answered hym nay my brother do not force me for there hath no such thyng ben done in Israell do not thou this ab hominacyon For whyther shall I be able to go with my shame And thou shalt be as one of the fooles in Israel O speake vnto the kyng and he shall not denye me vnto the. Now beâ—t he wolde not herken vnto her voyce but toke her and forced her and laye with her And then Amnon hated her excedynglye so that the hate wher with he hated her was greater then the loue with which he before loued her And Amnon sayde vnto her vp and get the hence She answered hym Thou hast no cause This euyll that thou puttest me away is greater then the other that thou dydest vn to me Neuerthelesse he wolde not heare her but called his boye that serued hym sayde put awaye this woman from me bolte the dore after her And she had a kyrtell of dyuerse colours vpon her for with soche were the kynges doughters that were virgyns apparelled Then his seruaunt brought her out and locked the dore after her And Thamar toke and put asshes on her heade rent her gaye kyrtell that was on her laâ— de her hande on her heade and so went and as she went cryed And Absalom her brother sayde vnto her hath Amnon thy brother ben with the Now yet be styll my syster he is thy brother Let not this thynge greue thyne herte And so thamar remayned desolate in her brother Absaloms house But wheÌ„ kyng Dauid herde of all these thyngê he was very wroth †And he vvolde not vexe the spiryte of Amnon his son for he loued hym bycause he vvas his fyrst borne And Absalom sayd vnto his brother Amnon neyther good nor bad Nowe be it Absalom hated Amnon bycause he had forced his syster Thamar And it happened after two yeare that Absalom had shepe shearers in the playne of Nazor besyde the trybe of Ephraim and bad all the kynges sonnes and came to the kynge sayde beholde thy seruaunt hath shepe shearers let the kyng with his seruauÌ„tes come to thy seruaunt The kynge answered Absalom naye my sonne We wyll not go al nor be chargeable vnto the. And Absalom laye sore vpon hym howbeit he wolde not go but blessed hym Then sayde Absalom Yf thou wylt not come then let my brother AmnoÌ„ go with vs. And the kynge answered hym what nedeth it that he go with the But Bvsalom made soche instance that he let Amnon and all the kyngê chyldren go with hym Now had Absalom coÌ„maunded his yonge men sayenge marke when Amnons herte is mery w t wyne and when I byd you smyte Amnon then kyl hym feare not haue not I bydden you be holde therfore play the men And the yong men of Absalom dyd vnto Amnon euen as Absalom had coÌ„maunded And all the kyngê sonnes arose euery man gat hym vp vpon his Mule fled And it fortuned that whyle they were yet in the waye tydynges came to Dauid sayenge Absalom hath steyne all the kynges sonnes ther is none lefte alyue Then Dauid arose tare his garmentes laye alonge on the earth all his seruauntes stode by with theyr clothes rent And Ionadah the son of Simeah Dauids brother answered and sayd let not my lorde suppose that they haue sleyne all the yonge men the kynges sonnes saue Amnon onely is deade For that hath ben determyned in Absaloms mynde sence he forced his syster Thamar Now therfore let not my lorde the kyng take the thynge so greuouslye to thynke that all the kyngê sonnes are dead but Amnon only is deade But Absalom fled And the yonge man that kepte the watche lyfte vp his eyes and loked And beholde there came moche peple by a way that was behynde his backe alonge by an hylles syde And Ionadab sayd vnto the kynge beholde the kynges sonnes come As thy seruaunte sayd so it is And as soone as he had lefte speakynge beholde the kynges sonnes came lyfte vp theyr voyces and wepte The kynge also and all his seruauntes wepte excedynglye But Absalom escaped went to Thalmai the son of Amihur kynge of Gesur And Dauid mourned for his son euery daye And so Absalom escaped went to Gesur was there thre yeres And kynge Dauid desyred to go forth vnto Absalom For where as Amnon was deade he was comforted ouer hym ¶ By the wysdom of the woman of Thekoa Absalom is called CAPI XIIII IOab the sonne of Zaruia perceyued that the kynges herte was towarde Absalom he sent to Thekoa and fet thence a wyse woman and sayd vnto her fayne thy selfe to be a mourner and put on mournynge apparell And anoynt not thy selfe with oyle But be as a woman that had longe â—yme mourned for some deade bodye And come to the kynge and speake of this maner vnto hym And so Ioab taught her what she shulde say And when the woman of Thekoa had fallâ—â—â— on her face to the grounde and done obeysaunce she sayde vnto the kynge helpe me O kynge The kynge sayde vnto her what ayleth the She answered I am a wedowe and myne husbande is deade And thy hand mayde had two sonnes and they two fought togyther in the felde where was no man to go bitwene them but the one smote the other and slewe hym And beholde the hoole kynred is rysen agaynst thy handmayde they sayde delyuer vs hym that smote his brother that we maye kyll hym ☞ for the soule of his brother whome he slew We wyll destroye the heyre also And so they shal quench my sparkle which is lefte that he shall styrte vp to my husbande neyther name nor yssue vpon the earth And the kynge sayde vnto the woman go home to thyne house I wyll gyue a charge for the. And the woman of Thekoa sayde vnto the kynge My Lorde O kynge this trespasse be on me and on my fathers house and the Kynge his seate be gyltlesse And the kynge sayde yf any man saye ought vnto the brynge hym to me and he shall hurte the no more Then sayde she ☞ let the kyng remembre his lorde god that the aduenger of the blood gather not on heapes togyther to destroye and that they sleye not my son And he answered as sure as the Lorde lyueth there shall not one heere of thy son fall to the earth The woman sayde let thyne handmayde speake one worde more vnto my Lorde the kynge And he sayde saye on The woman sayde Wherfore then hast thou determyned suche a thynge agaynst the people of God For the kynge doth speake this thyng as one which is fautye that he shulde not fet home agayne his banysshed For we must nedes dye peryshe as water spylt on the ground whiche can not be gathered vp ☞ agayne Neyther doth God spare any soule Let the kyng therfore fynde the meanes that his banysshed be not vtterlye expelled from hym Nowe therfore
laye it vp before the Lorde to be kepte for your chyldren after you as the Lorde coÌ„maunded Moses So Aaron layde it vp before the testimonye to be kepte And the chyldren of Israel dyd eate Manna xl yere vntyt they came vnto a lande inhabited And so they dyd eate MaÌ„na euen vntyl they came vnto the borders of the land of Canaan A Gomor is the tenth parte of an Epha ¶ The Israelytes come in to Raphidim They grudge Water is gyuen them out of the rocke Moses holdeth vp his handes and they ouercome the Amelechites CAPI XVII ANd all the company of the chyldren of Israel thorowout theyr armyes wente from the wyldernesse of Syn after the coÌ„maundement of the Lorde and pytched in Raphidim where was no water for the people to drynke And the people chode with Moses and sayde Gyue vs water to drynke Moses sayde vnto them why chyde ye with me Wherfore do ye tempt the Lorde There the people thyrsted for water and the people murmured agaynst Moses and sayde Wherfore hast thou thus brought vs out of Egypte to kyll vs and our chyldren and cattell with thyrste And Moses cryed vnto the Lorde saynge What shall I do vnto this people they be almost redy to stone me And the Lorde sayde vnto Moses Go before the people and take with the of the elders of Israel and thy rod wherwith thon smotest the ryuer take in thy hande and go Beholde I stande before the besyde a rocke that is in Horeb thou shalte smyte a rocke and there shal come water out therof that the people may drynke And Moses dyd euen so before the eyes of the elders of Israel And he called the name of the place Massa and Meriba bycause of the chydyng of the chyldren of Israel and bycause they tempted the Lorde sayenge Is the lorde among vs or not Then came Amalech and fought with Israel in Raphidim And Moses sayd vnto Iosua Chose vs out men go fyght with Amalech And to morowe I wyll stande on the top of the hyll and the rod of God shall be in my hande Iosua dyd as Moses bad hym fought with Amalech And Moses Aaron Hur went vp to the top of the hyll And it hapned that when Moses helde vp his hande Israel had the better And wheÌ„ he let his hande downe Amalech had the better But Moses handes were heuy therfor they toke a stone put it vnder hym he sat downe theron And AaroÌ„ Hur stayed vp his handes the one on the one syde the other on the other syde And his handê remayned stedie vntyl the goynge downe of the sonne And Iosua dyscomfyted Amalech and his people with the edge of the swerde And the Lorde sayd vnto Moses Wryte this for a remembraunce in a boke and commyt it vnto the eares of Iosua for I wyll vtterly put out the remembraunce of Amalech from vnder heuen And Moses made an aulter and called the name of it †☞ The Lorde is he that worketh myracles for me For he sayde the hande is on the seate of god the Lorde wyll haue war with Amalech from generacyon to generacyon ¶ Iethros counsell is receyued of Moses CAPI XVIII IEthro the preest of Median Moses father in lawe herde of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people and that the Lorde had brought Israel out of Egypt Therfore he toke Ziphora Moses wyfe after he had sent her backe her ii sonnes of whiche the one was called Gerson for he sayd I haue ben an alyent in a strauÌ„ge land The name of the other was Eliesar for the God of my father sayde he was my helpe delyucred me from the swerde of Pharao And Iethro Moses father in lawe came with his two sonnes his wyfe vnto Moses in to the wyldernes where he abode by the mount of God And he sayde vnto Moses I thy father in lawe Iethro am come to the and thy wyfe also and her two sonnes with her And Moses wente out to mete his father in lawe and dyd obeysaunce and kyssed hym and eche asked of other of his healthe and they came in to the tente And Moses tolde his father in lawe all that the lorde had done vnto Pharao and to the Egyptians for Israels sake and all the trauayle that had happened them by the waye and howe the Lorde delyuered them And Iethro reioysed ouer all the goodnesse whiche the Lorde had done to Israel and bycause he had delyuered them out of the hande of the Egyptians And Iethro sayde blessed be the Lorde whiche hath deiyuered you out of the hande of the Egyptians and out of the hande of Pharao which hath also delyuered his people from the captiuite of the Egyptians Nowe I knowe that the Lorde is greater then all Goddes for ☞ in the thynge wherby they delte cruellye with them are they them selues perysshed And Iethro Moses father in lawe offred burnt offrynges sacrifices vnto God And Aaron all the elders of Israel came to eate breade w t Moses father in lawe before God And it chaunced on the morowe that Moses sat to iudge the people the people stode aboute Moses from mornynge vnto euen And when Moses father in law sawe al that he dyd vnto the people he sayd What is this that thou doest vnto the people why syttest thou thy selfe alone and al the people stande aboute the from mornynge vnto euen And Moses sayd vnto his father in lawe bycause the people cometh vnto me to seke counsel of God When they haue a matter they come vnto me and I iudge bytwene euery man his neyghboure shewe them the ordinaunces of God and his lawes And Moses father in lawe sayd vnto hym it is not well that thou doest Thou both wetyest thy selfe and this people that is with the for this thynge is of more weyght then thou arte able to perfourme thy selfe alone Heare nowe therfore my voyce and I wyll gyue the counsel and God shall be with the. Be thou vnto the people to Godwarde that thou mayst bryng the causes vnto God and thou shalt teache them ordinaunces lawes and shewe them the waye wherin they must walke and the worke that they must do Moreouer thou shalte seke out amonge all the people men of actiuite and such as feare God true men hatyng couetousnes make them heades ouer the people and captaynes ouer thousandes ouer hundreds ouer fyftie and ouer ten And let them iudge the people at all ceasons And euery great matter that happeneth let them brynge vnto the but let them iudge all small causes them selues and so shal it be easyer for thy selfe and they shall beare with the. If thou shalt do this thynge and God charge the withall thou shalt be able to endure and yet the people shall come to theyr place in peace And so Moses obeyed the voyce of his father
bytwene Pharan Tophil Laban Hezeroth and Disahab eleuen dayes iourney from Horeb vnto Cadê barne by mount Seir. And it fortuned the fyrst day of the eleuenth moneth in the fourtyeth yere that Moses spake vnto the chyldreÌ„ of Israel accordyng vnto all that the lorde had gyuen hym in coÌ„maundement vnto them after that he had smytten Sehon the kyng of the Amorites whiche dwelte in Hesbon and Og kynge of Basan whiche dwelte at Astaroth in Edrai On the other syde Iordane in the lande of Moab began Moses to declare this lawe sayenge the lorde our God spake vnto vs in Horeb sayenge Ye haue dwelte longe ynough in this Mounte departe therfore and take your iourney and go vnto the hyll of the Amorites and vnto al the places nyghther vnto bothe vnto the playne and hylles and dales to the south to the â—ees syde to the lande of Canaan and vnto Libanon euen vnto the great ryuer Euphrates Beholde I haue set the lande before you go in and possesse the lande which the lorde sware vnto your fathers Abraham Isaac Iacob to gyue vnto them theyr seede after them And I spake vnto you the same ceason sayenge I am not able to beare you my selfe alone For the Lorde your God hath multiplyed you and beholde ye are this day as the sterres of heuen in nombre the lorde God of your fathers make you a thousande tymes so many mo as ye are and blesse you as he hath promysed you howe can I my selfe alone beare the combraunce charge stryfe that is amonge you brynge from amonge you men of wysdome and of vnderstandyng and experte accordynge to your trybes and I wyll make them rulers ouer you And ye answered me and sayde that which thou hast spoken is good for vs to do And soo out of your trybes I toke the captaynes men of wysdome and that were experte and made them rulers ouer you captaynes ouer thousandes and ouer hundredes ouer fyftye and ouer ten and offycers amonge your trybes And I charged your Iudges that same tyme saynge heare the cause of your brethreÌ„ and iudge ryghteously bytwene euery man and his brother and the straunger that is w t hym Se that ye knowe no ☞ faces in Iudgement but heare the small as well as the great and be afrayde of no man for the iudgemente is Goddes And the cause that is to harde for you brynge vnto me and I wyll heare it And I coÌ„maunded you the same ceason all the thynges whiche ye shulde do And wheÌ„ we departed from Horeb we went thorowe all that great and terrible wyldernesse as ye haue sene alonge by the waye of the hyll of the Amorites as the lorde our god coÌ„maunded vs and came to Cades Barne And I sayde vnto you Ye are come vnto the hyll of the Amorytes whiche the Lorde oure God wyll gyue vnto vs. Beholde the Lorde thy God hath set the lande before the go vp and conquere it as the lorde god of thy fathers hath sayde vnto the feare not neyther be discouraged But ye came vnto me euery one and sayde We wyll sende men before vs to searche vs oute the lande and to brynge vs worde agayne what way we must go vp by and vnto what cityes we shall come And the saynge pleased me well and I toke .xii. men of you of euery trybe one whiche departed and went vp into the hye countrey came vnto the ryuer Escoll and serched it out toke of the fruyte of the lande †to declare the plenteusnesse therof in theyr handes and brought it vnto vs and brought vs worde agayn sayd it is a good lande which the lorde our god doth gyue vs. Notwithstange ye wolde not consente to go vp but were dysobedient vnto the mouth of the Lorde your God murmured in your tentes and sayd bycause the lorde hateth vs therfore hath he brought vs out of the lande of Egypte to delyuer vs in to the hande of the Amorites and to destroy vs. Howe shall we go vp Our brethren haue dyscouraged our herte sayeng the people is greater and taller then we and haue cyties great walled euen vp to heuen and more ouer we haue sene the sonnes of the Enakims there And I sayde vnto you drede not nor be afrayde of them the lorde your god which goeth before you he shall fyght for you accordynge to all that he dyd vnto you in Egypte before youre eyes In the wyldernes also y u hast sene how that the lorde thy god bare the euen as a maÌ„ doth beare his son in all the waye whiche ye haue gone by vntyll ye came vnto this place And yet in this thynge ye dyd not byleue the Lorde your God He went in the waye before you to serche you out a place to pytche youre tentes in in fyre by nyght that ye myght se what way to go and in a cloude by daye And the Lorde herde the voyce of youre wordes and was wroth and sware sayenge There shall not one of these men and of this frowarde generacion se that good lande whiche I sware to gyue vnto your fathers saue Caleb the sonne of Iephune he shall se it and to hym wyl I gyue the lande that he hath troden vpon to his chyldren bycause be hath folowed the Lorde †VVonderfull vvas that indignacion agaynst the people seyng that the Lorde was angrye with me lykewyse for your sakes sayenge thou also shalt not go in thyther But Iosua the son of Nun whiche standeth before the he shal go in thyther Bolden hym therfore for he shall cause Israel to enheryte the lande Moreouer your chyldreÌ„ whiche ye sayd shulde be a pray and your sonnes whiche in that daye had no knowledge bytwene good euyll they shall go in thyther and vnto them wyll I gyue it and they shall enioy it But as for you turne your faces and take youre iourney in to the wyldernesse euen by the way of the red see Then ye answered and sayd vnto me We haue synned agaynst the Lorde we wyll go vp and fyght accordynge to all that the Lorde our god coÌ„maunded vs. And wheÌ„ ye had gyrde on euery man his weapons of warre beholde ye were redy to go vp in to the hyll And the Lorde sayde vnto me saye vnto them that they go not vp and that they fyght not for I am not among you leest ye fall before your enemyes I tolde you therfore and ye wolde not heare but dysobeyed the mouth of the Lorde and wenâ— presumptuously vp in to the hyll And the Amorites which dwelt in that hyl came out agaynst you chased you as bees vse to do and smote you in Scir euen vnto Horma And ye came agayne wepte before the lorde but the lorde wolde not heare your voyce nor gyue you audience And so ye abode ☞ in Cades a long ceason accordynge to the tyme that
came vpon Saul and ☞ he prophesyed in the myddes of the house And Dauid played with his hande lyke as at other tymes and there was a Iauelyn in Sauis hande And Saul â—oke the Iauelyn and sayd I wyl nayle Dauid to the wall with it And Dauid auoyded out of his presence two tymes And Saul was afrayde of Dauid bycause the Lorde was with hym was departed from Saul Therfore Saul put hym from hym and made him a captayn ouer a thousande and ☞ he went out and in before the people And Dauid behaued hym selfe wysely in all his wayes and the Lorde was with hym Wherfore when Saul sawe that he was so excedyng wyse he was afrayd of hym But all Israel and Iuda loued Dauid bycause he went out and in before them And Saul sayde to Dauid Beholde my eldest doughter Merob her I wyl gyue the to wyfe Onely play the man with me fyghte the Lordes battayles For Saul thought myne hande shall not be vpon hym but the hande of the Philistines And Dauid answered Saule what am I and what is my lyfe of the kynred of my father in Israel that I shulde be son in lawe to the kynge Howbeit wheÌ„ the tyme was come that Moreb Sauls doughter shulde haue bene gyuen to Dauid she was gyuen vnto Adriel a Meholothite to wyfe How beit Michol Sauls doughter loued Dauid And they shewed Saul and the thyng dyspleased hym not And Saul sayd I wyll gyue hym her that she may be a snare to hym and that the hand of the Philistynes maye be agaynst hym Wherfore Saul sayd to Dauid thou shalte this day be my son in law in the other doughter And Saul coÌ„maunded his seruauntes to comen with â–ª Dauid secretly and say Beholde the kyng hath a fauoure to the and all his seruauntes loue the be now therfore the kynges sonne in lawe And Sauls seruauntes spake those wordes in the eares of Dauid And Dauid sayde semeth it to you a lyght thyng to be a kynges sonne in lawe I am a poore man and of small reputacion And the seruauntes brought Saule worde agayne sayenge of this maner spake Dauid And Saul sayd this wyse shall ye say to Dauid the king careth for none other dowry but for an hundred foreskynnnes of the Philistines to be auenged of the kingê enemyes But Saul thought to make Dauid fal into the handes of the Philistines And when his seruauntes tolde Dauid these wordê it pleased Dauid wel to be the kynges son in lawe And ☞ or the dayes were expyred Dauid arose with his men and went and slue of the Philistines CC. men and Dauid broughte theyr foreskynnes satisfied the kyng therof to be his sonne in lawe Wherfore Saul gaue hym Michol his doughter to wyfe And Saul sawe and vnderstode howe that the Lorde was with Dauid that Michol his doughter loued hym he was the more afrayde of Dauid and Saul became alway Dauids enemy The lordes of the Philistines vsed ☞ to go forth And it fortuned that when they went forth Dauid behaued hym selfe wyselyer theÌ„ al the seruauntes of Saul so that his name was moche set by ¶ Saul coÌ„maundeth to flee Dauid Micholl his wyfe saueth hym CAPI XIX SAul spake to Ionathas his sonne and to all his seruauntes that they shulde kyll Dauid But Ionathas Sauls sonne had a great fauour to Dauid and Ionathas tolde Dauid saynge Saul my father gothe aboute to fley the. Now therfore take hede to thy selfe vntyll the mornyng abyde in some secret place and hyde thy selfe And I wyl go out stande by my father in the felde where thou art wyll comen with my father of the and what soeuer I se I wyll tell the. And Ionathas spake good of Dauid vnto Saul his father sayde vnto hym let not the kynge syn agaynst his seruaunt Dauid for he hath not synned agaynst the and his workes haue ben toward the very good For he dyd ☞ put his lyfe in his hande slue the Philistine and the Lorde brought to passe a great helth for al Israel Thou sawest it thou reioysed wherfore then wylte thou syn agaynst innocent bloode sley Daiud without a cause And Saul herkened vnto the voyce of Ionathas and sware as truely as the lorde lyueth he shal not dye And Ionathas called Dauid and shewed hym all those wordes brought Dauid to Saul And he was in his presence as in tymes past And the war began agayn and Dauid wente out and foughte with the Philistines slue them with a great slaughter and they fled from hym And the euyll spirite sent of the Lorde was vpon Saul as he sat in his house hauynge a Iauelyn in his hande and Dauid played with his hande And Saul entended to nayle Dauid to the wall with the Iauelyn But he ryd hym selfe out of Sauls presence as he smote the speare †vvith a vayne stroke in to the wall And Dauid fled and was saued that same nyght Saul also sent messengers vnto Dauyds house to watche hym and to sley hym in the mornyng And Michol Dauyds wyfe tolde it hym saynge If thou saue not thy selfe this nyght to morow thou wylte be sleyne And so Micholl let Dauid downe thorowe a wyndowe and he went and fled and was saued And then she toke an ymage and layde it in the bed put a pyllowe stuffed with gootê heere vnder the heade of it couered it with a cloth And when Saul sent messengers to fetch Dauid she sayd he is sycke And Saul sent the messengers agayne to se Dauid sayenge Brynge hym to me bed and all that I may sley hym And wheÌ„ the messengers were came in Beholde there lay an ymage in the bed with a pyllow of gootes heere vnder the head of it And Saul sayde to Micholl why hast thou mocked me so and sent away myne enmye that he is escaped Michol answered Saul For he sayde vnto me let me go or els I wyll kyll the. And so Dauid fled and escaped and came to Samuel to Rama tolde hym all that Saul had done to hym And he and Samuel went and dwelte in ☞ Naioth And one tolde Saul sayenge Beholde Dauid is at Naioth in Rama Saul sente messengers to fet Dauid And wheÌ„ they saw a company ☞ of Prophetes prophesyenge and Samuel standyng fast by them the spirite of god fell vpon the messengers of Saul they prophesyed to And when it was tolde Saul he sent other messengers and they prophesyed likewyse And Saul sent messengers yet agayne the thyrde tyme and they prophesyed also Then went he hym selfe to Rama and came to a great well that is in Sechu he asked and sayde where are Samuell and Dauid And one sayde Beholde they be at Naioth in Rama and he went thyther euen to Naioth in Rama and the spirite of God came vpon hym also and he wente prophesyenge vntyll he came to Naioth in Rama And he stripte of
what shall I do â–ª And for so moche as he wyll nedes vysyte me what answere shall I gyue hym He that fassyoned me in my mothers wombe made he not hym also Were we not bothe shapen a lyke in oure mothers bodyes When the poore desyred anythynge at me haue I denyed it them Haue I caused the wydowe to stande waytynge for me in vayne Haue I eaten my porcyon alone that the fatherlesse hath had no parte with me for mercy grewe vp with me fro my youth and compassyon fro my mothers wombe Haue I sene any man perysshe thorowe nakednesse and want of clothynge Or any poore man for lacke of raymente whose sydes thanked me not bycause he was warmed with the wolle of my shepe â–ª Dyd I euer lyfte vp my hande to hurte the fatherlesse yea in the gate where I sawe myselfe to be in auctorite theÌ„ let myne arme fal fro my shoulder and myne arme holes be broken from the ioyntes For I haue euer feared the vengeaunce and punysshment of God and knewe very well that I was not able to beare his burden Haue I put my trust in golde Or haue I sayd to the fynest golde of all thou arte my confidence Haue I reioysed bycause my power was greate bycause my hande gat so moche Dyd I euer greatly regarde the rysynge of the sonne or had I the goynge downe of the moone in great reputacyon Hath myne herte medled pryuely with any deceyte Or dyd I euer kysse myne owne hande that were a wyckednesse worthy to be punysshed for then shulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue Haue I euer reioysed at the hurte of myne enemy Or was I euer glad that any harme happened vnto hym Oh no I neuer suffered my mouth to do suche a synne as to wysshe hym euyll Dyd not the men of myne owne houshold say Who shall let vs to haue our belly ful of his flesshe I haue not suffered a straunger to lye without but I opened my dores vnto hym that went by the waye Haue I kepte secrete my synne and hyd myne iniquite as Adam dyd Haue I feared any great multitude of people or yf I had bene despised of the symple O theÌ„ shuld I haue bene afrayde Thus haue I quyetly spente my lyfe not gone out at the dore O that I had one which wolde heare me Lo this is my cause In the whiche the almyghtye shall answere for me though he that is my contrary partye hath wrytten a boke agaynste me Yet ☞ wyll I take hym vpon my shoulder as a garland aboute my heade I wyll tell hym the nombre of my geynges and go vnto hym as to a prynce But yf case be that my ☞ lande crye agaynst me or that the forowes therof make any complaynte yf I haue eaten the fruytes therof vnpayde for yea yf I haue greued any of the plowineÌ„ then let thystles grow in stede of my wheate and cockle for my barley ¶ Here endeth the wordes of Iob. ¶ Elihu after the other had fynysshed theyr coÌ„municacyon reproueth them of folyshnesse Age maheth not a man wyse but the spiryte of god CAPI XXXII SO these thre men wolde stryue no more with Iob bycause he helde hymselfe a ryghteous man But Elihu the sonne of Barachel the Bussyte of the kynred of Ram was very sore dyspleased at Iob bycause he called hymselfe iust before God And with Iobs thre frendê he was angry also bycause they had founde no reasonable answere to ouercome Iob. Nowe taryed Elihu tyll they had ended theyr coÌ„municacion with Iob for why they were elder then he So when Elihu the sonne of Barachel the Bussite sawe that these iii. men were not able to make Iob answere he was myscontente Elihu the son of Barachel the Bussite gaue answere hymselfe and sayd Consyderyng that I am yong and ye be men of age I was afrayde and durst not shew forth my mynd for I thought thus within myselfe It becometh olde men to speake the aged to teache wysdom Euery man no doute hath a mynde but it is the inspiracion of the almyghtye that gyueth vnderstandynge Great men are not alway wyse neyther doth euery aged maÌ„ vnderstande the thyng that is lawful Therfore wyll I speake also heare me and I wyl shewe you also myne vnderstandynge For when I had wayted tyll ye made an ende of your talkynge herde your wysdom what argumentes ye made in your coÌ„municacyon yea when I had diligently pondred what ye sayde I founde not one of you that made any good argument agaynst Iob or that directely coulde make answere vnto his wordes leest ye shulde say We haue founde out wysdome God shal cast hym downe and no man He hath not spoken vnto me and I wyl not answere hym as ye haue done for they were so abasshed that they coulde not make answere nor speake one worde but in so moche as ye wyll not speake standynge styl lyke dombe men and makynge no answere I haue a good hope for my parte to shape hym an answere and to shewe hym my meanynge For I am full of wordes and the spirite that is within me compelleth me Beholde my belly is as the wyne whiche hath no vente and brasteth the newe vessels in sunder Therfore wyl I speake that I may haue a vente I wyll open my lyppes and make answere I wyll regarde no maner of persone no maÌ„ wyl I spare For yf I wolde go aboute to please men I knowe not howe soone my maker wolde take me awaye ¶ Elihu sheweth wherin Iob offendeth with god may we not stryue noâ— curyousâ—ye searche out his workes CAPI XXXIII WHerfore heare my wordes O Iob and herken vnto me all that I wyll saye Beholde I haue nowe opened my mouthe my tongue hathe spoken in my throte My herte doth ordre my wordes aryght and my lyppes talke of pure wysdome The spirite of God hath made me and the breth of the almyghtye hath gyuen me my lyfe If thou canst then gyue me answere prepare thy self to stande before me face to face Beholde before God am I euen as thou for I am fassioned and made euen of the same moulde Therfore thou nedest not to be afrayde of me neyther nedest thou to feare that my auctorite shall be to heuy for the. Nowe hast thou spoken in myne eares I haue herde the voyce of thy wordes I am cleane without any faute I am innocente there is no wyckednes in me But lo he hath pycked a quarell agaynst me and taketh me for his enemy he hath put my foote in the stockes loketh narowly vnto al my pathes Beholde in this hast thou not done ryght I wyll make answere vnto the that God is more then man And why doest y u then stryue agaynste hym For he shall not gyue the accomptes of all his wordes For when God doth once coÌ„maund a thyng there shulde no maÌ„ be curyous to search whyther it be ryght In
Psalme Oâ— Dauid PLeade thou my cause O Lorde with them that stryue wtth me and fyght thou agaynste them that fyght agaynste me Laye hande vpon the shylde and bucler stande vp to helpe me Brynge forth the speare stope the waye agaynste them that persecute me say vnto my soule I am thy saluacyon Let them be coufounded and put to shame that seke after my soule let them be turned backe brought to confusion that ymagyn myschefe for me Let them be as duste before the wynde and the aungell of the Lorde scateringe them Let theyr way be darke and slippery and let the the aungell of the Lorde persecute them For they haue preuely laied their net to destroy me without a cause yee euen without a cause haue they made a pyt for my soule Let a sodaine destruccion come vpon him vnawares and hys net that he hath layed pryuely catche hym selfe that he maye fall into hys owne myschefe And my soule be ioyfull in the Lorde it shall reioyce in hys saluacyon All my bones shall saye Lorde who is lyke vnto the whiche delyuerest the poore from stronger than hym selfe yee the poore and the wretched from hym that spoileth him False wytnesse dyd ryse vp they lated to my charge thinges that I knowe nat They rewarded me euell for good to the great dyscomforte of my soule Neuerthelesse wheÌ„ they were sicke I put on a sacke cloth and huÌ„bled my soule with fastynge my prayer shal turne into myne owne bosoÌ„ I behaued my self as though it had bene my freÌ„de or my brother I went heuely as one that morneth for his mother But in myne aduersyte they reioysed and gathered them together yee the very abiectes came together agaiÌ„st me vnawares ma kynge mowes at me ceassed not With y â— flatterers were busy mockers which gnas shed agaynst me with theyr tethe Lorde howe longe wylte thou loke vpon this O deliuer my soule from the wicked rumours of them and my dearlynge from the lyons So wyll I geue the thankes in the great congregacyon I wyll prayse the amonge much people O let not them that are mine enemyes tryumphe ouer me for naught nether let them wyncke with theyr eyes that hate me without a cause And why theyr coÌ„monynge is nat for peace but they ymagyn dysceytfull wordes agaynst them that are quyet in the lande They gaped vpon me with their mouthes and sayde fye on the fye on the we dyd se it with oure eyes Thys thou haste sene O Lorde holde nat thy tong then go nat farre fro me O Lorde Awake and stande vp auenge thou my cause my God and my Lorde Iudge me O Lorde my God accordynge to thy ryghtuousnesse and let them not triumphe ouer me Let them not saye in theyr hertes there there so wolde we haue it neyther let them saye we haue ouer come him Let them be put to confusyon and shame that together reioise at my trouble let theÌ„ be clothed with rebuke and dishonoure that boast them sel ues agaynst me Let them be glad and reioyse that fauoure my rightuous dealynge yee let them saye alway blessed be the Lord that willeth the peace of his seruaunte And as for my tonge it shal be talkynge of thy ryghtuones and of thy prayse all the daye longe ¶ The. xxxvi Psalme ¶ To the chauntee of Dauyd the seruaunt of the Lorde MY herte sheweth me the wyckednesse of the vngodly that there is no feare of God before his eies For he flatereth hiÌ„ selfe in his owne syght tyll his abhomynable synne be founde out The wordes of his mouthe are vnryghtuous and full of disceyte he hath lefte of to behaue him selfe well and to do good He ymagyneth myschefe vpon his bedde and hath set him selfe in no good way neyther doth he refuse any thynge that is euyll Thy mercy O Lord reacheth vnto the Heauen and thy trueth vnto the cloudes Thy ryghtuousnes standeth lyke the stronge mountaines thy iudgementes are lyke the greate depe Thou Lorde wylte preserue bothe man beaste Howe excellente is thy mercy O God and the children of men shal put their truste vnder the shadowe of thy wynges They shall be satysfyed with the plentuousnes of thy house and thou shalte gyue them dryncke of thy pleasure as out of the ryuer For with the is the well of lyfe and in thy lyght shall we se lyght O sprede forth thy louynge kyndnes vnto them that knowe the and thy ryghtuousnes vnto theÌ„ that are true of herte O let not the fote of pryde come agaynste me and let nat y â— haÌ„de of the vngodly caste me downe ☞ There are they fallen all that worke wyckednes they are caste downe and shal nat be able to stande ¶ The. xxxvij Psame ¶ A Psalme of Dauyd FRET nat thy self because of the vngodly neyther be thou enuious agaynst the euyll doers For they shall sone be cut downe lyke the grasse and be wythered euen as the grene herbe Put thou thy truste in the Lorde and do good dwel in the lande and â—erely thou shalt be fedde Delyte thou in the Lorde and he shall gyue the thy hertes desyre Commytte thy waye vnto the LORDE and put thy truste in hym and he shall brynge it to passe He shall make thy ryghtuousnesse as cleare as the lyght thy iust dealyng as the none daye Holde the styll in the Lorde and abyde pacyently vpon hym but greue nat thy selfe at hym whose waye dothe prospere and that dothe after euyll councels Leaue of froÌ„ wrath and let go displeasure frete nat thy selfe els shalt thou be moued to do euell Wycked doers shal be roted out and they that pacyently abyde the Lorde shall enherete the lande Yet a lytle whyle and the vngodly shal be cleane gone thou shalte loke after hys place and he shal be awaye But the meke spreted shal possesse the earth and shal be refreshed in muche rest The vngodly seketh couÌ„cel against the iust gnassheth vpon him with his tethe The Lorde shall laughe hym to scorne for he hathe sene that his daies is coÌ„myng The vngodly haue drawen out the swerde and haue bended their bowe to cast downe the poore and nedye and to slee suche as be of ryght conuersacyon Theyr swerde shall go thorowe their owne herte and theyr bowe shal be broken A small thynge that the ryghtuous hathe is better then greate ryches of the vs godly For the armes of the vngodly shal be broken and the Lorde vpholdeth the ryghtuous The Lorde knoweth y â— dayes of the godly and their inheritauÌ„ce shall endure for euer They shall nat be confounded in the peryllous tyme and in the dayes of derth they shal haue ynough As for the vngodly they shal perishe and the enemies of the Lorde shal coÌ„sume ☞ as the fat of laÌ„bes yee euen as the smoke shal they coÌ„sume awaye The vngodly boroweth payeth nat agayne but the rightuous is mercyfull lyberal Such as
Neuertheles your misdedes haue turned these frome you and your synnes haue robbed you hereof For amonge my people are founde wycked personnes that preuely lay snares and wayte for men to take them and destroye them And lyke as a net is full of byrdes so are theyr houses ful of that which they haue gotten with falshed and disceate Hereof commeth theyr great substauÌ„ce and ryches hereof are they fat and welthy and are runne away fro me with shameful blasphemyes They minystre not the lawe they make no ende of y â— fatherles cause they iudge not the poore accordyng to equite Shuld I not punish these thinges sayeth the Lorde shulde I not be auenged of all suche people as these be Horrible greuous thinges are done in the lande The Prophetes teache falsely and the prestes folowe them and my people hathe pleasure therin What wyll come therof at the laste ¶ The synnes for whiche Ierusalem is afflyete Unâ—iâ—â—uÌ„cysed yeares Couetousnes Disceate The Lorde reiecteth the sacryfices of the Iewes The coÌ„mynge of the Babylonianâ— is prophecyed agayne ¶ CAPI VI. COME out of Ierusalem yee stronge chyldren of Ben Iamin blowe vp the troÌ„pettes ye Tecuytes set vp a token vnto Bethearam for a plage and a great misery pepeth out from the North. I wyl lyken the daughter Sion to a faire and tendre woman and to her shal come the shepherders with theyr flockes There tentes shal they pitche rounde about her euery one shal fede them y t are vnder his hande Make batayle agaynst her shall they saye Aryse let vs go vp whyle it is yet daye Alas the day goeth awaye the nyght shadowes fall downe Aryse let vs go vp by nyght and destroy her strong holdes for thus hath the Lorde of hostes coÌ„maunded Hewe downe her trees and set vp bulworkes agaynst Ierusalem This is y â— citie that must be punished for in her is al malisiousnes Lyke as a coÌ„dyte aboundeth in water euen so this cytie aboundeth in wyckednes Robberye and vnryghtuousnesse is herde in her sorowe and woundes are euer there in my syght Amende the O IerusaleÌ„ lest I withdrawe my herte from the make the desolate and thy lande also that no man dwell in it For thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes The resydue of Israel shal be gathered as the remnaunt of grapes And therfore turne thyne hande agayne into the basket lyke y â— grape gatherer But vnto whom shall I speake whome shall I warne that he may take hede Their eares are so vncircumcised that they may not heare Beholde they take the worde of the Lorde but for a scorne haue no lust therto And therfore I am so full of thyne indignacyon O Lorde that I may suffre no loÌ„ger But shede it out vpon y â— childreÌ„ that are wtout and vpon all yonge men yea the man must be taken prysonner with the wyfe and the aged with the crepel Their houses with their landes and wyues shal be turned vnto straungers when I stretche out myne haÌ„de vpon the inhabitours of this lande sayeth the Lorde For from y â— least vnto the most they hange al vpon couetousnes and from the Prophete vnto the preest they go all aboute with falsheede and lyes And besyde that they heale the hurte of my people with swete wordes sayeng peace peace wheÌ„ there is no peace at al. Therfore they must be ashamed for they haue coÌ„mytted abhomynacion But howe shuld they be ashamed when they knowe nothing nether of shame nor good nurtour And therfore they shall fall amonge the slayne and in the houre when I shall vyset them they shal be brought downe sayeth the Lorde Thus sayeth the Lorde go into the streates consydre and make inquisicyon for the olde waye and if it be the good and ryght way then go therin that ye may fynde rest for your soules But they say we wyll not walke therin and I wyll set watchemen ouer you therfore take hede vnto the voice of the trompet But they saye we wyll not take hede Heare therfore ye Gentiles and thou congregacion shalte knowe what I haue deuysed for them Heare thou earthe also beholde I wyl cause a plage to come vpon this people euen the fruyte of they re owne ymaginacyons For they haue not bene obedient vnto my wordes and to my lawe but abhorred them Wherfore bryng ye me incense from Saba and swete smellynge Calamus from â—â—r countrees Your burnt 〈…〉 please me and I reioyce not in your sacrifyces And therfore thus sayth the Lorde beholde I wyll make this people fall there shall fall from amonge theym the father with the chyldren one neyghbour shall perysshe with an other Thus sayeth the Lorde Beholde there shall come a people from the Northe and a great people shall aryse from the endes of the earth with bowes and with dartes shal they be weapened It is a rough and fearce people an vnmercyful people theyr voice roareth lyke the see they ryde vpon horses well apoynted to the batayle agaynste the O daughter Sion The crye of them haue we herde Our armes are feble henynesse and sorowe is come vpon vs as vpon a woman trauaylynge with chylde No man go forth into the felde no man coÌ„meth vpon the hye strete for the swerde and feare of the enemy is on euery syde Wherfore gyrde a sacke cloth about the O thou daughter of my people sprynckle thyselfe with asshes mourne and wepe bytterly as vpon thy onely beloued sonne For the destroyer shall sodaynely fall vpon vs. The haue I set for a prouer of my harde people to seke out and to trye theyr wayes For they are all vnfaythful and fallen awaye they hange vpon fylthy lucre they are cleane brasse and yron for they hurt and destroye euery man The bellous are brente in the fyre the leade is consumed the melter melteth in vayne for the euyll is not taken away from theÌ„ Therefore do they call them naughty syluer because the Lorde hath cast them out ¶ Ieremye is commaunded to shewe vnto the people the worde of God â–ª whiche trusteth in the outwarde seruyce of the temple The euylles that shall happen to the Iewes for the despysynge of theyr Prophetes Sacryfices dothe not the Lorde thefely requyre of the Iewes but that they shulde obey his worde CAPI VII THESE are the wordes that God spake vnto IEREMY Stande vnder the gate of the Lordes house and crye out these wordes there with a loude voyce saye Heare the worde of the Lorde all ye of Iuda that go in at thys dore to worshyppe the Lord. Thus sayeth y â— Lorde of Hostes y â— god of Israel AmeÌ„de your wayes your couÌ„cels I wyll let you dwel in this place Trust not in false lieng wordes saieng here is the teÌ„ple of the Lord here is the temple of the Lorde here is y â— temple of the Lorde For yf ye wyll amende youre wayes
Egypte Al the substaunce of Alexandria wyll I destroye and kyndle a fyre in Egypte Sin shal be in greate heuynesse Alexandria shal be roted out and Noph shall haue bayly sorowe The beste men of Helyopolys and Bubasto shall be slayne with the swearbe and caryed awaye captyue At Caphnis the day shal be darcke when I breake there the scepter of the lande of Egypt and when the pompe of her power shall haue an ende ☜ A cloude shall couer her and her daughters shal be led awaye into captyuyte Thus wyl I punyshe Egypt that they may know howe that I am the Lorde It happened in the eleuenth yeare vpon the seueÌ„th daye of the fyrste moneth that the Lordes worde came vnto me sayinge Beholde thou sonne of man I wyll breake the arme of Pharao kynge of Egypte and lo it shall not be bounde vp to be healed neyther shal any playster be layed vpon it for to ease it or to make it so stronge as to holde a swearde Therfore thus sayeth the Lorde God Beholde I wyll vpon Pharao the kyng of Egypte and bruse his strong arme yet is it but a broken one and wyl smite the swearde out of his handes As for the Egyptyans I wyll seatre them amonge the Heathen and strowe them in the landes aboute Agayne I wyll strength the arme of the kynge of Babylon and geue hym a swearde in his hande but I wyl breake Pharaos arme so that he shal holde it before hym pyteously lyke a wounded man Yee I wyll stablyshe the kynge of Babilons arme and the armes of Pharao shal fall downe that it maye be knowen that I am the Lorde whiche geue the kynge of Balyon my swearde in his hande that he may drawe it out vpon the lande of Egypte and that when I scatre the Egyptyans among the Gentyles and strowe them in the landes aboute they may knowe that I am the Lorde ¶ A comparyson of the prosperite of Pharao with the prosperyte of the Assyryans He prophecyeth a lyke destruccyon vnto them bothe CAPI XXXI MOREOVER it happened in the eleuenth yeare the fyrst daye of the thyrde moneth that the worde of the Lorde came vnto me saying Thou sonne of man speake vnto Pharao the kynge of Egypte and to all his people Whom arte thou lyke in thy greatnesse Beholde Assur was lyke a Cedre tree vpon the mounte of Libanus with fayre braunches so thycke that he gaue shadowes and shot out verye hye Hys toppe reached vnto the Cloudes The waters made hym greate and the depe set hym vp an hye Rounde aboute the rotes of hym â—aÌ„ne there floudes of water he sent out his lyt le ryuers vnto al the trees of the felde Therfore was he hygher then all the trees of the felde and thorowe the multytude of waters that he sente from hym he optayned many longe braunches Al foules of the ayre made theyr nestes in hys braunches vnder his bowes gendred all the beastes of the felde and vnder his shadowe dwelte all people Fayre and beautyfull was he in his greatnesse and in the length of hys braunches for hys rote stode besyde greate waters ☞ no Cedre tree myght hyde him In the pleasauÌ„t garden of God there was no fyrre tree lyke his brauÌ„ches the playne trees were not lyke the bowes of hym All the trees in the garden of God myght not be compared vnto hym in his beauty so fayre and goodly had I made hym with y e multytude of hys brauÌ„ches In so muche that âšœ all the trees in the pleasaunt garden of God had enuye at him Therfore thus sayeth the Lorde God for so moche as he hath lyfte vp hym selfe so hye and stretched his top in to the cloudes and seynge his herte is proude in his hyghnesse I wyll delyuer hym in to the handes of the myghtiest amonge the Heathen which shal rote hym out Accordynge to his wyckednes wyll I caste hym awaye the enemyes shall destroye him and the mighty men of the Hethen shall so scatre hym that his braunches shall lye vpon all mountaynes and in all valleys his bowes shal be broken downe to the grounde thorowe out the lande Then all the people of the lande shall go from his shadowe and forsake hym When he is fallen all the foules of the ayer shall syt vpon hym and all wylde beastes of the felde shall go aboute ☞ amonge his braunches so that from hence forth no tre in the water shal attayne to his hyghnesse nor reache his toppe vnto the cloudes neyther shall any tree of the water stande so hye as he hath done For vnto death shall they al be delyuered vnder the earthe and go downe to the graue lyke other men Moreouer thus sayeth the Lord God In the day when he goeth downe to the graue I wyll cause a lamentacyon to be made I wyll couer the depe vpon hym I wyl stauÌ„ch hys floudes and the great waters shal be re straygned I shall cause Lybanus to be sorowefull for his sake and all the trees of the felde shal be smytten I wylâ—make the Heathen shake at the sounde of his fall when I cast him downe to Hell with them that descende into the pytte All the trees of Eden with all the chosen and beste trees of Lybanus yee and all they that are planted vpon the waters shall mourne with hym also in the lower habitacioÌ„s for they shal go downe to hell with hym vnto them that be slayne with the swearde whiche dwelte afore vnder the shadowe of his arme among the Heathen To whom shalt thou be lyckened that arte so glorious and great among the trees of Eden â–ª yet arte thou cast downe vnder the earth among the trees of Eden where thou must lye amonge vncircumcysed with them that be slayne with the swearde Euen thus is it with Pharao and all his people sayeth the Lorde God ¶ The Prophete is commaunded to bewayle Pharao the â—ynge of Egypt He prophecyeth that destruccyon shal come vnto Egypte thorowe the Kynge of Babylon CAPI XXXII I ☜ N the twelueth yeare the fyrste daye of the twelueth moneth the worde of the Lorde came vnto me sayenge Thou soÌ„ue of man take vp a lamentacion vpon Pharao the Kynge of Egypte and saye vnto hym Thou arte reputed as a Lyon of the Heathen and as a whalefyshe in the See Thou castest thy waters aboute the thou troublest the waters with thy fete and stampest in theyr floudes Thus sayeth the Lorde God I wyll sprede my net ouer the namely a greate multytude of people these shall dryue the into my yarne for I wyl cast the vpon the lande and let the lye vpon the felde that all the foules of the ayre maye syt vpon the. I wyll geue al the beastes of the felde ynoughe of the. Thy flesshe wyll I caste vpon the hâ—lles and fyll the valleys with the hyghnesse I wyll water the lande with the aboundaunce of the bloude euen to the mountaynes and the valleys shall be full
and so greate wyckednesse that it coulde not be nombredâ— yee when my soule saw so many euyl doâ—â—s in the thyrtye yeare my herte fayled me for I sawe how thou suffredst them in such vngodlynes and sparest the wicked doeâ—s but thyne owne people hast thou roted out and preserued thyne enemyes and this hast thou not shewed me I cannot perceyue howe thys happened Do they of Babylon then better then they of Syon Or is there any other people that knoweth the sauynge the people of Israel Or what generacion hath so beleued thy couenauÌ„tes as Iacob And yet theyr rewarde appeareth not theyr labour hath no frute For I haue gone here there thorow y â— Heathen I se that they be riche wealthy and thyncke not vpon thy coÌ„mauÌ„dementes Wey thou therfore our wyckednesse now in the balauÌ„ce and theirs also y t dwel in the worlde so shal thy name be no where fouÌ„de but in Israel Or where is there a people vpon earth that hath not sined before the Or what people hath so kept thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes Thou shalt fynde that Israel by name hath kepte thy preceptes but not the other people and Heathen ¶ The angell reproueth Esoras because he semed to entre into the profounde iudgementes of God CAPI IIII. AND the angel that was sent vnto me whose name was Urtell gaue me an answere said Thy hert hath takeÌ„ to much vpon it in ti is worlde and y u thynkest to coÌ„prehende the way of the hyest Then sayd I Yee my Lorde And he answered me sayd I am sent to shew the thre wayes and to set forth thre symylitudes before the wherof yf thou caust declare me one I wyll shewe the also the waye that thou desyrest to se and I shall shewe the frome whence the wycked herte commeth And I sayde Tell on my Lorde Then sayde he vnto me Go thy way weye me the weyght of the fyre or measure me the blaste of the wynde or cal me agayne the daye that is past Then answered I and sayde What man borne is able to do that Why requyrest thou such of me And he said vnto me If I shulde aske the howe depe dwellynges are in the see Or how great water springes are vpon the firmameÌ„t Or how great water springes are in the begynnynge of the depe Or whiche are the out goynges of Paradyse Peraduenture thou woldest saye vnto me I neuer wente downe yet into the depe nor hel neither dyd I euer clime vp into heauen Neuerthelesse nowe haue I asked the but onely of fyre and wynde and of the day where thorow thou hast trauayled and from the which thou canst not be seperated and yet canste thou geue me no answree of them He sayd moreouer vnto me Thyne owne thinges suche as are growne vp with the canst thou not knowe howe shuld thy vessel then be able to comprehende the waye of the Hyest and nowe outwardely in the corrupte worlde to vnderstaÌ„de the corrupcion that is euideÌ„t in my sight Then saide I vnto him It were better that we were not at all then that we shulde lyue in wyckednesse to suffre not to knowe wherfore He answered me sayde I wente in a wod the trees toke such a deuyse and sayd Come let vs go and fyght against the see that it may depart away before vs and that we maye make vs yet more woddes The floudes of the see also in lyke maner toke thys deuyse and sayde Come let vs go vp and fyght agaynst the trees of the wood y t we maye make our lande the wyder The thought deuyce of the wod was but vaine nothing worth for the fyre came and consumed the wod The thought of the floudes of the see came likewise to naught also for the sande stode vp and stopped them If thou were iudge nowe betwyxte these two whom woldest thou iustyfie or whome woldest thou condemne I answered sayd Uerely it is a folyshe thought that they both haue deuysed For the grounde is geuen vnto the wod and the see also hath his place to here his floudes Then answered he me and sayde Thou hast geuen a ryght iudgement why iudgest thou not thyselfe also For lyke as the grounde is geuen vnto the wod and the see to his floudes euen so they y t dwell vpon earth may vnderstande nothyng but that whiche is vpon earth and he that dwelleth aboue the heaueÌ„s may only vnderstand the thynges y â— are aboue the heauens Then answered I and sayd I beseche y â— O Lord let me haue vnderstandynge for it was not my mynde to be curyous of thy hye thinges but of suche as we dayly medle withall namely wherefore that Israell is blasphemed of the HeatheÌ„ and for what cause the people whom thou euer hast loued is geuen ouer to be punisshed of vngodly nacyons why y â— lawe of our fathers is brought to naught and the wrytten couenauntes come to none effecte and we passe away out of the worlde as the greshoppers our life is a very feare and we are not worthy to optayne mercye What wyll he do then vnto his name which is called vpoÌ„ ouer vs Of these thiÌ„ges haue I asked a questyon Then answered he me sayde The more thou searchest the more thou shalt marâ—â—ile for the worlde hasteth fast to passe awaye cannot comprehende the thinges y â— are promysed for the rightuous in tyme to come for this worlde is ful of vnryghtuousnes and weakenes But as concernynge the thinges wherof thou askest me I wyll tell the. The euyll is sowed but the destruccion thereof is not yet come Yf the euyl nowe that is sowed be not turned vpsyde downe yf the place where the euyll is sowne passe not awaye then cannot the thyng come that is sowne with good for the corne of euyll sede hathe bene sowne in the heâ—t of man from the begynnyng and how muche vngodlines hath he brought vp vnto this tyme and how muche shall he yet brynge forth vntyll he come into the barne PoÌ„dre nowe by thyself wheÌ„ the corne of euyll sede is cut downe howe great a barne shall it fyll I answered and sayde Howe wheÌ„ shall these thinges come to passe wherfore are your yeares fewe euyl And he answered me sayinge Hast not thou to muche vpon the hyest for thy hastynes to be aboue him is but vaine thou makest to much a do Did not the soules also of y â— rightuous aske questyon of these thynges in theyr holynes saying Howe long shall I hope of thys fashyon When coÌ„meth the frute of my barne and my reward And vpon this Ieremiel y â— Archangel gaue theÌ„ answere and sayd EueÌ„ when y â— noÌ„bre of the sedes is filled in you for he hath weyed y â— world in the balauÌ„ce in mesure noÌ„bre hath he measured y â— tyme moueth it not vntyll y â— same measure be fulfylled TheÌ„ answered
and thorow a myghtye wynde set him in Babylon vpon the denne And Abacuc cried saying O Danyel y â— seruaunt of God haue take y â— breakfast that God hath sent the. And Daniel sayde O God hast y â— thought vpon me well thou neuer saylest them that loue the. So Daniel arose dyd eate and the Angel of the Lorde set Abacuc in his owne place agayne immediatly Upon the seuenth daye the kinge wente to bewepe Daniel and when he came to the deÌ„ne he loked in and beholde Daniel sat iÌ„ the myddest of the Lyons Then cryed the kyng with a loude voyce saying Great art thou O Lord God of Danyel he drewe hym out of the lyoÌ„s deÌ„ne As for those that were the cause of his destructyoÌ„ he did cast theÌ„ into the denne and they were deuoured in a momeÌ„t before hys face After thê wrote the kynge vnto all people kynredes and tonges that dwelt in al countrees sayeÌ„ge peace be multiplied with you My commauÌ„ demente is in all the dominion of my realme that men feare staÌ„de in awe of Daniels god for he is y â— lyuiÌ„ge god which endureth euer hys â–ª kyngdome abideth vncorrupt hys power is euerlastinge It is he that caÌ„ deliuer saue he doth woÌ„ders maruelous workes iÌ„ heauen iÌ„ earth for he hath saued Daniel froÌ„ the power of the Lyons ¶ The ende of the Storye of Bel. ⧠The prayer of Manasses king of Iuda when he was holden captyue in Babylon O Lorde almyghtye god of our fathers AbrahaÌ„ Isaac Iacob of the rightuous sede of them which haste made heauen earth w t al the ornament therof which hast ordened the see by the worde of thy commaundemeÌ„t which hast shut vp the depe and haste sealed it for thy fearfull and laudable name which all men feare and treÌ„ble before the face of thy vertue and for y â— anger of thy threatenyng the which is importable to sinners But the mercy of thy promes is greate and vnsearcheable for thou arte the Lorde God moste hyghe aboue all the earth loÌ„g suffryng and exceadynge mercyful and repentauÌ„t for the malice of meÌ„ Thou Lord after thy goodnes hast promysed repentaunce of the remission of synnes and thou that arte the God of the rightuous hast not put repentaunce to the rightuous AbrahaÌ„ Isaac and Iacob vnto theÌ„ that haue synned against the But because I haue sinned aboue the nombre of the sandes of the see and that myne iniquytyes are multyplyed I am humbled wyth many baÌ„des of yron ther is in me no breathynge I haue prouoked thyne anger and haue done euyll before the in commyttinge abhomynacyons and multyplyinge offences And now I bowe the knees of my hert requyring goodnes of the O Lord I haue synned Lorde I haue synned and knowe myne inyquytye I desyre the by prayer O Lorde forgeue me forgeue me and destroye me not with myne inyquytyes neyther do thou alwayes remeÌ„bre myne euylles to punysh them but saue me whiche am vnworthy after thy great mercy and I wyll prayse the euerlastyngly all the dayes of my lyfe for all the vertue of heueÌ„ prayseth the and vnto the belongeth glory worlde with oute ende Amen ⧠The fyrst boke of the Machabees ¶ After the deathe of Alexander the Kyng of Macedonia Antioâ—huâ— taketh the kingdome Many of the childreÌ„ of Israel moke couenauÌ„t with the GeÌ„tyles Antiochus subdueth Egypt â— IerusaleÌ„ vnto his dominion IerusaleÌ„ being burnt maketh lawes of her owne and forbyddeth to kepe Goddes lawes Antâ—â—châ—â— setteth vp an Ibol ouer the altâ—r of god CAPI I. AFter that Alexandre the sonne of Philippe kynge of Macedonia weÌ„t forth of the laÌ„de of Cethim slew Darius king of the persyans and Medes It happened y â— he toke greate warres in hand wanne very many stronge cities and slewe many kynges of the earth going thorow to the endes of the worlde and gettyng many spoyles of the people In so much that the worlde stode in greate awe of hym therefore was he proude in his herte Now whan he had gathered a myghtye stronge hoost subdued the laÌ„des people with theyr princes so y â— they became tributaries vnto him he fel syck And wheÌ„ he perceaued y â— he muâ— nedes dye he called for hys noble estates whiche had bene brought vp with hym of chyldren parted hys kyngdome among them whyle he was yet alyue So AleaÌ„der raygned xii yeare and then dyed After hys death fell the kyngdome vnto hys prynces and they optained it euery one in hys rowne and caused them selues to be crowned as kynges and so dyd theyr chyldreÌ„ after them many yeares and much wickednesse increased i the worlde Out of these came y â— vngracious rote noble Antyâ—chus the sonne of Antiochus y â— king which had bene a pledge at Rome and he raygned in the. C. xxxvij yeare of the empyre of the Grekes In those dayes weÌ„te there out of Israel wycked men which moued much people w t theyr councell sayege Let vs go make a couenaunt with the Heathen y â— are rounde aboute vs for sence we departed froÌ„ them we haue had much sorow So thys deuyce pleased them well and certayne of y â— people toke vpon theÌ„ for to go vnto y â— kyng which gaue theÌ„ licence to do after the ordinauÌ„ce of y â— Heathen Then set they vp an open scole at Ierusalem of the lawes of the HeatheÌ„ were nomore cyrcumâ—ised but forsoke the holy Testamente ioyned them selues to y â— HeatheÌ„ were cleane solde to do mischefe So when Antiochus begaÌ„ne to be mightie in hys kyngdome he wente about to optayne y â— lande of Egypt also that he myght haue the domynioÌ„ of two realmes â–ª Upon this entred he into Egipt w t a stoÌ„ge hoost wyth charettes elephantes horsmen and a greate nombre of shyppes and begaune to warre agaiÌ„st Ptolomy the king of Egipte But Ptolomy was afrayed of hym and fled and many of his people were wounded to death Thus Antiochus wanne many stronge cyties and toke awaye great good out of the lande of Egypte And after that Antiochus had smytten Egipt he turned againe in y â— C. xlâ—â— yeare and went towarde Israel came vp to Iâ—â—usaleÌ„ w t a myghty people entred proudly into the Sanctuary and toke awaye the golden altare the caÌ„delstycke and al the ornamentes therof the cable of the shewbred the pouring vessel the chargers â–ª the golden spones the valie y â— crownes and golden apparell of the temple brake downe all He toke also the syiuer golde y â— precious Iew els the secrete treasures that he founde none other answere neyther caste they one stone at them nor made fast theyr preuy places but sayde We wyll dye all in our innoceÌ„cy heauen earth shal testyfie w t vs that ye put vs to death wrongeously Thus they fought agaynste theÌ„ vpon y
if they put hī to death myght be dysapoynted So when he had promysed faythfully to delyuer them agayne according to the cōdiciō made they let him go without harme for the health of the brethren And when Iudas had slayne xxv M. he went from Carmon Now after y ◠he had chased away slayne his enemies he remoued the hoste towarde Ephrom a strong cytie wherin dwelt many diuerse people of the Heythen the stronge yong men kepte the walles defendyng them myghtely In this cytie was much ordynaūce and prouision of dartes But when Iudas and his cōpany had called vpon Almyghtye God whiche wyth his power breaketh the strength of the enemyes they wāne the cytie and slewe xxv M. of thē y ◠were within Frō thence wente they to the cytie of the Scithyans whiche lyeth vi C. furlonges from Ierusalē But when the Iewes whiche were in the citie testyfied that the cytesyns dealte louyngely with them yee and intreated them kyndely in the tyme of their aduersyte Iudas and his company gaue them thanckes desyrynge them to be frēdly styll vnto them and so they came to Ierusalem the hye feaste of the wekes beynge at hande And after the feast of Pentecost they went forth agaynste Gorgias the gouernoure of Idumea wyth iij. M. men of fote iiij C. horsmen Which when they met together it chaunsed a fewe of y ◠Iewes to be slayne And Dositheus one of y ◠Bachenors a mighty horsmā toke holde of Gorgias and wolde haue takē hī quycke But an horsman of Thracia fell vpon hym and smote of his arme so y ◠Gorgias escaped fled into Moresa When they nowe y ◠were of Gorgias syde had foughten longe were weary Iudas called vpō the Lorde that he wolde be their helper captayne of the felde and wyth that he beganue wyth a manly voice to take vp a song of prayse a cry In so muche y ◠he made the enemyes afrayed Gorgias mē of warre toke their flyght So Iudas gathered his host came into y ◠cite of Odolla And when the seuenth day came vpō them they clēsed them selues as the custome was kept the Sabboth in the same place And vpon the day folowyng Iudas his cōpany came to take vp the bodyes of thē that were slaine to bury them in the fathers graues Nowe vnder the cotes of certayne Iewes which were slayne they foūde Iewels that they had taken out of the tēple frō the Idols of the Iamniters whiche thyng is forbydden the Iewes by the law Then euery man saw y t this was the cause wherfore they were slaine And so euery mā gaue thanckes vnto y ◠Lorde for hys ryghtuous iudgment which had opened y ◠thing that was hyd They fell downe also vnto their prayers besought God y t the fawte which was made might be put out of remēbraūce Besydes that Iudas exhorted y ◠people earnestly to kepe them selues from such synne for so much as they sawe before theyr eyes y ◠these men were slaine for the same offēce So he gathered of euery one a certaine in so much y ◠he brought together two thousande drachmas of syluer which he sent vnto Ierusalē that there myght a sacryfice be offred for the misdede In the which place he dyd wel ryght for he had some consyderacion pondering of y ◠lyfe that is after this tyme. For yf he had not thought that they which were slayne dyd yet lyue it had bene superfluous vaine to make any vow or sacryfice for them y ◠were deed But for so muche as he saw y ◠they which dye ī the fauour beleue of God are in good rest and ioy he thought it to be good honorable for a recōcylyng to do the same for those which were slayne that the offence myght be forgeuen ¶ The cōming of Enpater into Iewrye The deth of Menel mo ▪ Machabeus goynge to fyght against Eupater moneth his soudrats vnto prayer He kylleth .xiiii. Women in the tētes of Antiochus Robocus the betraier of the Iewes is taken Antiochus retayneth frendshipe with the Iewes CAPI XIII IN y ◠Cxlix yeare gat Iudas knowlege y ◠Antiochus Eupater was cōming with a great power into Iewry Lisias the stewarde ruler of his matters with hym hauing an C. x. M. men of fote v. M. horsmen xxij Elephātes iii. C. charettes Menelaus also ioyned himselfe with them but with great disceat spake faire to the kīge not for any good of y ◠coūcre but because he thought to haue bene made some great mā of auctoryte But y ◠kyng of kinges moued Antiochus mynde agaynst thys vngodly personne and Lysias infourmed the kyng that thys Menelaus was the cause of all myschefe so that the king commaunded to take him and as the maner of them is to put him vnto death in the same place There was also in the same place a tower of L. cubites hye heapped with asshes but aboue it was so made that men might loke downe on euery syde Where into the kinge cōmaunded that shameful person to be cast among the asshes as one that was cause of all vngraciousnes And reason it was that the vnthrift shuld dye such a death and not to be buried for he had done much mischefe vnto the aulter of God whose fyre asshes were holy therfore was it ryght y ◠he hym selfe also shulde be destroyed wyth asshes But y ◠kynge was wood in hys mynde and came to shewe him self more cruell vnto the Iewes then hys father was Whiche when Iudas perceaued he cōmaūded the people to cal vpon y ◠Lorde night and day that he wold now helpe thē also lyke as he had done alwaye For they were afrayed to be put from theyr lawe from theyr naturall countre and from the holy temple and not to suffre the people which a lytle while afore beganne to recouer to be subdued agayne of the blasphemous nacions So when they had done thys together and besought the Lord for mercy with wepynge and fastynge thre dayes longe flat vpon the groūde Iudas exhorted them to make them selues ready But he and the elders together deuised to go forth first with they re people afore the kynge brought hys hoost into Iewry and afore he beseged the cytie so to cōmytte the matter vnto God Wherfore he ascrybed the power of all thynges vnto God the maker of y ◠worlde exhorting his people to fyght māfully yee euen vnto death for the lawes the temple the cyte theyr owne natyue countre and to defende the eytesins and set his host before Modyn He gaue them also that were with him a token of the victory of God chosyng out the mālyest yonge men wente by night into the kynges pauylyō slewe of the hoost xiiii M. men the greatest Elephantes wyth those that sat vpon them Thus when they had brought a greate
and to do w t one coÌ„sent for to gyue her kingdome vnto the beast vntil the wordes of god be fulfylled And the woman which y u sawest is that great cyte which raygneth ouer the kynges of the earthe ¶ The 〈◊〉 of the worlde are â—oâ—y for the fall of Babylon but theâ— that be of God haue cause to reioyce for hâ—◠〈◊〉 Leuccyon CAPI XVIII ANd after that I sawe another angell come from heauen hauyng great power and the earthe was lyghtâ—ed with hys bryghtnes And he cryed myghtely wyth a stronge voyce saying Great Babylon is fallen is falleÌ„ and is become the inhabytacion of deuyls the hold of al fowle spiritê a cage of all vncleane hatefull byrdes for al nacions haue dronken of the wyne of the wrath of her fornicacion And the kynges of the earth haue coÌ„mytted fornicacyon with her and the marchauntes of the earth are wexed ryche of the aboundaunce of her pleasures And I herde another voyce from heuen say come away from her my people that ye be not partetakers of her sinnes that ye re ceyue not of her plages For her synnes are gone vp to heuen God hath remeÌ„bred her wyckednes Rewarde her eueÌ„ as she rewarded you giue her double accordyng to her worckes And powre in double to her in the same cuppe wâ—â—che she fylled vnto you And as muche as she glorified her selfe and liued waÌ„tonly so much powre ye in for her of punyshement and sorowe for she sayde in her selfe I syt beyinge a quene am no wyddowe and shall se no sorowe Therfore shal her plages come in one day death sorow and honger she shal be brent with fyre for stroÌ„ge is y e Lord God which shal iudge her And the kynges of the earth shal be wepe her and wayle ouer her which haue committed fornicacion with her haue lyued wanâ—only with her wheÌ„ they shall se y e smoke of her burnyng and shall stande a farre of for feare of her punyshement saying Alas Alas that great cytie Babison y e myghtye cytie for at one houre is thy iudgemeÌ„t come And the marchauÌ„tes of the earth shal wepe and wayle in them selues for no man wyll bye theyr ware any more the ware of golde siluer precious stones nether of perle raines purple skarlet al thâ—uâ—n wood al maner vessels of yuery all maner vessels of most pÌ„cious wood of 〈◊〉 yron â–ª marble synamuÌ„ odours oyntmeÌ„tes frankinseâ—â—e â— wyne oyle fyne floure wheate bestes and shepe and horsses and charettes and bodyes and soules of men And the aples that thy soule lusted after are departed froÌ„ the. And al thynges which were deyntie and had in pryce are departed froÌ„ the thou shalt fynde theÌ„ nomore The marchauÌ„tes of these thingê which were wexed ryche shall staÌ„de a farre of from hyr for feare of the punyshemeÌ„t of her weping and waylyng saying Alas Alas that great cytie that was clothed in raynes purple and scarlet and decked with golde 〈◊〉 precious stones pearles for at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so great ryches is come to nought And euery shyppe gouerner and all they that occupyed shyppes and shypmen 〈◊〉 worke in the see stode a farre of and 〈◊〉 when they sawe the smoke of her 〈◊〉 â–ª saying what cytie is lyke vnto this greatâ—â— tytie And they cast dust on theyr hedes and cryed wepyng waylyng and saydâ— â–ª 〈◊〉 â–ª Alas that great citie wherâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 che al that had shyppes in the see by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 son of her costlynes for at one hoâ—â—â— is 〈◊〉 made desolate Reioyce ouer her thou heauen and ye holy Apostles and Prophetes for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uen your iudgemeÌ„t on her And a mighty angell toke vp a stone lyke a great 〈◊〉 â— cast it into the see saying with suche 〈◊〉 shall that great citie Babylon 〈◊〉 cast 〈◊〉 be â—oâ—ds no more And the voyce of 〈◊〉 musycyons and of pypers and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shal be herde no more in the and no 〈◊〉 man of whatsoeuer craft he be shal be 〈◊〉 any more in the And the seâ—de of a myl shal be herde no more in the and the lyght of the lampe shall no more shyne in the and the voyce of the bridgrome and of the bride shal be herde no more in the for thy matchauÌ„â—es were the great men of the erth And w t 〈◊〉 inchauntmente were deceyued al nacions â— in her was fouÌ„de the bloude of the Prophetes and of the saynetes and of all that were sia yne vpon the erth ¶ Prayâ—e is gyuen vnto God for iudgâ—â—â— the whore and for auengyng the bloude of his 〈◊〉 The Angel 〈◊〉 not be worshypped The 〈◊〉 and dyrâ—â—â— are failed to the slaughter CAPI XIX ANd after that I herd a great voyce of muche people in heauen sayinge Allelâ—ia Saluacion and glory and honour and power be ascrybed to the Lord our God for true and rightuous are his iudgementes for he hath iudged the great whore whyche dyd corrupt the erth with her fornicacyon hath aueÌ„ged the bloud of his seruauntes of hyr haÌ„d And agayne they sayde Alleluia And smoke rose vp for euermore And the. xxiiij elders the. iiij bestes fel downe and worshypped God that sate on the seate sayinge Amen Alleluia And a voyce came out of the seate saying prayse our Lord God al ye that are his seÌ„ruauÌ„tes ye that fete him both smal and great And I herd the voice of much people eueÌ„ as the voyce of many waters as the voice of strong thoÌ„drynges sayinge Alleluia for the Lord our God omnipoteÌ„t raygneth Let vs be glad and reioyce gyue honour to hiÌ„ for the mariage of the laÌ„be is come and his wyfe made her selfe redy And to her was grauÌ„ted that she shuld be arayed with pure godly raynes For the raynes is the ryghtuousnes of saynctes And he sayd vnto me wrytte happy are they whiche are called vnto the laÌ„bes supper And he said vnto me these are the true saynges of god And I fel at his fete to worshyppe him And he sayde vnto me se thou do it not For I am thy felowe seruaunte one of thy brethren eueÌ„ of theÌ„ that haue the testimony of Iesus Worship God For the testimony of Iesus is the spirit of prophesy And I saw heuen open beholde a whyt horsse he that sat vpon him was faythfull true in rightuousnes dyd iudge make battayle Hys eyes were as a flaÌ„me of fyre and on hys head were many crownes he had a name wrytten that noman knew but he him selfe And he was clothed with a vesture dipt in bloude his name is called the word of God And the warriers which were in heuen folowed him vpon whyte horsses clothed with white pure raines and out of his mouth wente out a sharpe two edged swerde that with it he shulde smyte the