherd viſitiþ his floc, in þe dai whan he ſhal be in þe mydil of his ſcatered ſheep, ſo I ſhal viſite my ſheep, and ſhal delyuere hem of alle places in whiche þei weren ſcatered, in day of cloude, and derkneſſe. And I ſhal leede hem out of peplis, and I ſhal gadre hem of londis, and I ſhal leede hem into her lond, and I ſhal feede hem in þe hillis of Yrael, in ſtrondis, and in alle ſeetis of erþe. In paſturis moſt plenteuouſe Y ſhal feede hem, and in þe heeȝ mounteyns of Yrael þe leſewis of hem ſhuln be; þere þei ſhuln aȝein reſte in erbis wexynge greene, and in fat leſewis þei ſhuln be fed vpon þe mounteyns of Yrael. Y ſhal feede my ſheep, and I ſhal make hem for to reſte, ſaiþ þe Lord God. Y ſhal aȝein ſeeke þat þat periſhide, and I ſhal aȝein leede þat þat was caſt awey; and I ſhal bynd to þat þat was to gidre broken, and I ſhal coumforte þat þat was ſeek; and I ſhal keepe þat þat is fat and ſtrong, and I ſhal feede hem in dome; forſoþe ȝe ben my flockis. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I deeme bitwixe beeſt and beeſt, and weþer and buc of geet. Wher it was not ynewȝ to ȝou for to deuoure good leſewes? More ouer and ȝe defouliden wiþ ȝour feet þe relifis of ȝour leſewis, and whan ȝe dronken moſt cleer water, and ȝe trubliden þe toþer wiþ ȝour feet. And my ſheep weren fed wiþ þeſe þingus þat weren defoulid wiþ ȝour feet; and whiche þingus ȝour feet trubliden, þeſe þei drunken. Þerfore þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God to hem, Loo! I myſelf deeme bitwixe fat beeſte and lene. For þat þat ȝe punchiden wiþ ſydis, and ſhuldris, and wiþ ȝour hornis wynewiden alle ſeek beeſtis, til þei weren ſcatered wiþouten forþ, I ſhal ſaue my floc, and it ſhal na more be into raueyn. And I ſhal deeme bitwix beeſt and beeſt; and I ſhal reyſe vpon hem oo ſheperd, whiche ſhal feed hem, my ſeruaunt Dauyd; he ſhal feede hem, and he ſhal be to hem in to a ſheperd. Forſoþe I þe Lord ſhal be to hem in to God, and my ſeruaunt Dauiþ prince in þe mydil of hem; forſoþe I þe Lord ſpake. And I ſhal make wiþ hem a couenaunt of pees, and I ſhal make for to ceeſe þe werſt beeſtis fro þe erþe; and þei þat dwellen in deſert, ſikir ſhuln ſleep in wilde wodes. And I ſhal putte hem in cumpas of my litil hill a bleſſyng, and I ſhal lede out rayn in his tyme. Raynes of bliſſyng ſhuln be, and þe tree of þe feeld ſhal ȝeue his fruyt, and þe erþe ſhal ȝeue his buriownyng. And þei ſhuln be in her lond wiþout dreed; and þei ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord, whan I ſhal debriſe þe chaynes of her ȝoc, and ſhal deliuere hem of þe hond of men comaundynge to hem. And þei ſhuln na more be in to raueyn in heiþen men, neþer beeſtis of þe feeld ſhuln deuoure hem, bot þei ſhuln dwelle triſtili wiþout ony dreed. And I ſhal reyſe to hem a iuſt buriownyng, or ſeed, named; and þei ſhuln na more be maad litil by hungre in erþe, neþer þei ſhuln heere more ouer þe ſhendſhipis of folkis. And þei ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord God of hem wiþ hem, and þei my peple, þe hous of Yrael, ſaiþ þe Lord God. Forſoþe ȝe men ben my flockis, þe flockis of my leſewe; and I þe Lord ȝour God, ſaiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XXXV.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſayinge, Sone of man, putte þou þi face aȝeins þe mount of Seir; and þou ſhalt prophecie to it, and ſhalt ſaye to it, Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I to þee, mount of Seir; I ſhal ſtrecche out myn hond vpon þee, and I ſchal ȝiue þee deſolat and deſert. I ſchal diſtrye þi citees, and þou ſchalt be deſert; and þou ſchalt wite, for I þe Lord. For þat þat þou was an enmy euer laſtynge, and cloſidiſt to gydre þe ſones of Yrael in to hondis of ſwerd, in þe tyme of her affliccioun, in þe tyme of þe laſt wickidneſſe; þerfore Y lyue, ſaiþ þe Lord God, for I ſhal bitake þee to blood, and blood ſhal purſue þee; and whann þou hatiſt bloode, blood ſhal purſue þee. And I ſhal ȝeue þe hil of Seir deſolat and deſert, and I ſhal take awey fro it a man goynge and turnynge aȝein; and I ſhal fulfille þe hillis of it wiþ careyns of ſlayn men. In þi litil hillis, and in þi valeis, and in rennynge brokis of reyn, men ſlayn in ſwerd ſhuln falle doun. I ſhal bytake þee into wilderneſſis euerlaſtynge, and þi citees ſhuln not be enabitid; and ȝe ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord God. For þat þat þou ſaidiſt, Two folkis and two londis ſhuln be myn, and bi eritage I ſhal weelde hem, whan þe Lord was þere; þerfore I lyue, ſaiþ þe Lord God, for I ſhal do after þi wraþ, and after þin enuye, whiche þou didiſt, hauynge hem in hate, and I ſhal be maad knowen by hem, when I ſhal deeme þee; and þou ſhalt wite, for I þe Lord. Y herde alle þi ſhendſhipis, whiche þou haſt ſpoken of þe mounteyns of Yrael, ſayinge, Þei deſert ben ȝouen to vs, for to deuoure. And ȝe han riſe vpon me wiþ ȝour mouþ, and han dymynued, or ſpoken yuel, aȝeins me; I herd ȝour wordis. Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, All erþe gladynge, I ſhal dryue þee in to wildreneſſe. As þou ioyediſt vpon þe eritage of þe hous of Yrael, for þat it was ſcatered, ſo I ſhal do to þee; þe hill of Seir ſhal be ſcatered, and al Ydume; and þei ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord.

Capitulum XXXVI.

[edit]

Forſoþe þou, ſone of man, prophecie vpon þe mounteyns of Yrael; and þou ſhalt ſaye, Hillis of Yrael, heere ȝe þe word of þe Lord. Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat þe enmye ſaide of ȝou, Wele! or ſcorne, heeȝneſſis euerlaſtynge ben ȝouen to vs in to eritage; þerfore prophecie þou, and ſaye, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat ȝe ben deſolat and defoulid by cumpas, and maad in to eritage to oþer folkis, and ȝee ſteiȝiden vp vpon þe lipp of tunge, and ſhendſhip of peple; þerfore, ȝe hillis of Yrael, heere þe word of þe Lord God. Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God to mounteyns, and ſmale hillis, to rennynge ſtremys of reyn, and valeys, and to deſert wallingus, and to forſaken citees, þat ben robbid, and ſcornyd of oþer heiþen men bi cumpas; þerfore þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, For in þe fijr of my wraþ I ſpake of oþer heiþen men, and of al Ydume, þat ȝauen my lond to hem in to eritage in ſwerd, and al þe herte, and of inwit, and caſtiden out it, þat þei ſhulden waaſte; þerfore prophecie þou vpon þe erþ of Yrael, and þou ſhalt ſaye to mounteyns, and ſmale hillis, to heiȝþis of hillis, and valeys, Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat ȝe ben deſolat, loo! I in my wraþ and in my woodneſſe haue ſpoken. For þat þat ȝe ſuſteyneden þe confuſioun of heiþen men. Þerfore þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, I reyſide myn hond aȝeins heiþen men, þat ben in ȝour cumpas, þat þei bere her confuſioun. Forſoþe, ȝe hillis of Yrael, buriown ȝour braunchis, and bring ȝour fruyt to my peple of Yrael; forſoþe it is niȝ þat it cum. For loo! I to you, and I ſhal be conuertid to ȝou, and ȝe ſhuln be erid, and ſhuln take ſeed. And I ſhal multiplie in ȝou men, and al þe hous of Yrael; and citees ſhuln be enhabitid, and ruynouſe þingis ſhuln be inſtorid, or maad aȝein. And I ſhal fulfil ȝou wiþ men and beeſtis, and þei ſhuln be multiplied, and ſhuln waxe; and I ſhal make ȝou for to dwelle as fro þe bygynnyng, and I ſhal ȝeue wiþ gretter goodis þan ȝe hadden fro þe bygynnynge; and ȝe ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord. And I ſhal brenge vpon ȝou men, my peple of Yrael, and by eritage þei ſhuln welde þee, and þou ſhalt be to hem in to eritage; and þou ſhalt na more putte to, þat þou be wiþout hem. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, For þat þat þei ſayn of ȝou, Þou art a deuoureſſe of men, and ſtranglinge þi folc; þerfore þou ſhalt na more ete men, and þou ſhalt na more ſlea þi folk, þe Lord God ſaiþ. Neþer I ſhal make þe confuſioun of heiþen men herd more in þee, and þou ſhalt not bere þe ſhendſhipe of peplis, and þou ſhalt na more leeſe þi peple, ſaiþ þe Lord God. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſayinge, Sone of man, þe hous of Yrael dwelliden in her lond, and þei defouliden it in her wayes, and in her ſtudies; after þe vnclenneſſe of þe menſtruat womman þe way of hem is maad before me. And I ſhedde out myn indignacioun vpon hem, for þe blood whiche þey ſhedden vpon þe lond, and in her ydolis þei defouliden it. And I ſcatride hem among heiþen men, and þei ben wyndowid in to londis. After þe waies of hem and fyndyngis Y deemyde hem. And þei entriden to heiþen men, to whom þei entriden, and defouliden myn holy name, whann it was ſaid of hem, Þis is þe peple of þe Lord, þei wenten out of þe lond of hym. And I ſparid to myn hooli name, whom þe hous of Yrael defoulide in heiþen men, to whom þei entriden. Þerfore þou ſhalt ſaie to þe hous of Yrael, Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, Not for ȝou I ſhal do, ȝe hous of Yrael, but for myn holy name, whom ȝe defouliden in heiþen men, to whom ȝe entriden. And I ſhal halewe my greet name, whiche is defoulid among heiþen men, whom ȝe defouliden in þe mydil of hem; þat heiþen men witen, for I þe Lord, ſaiþ þe Lord of hooſtus, whanne I ſhal be halewid in ȝou bifore hem. Soþely Y ſhal take ȝou awey fro heiþen men, and I ſhal gadre ȝou of alle londis, and I ſhal brenge ȝou into ȝour lond. And I ſhal ſhede out vpon ȝou clene watir, and ȝe ſhuln be clenſid of alle ȝour defoulyngis; and I ſhal clenſe ȝou fro alle ȝour ydolis. And I ſhal ȝeue to ȝou a newe herte, and I ſhal putte a newe ſpirit in þe mydil of ȝou; and I ſhal take awey a ſtonen herte of ȝour fleſhe, and I ſhal ȝeue to ȝou an herte of fleſhe, and I ſhal putte my ſpirit in þe mydil of ȝou. And I ſhal make þat ȝe walke in myn heeſtis, and þat ȝee kepe and wirche my domys. And ȝe ſhuln dwelle in þe lond, whiche I ȝaue to ȝour fadris; and ȝe ſhuln be to me in to peple, and I ſhal be to ȝou in to God. And I ſhal ſaue ȝou of alle ȝour filþis; and I ſhal clepe whete, and ſhal multiplie it, and I ſhal not putte hungre in to ȝou. And I ſhal multiplie þe fruyte of tree, and buriownyngus, or ſeedis, of þe feeld, þat ȝe bere na more ſhenſhip of hungre in heiþen men. And ȝe ſhuln haue mynde of ȝour warſt waies, and ſtudies not goode; and ȝour wickidneſſis, and ȝour grete treſpaſſis ſhuln diſpleſe to ȝou. Not for ȝou I ſhal do, ſaiþ þe Lord God, be it knowen to ȝou; be ȝe counfoundid, and ſhame ȝe vpon ȝour waies, ȝe hous of Yrael. Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, In þe day in whiche Y ſhal clenſe ȝou of alle ȝour wickidneſſis, and ſhal make citees for to be enhabitid, and ſhal repareyle ruynouſe þingis, and þe deſert lond ſhal be tilied, whiche ſum tyme was deſolat, in þe eeȝen of eche way goar, þei ſhuln ſaye, Þe ylk lond vntilied is maad as a ȝerd of volupte, and citees deſert and deſtitute and vndirdiggid, waardid, or made ſtronge, han ſetun; and heiþen men ſhuln wite, whiche euer ſhuln be left, or forſaken, in ȝour cumpas, for I þe Lord haue bildide þe ſcatered þingus, and haue plantid vntilied þingus; Y þe Lord haue ſpoke, and haue don. Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, Ȝit þe hous of Yrael in þis þing ſhuln fynde me, þat Y do to hem; Y ſhal multiplie hem as flockis of men, as an holy floc, as þe floc of Jeruſalem in þe ſolempnitees þerof, ſo deſert citees ſhuln be ful of flockis of men; and þei ſhuln wite, for Y þe Lord.

Capitulum XXXVII.

[edit]

The hond of þe Lord is maad vpon me, and he ledde me out in þe ſpirit of þe Lord, and lefte me in þe mydil of a feeld þat was ful of boones; and he ledde me aboute bi hem in cumpas. Forſoþe þere were ful manye vpon þe face of þe erþe, and gretely drye. And he ſaide to me, Sone of man, geſſiſt þou, wher þeſe boones ſhuln lyue? And I ſaide, Lord God, þou haſt knowe. And he ſaide to me, Prophecie þou of þeſe boonys; and þou ſhalt ſaye to hem, Drie boones, heer ȝe þe word of þe Lord. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God to þeſe bonys, Loo! I ſhal wiþ ynne ſend in to ȝou a ſpirit, and ȝe ſhuln lyue. And I ſhal ȝeue ſynewys vpon ȝou, and I ſhal make fleſhis for to wexe vpon ȝou, and I ſhal aboue ſtrecche ſkyn in ȝou, and I ſhal ȝeue to ȝou a ſpirit, and ȝe ſhuln lyue; and ȝe ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord. And I prophecied, as he comaundide to me; forſoþe me prophecyinge a ſoun is maad, and loo! a ſtyryng to gydre, and bones wenten to boones, eche to his ioynture. And I ſawe, and loo! vpon hem ſynewis and fleſhis ſteiȝiden vp to hem, and ſkyn is ſtrechid forþ aboue, and þei hadden no ſpirit. And he ſaide to me, Prophecie þou to þe ſpirit, ſone of man, prophecie þou; and þou ſhalt ſaye to þe ſpirit, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Fro four wyndys cum, þou ſpirit, and blowe yn vpon þeſe ſlayn men, and lyue þei aȝein. And I prophecied, as he comaundide to me; and þe ſpirit wente in to hem, and þei lyuyden, and ſtoden vpon her feet, a ful greet ooſt. And þe Lord ſaide to me, Sone of man, alle þeſe boones is þe hous of Yrael; þei ſayen, Oure boons dryeden, and our hoope peryſhide, and we ben kit awey. Þerfore prophecie þou, and þou ſhalt ſaye to hem, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I ſhal open ȝour biriels, and ſhal leede ȝou out of ȝour ſepulcris, my peple, and I ſhal leed ȝou in to ȝour lond of Yrael. And ȝe ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord, whan I ſhall opyn ȝour ſepulcris, and ſhal leede ȝou out of ȝour biriels, my peple; and ſhal ȝeue my ſpirit in ȝou, and ȝe ſhuln lyue. And I ſhal make ȝou for to reſt vpon ȝour lond; and ȝe ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord ſpake, and haue don, ſaiþ þe Lord God. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to me, ſayinge, And þou, ſone of man, take to þee oo tree, and wryte vpon it, Of Juda, and þe ſonys of Yrael, wiþ his felawis. And take þou an oþer tree, and write vpon it, Of Joſeph, and þe tree of Effraym, and of al þe hous of Yrael, and his felawis. And ioyne hem þe toon to þe toþer to þee into oo tree; and þei ſhuln be in to oonyng in þin hond. Forſoþ whan þe ſonys of þi peplis ſhuln ſaye to þee, ſpekynge, Wher þou ſhewiſt not to vs, what þou wolt in þeſe þingis to þee? þou ſhalt ſpeke to hem, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord, Loo! I ſhal take to þe tree of Joſeph, þat is in þe hond of Effraym, and þe kynredis of Yrael, þat ben ioyned to hym, and I ſhal ȝeue hem to gydre wiþ þe tree of Juda; and I ſhal make hem in to oo tree, and þei ſhuln be oon in his hond. Forſoþe þe trees, vpon whom þou haſt writen, ſhuln be in þin hond in þe eeȝen of hem. And þou ſhalt ſaye to hem, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I ſhall take to þe ſones of Yrael of þe mydil of naciouns, to whom þei wenten awey; and I ſhal gadere hem on eche ſyde. And I ſhal bringe hem to her erþe, and I ſhal make hem oo folk in þe lond, in hillis of Yrael, and oo kyng ſhal be comaundynge to alle; and þei ſhuln na more be two folkis, neyþer þei ſhuln more be departid in to two rewmes. Neþer þei ſhuln be defoulid more ouer in her ydols, and her abomynaciouns, and in alle her wickidneſſis. And I ſhal make hem ſaaf of alle her ſetis, in whiche þei ſynneden, and I ſhal clenſe hem; and þei ſhuln be to me a peple, and I ſhal be God to hem. And my ſeruaunt kyng Dauyd vpon hem, and oo ſheperd ſhal be of hem alle; þei ſhuln walke in my domys, and þei ſhuln kepe my comaundementis, and ſhuln do hem. And þei ſhuln dwelle vpon þe lond, whiche Y ȝaue to my ſeruaunt Jacob, in whiche ȝour faderis dwelliden; and þei ſhuln dwelle vpon it, þei, and þe ſones of hem, and þe ſonys of her ſones, til in to wiþ outen eende; and Dauyþ, my ſeruaunt, prince of hem in to wiþ oute eende. And I ſhal ſmyte to hem a couenaunt of pees; a couenaunte euerlaſtynge ſhal be to hem, and I ſhal founde hem, and ſhal multiplie. And I ſhal be to hem God, and þei ſhuln be to me peple. And heiþen men ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord, halewer of Yrael, whan my halewyng ſhal be in þe mydil of hem in to wiþ oute eende.

Capitulum XXXVIII.

[edit]

And þe word of þe Lord is made to me, ſayinge, Sone of man, putte þi face aȝeins Gog, and þe lond of Magog, prince of þe hed of Moſoch and Tubal; and prophecie þou of hym. And þou ſhalt ſaye to hym, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I to þee Gog, prince of þe hed of Moſoch and Tubal; and I ſhal leede þee aboute, and I ſhal putte a brydil in þi cheekis, and ſhal leede þee out, and al þin ooſt, horſis, and horſmen, alle cloþed wiþ hauberiouns, a greet multitude of men, takynge ſhaft, and ſheeld, and ſwerd. Men of Perſis, Eþiopiens, and Libiens wiþ hem, alle ſheeldid and helmyd. Gomer, and alle his cumpanyes, þe hous of Togorma, ſydis of þe norþ, and al þe ſtrengþe of hym, and many peplis wiþ þee. Diȝte, and make þee redy, and alle þi multitude þat is gadred to þee, be þou to hem in to comaundement. After many dayes þou ſhalt be viſitid, in þe laſt of ȝeeris þou ſhalt cum to erþe, whiche is turnyd aȝein fro ſwerd, and is gadrid of many peplis, to þe hillis of Yrael þat weren deſert laſtyngly; þis is led out of peplis, and alle dwelten in it triſtili. Forſoþe þou ſteiȝinge vp as a tempeſt ſhalt cum, and as a cloude, þat þou hill þe erþe, þou and alle þi cumpaignyes, and many peplis wiþ þee. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, In þat day wordis ſhuln ſtye vp vpon þin herte, and þou ſhalt þenke þe warſt þouȝt; and ſhalt ſaye, I ſhal ſtiȝe vp to þe lond wiþ oute wall, I ſhal cum to men reſtynge and dwellynge ſykirly; alle þeſe dwellen wiþ outen wall, barris, or lockis, and ȝatis ben not to hem; þat þou rauyſhe ſpuilis, and aſſaile pray; þat þou ȝeue þin hond vpon hem þat weren deſert, and afterward reſtoryd, and vpon þe peple whiche is gadrid of folkis, whiche bygan for to weelde, and for to be dweller of þe naule, or mydil, of þe erþe. Saba, and Dedan, and marchauntis of Tharſis, and alle lyouns þerof ſhuln ſaye to þee, Wher þou cummeſt for to take ſpuylis? Loo! for to rauyſhe pray þou gadereſt þi multitude, þat þou take gold and ſyluer, and take awey, and take portenaunce of houſhold and ſubſtaunce, and rauyſhe ſpuylis wiþ outen noumbre. Þerfore, ſone of man, prophecie þou; and þou ſhalt ſaye to Gog, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Wher not in þat day, whan my peple of Yrael ſhal dwelle triſtili, þou ſhalt wite; and ſhalt cum of þi place, fro ſydis of þe norþe, þou, and many peplis wiþ þee, alle ſtyers of horſis, a greet cumpignye, and greet ooſt; and ſtyeinge vp on my peple Yrael, as a cloude, þat þou hille þe erþe? In þe laſt dayes þou ſhalt be, and I ſhal leede þee to vp on my lond, þat my folkis wite, whan I ſhal be halewid in þee, in þe eeȝen of hem, þou Gog. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Þerfore þou art he of whom I ſpak in olde dayes, in þe hond of my ſeruauntis, prophetis of Yrael, þat prophecied in þe days of tymes, þat I ſhulde leede þee to vpon hem. And it ſhal be, in þat day, in þe day of þe cummyng of Gog vpon þe lond of Yrael, ſaiþ þe Lord God, myn indignacioun ſhal ſtye vp in my wodeneſſe, and in my wraþ; in þe fijre of my wraþ I ſpac. For in þat day ſhal be greet mouynge to gydre vpon þe lond of Yrael; and fiſhis of þe ſe ſhuln be moued to gydre fro my face, and beeſtis of þe feeld, and briddis of heuen, and eche crepynge þing þat is moued vpon erþe, and alle men þat ben vpon þe face of þe erþe; and hillis ſhuln be vndirtournyd, and heggis ſhuln falle, and eche wall ſhal falle to gidre to erþe. And I ſhal clepe to gydre aȝeins hym a ſwerd in alle my mounteyns, ſaiþ þe Lord; þe ſwerd of eche man ſhal be dreſſid in to his broþer. And þan I ſhal deeme hym by peſtilence, and blood, and reyn ful greet, and greete ſtoons; Y ſhal reyne vpon hym fyre and bronſton, and vpon his ooſt, and vpon many peplis þat ben wiþ hym. And I ſhal be magnyfyed and halewid, and I ſhal be knowen in þe eeȝen of many folkis; and þei ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord.

Capitulum XXXIX.

[edit]

Forſoþe þou, ſone of man, prophecie aȝeins Gog; and þou ſhalt ſaye, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Loo! I vpon þee, Gog, prince of þe hed of Moſoch and Tubal. And I ſhal leede þee aboute, and I ſhal diſceyue þee, and make þee for to ſtey vp of ſydis of þe norþ, and I ſhal bryng þee on þe hillis of Yrael. And I ſhal ſmyte þi bouwe in þi left half, and I ſhal caſt doun þin arowis of þi riȝt hond. Vpon þe mounteyns of Yrael þou ſhalt falle, þou, and alle þi cumpanyes, and peplis þat ben wiþ þee; to wylde beeſtis, briddis and eche volatile, and beeſtis of erþe I ȝaue þee for to be deuoured. Vpon þe face of feeld þou ſhalt falle; for I þe Lord ſpac, ſaiþ þe Lord God. And I ſhal ſende out fijr in to Magog, and in hem þat dwellen in ijlis triſtily; and þei ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord God of Yrael. And I ſhal make myn holy name knowen in þe mydil of my peple of Yrael, and I ſhal na more defoule myn holy name; and folkis ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord, holy God of Yrael. Loo! it cummeþ, and it is maad, ſaiþ þe Lord God. Þis is þe day of whiche I ſpac. And dwellers of þe cytees of Yrael ſhuln go out, and kyndlen and brenne to gydre armeris, ſheeld and ſhaft, bowe and arowis, and ſtafs of hond, and dartis; and þei ſhuln priuely brenne hem by fijr ſeuen ȝeeris. And þei ſhuln not bere trees of cuntrees, neþer þei ſhuln priuely brenne of wijld wodis, for þei ſhuln priuely brenne armers in fijr; and þei ſhuln robbe hem, to whom prayes weren, and þei ſhuln rauyſhe her waaſters, or diſtruyers, ſaiþ þe Lord God. And it ſhal be in þat day, Y ſhal ȝeue Gog a place named, ſepulcre in Yrael, þe valey of way goers to þe eeſt of þe ſe, þat makiþ men paſſynge for to be agaſt; and þer þei ſhuln byryen Gog, and al þe multitude of hym, and it ſhal be clepid þe valey of þe multitude of Gog. And þe hous of Yrael ſhuln birye hem, þat þei clenſe þe erþe ſeuen moneþis. Forſoþe al þe peple of erþe ſhal byrien hem, and it ſhal be to hem a named day, in whom Y am glorified, ſaiþ þe Lord God. And þei ſhuln ordeyne byſili men ſeekynge, or compaſynge, þe erþe, þe whiche ſhuln birien and aȝein ſeeke hem þat dwelten vpon þe face of erþe, þat þei clenſe it. Forſoþe after ſeuen moneþis þei ſhuln bygynne for to ſeeke, and ſhuln cumpas walkynge þe lond; and when þei ſhuln ſee a boon of man, þei ſhuln ſette a title, or ſigne, biſidis it, til þat byriers byrye it in þe valey of multitude of Gog. Forſoþe name of þe citee Amona; and þei ſhuln clenſe þe lond. Forſoþe þou, ſone of man, þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, Saye þou to eche bryd, and to alle foulis, and to alle beeſtis of þe feeld, Cum ȝe to gydre, and haſte ȝee, renne to gydre on eche ſijde to my ſlayn ſacrifice, whiche I offre to ȝou, a greet ſlayn ſacrifice vpon þe hillis of Yrael, þat ȝee ete fleſhis, and drynke blood. Ȝe ſhuln ete þe fleſhis of ſtrong men, and ȝe ſhuln drynke þe blood of princis of erþe, of weþers, of lambren, and of kiddis, and of boolis, and of þingus fed for to be fatt, and of alle fatt þingus. And ȝe ſhuln ete þe fatneſſe in to fulfillynge, and ſhuln drynke blood in to drunkenneſſe, of þe ſlayn ſacrifice whiche I ſhal offre to ȝou. And ȝe ſhuln be fulfillid vpon my bord, of hors, and of ſtrong horſman, or knyȝt, and of alle men of batail, ſaiþ þe Lord God. And I ſhal putte my glorie in folkis, and alle folkis ſhuln ſee my dome, þat I dide, and myn hond, þat I haue putte on hem. And þe hous of Yrael ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord God of hem, fro þat day and afterward, or fro þennus forþ. And heiþen men ſhuln wite, for þe hous of Yrael is taken in his wickidneſſe, for þat þat þei leften me; and Y hidde my face fro hem, and bytoke hem in to hondis of enmys, and alle fellen in ſwerd. After þe vnclenneſſe of hem and greet treſpas Y dide to hem, and I hidde my face fro hem. Þerfore þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord God, Now I ſhal leede aȝein þe caitifte of Jacob, and I ſhal haue mercy on al þe hous of Yrael; and I ſhal take to loue for myn holy name. And þei ſhuln bere her confuſioun, and eche treſpaſſynge whiche þei treſpaſſiden in me, whan þei dwelliden in her lond triſtili, dredynge no man; and I ſhal leede aȝein hem of peplis, and ſhal gadre hem fro londis of her enmyes, and ſhal be halewid in hem, in þe eeȝen of ful manye folkis. And þei ſhuln wite, for I þe Lord God of hem, for þat þat I tranſlatide hem into naciouns, and haue gadrede hem vpon her lond, and I haue not forſaken, or left, eny man of hem þere. And I ſhal namore hide my face fro hem, for þat I ſhedde out my ſpirit vpon eche hous of Yrael, ſaiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XL.

[edit]

In þe fyue and twentiþe ȝere of oure tranſmygracioun, in þe bygynnynge of þe ȝeer, in þe tenþe of þe moneþ, in þe fourtenþe ȝeer aftir þat þe citee is ſmytyn, in þe ſame day þe hond of þe Lord is maad on me, and ledde me þider in viſiouns of God. And he brouȝt me in to þe lond of Yrael, and he left me on a ful heeȝ hill, vpon whom was as a beeldyng of a citee goynge to þe ſouþe; and he ledde me yn þider. And loo! a man, whos fourme was as þe fourme of braſſe, and a lytil lynnyn bond in his hond, and a ȝerd of meſure in his hond; forſoþe he ſtood in þe ȝate. And þe ſame man ſpac to me, Sone of man, ſee wiþ þin eeȝen, and heere wiþ þin eeris, and putte þin herte in to alle þingis, whiche I ſhal ſhewe to þee, for þat it be ſhewid to þee, þou art brouȝt to hiþer; telle þou alle þingus þat þou ſeeſt to þe hous of Yrael. And loo! a wal wiþ outforþ, in cumpas of þe hous in eche ſijd, and in hond of þe man a ȝerd of meſure of ſixe cubitis and a palme; and he metid þe breede of þe beeldyng wiþ oo ȝerd, and þe heeȝneſſe wiþ oo ȝerd. And he came to þe ȝate þat biheelde to þe eeſt waye, and he ſtiede vp by þe greeſe þerof; and he metid þe þrisfold of þe ȝate wiþ oo ȝerd, þat is for to ſaye, þe breede of þe þrisfold, wiþ oo ȝerd in breede; and þe chaumbre wiþ oo ȝerd in to long, and wiþ oo ȝerd in to breede, and bitwix chaumbris fyue cubitis; and þe þresfold of þe ȝate biſydis þe veſtiarie, or porche, of þe ȝate wiþ ynforþ, oo ȝerd. And he metide þe porche of þe ȝate of eiȝt cubitus, and þe frount þerof in two cubitis; forſoþe þe veſtiarie, or porche, of þe ȝate was wiþ inneforþ. Forſoþe chaumbris of þe ȝate to þe eſt waye, þree on þis ſijd, and þree on þat ſijd; oo meſure of þree, and oo meſure of þe frountis of eche ſyde. And he metid þe breede of þe þresfold of þe ȝate of ten cubitis, and þe lengþe of þe ȝate of þrittene cubitis; and þe margyne, or vttemeſt part, bifore þe chaumbris of oo cubit, and oo cubit þe eende of eche ſijde; ſoþely þe chaumbres weren of ſixe cubitis on þis ſyde and on þat ſyde. And he metide þe ȝate fro þe roof of þe chaumbre til þe roof þerof, þe breede of fyue and twenty cubitis, dore aȝeins dore. And he maad frountis bi ſixti cubitis, and at a frount porche of þe ȝate on eche ſyde bi cumpas; and bifore þe face of þe ȝate þat laſtid til to þe face of þe porche of þe ynner ȝate, fifti cubitis; and wyndowis ouerþwert, in chaumbris and in frountis of hem, þat weren wiþ ynne þe ȝate on eche ſyde by cumpas. Alſo forſoþe and wyndowis weren in þe porchis bi cumpas wiþ ynne forþ, and bifore þe frountis peyntyng of palmes grauen. And he ledde me out to þe vtmer porche, or large hous, and loo! treſories, and pament paued wiþ ſtoon in þe porche by enuyrounn; þritti treſories in þe cumpas of pament; and a pament in þe frount of ȝatis, after þe lengþe of þe ȝatis was wiþ ynneforþ. And he metide þe breede fro face of þe ynner ȝate vnto þe frount of þe ynner porche wiþ outeforþ, an hundrid cubitis to þe eeſt, and to þe norþ. And he metide þe ȝate þat biheelde þe waye of þe norþ, of þe vtmore porche, as wele in lengþe as in breede; and þree chaumbres þerof, þree on þis ſyde, and þree on þat ſyde, and þe frount þerof, and þe porche þerof, after þe meſure of þe firſt ȝate; þe lengþe þerof of fyfty cubitis, and þe breede of fyue and twenti cubitis. Forſoþe þe wyndowis þerof, and porche, and grauyngis, after þe meſure of þe ȝate þat byheelde to þe eeſt; and of ſeuen grees was þe ſtyeing vp þerof, and a porche bifore it. And þe ȝate of þe ynner porche aȝeinus þe ȝate of þe norþ, and þe eeſt ȝate; and he metide fro ȝate vnto ȝate an hundrid cubitis. And he ledde me out to þe ſouþe waye, and loo! a ȝate þat bihelde to þe ſouþe; and he metide þe frount þerof, and þe porche þerof, after þe ouermore meſures; and þe wyndowis þerof, and porchis in cumpas, as þe toþer wyndows; of fifti cubitis þe lengþe, and þe breede of fyue and twenti cubitis. And in ſeuen greeſis men ſtieden þerto, and a porche bifore þe ȝatis þerof; and grauen palmes weren, oon on þis ſyde, and an oþer in þe frount þerof. And þe ȝate of þe ynner hous, in þe ſouþ waye; and he metide fro ȝate vnto ȝate in þe ſouþ waye, an hundrid cubitis. And he ledde me yn, in to þe ynnermer hous at þe ſouþ ȝate; and he metide þe ȝate after þe ouermer meſuris; þe chaumbris þerof, and frount þerof, and porche þerof, bi þe ſame meſuris; and þe wyndowis þerof, and þe porche þerof in cumpas; fifti cubitis in lengþe, and of breed fyue and twenti cubitis; and þe porche by cumpas, þe lengþe of fyue and twenti cubitis, and þe breed of fyue cubitis. And þe porche þerof to þe vtmer hous, and palmes þerof in þe frount; and eiȝte greces weren, bi whiche me ſteyede vp þerby. And he ledde me in to þe ynnermer hous, by þe eeſt waye; and he metide þe ȝate after þe ouermer meſuris; þe chaumbre þerof, and frount þerof, and porchis þerof, as aboue; and wyndowis þerof, and porchis þerof in cumpas; þe lengþe of fifty cubitis, and þe breede of fyue and twenty cubitis; and þe porche þerof, þat is to ſaye, of þe vtmer hous; and palmes graued in þe frount þerof, on þis ſyde and on þat ſyde; and in eiȝte greeſe þe ſteiȝing vp þerof. And he ledde me ynne, at þe ȝate þat biheelde to þe norþ, and matte after þe ouermore meſuris; þe chaumbris þerof, and frount þerof, and þe porche þerof, and wyndowis þerof bi cumpas; of lengþe of fifty cubitis, and þe breed of fyue and twenti cubitis. Þe porche þerof biheelde to þe vtmer hous; and grauyngs of palmys in frount þerof on boþe ſydis; and in eiȝte greeſe þe ſteiȝing vp þerof. And bi alle treſories a dore in frountis of þe ȝatis; and þere þei waſhiden brend ſacrifice. And in þe porche of þe ȝate two bordis on þis ſyde, and two bordis on þat ſyde, þat vpon hem ben offrid brend ſacrifice, for ſynne of doyng and for treſpas of leeuyng vndon. And at þe vtmer ſyde, þat goþ vp to þe dore of þe ȝate þat goþ to þe norþ, two bordis; and at þe toþer ſyde, bifore þe porche of þe ȝate, two bordis. Foure bordis on þis ſyde, and four bordis on þat ſyde; by þe ſydis of þe ȝate weren eiȝte bordis vpon whom men offriden. Forſoþe foure bordis to brend ſacrifice beeldid of ſqware ſtoons, in lengþe of oo cubit and an half, and in breede of oo cubite and an half, and in heiȝþe oo cubit; vpon whiche þei putten veſſels, in whiche brend ſacrifice is offrid, and ſlayn ſacrifice. And þe lippis, or brynkis, of hem of oo palme, bowid aȝein wiþ ynneforþ bi cumpas; vpon þe bordis forſoþe offringis of fleſhe. And wiþ oute þe ynner ȝate, treſeries of chaunters, in þe ynner hous þat was in þe ſide of þe ȝate biholdynge to þe norþ; and þe face of þem aȝeinus þe ſouþe waye; oon on þe ſyde of þe eeſt ȝate, þat biheelde to þe waye of þe norþ. And he ſaide to me, Þis is þe treſorie, þat biholdiþ þe ſouþ waye, of preeſtis þat waken in kepingis of þe temple. Soþli þe treſorie þat biholdiþ to þe waye of þe norþ, ſchal ben of preſtis þat waken to þe ſeruyſe of þe auter; þes ben þe ſones of Sadoch, þat comen to of þe ſonys of Leuy to þe Lord, þat þei miniſtre to hym. And he matte þe hous, þe lengþe of an hundrid cubitis, and þe breede by an hundrid cubitis, by ſqware, and þe auter bifore þe face of þe temple. And he ledde me yn, in to þe porche of þe temple; and he matte þe porche by fyue cubitis on þis ſyde, and fyue cubitis on þat ſyde; and þe breed of þe ȝate, of þree cubitis on þis ſyde, and þree cubitis on þat ſyde; forſoþe þe lengþe of þe porche of twenti cubitis, and þe breed of elleuen cubitis, and bi eiȝte greeſe me ſtieden þerto; and pilers weren in þe frountus, oon on þis ſyde, and an oþer on þat ſyde.

Capitulum XLI.

[edit]

And he ledde me yn, into þe temple; and he meet þe frountis, ſixe cubitis of breede on þis ſyde, and ſixe cubitis of breede on þat ſyde, þe breede of þe tabernacle. And þe breede of þe ȝate was of ten cubitis; and þe ſydis of þe ȝate, by fyue cubitis on þis ſyde, and by fyue cubitis on þat ſyde; and he matte þe lengþe þerof of fourty cubitis, and þe breede of twenti cubitis. And he gon yn wiþ ynneforþ, matte in frount of þe ȝate two cubitis, and þe ȝate of ſixe cubitis, and þe breede of þe ȝate of ſeuen cubitis. And he matte þe lengþe þerof of twenti cubitis, and þe breede of twenti cubitis, byfore þe face of þe temple. And he ſayde to me, Þis is þe holy of halewis. And he matte þe wall of þe hous of ſixe cubitis, and þe breede of þe ſyde of foure cubitis, on eche ſyde bi cumpas of þe hous. Þe ſydis forſoþe, ſyde to ſyde, twyſe þree and þritti; and þei weren ſhewynge, or aboue ſemynge, þat entriden bi þe wall of þe hous, in þe ſydis bi cumpas, þat þei ſhulden holde to gydre, and not touche þe wall of þe temple. And þe ſtreet was in to round, ſtyinge vpward bi þe heeȝ toure, and in to ſoupyng place of þe temple it bare forþ bi cumpas; þerfore þe temple was brodder in þe ouermore þingus; and ſo fro þe lower parties me ſtied to þe heeȝer, and þe mydil. And I ſeeȝ in þe hous heeȝneſſe bi cumpas, þe ſydis foundid at þe meſure of a ȝerd in ſpace of ſixe cubitis; and þe breede by þe wall of þe ſyde wiþ outforþ, of fyue cubitis; and þe ynner hous was in þe ſydis of þe hous. And bytwix treſories þe breede of twentye cubitis in cumpas of þe hous on eche ſyde, and þe dore of þe ſyde to preyer; oo dore to þe waye of þe norþ, and oo dore to þe ſouþ waye; and þe breede of place to preyer, of fyue cubitis in cumpas. And þe beeldyng þat was departid, and turnyd to þe waye biholdynge to þe ſee, of þe breede of ſeuenty cubitis; forſoþe þe wall of beeldyng of fyue cubitis of breed in cumpas, and þe lengþe þerof of nyntye cubitis. And he matte þe lengþe of þe hous, of an hundrid cubitis; and þe byldyng þat was departid, and þe wallis þerof, of lengþe of an hundrid cubitis. Forſoþe þe breede byfore þe face of þe hous, and of it þat was departid aȝeinus þe eeſt, of an hundrid cubitis. And he matte þe lengþe of þe beeldyng aȝeinus þe face þerof, þat was departid at þe bac; ſolers on eche ſyde of an hundrid cubitis, and þe temple wiþ ynforþ, and porchis of þe hous, þresfoldis, and wyndowis ouerþwert; ſolers in cumpas by þree parties, aȝeinus þe þreſhfold of eche, and diȝte wiþ tree by cumpas in enuyroune; forſoþe erþe til to þe wyndowis, and wyndowis cloſiden þe doris, vnto þe ynner hous, and wiþ out forþ, by eche wall in cumpas, wiþ ynneforþ and wiþ outforþ at meſure. And cherubyns forged, and palmes, and a palme bitwix cherub and cherub; and cherub hadde two faces, a face of man byſijdis þe palme of þis ſyde, and a face of lyoun byſydis a palme expreſſid on þe toþer ſyde. By all þe hous in cumpas, fro þe erþe vnto þe ouermer part, cherubyns and palmes weren graued in þe wall of þe temple. Þe þresfold foure cornerd; and þe face of þe byholdyng of þe ſayntuarye aȝenus þe biholdyng of þe treenen auter; þe heiȝt of it of þree cubitis, and þe lengþe þerof two cubitis; and þe corners þerof, and lengþe þerof, and wallis þerof, treenen. And he ſpac to me, Þis is þe bord byfore þe Lord. And two doris weren in þe temple, and in þe ſayntuarie. And in þe two doris on eche ſijde weren two ſmale doris, þat weren folden in hem ſelf to gydre; forſoþe two doris weren on eche ſyde of þe doris. And grauen weren in þe ylk doris of þe temple cherubyns and grauyng of palmes, as and in þe wallis þei weren expreſſid. Wherfore and gretter trees weren in þe frount of þe porche wiþ outforþ, on whiche þe ouerþwert wyndowis, and lickeneſſe of palmes, on þis ſyde and þat ſyde; in þe litil ſhuldris of þe porche, after þe ſydis of þe hous, and breede of wallis.

Capitulum XLII.

[edit]

And he ledde me out in to þe vtmer hous, by þe waye leedynge to þe norþ; and he ledde me yn, in to þe treſorie, þat was aȝeinus þe departid beeldyng, and aȝeinus þe hous goynge to þe norþ; in þe face of lengþe an hundred cubitis of þe norþ dore, and of breede fifti cubitis, aȝeinus twenti cubitis of þe ynner hous, and aȝeinus þe pament pauyd wiþ ſtoon of þe vtmer hous, wher was a porche ioynyd to treble porche. And bifore þe treſories a walkyng of ten cubitis of breede, and biholdynge to þe ynner þingus of a waye of oo cubit. And þe doris of hem to þe norþ, wher weren treſories lower in þe ouermore partis; for þei baren vp þe porchis þat of hem apperiden of þe lower partis, and of þe mydlis of beeldyng. Soþely houſis of þree ſtagis weren, and hadde not pilers, as pilers weren of þe greet houſis; þerfore þei appeeriden out fro þe lower parties, and fro þe mydlis fro þe erþe, in fifty cubitis. And þe vtmer aley after þe treſories, þat weren in þe waye of þe vtmer greet hous, byfore þe treſories; þe lengþe þerof of fyfty cubitis. For þe lengþe was of þe treſories of þe vtmer hous of fyfty cubitis, and þe lengþe byfore þe face of þe temple of an hundrid cubitis. And vndir þeſe treſories was an eentre fro þe eeſt, of men entrynge in to it, of þe vtmer hous, in þe breede of þe aley of þe hous, þat was aȝeinus þe eeſt waye, in to þe face of þe departid beeldyng. And byfore þe beeldyng weren treſories, and a waye bifore þe face of hem, after þe lickneſſe of treſories þat weren in þe waye of þe norþ; after þe lengþe of hem, ſo and þe breede of hem. And al þe entryng of hem, and lickeneſſis and doris of hem, after þe doris of treſories þat weren in þe waye biholdynge to þe ſouþ dore in þe heed of þe waye, whiche waye was byfore þe porche departid to men entrynge by þe eeſt waye. And he ſaide to me, Þe treſories of þe norþ, and þe treſories of þe ſouþ, þat ben byfore þe beeldyng departid, þeſe ben holy treſories, in whiche þe preſtis ben cloþid, whiche neiȝen to þe Lord in to þe holy of halewis; þere þei ſhuln putte þe holy þingus of þe holy, and offryngus for ſynne of doyng, and treſpas of leeuyng; forſoþe þe place is holy. Forſoþe whan preſtis ſhuln entre, þei ſhuln not go out of holy þingis in to þe vtmer hous; and þere þei ſhuln putte aȝein her cloþis, in whiche þei miniſtren, for þei ben holy; and þei ſhuln be cloþid wiþ oþer cloþingus, and ſo þei ſhuln go forþ to þe peple. And whenn he hadde ful eendid þe meſuris of þe ynner hous, he ledde me out by þe waye of þe ȝate þat byhelde to þe eeſt waye; and he matte it on eche ſyde by cumpas. Forſoþe he matte aȝeinus þe eeſt wynd wiþ a ȝerd of meſure by cumpas fyue hundreþ ȝerdis, in a ȝerd of meſure by cumpas. And he matte aȝeinus þe wynd of þe norþ fyue hundred ȝerdis, in a ȝerd of meſure by cumpas. And in to þe ſouþ wynd he matte fyue hundreþ ȝerdis, in a ȝerd of meſure by cumpas. And to þe weſt wynd he matte fyue hundreþ ȝerdis, in a ȝerd of meſure. By foure wyndus he matte þe wall þerof on eche ſyde by cumpas, þe lengþe of fyue hundred cubitis, and þe breed of fyue hundred cubitis, departinge bitwix þe ſayntuarie and place of commoun peple.

Capitulum XLIII.

[edit]

And he ladde me out at þe ȝate, þat byhelde to þe eeſt waye. And loo! þe glorie of God of Yrael entride by þe eeſt waye; and a voice was to hym, as þe voice of many watris, and þe erþe ſhoone of þe maieſte of hym. And I ſawȝ a viſioun, after þe fourme whiche I ſawȝ, whan he came for to diſtruye þe citee; and þe fourme after þe biholding whom I ſawȝ byſydis þe flood Cobar. And I felle vpon my face, and þe maieſte of þe Lord entride þe temple, by þe waye of þe ȝate þat biheelde to þe eeſt. And þe Spirit reyſide me, and ledde me yn, in to þe ynner hous; and loo! þe hous was fulfilled wiþ glorie of þe Lord. And I herde þe ſpekyng to me of þe hous. And þe man þat ſtoode byſidis me, ſaide to me, Sone of man, þe place of my ſeete, and þe place of ſteppis of my feet, wher Y dwelle in þe mydil of þe ſones of Yrael in to wiþ outen eende; and þe hous of Yrael ſhuln na more defoule myn holy name, þei, and þe kyngus of hem, in her fornicaciouns, and in fallyngus of her kyngus, and in heeȝ þingus. Whiche forgiden her þresfold byſydis my þresfold, and her poſtis byſidis my poſtis, and a wall was bitwix hem and me; and þei defouliden myn holy name in abominaciouns whiche þei diden; for whiche I waſtide hem in my wraþ. Now þerfore putte þei ferr her fornicaciouns, and fallyngus of her kyngus fro me; and I ſhal dwelle in þe mydil of hem euermore. Forſoþe þou, ſone of man, ſhewe to þe hous of Yrael þe temple, and be þei confoundid of her wickidneſſis; and mete þei þe makyng, and ſhame þei of alle þingus þat þei diden. Þou ſhalt ſhewe to hem þe figure of þe hous, and makyng þerof; þe outgoyngus, and þe yngoingus, and al diſcryuyng þerof, and alle maundementus þerof, and al þe ordre þerof, and alle lawis þerof, and þou ſhalt write in þe eeȝen of hem; þat þei keepe alle diſcryuyngus þerof, and preceptis þerof, and do hem. Þis is lawe of þe hous, in heeȝneſſe of mount; alle þe eendis þerof in cumpas is þe holy of halewis; þerfore þis is þe lawe of þe hous. Þeſe ſoþely þe meſures of þe auter in a cubit moſt verre, þat hadde a cubit and an hond; and þe boſum þerof was a cubit in lengþe, and a cubit in breede; and þe diffynyng, or certeyntee, þerof vn to þe lippe, or brynke, þerof in cumpas, o palme, or hond; and þis was þe diche, or holowneſſe, of þe auter. And fro þe boſum of þe erþe vn to þe laſt heiȝt, or brinke, two cubitis, and þe breede of oo cubit; and fro þe leſſe heiȝt, or auter, to þe more heiȝt, or auter, foure cubitis, and þe breede of oo cubit; forſoþe þe ylk ariel, or auter, of foure cubitis, and fro ariel vn to aboue, foure corners. And þe ariel, or auter, of twelfe cubitis in lengþe, by twelue cubitis of breede, foure cornered wiþ euen ſydis. And þe heiȝt, or brynke, of fourtene cubitis of lengþe by fourtene cubitis of breede, in four corners þerof. And a croune in cumpas þerof of half a cubit, and þe boſum þerof of oo cubit by cumpas; forſoþe þe greſe þerof turnyd to þe eeſt. And he ſaide to me, Sone of man, þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Þeſe ben þe rytis, or obſeruaunces, of þe auter, in what euer day it ſhal be forgid, þat brent ſacrifice be offrid þer vpon, and bloode be ſhed out. And þou ſhalt ȝeue to preſtis and dekenys, þat ben of þe ſeed of Sadoch, þat cumen to me, ſaiþ þe Lord God, þat þei offre to me a calf of þe droue for ſynne don. And þou, takyng to of þe bloode þerof, ſhalt putte vpon four corners þerof, and vpon four corners of þe heiȝt, and vpon þe crown in cumpas; and þou ſhalt clenſe it, and fully make clene. And þou ſhalt take þe calf þat was offrid for ſynne don, and þou ſhalt brenne hym in a departid place of þe hous, wiþ outen þe ſayntuarye. And in þe ſecounde day þou ſhalt offre a buc of geet vnſpottid for ſynne don; and þei ſhuln fully clenſe þe auter, as þei clenſiden in þe calf. And whann þou haſt fulfillid þat clenſyng, þou ſhalt offre a calf vnſpottid of þe droue, and a weþer, or ram, vnſpottid of þe floc. And þou ſhalt offre hem in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord; and preſtis ſhuln ſende ſalt vpon hem, and ſhuln offre hem in to brent ſacrifice to þe Lord. Seuen days þou ſhalt make þe geet buc for ſynne, day by day; and þe calf of þe drooue, and þe weþer of þe ſheep þei ſhuln offre hem vnſpottid. Seuen days þei ſhuln fulli make clene þe auter, and ſhuln clenſe it, and ſhuln fulfille þe hond þerof. Forſoþe ſeuen days fulfillid, in þe eiȝt day and ouer preſtis ſhuln do ȝour brent ſacrifices vpon þe auter, and whiche þei offren for pees; and I ſhal be pleſid to ȝou, ſaiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XLIIII.

[edit]

And he turned me to þe waye of þe ȝate of þe vtmer ſayntuarie, þat biholdiþ to þe eeſt, and was cloſid. And þe Lord ſaide to me, Þis ȝate ſhal be cloſid, and ſhal not be opnyd, and a man ſhal not paſſe by it; for þe Lord God of Yrael entride yn by it, and it ſhal be cloſid to þe prynce. Þe prince he ſhal ſitte in it, þat he ete breede bifore þe Lord; by þe waye of þe ȝate of þe porche he ſhal go yn, and by þe waye þerof he ſhal go out. And he ledde me to by þe waye of þe norþ ȝate, in þe ſiȝte of þe hous; and I ſawȝ, and loo! þe glorie of þe Lord fulfillid þe hous of þe Lord; and I felle in to my face. And þe Lord ſayde to me, Sone of man, putte þin herte, and ſee wiþ þin eeȝen, and heer wiþ þin eris alle þingus whiche I ſpeke to þee, of alle cerymonyes of þe hous of þe Lord, and of alle þe lawis þerof; and þou ſhalt putte þin herte in wayes of þe temple, by alle þe out goyngus of þe ſeyntuarie. And þou ſhalt ſaye to þe hous of Yrael terrynge me to wraþ, Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Ȝe hous of Yrael, alle ȝour grete treſpaſſis ſuffice þei to ȝou, for þat þat ȝe bryng yn alyen ſonys, vncircumcidid in hert, and vncircumcidid in fleſh, þat þei be in my ſayntuarie, and defoule myn hous. And ȝe offren my louys, fatneſſe, and bloode, and ȝe vndo my couenaunt in alle ȝour grete treſpaſſis. And ȝe kepte not þe preceptis of my ſayntuarie, and ȝe han putte keepers of myn obſeruaunces in my ſayntuarie to ȝour ſelf. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Eche alien vncircumcidid in herte, and vncircumcidid in fleſhe, ſhal not entre my ſayntuarie; eche alyen ſone, þat is in þe mydil of þe ſones of Yrael. Bot and þe Leuytis, or dekenys, whiche wenten fer awey fro me in errour of þe ſonys of Yrael, and erriden fro me after her ydolis, and baren her wickidnes, ſhuln be in my ſayntuarie kepers of þe hous, and porters of þe ȝatis of þe hous, and myniſtris of þe hous; þei ſhulen ſlee brent ſacrificis, and ſlayn ſacrificis of þe peple; and þei ſhuln ſtonde in þe ſiȝt of hem, þat þei miniſtre to hem. For þat þat þei mynyſtryden to hem in þe ſiȝt of þe ydols, and ben maad to þe hous of Yrael in to offencioun of wickidneſſe; þerfore Y reyſide myn hond vpon hem, ſaiþ þe Lord God, and þei han born her wickidneſſe. And þei ſhuln not neiȝe to me, þat þei be ordeyned in preſþod to me, neiþer þei ſhuln cum to al my ſayntuarye byſidis þe holy of halewis, bot þei ſhuln bere her confuſioun, and her grete treſpaſſis þat þei diden. And I ſhal ȝeue hem porters of þe hous, in al þe mynyſterie þerof, and in alle þingus þat weren in it. Forſoþe preſtis and dekenys, ſonys of Sadoch, whiche kepten þe cerymonyes of my ſayntuarie, whan þe ſones of Yrael erryden fro me, þei ſhuln cum to me, þat þei myniſtre to me; and þei ſhuln ſtonde in my ſiȝte, þat þei offre to me fatneſſe and blood, ſaiþ þe Lord God. Þei ſhuln go yn to my ſayntuarie, and þei ſhuln cum to my bord, þat þei mynyſtre to me, and keepe my cerymonyes. And whan þei ſhuln go yn to þe ȝatis of þe ynner hous, þei ſhuln be cloþid wiþ lynnen cloþis, neþer eny wollun ſhal ſtye vp on hem, whann þei mynyſtren in þe ȝatis of þe ynner hous, and wiþ ynneforþ; lynnen byndyngus ſhuln be in þe hedis of hem, and wommans lynnen in þe leendus of hem, and þei ſhuln not be gyrd in ſwoot. And whan þei ſhuln go out þe vtmer hous to þe peple, þei ſhuln vncloþe hem her cloþingus, in whiche þey myniſtriden, and ſhuln aȝein putte hem in þe treſorie of ſayntuarie; and þei ſhuln cloþe þem wiþ oþer cloþingus, and þei ſhuln not halewe þe peple in her cloþis. Soþely þei ſhuln not ſhaue her hedis, neþer noriſhe longe her, bot clippyng þei ſhuln clippe her hedis. And eche preſt ſhal not drynke wijne, whan he entriþ þe ynner hous. And þei ſhuln not take wyues a wydue, and forſaken, bot meydens of þe ſeed of þe hous of Yrael; bot and þei ſhuln take a wydue, whiche was wydue of a preſt. And þei ſhuln teche my peple, what is bitwixe holy and polute, or defoulid, and bitwixe cleen and vncleen; and þei ſhuln ſhewe to hem. And whann debate ſhal be, þei ſhuln ſtonde in my domys, and þei ſhuln deem my lawis; and þei ſhuln kepe my heeſtis in alle my ſolempnyteeſe, and þei ſhuln halewe my ſaboþis. And þei ſhuln not entree to a dead man, leſt þei be defoulid, no bot to fader, and moder, ſone, and douȝter, and broþer, and ſiſter whiche hadde non huſbond, in whom þei ſhuln be defoulid. And after þat he ſhal be clenſid, ſeuen days ſhuln be noumbred to hym. And in þe day of his entryng in to þe ſayntuarie, at þe ynner hous, þat he myniſtre to me in my ſayntuarie, he ſhal offre for his ſynne, ſaiþ þe Lord God. Forſoþe heritage ſhal not be to hem, Y þe heritage of hem; and ȝe ſhuln not ȝeue to hem poſſeſſioun in Yrael, forſoþe I þe poſſeſſion of hem. Þei ſhuln ete ſlayn ſacrifice, and for ſynne of doyng, and for treſpas of leuyng, and eche vow in Yrael ſhal be hern. And þe primyſſis, or firſt þingus, of alle beeſtus firſt bygoten, and alle liquyd ſacrifices, or fleetynge, as oyle, and hony, and ſyche, of alle þingus þat ben offrid, ſhuln be þe preſtis; and ȝe ſhuln ȝeue to þe preſt þe firſt þingus of ȝour metis, þat he putte vp a bleſſyng to his hous. Preſtis ſhuln not ete eche dead þing by it ſelf, and taken of beeſtis, of briddus, and of etable beeſtis.

Capitulum XLV.

[edit]

Whann ȝe ſhuln bygynne for to departe þe lond by lot, departe ȝe þe firſt fruytis to þe Lord, and halewid þinge of þe lond, þe lengþe fyue and twenti þouſandus, and þe breed ten þouſandus; it ſhal be halewid in al þe terme þerof by cumpas. And on eche part it ſhal be halewid in fyue hundrid by fyue hundrid, four maner by cumpas, and in fifti cubitis in to þe ſuburbis þerof bi cumpas. And of þis meſure þou ſhalt meſure þe lengþe of fyue and twenty þouſandis, and þe breed of ten þouſandus; and in þat þe temple ſhal be, and þe holy of holy þingus. Þe halewid þing of þe lond ſhal be to preſtis, mynyſtris of þe ſayntuarye, whiche cummen to þe ſeruyce of þe Lord; and a place ſhal be to hem in þe hous, in to ſayntuarie of halewyng. Soþely fyue and twenti þouſandis ſchulen ben of lengþe, and ten þouſandus of breede; forſoþe þe dekenys þat miniſtren to þe hous, þei ſhuln weelde twenty treſories. And ȝe ſhuln ȝeue poſſeſſiouns of þe citee, fyue þouſandus of breed, and of lengþe fyue and twenti þouſandis, after þe departyng of ſayntuarie, to eche hous of Yrael. And to þe prince on þis half and on þat half, and in to þe departynge of ſayntuarie, and in to poſſeſſioun of þe citee, aȝeinus þe face of departyng of þe ſayntuarie, and aȝeinus þe face of poſſeſſioun of þe citee, fro þe ſyde of þe ſee vn to þe ſee, and fro þe ſyde of þe eeſt vn to þe eeſt. Forſoþe þe lengþe byſydis eche of þe parties, fro þe weſt terme vnto þe eeſt terme of þe lond, ſhal be poſſeſſioun in Yrael; and princis ſhuln namore ſpuyle my peple, but ſhuln ȝeue lond to þe hous of Yrael, after þe lynagis of hem. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Ȝe princis of Yrael, be it ynewȝ to ȝow, leue ȝe wickidneſſe and raueyns, and do ȝe dome and riȝtwijſneſſe; departe ȝe ȝour niȝ cooſtus fro my peple, ſaiþ þe Lord God. A iuſt balaunce, and iuſt meſure of drye þingis, þat is clepid ephi, and iuſt meſure of fleetynge þingus, þat is cleepid bachus, ſhal be to ȝou. Ephi and bachus ſhuln be euen, and of oo meſure, þat bachus take þe tenþe part of corus, þat is a meſure of þritti buſſhellis, and ephi þe tenþe part of chorus; after þe meſure of corus þer ſhal be euen weiȝt of hem. Forſoþe a ſicle ſhal haue twenti halpenns; forſoþe twenti ſyclis, and fyue and twenti ſyclis maken a beſaunt. And þeſe ben þe firſt þingus whiche ȝe ſhuln take; þe ſixt part of ephi, of þe meſure corus of whete, and þe ſixte part of ephi, of þe meſure corus of barly. And þe meſure of oyle; bachus of oyle is þe tenþe part of þe meſure corus, and ten meſuris of bachus maken þe meſure corus; for ten meſuris of bachus fulfillen þe meſure corus. And oo weþer of a floc of two hundrid, of þeſe whiche þe ſones of Yrael nuryſhen, in to ſacrifice, and in to brend ſacrifice, and in to peſible, for to fulli clenſe for hem, ſaiþ þe Lord God. Al þe peple of þe lond ſhal be holden in þeſe primiſſes to þe prince of Yrael. And vpon þe prince ſhuln be brend ſacrifices, and ſacrifice of offryngus of fleetyng þingus, in ſolempniteeſe, and in kalendus, and in ſaboþis, and in alle þe ſolempnytees of þe hous of Yrael; he ſhal make ſacrifice for ſynne, and brend ſacrifice, and peſible, for to fulli clenſe for þe hous of Yrael. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, In þe firſt moneþe, in oon of þe moneþ, þou ſhalt take a calf vnſpottid of þe droue, and þou ſhalt fully clenſe þe ſayntuarie. And þe preſt ſhal take of þe bloode, þat ſhal be for ſynne; and ſhal putte in poſtis of þe hous, and in four corners of þe heiȝt of þe auter, and in poſtus of þe ȝate of þe ynner hous. And ſo þou ſhalt in þe ſeuenþe of þe moneþe, for eche man þat vnknewe, and by errour is diſceyued, and þou ſhalt fully clenſe for þe hous. In þe firſt moneþ, in þe fourtenþe day of þe moneþ, þe ſolempnytee of paſk ſhal be to ȝou; in ſeuen days þerf þingus ſhuln be eten. And þe prince ſhal do in þat day, for hym and for al þe peple of þe lond, a calf for ſynne. And in þe ſolempnyte of ſeuen days he ſhal do brend ſacrifice to þe Lord; ſeuen calues and ſeuen weþeris vnſpottid day by day, in ſeuen days, and for ſynne a geet buc eche day. And þe ſacrifice of þe meſure ephi bi a calf, and ephi by a weþer, he ſhal do, and þe meſure hyn of oyle, by eche ephi. In þe ſeuenþe moneþ, þe fiftenþe day of þe moneþe, in þe ſolempnytee, he ſhal do as þei ben aboue ſayde, by ſeuen days, as wele for ſynne as for brent ſacrifice, and in ſacrifice, and in oyle.

Capitulum XLVI.

[edit]

Theſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Þe ȝate of þe ynner hous, þat byholdiþ to þe eeſt, ſhal be cloſid ſixe days, in whiche werk is don; forſoþe in þe day of ſaboþ it ſhal be opnyd, bot and in þe day of kalendis it ſhal be opnyd. And þe prince ſhal entre by þe way of þe porche of þe ȝate wiþ outforþ, and he ſhal ſtonde in þe þresfold of þe ȝate; and preſtis ſhuln do his brend ſacrifice, and his peſibles; and

he ſhal worſhip vpon þe þresfold of þe ȝate, and he ſhal go out; forſoþe þe ȝate ſhal not be cloſid vn to euyn. And þe peple of þe lond ſhal worſhip at þe dore of þat ȝate, in ſaboþis, and kalendis, byfore þe Lord. Forſoþe þe prince ſhal offre þis brent ſacrifice to þe Lord in þe day of ſaboþ, ſixe lambren vnſpottid, and a weþer vnſpottid, and a ſacrifice of ephi by þe weþer; in lambren forſoþe þe ſacrifice þat his hond ſhuln ȝeue, and þe meſure hyn of oyle, bi eche of ephi. Soþely in þe day of kalendis a calf vnſpottid of þe drooue, and ſix lambren, and weþris vnſpottid ſhuln be, and þe meſure ephi by þe calf. And he ſhal make þe ſacrifice of þe meſure ephi by þe weþer; forſoþe of þe lambren as his hond ſhal fynde, and of oyle þe meſure hyn, by eche of meſure ephi. And whann þe prince is to entringe, by waye of þe porche of þe ȝate entre he, and by þe ſame waye go he out. And whan þe peple of þe lond ſhal entre in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, in ſolempnytees, whiche goþ ynne by þe norþ ȝate, þat it wirſhip, go it out by þe waye of þe ſouþ ȝate. Forſoþe he þat entriþ by þe waye of þe ſouþ ȝate, go out by waye of þe norþ ȝate. He ſhal not turne aȝein by waye of þe ȝate, by whom he goþ yn, bot euen aȝeinus it he ſhal go out. Soþeli þe prince ſhal be in þe mydil of hem; wiþ men goynge yn he ſhal go yn, and wiþ men goynge oute he ſchal go oute. Hou in fairis and in ſolempnyteeſe ſhal be ſacrifice of meſure ephi by a calf, and meſure ephi by a weþer; in lambren ſhal be ſacrifice as his hond ſhal fynde, and of oyle þe meſure hyn, bi eche of meſure ephi. Forſoþe whan þe prince ſhal do wilful brent ſacrifice, or wilful peſibles to þe Lord, þe ȝate þat biholdiþ to þe eeſt, ſhal be opnyd to hym; and he ſhal do his brent ſacrifice, and his peſiblis, as it is wont for to be don in þe day of ſaboþ; and he ſhal go out, and þe ȝate ſhal be ſhette after þat he ſhal go out. And he ſhal do a brend ſacrifice, a lomb of þe ſame ȝeer vnſpottid, eche day to þe Lord; euermore in þe morewe he ſhal do it, and he ſhal do ſacrifice þeron biſidis, or niȝ, þe morewe; erly þe ſixt part of þe meſure ephi, and of oyle þe þridde part of þe meſure hyn, þat it be meynt to floure; a lawful ſacrifice to þe Lord, contynuel and euerlaſtynge. And he ſhal make a lombe in to ſacrifice, and oyle, niȝ þe morewe; erly þe brend ſacrifice euerlaſtynge. Þeſe þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Ȝif þe prince ſhal ȝyue a hous to eny of his ſones, þe eritaage þerof ſchal be of his ſones; þei ſchulen weelde it by eritage. Forſoþ ȝif he ſhal ȝeue a biqueþun þing of his eritage to oon of his ſeruauntis, it ſhal be his vn to þe ȝeer of remyſſioun, and it ſhal turne aȝein to þe prince; forſoþe þe eritage of hym ſhal be to his ſonys. And þe prince ſhal not take by violence of þe eritage of þe peple, and of þe poſſeſſioun of hem; bot of his poſſeſſioun he ſhal ȝeue eritage to his ſonys, þat my peple be not diſparplid, eche man fro his poſſeſſioun. And he ledde me yn bi þe entree, þat was on þe ſyde of þe ȝate, in to þe treſories of þe ſayntuarie to þe preſtis, þat biheelden to þe norþ; and þere was a place goynge to þe weſt. And he ſayde to me, Þis is a place, wher and preſtis ſhuln ſaye and for ſynne of doynge, and for treſpas of leeuynge; wher þei ſhuln ſay ſacrifice, þat þei bere not out in to þe vtmer hous, and þe peple be halewid. And he ledde me out in to þe vtmer hous, and about ledde me by foure corners of þe hous; and loo! a litil hous was in þe corner of þe hous, ſmale houſis, eche by corners of þe hous; in to foure corners of þe hous litil houſis diſpoſid, of fourti cubitis by longe, and þritti by breede; foure weren of oo meſure; and a wal by cumpas enuyrounynge foure ſmale houſis; and kitchens weren forgid vndir porchis bi cumpas. And he ſaide to me, Þis is þe hous of kitchenys, in whom þe mynyſtris of þe hous of þe Lord ſeeþen ſlayn ſacrifices of þe peple.

Capitulum XLVII.

[edit]

And he turnede me to þe ȝate of þe hous; and loo! waters wenten out vndir þe þresfold of þe hous to þe eeſt; forſoþe þe face of þe hous byheelde to þe eeſt; ſoþely þe waters wenten doun in to þe riȝt ſyde of þe temple, to þe ſouþ of þe auter. And he ledde me out by þe waye of þe norþ ȝate, and he turnyde me to þe waye wiþ outen þe vtmer ȝate, þe waye þat byheelde to þe eeſt; and loo! waters tournynge aȝein of þe riȝt ſyde, whan þe man wente out to þe eeſt, þat hadde a litil coord in his hond, and matte a þouſand cubitis, and ledde me ouer by þe water vn to þe helis. And aft ſone he matte a þouſand, and ledde me ouer by þe water vn to þe knees. And aft ſone he matte a þouſand, and ledde me by þe watre vn to þe reynys. And he matte a þouſand, by þe ſtreme of reyn whom Y miȝte not ouer paſſe; for deep waters of þe ſtreme of reyn wexiden grete, whiche may not be ouer wad. And he ſaide to me, Certis, ſone of man, þou haſt ſeen. And he ledde me, and turnyde me to þe ryuer of þe ſtreme of rayn. And whan I hadde conuertid me, loo! in þe ryuer of þe ſtreem of rayn ful many trees on eche ſyde. And he ſaiþ to me, Þeſe waters þat gon out to þe heepis of þe eeſt ſoond, and gon doun to þe playn þingus of deſert, ſhuln go ynne to þe ſee, and go out; and þe waters ſhuln heele. And eche lyuynge ſoule þat creepiþ, whiþer euer þe ſtrem of rayn ſhal cum, ſhal lyue; and þere ſhuln be fiſhis many ynow, after þat þeſe waters ſhuln cum þidir, and þei ſhuln be maad hoole, and ſhuln lyue; alle þeſe ſhuln lyue, to whom þe ſtreme of rayn ſhal cum. And fiſhers ſhuln ſtond vpon hem; fro Engaddi vnto Engallym ſhal be dryinge of nettis; ful many ſpices ſhuln be of fiſhis þerof, as fiſhes of þe grete ſe, of ful grete mykilneſſe; forſoþe in brynkis þerof and in mareiſis þei ſhuln not be helid, for þei ſhuln be ȝouen in to ſalt places. And on þe ſtreme of rayn, and ryuers þerof, and on eche part, al tree berynge appul ſhal be brouȝt forþ; a lefe ſhal not fle awey þerof, and þe fruyt of it ſhal not fayle; by eche moneþes it ſhal brynge firſt fruytis, for þe waters þerof ſhuln go out of ſayntuarie; and fruytis þerof ſhuln be in to mete, and lefis þerof to medecyne. Þeſe þingus ſaiþ þe Lord God, Þis is þe terme, in whiche ȝe ſhuln weelde þe lond, in twelue kynredis of Yrael; for Joſeph haþ double coord, or part. Forſooþe ȝe ſhuln weelde it, eche euenly as his broþer; vpon whom I reyſide myn hond, þat I ſhulde ȝeue to ȝour fadris; and þis lond ſhal falle to ȝou in to poſſeſſioun. Þis is þe terme of þe lond at þe norþ cooſt, fro þe grete ſe, þe way of Beþalon to men cummynge to Sedala, Emaþ, Beroþ, Sabarym, whiche is bitwix þe mydil of Damaſk and þe cooſtis of Emaþ, þe hous Aþicon, þat is byſidis þe termys of Auran. And þe terme ſhal be fro þe ſe vn to þe hous Ennon, þe terme of Damaſk, and fro þe norþ vn to þe norþ, þe terme, or eende, of Emaþ; forſoþe þe norþ plage, or cooſt. Forſoþe þe eeſt cooſt of þe mydil of Auran, and of þe mydil of Damaſk, and of þe mydil of Galaad, and of þe mydil of þe lond of Yrael, Jordan, departynge at þe eeſt ſee, ȝe ſhuln mete eeſt cooſt. Soþely þe ſouþ cooſt of mydday, fro Thamar vn to þe waters of aȝein ſaiynge of Cades; and þe ſtreme of rayn vn to þe grete ſee, and þe ſouþ coſt at mydday. And þe cooſt of þe ſee is þe grete ſee, fro þe eende cooſt by þe ſtreiȝt, til þou cum to Emaþ; þis is þe cooſt of þe ſee. And ȝe ſhuln departe þis lond to ȝou by lynagis of Yrael; and ȝe ſhuln ſende it in to eritage to ȝou, and to cumlyngis þat camen to ȝou, þat gendreden ſonys in þe mydil of ȝou; and þei ſhuln be to ȝou as in dwellers amonge þe ſonys of Yrael; wiþ ȝou þei ſhuln departe poſſeſſioun, in mydil of þe lynages of Yrael. Forſoþe in what euer lynage a cumlynge ſhal be, þere ȝe ſhuln ȝeue poſſeſſioun to hym, ſaiþ þe Lord God.

Capitulum XLVIII.

[edit]

And þe names of lynages, fro þe eendis of þe norþ, byſidis þe waye of Meþalon, to men goynge to Emaþ, þe hous of Ennon, terme of Damaſke, fro þe norþ byſidis Emaþ; and þe eeſt cooſt þe ſee ſhal be, to Dan oon. And fro þe terme of Dan, fro þe eeſt cooſt to þe cooſt of þe ſe, to Aſer oon. And vpon þe terme of Aſer, fro þe eeſt cooſt vn to þe cooſt of þe ſee, to Neptalym oon. And vpon þe terme of Neptalym, fro þe eeſt cooſt vn to þe cooſt of þe eeſt ſee, to Manaſſes oon. And vpon þe terme of Manaſſes, fro þe eeſt cooſt vn to þe cooſt of þe ſee, to Effraym oon. And vpon þe terme of Effraym, fro þe eeſt cooſt vn to þe cooſt of þe ſee, to Ruben oon. And vpon þe terme of Ruben, fro þe eeſt cooſt vn to þe cooſt of þe ſee, to Juda oon. And vpon þe terme of Juda, fro þe eeſt plage, or cooſt, vn to þe cooſt of þe ſee, ſhuln be primiſſis, whiche ȝe ſhuln departe in fyue and twenti þouſandus ȝerdis of breede and lengþe, as eche partis, fro þe eeſt cooſt vnto þe cooſt of þe ſee; and þe ſayntuarie ſhal be in mydil þerof. Þe primiſſis whiche ȝe ſhuln departe to þe Lord, þe lengþe in fyue and twenti þouſandis, and þe breede in ten þouſandus. Soþeli þeſe ſhuln be þe primiſſis of þe ſayntuarie of preſtis; at þe norþ of lengþe fyue and twenti þouſandis, and to þe ſee of breede ten þouſandis; bot to þe eeſt of breed ten þouſandis, and to þe ſouþ of lengþe fyue and twenti þouſandis; and þe ſayntuarie of þe Lord ſhal be in mydil þerof. To preſtis þe ſayntuarie ſhal be, of þe ſonys of Sadoch, whiche kepten my cerymonyes, and erriden not, whanne þe ſones of Yrael erriden, as and þe dekenys erriden. And to hem ſhuln be primiſſis of primiſſis of þe lond, þe holy of holy þingus, byſidis þe terme of dekenes. Bot and to dekenys alſo byſidis þe eendis of preſtis, fyue and twenti þouſandis of lengþe, and of breede ten þouſandis; al þe lengþe of fyue and twenti þouſandis, and þe breede of ten þouſandis. And þei ſhuln not ſelle þerof, neþer chaunge; neþer þe firſt fruytis of þe lond ſhuln be transferrid, or born ouer, for þei ben halewid to þe Lord. Forſoþe fyue þouſandis, þat leuen ouer in breede, by fyue and twenti þouſandus, ſhuln be vnholi places of þe citee, into dwellyng, and in to ſubarbis; and þe citee ſhal be in þe mydil þerof. And þeſe þe meſuris þerof; at þe norþ cooſt, fyue hundrid and foure þouſandis, and at þe ſouþe plage, or cooſt, fyue hundred and foure þouſandis, and at þe eeſt cooſt, fyue hundred and foure þouſandis, and at þe weſt cooſt, fyue hundrid and foure þouſandis. Forſoþe þe ſubarbis of þe citee ſhuln be at þe norþ two hundrid and fifty, and to þe ſouþ two hundrid and fifti, and at þe eeſt cooſt two hundrid and fifty, and at þe ſee two hundrid and fifty. Forſoþe þat þat ſhal be laft, or ouer, in lengþe, after firſt fruytis of þe ſayntuarie, ten þouſandis in to þe eeſt, and ten þouſandus in to þe weſt, ſhuln be as premiſſis of þe ſayntuarie; and þe fruytis þerof ſhuln be in to looues to þeſe þat ſeruen to þe citee. Forſoþe men ſeruynge to þe citee ſhuln worche, of al þe lynages of Yrael. Alle þe premiſſes of fyue and twenti þouſandis, by fyue and twenti þouſandis in ſqware, ſhuln be departid in to primiſſes of þe ſayntuarie, and poſſeſſion of þe citee. Forſoþe þat þat ſhal be left ouer, ſhal be of þe prince, on eche part of primiſſis of þe ſayntuarie, and poſſeſſioun of þe citee, euen aȝeins fyue and twenti þouſandis of primiſſis, vnto þe eeſt terme; bot and to þe ſee euen aȝeinus of fyue and twenti þouſandus, vn to þe terme of þe ſee, alſo in partis of þe prince ſhal be; and premiſſis of þe ſayntuarie ſhuln be, and þe ſayntuarie of temple of þe cite, in mydil þerof. Forſoþe of þe poſſeſſioun of dekenys, and of poſſeſſioun of þe citee, in mydil of partis of þe prince, ſhal be in to terme of Juda, and in to terme of Beniamyn, and ſhal pertene to þe prince. And to þe toþer lynagis, fro þe eeſt cooſt vn to þe weſt cooſt, to Beniamyn oon. And aȝeinus þe terme of Beniamyn fro þe eeſt cooſt vn to þe weſt cooſt, to Symyon oon. And vpon þe terme of Symyon, fro þe eeſt cooſt vn to þe weſt cooſt, to Yſacar oon. And vpon þe terme of Yſacar, fro þe eeſt coſt vnto þe weſt cooſt, to Sabulon oon. And vpon þe terme of Sabulon, fro þe eeſt cooſt vnto þe coſt of þe ſee, to Gad oon. And vpon þe terme of Gad, vn to þe cooſt of þe ſouþ in to mydday, or ſouþe; and þe eend ſhal be fro Thamar vn to þe waters of aȝein ſayinge of Cades, and þe eritage aȝein þe grete ſee. Þis is þe lond whiche ȝe ſhuln ſende in to lot to þe lynagis of Yrael, and þeſe þe partyngis of hem, ſaiþ þe Lord God. And þeſe þe goyngus out of þe cytee; fro þe norþ cooſt þou ſhalt meſure fyue hundrid and foure þouſandis. And þe ȝatis of þe citee, in alle þe lynagis of Yrael, þree ȝatis fro þe norþ; þe ȝate of Ruben oon, þe ȝate of Juda oon, þe ȝate of Leuy oon. And at þe eeſt cooſt, fyue hundrid and foure þouſandis, and þree ȝatis; þe ȝate of Joſeph oon, þe ȝate of Beniamyn oon, þe ȝate of Dan oon. And at þe mydday cooſt, or ſouþe, fyue hundrid and four þouſandis þou ſhalt mete, þe ȝatis of hem þree; þe ȝate of Symyon oon, þe ȝate of Yſacar oon, þe ȝate of Zabulon oon. And at þe weſt cooſt, fyue hundred and foure þouſandis, þree ȝatis of hem; þe ȝate of Gad oon, þe ȝate of Aſer oon, þe ȝate of Neptalym oon. By þe cumpas eiȝtene þouſandis; and þe name of þe citee fro þat day, Þe Lord þere. Amen.

Here endiþ þe book of Ezechiel, and bigynneþ þe book of Daniel