worlde lyke a deserte which betedowne cytes and townes and wolde never let his captiues come home Howe cometh it to passe that whyls all other kinges of al nacions sleape gloryously euery one at his owne house thou arte caste oute of thy grave lyke a plante oute of kynde lyke the fleses of slayne meÌ„ digged thorow with speares ye lyke mene let downe into doungeÌ„s of stone and lyke dede karcases troden vnder the fete Therfore arte thou not buryed with them because thou destroyedste thy nowne lande and sluest thy people The posterite of synful men therfore shal euermore be ignomyniouse aÌ„d men shall seke meanes to make a waye their chylderne for their fathers iniquite leste thei aryse and possesse the kingdome and fyl the lande ful of stroÌ„ge holdes I shal ryse vpon them saith y e lorde of powers aÌ„d kut of the name of Babylon and al that there remayne with the chylderne aÌ„d their neves saith the lorde I shal leve it for oters and turne it into a fysshe pole ye I shal swepe it with a consuminge besome saith the lorde of powers ye and besydes al this y e lorde of powers bownde it with an othe thus to come to passe as he had thought and to be as suer of this plage as he had decreed it I shal breke downe y e Assyrions saith he in my lande and trede them downe in my mountayns the yoke of Assur shal be taken frome yowe yower shulders shal be delyuerde of his burden so standeth it with the counsels which the lorde hath decreed vpon all y e lande and thus is his power stretched-forth vnto all gentyles for the lorde of powers decreynge eny thinge who shal make it voyde When he hath streched forth his hande who maye bende it backe In the yeare that kynge Ahaz dyed God thretened one this maner by Isaye Reioyse not al at once thou Palestyne as thoghe y e staffe of hym that smyt the were al to broken for oute of the rote of the edder shal ryse a koketrice and oute of hym shal springe a fleinge fyer drake and the poore shal eate of the best and nedyons shall dwell in savegarde But thy rote shal I quenche oute with honger and he shall slaye thy reamnauntes yell oute ye gates krye ye cytes and thou palestyne be trowbled all ouer for there cometh a smoke frome the nor the whose thycknes and bitter violence noman maye abyde and then what other answere shal the tydinge beares of the folke make but that the Lorde hath set faste Zion and his poore people shal cleve vnto hyr Chapi xv The heuye vision that the Lorde shewed to Isaye vpon Moab I have sene that Ar Moab shulde be destroyed and layed ful lowe aÌ„d that in the nighte and in the night also the walles of Moab shulde be throne downe These Moabites ascended vnto their highe places called Baithe and Dibon where they worshiped Idols to wepe before them This lamentable howlinge of Moab was harde over Naâ—o and Medeba every man polled his heade and shoue his berde Thei stode gyrte in sacke in every korner of the towne Vpon their house toppes and in y â— stretes every man kryed oute and fell to wepinge Hesebon and Eleale kryed so lowde that their voyces were harde to Iahaz and the soudgiers of Moab when thei shulde haue blowne vp theire trompetes to batayle for sorowe of their hartes they kryed ah lasse for sorowe ower hartes blede vpon Moab fleinge towerd Zoar that welthye bullok and vpon the hanging of the hyll of Luhith they clymed withe wepinge Also the waye of Horonaim they filled with theire lamentable noyse The waters of Nemrim were forsaken and the grasse was wytherd awaye Corne fayled aÌ„d there was no grene thinge lefte And even aftyr this maner the reste of theyr substaunce and goodes theyr aduersares karied a waye to Arabye prosperously by shippe And to be shorte the noyse wente thorowe al the coostes of Moab so that frome Eglaim vnto Beer Elim all was fylle dwith theyr howlinge The waters of Dimon were full of bloude for there laye the hoste waytynge lyke lyons both for them y t shulde haue escaped frome the cyte and for them that fled frome the felde Chap. xvi Then y e lorde of y e lande sente a souldyer frome the stoney deserte vnto the hill of the daughter of Zion for the daughters of Moab abode yet at the foorde of Arnon lyke tremblinge byrds put oute of their nestes which messagere requyred them thus saynge Gather togither yower senatours take counsell howe ye myghte shadewe and defende vs in this hot persecution hyde them that flee and destroye not y e dispersed let ower Moabytes fled vnto yowe be soukerde hyde vs from the face of the destroyer for ower enymes trede vs downe this destroyer ceasseth not to waste vs a waye frome the erthe For the seate of yower kyngdome is ful of mercye wherfore he that sittethe in it muste iuge of faithfulnes and trowthe as in the tabernacle of Dauid he muste seke equite haste hym to mayntayne the righte Vnto the which requeste it was thus answerde Moabs pryde is wel knowne and howe grete it is His Arrogancye swellinge furye was never so grete but his strength is nowe as small Wherfore let Moab complayne of his fall to hym selfe that he mought all alone lamente and that he also thus broken with sorowe mought sit complayninge and moorninge in vayne at the fete of che brycke walles of Arnon nowe caste downe Also Isawe those suburbes of Hesebon destroyed The vyneyardes of Sibme planted withe y e moste nobleste vynes which reched vnto Iazer and spred vnto the deserte hyr branches spred vnto y e weste sea the pears of Gentyles dyd kut downe Wherfore I wepte for Iazer and for the vyneyardes of Sibme I waterde the vyneyarde of Hesbonam and Elealen with the teares of my eyes because that in their harueste and in the gatheringe of their grapes theire wonte mery songes were gone their myrth was layed in bed both of felde and vyne yarde so that they coulde nether be glade nor synge y e treder in y e vyne presse trede out no more wyne their harueste and grape gatheringe songes were layed downe Wherfore my belye murmuerde lyk an harpe for Moab and even my bowels also for that bryk walle For when Moab see that hyr goodes were in perell she weared hir selfe going to hyr Idols in highe places and to hyr holy houses to praye but non might helpe hyr This is y e worde which the lorde spake then vpon Moab but nowe the lorde speaketh on this maner Aftyr thre yeares the power of Moab with al hyr pompe ryches which ar very mych shal be taken a waye eveÌ„ as an hyerde seruante his yeares oute serued is quyte gone aÌ„d hir reamnauntes shal be ful fewe aÌ„d of small valewe Chap. xvij THe heuye affliccion which y e lorde shewed to Isaye vpon Damascum Damascus shal
rockes of stone runne into the chynnes of the erthe frome the sight of the fearful iuge and frome the brightnes of his maiestye whiche casttehdowne the highe lokes of the proude men and layethe the stowte ful lowe which shal be alone aboue al exalted so mightely in the daye of veÌ„geauÌ„ce takiÌ„ge For that daye of the lorde of powers shal take vengeaunce vpon al pryde stowtenes vpon al elacion oppression It shal reache vnto the highe Ceders of Libani and vnto the steffe okes of Basan it shal mete with al the highe mountayns and hylles and shal come by all the hyghe towers aÌ„d vnto every wall of defence it shal stretche vnto all the shippes of the sea vnto what so eueris goodly and plesaunte to be holde shal thrustedowne the proude countenaunce of man shal laye ful lowe his highe lokes For the lorde alone shal haue the victorye in that daye And the Idoles shal be vtterly destroyed Men shal krepe into deÌ„nes of stone into the chynnes of the erthe from the face of the fearfuliuge frome the brightnes of his maiestye when he shal prepare him to come sinyte the erthe Then then shal maÌ„ castawaye his goolden goddes images of syluer which he had made hym to worshipe theÌ„ then shal he caste theÌ„ to molles backes that he myght the more spedely runne into these kaues of stone to hyde hym selfe in the rockes frome the face of the fearfuliuge and frome the glorye of his maiestye when he shal prepare him selfe to come smyte the erthe Cap. iij YE canne wel beware avoyde an haastye malencoly man whiche dothe all thiÌ„ge in a gareshe furye Se then ye take here goode hede for it is y e lorde god of pow rs that is nowe angrye wil take a waye frome IerusaleÌ„ Iuda all substance aÌ„d strength almaner of sustenaunce both of meate driÌ„ke capytayne and souldier iuge Prophete the sage wyse senato r pety capytaynes and men in authorite lawyers and learned masters of workes aÌ„d oratours And I shal set babes saith y e lorde to be your princes and wylye effeminate skorners shal be your rulers And the people shal do wronge and violence one to a noth r even neghboure agenste neghboure the boye shal countroff the sage and the knave the noble Every maÌ„ shal set holde on his brother which is of his fathers famylye saying thou haste a good cote thow shalte be ower capytayne for thow maiste abyde this hevye bronte then shall he a non swere and saye I cannot remedie it for in my nowne house is ther nether meate nor moneye make not me then y e head of the people for Ierusalem shal fall and Iuda shal go to wrake for both their speach studye aÌ„d thoughtes all are agenste the lorde to prouoke the countenaunce of his maiestye to anger The hevye changing of their chere bewrieth and betrayeth them ye thei declare their owne synne lyke the Sodomytes neth r can thei cloke it wo be to their lyves for grevouse punyshmeÌ„t shal be their rewarde by which punishment they now thus taught at the laste shal saye Blessed ar the rightwyse for they shall eate the frutes of their studye But contrarywise wo be to the vngodly aÌ„d wykedman which shal be rewarded accordiÌ„ge to the workes of his owne handes O my people ful gredye tyrauntes aÌ„d craftye brybers are thy rulers and weake wemen have the in subiection O my people thy leaders are deceyvers and leade the oute of y e waye thei trede oute the steapes of thy fete The lorde is comeforth to reason the matter he is redye to be iuge for the people for the lorde shal come to trye it by iugement withe the elders and rulers of his people sayinge ye haue brentevp my vyne yarde the spoyle of the poore is in your house wherfore staÌ„pe ye thê° downe my people togith r grynde ye thê° togith r y e faces of the poore Euen thus shal the god of pow rs reproue these meÌ„ saying because the proude daughters of Zion go with so forth stretched neckes withe so false wynkinge eyes and with so wanten light behaviour therfore shal the lorde clippe the crownes of the daughters of Zion and so make bare their beutye in that daye and the lorde shal take from them the beuteful glory of their aparel their chaynes aÌ„d stomachers their partelettes their armelets and burlettes their costelye broydred clothes both gowne and kyrtel pomaunders muske balles and earinges ringes and froÌ„tellettes set with goolde perle their chaÌ„ges with their frockes their kerchews pinnes their glasses lawndes fillettes hearbendes And for their swete savours thei shal haue stynke for their costiouse girdles they shal go loose for their heare broyderd with goolde thei shal be balde and for their softe stomachers thei shal were sacke hayer fore their fayernes thei shal be sonne breÌ„te yower housbondes even the moste strongest of theÌ„ shal be smyten downe withe swerde in batayle Their gates shal expresse their moorninge hevynes these kareful wemen shal sit vpon the grownde desolate and then shal seven we men set holde vpoÌ„ one man sayinge what so euer meate aÌ„d substaunce we haue we bringe it here all togither to the in commune so that thou wilt let vs be thy wyves called aftyr thy name to take a waye oure obprobry and calamite The fowerth Chapiter AFter this shal there aryse that Ioyful floureshiÌ„g budde of the Lorde and this noble goodly frute of the erthe shal springe vnto those Israelites which shal escape aÌ„d be saued the reamnaunte that shal be lefte salfe in Zion and Ierusalem shal be called sayntes even all those in Ierusalem which are writen emoÌ„ge the lyuinge men And then when the lorde hathe washed awaye the filthenes of the daughters of Zion with the blaste of his hotte vengeaunce hath pourged Ierusalem frome bloude the lorde shal create a clowde smoke be daye be nighte the brightnes of flaming fyer over every buyldinge of the hill of ZioÌ„ and over every congregacion rowndaboute it for it shal be defended withe all his gloriouse mighty power that it shulde be in tyme to come a tabernacle aÌ„d a shadewinge place be daye frome heate and also a refugye and shelter to hyde vs froÌ„ teÌ„pestes rayne The fyfte Chapiter ANd nowe therfore wil I singe vnto my welbeloued frende a songe vppon his vyne yarde My welbeloued made hym a vyne yarde in a plesaunte and a plentuouse soyle whiche he closed rownde a boute withe a stone wall and he planted it withe the moste nobleste vyne In the middes of it he set vp a tower and made the r yn a wynepresse lokinge that it shulde make grapes it yilded thornes wherfo r nowe O ye citesens of IerusaleÌ„ al y â— ar of y e fonde of Iuda I reporte me vnto yowe decerne yowe betwene me and
songes sunge thorowte all the erthe into the prayse of the rightwouse And I me selfe saye Oh my barennes oh my penurye ah lasse for sorowe all the worlde is ful of vngodly synners ye and that of siche synners which synne even of a set porpose so boldelye Wherfo r feare and drede pitte and snare gape fore the O dweller vpon y e erthe so that he that wolde fle to avoyde the fearfull voyce muste fall into the pitte and if he krepeth oute of the pitte he shal be taken in the snare For the wyndowes of heaven shal be opened and the foundacions of the erthe shal be shaken togither The erthe shall geue a meruelouse cracke the erthe shal be sore broken the erthe shal be violently shaken in sondre y e erthe shall stacker lyke a dronken man and be borne ouer lyke a tente For hyr synne shal lye full hevye vpon hyr and she shall fall never aftyr to aryse And then this thing shal come the lorde shall vyset the prowde sprytes of the ayer that are above and the kinges of the erthe that inhabit the erthe and these shal be gatherde togither as men in bandes to be caste into doungens and shit vp in presons and be punysshed for ever Even the mone shal be then ashamed the sonne shal be confounded when y e lorde of powers shall raigne in the mounte Zion in Hierusalem accōpaned with so gloriouse a sage multitude Ch. xxv LOrde thou arte my God I shall extoll the and magnifie thy name for thou doist thinges to be merueld at accordinge to thy auncyaunte counsells both faste and faithful For thou turnest grete cytes into heapes of erthe stronge defensed townes into ruyne and the houses of the vngodly thou pluckeste oute of cytes neuer to be restored wherfore even the rude people muste nedes glorifye the and the cytes of the cruel gentyles muste feare the. For thou arte the weake mannis strength and the poore mannis myght when he is in destresse thou arte a refugye in tempestes a shadwe in heate and where the hastye violence of tyraūtes breke yn lyke a whyrlewynde there thou settest yn thy selfe agenste them lyke a stronge wall Thou arte to them lyke y e drowght in the deserte It is thou that swagest the swellinge boldenes of y e vngodly thou puttest awaye the heate withe the shadwe of a clowde and cuttest awaye the violent lyke a vyne twygge Farthermore y e lorde of hostes shal feste al y e people in this hyl he shal make thē a plentuouse a delicate feste of y e moste fattest ful of marye with y e moste beste eldest wyne he shal take awaye y e veyle in thys hyll even y e veyle y ◠hāgeth before y e face of al y e people y e koverīge which koverth y e face of al y e gentils deth shal he vtterly devower y e lorde god shal wype awaye y e teares frō everi mānes face y e opprobrye of his people thorowt al y e worlde shal he take away for it is y e lorde y t spake it Also men shal saye in this daye Beholde this is ow r god we haue trusted in hym he hath saued vs this is the lorde in whom we-beleued let vs nowe reioyse and beglad in his sauinge helthe for it was his hande that favourde this hill But Moab shal be alto broken of hym as small as chaffe to be caste into the donghill fore he shall stretche forthe his handes agenste hym even lyke a swymmer when he swymmethe and he shall thruste downe hys pryde by the vertwe of his power he shal make his highe walles of defence to rele and laye them ful lowe vpon the grownde and smyte them to powlder Chap. xxvj And then shal this songe be sunge in the lande of Iuda We haue a stronge cyte a saviour is hyr walles and hyrbolwerke Opene ye hyr gates that the rightwous folke and the lovers of faithfulnes moughte enteryn Thow whiche arte bothe Master ād workman shal frame togither peace even y e very peace I tell yow for in the men truste Truste in y e lorde for euer for he bendeth downe the stately cytesen the prowde cyte he castethe to the grownde in processe bringeth it into duste to be troden vnder y e fete even of y ◠poore nedyons Thou lorde ponderste the pathe of the ryghtwyse whether it be iuste and whether his waye be eaven wherfo r we meruelat y e pathes of thy iugements for in thy name at the rememberaunce of the mannis soule is fedde I desyer y e be nyght with al my harte and with all my mynde and spirit with yn me I haste me to the for a non as thy Iugements were publesshed in the worlde the inhabitours therof lerned rightwysnes but the vngodly when he had once goten mercye he lerned not ryghtwysnes but as sone as he is correkte he synnethe the more and feareth not the maiestye of y e Lorde Lorde thei wilnot see thy hyghe power but the tyme shall come that they shall see it and be confounded whē thou shalt devower them by the indignacion of the people and by the fyer of thy enymes But emōge vs Lorde thou shalt set peace for it is thou y t workest and fyneshest all thinges in vs bothe ower thoughtes and ower deades O Lorde ower god althoughe straunge Lordes contrarye to the haue ben rulers over vs yet not with standinge we remember the only and beare thy name ī ower myndes The cruell Tyrauntes whiche are nowe dede lyue not nether ar they rekened in the resurreccion of the faithfull For thou haste so visited and destroyed them that all their memorial shulde pereshe But contrary wyse thy folke Lorde thou haste encresed thou haste encresed thy people glorified and magnified them thorowte all the coostes of the erthe Lorde in their tribulacion they seke the Affliccion and sorowful complayninge are to them thy nourteringe but in the meane tyme as a woman grete withe chylde when hyr tyme is come trauelleth and kryeth for anguyshe and payne euen so are we Lorde in thy sighte we conceyue we trauel and in a maner we bringeforth helth thorowe the spyrit leste therthe shouldbe destroyed and the dwellers ther yn shulde peresshe But thy dede men lyue and ower deare beloued are in the resurreccion Thei are awake and right glad which lye in the duste For thou waterest them with the dewe of light and lyfe but the habitacion of the violente is fallen awaye Go yower waye therfore my people into yower secrete closets ād shit the dore aftyr yowe abyde and suffre even but a momente tyl the wrathe bepassed over For lo the lorde shall comeforth of his place to vyset the wykednes of thinhabitours of the erthe which erthe shall disclosse whose bloude so ever she hath dronke and shal hyde no lenger hyr slayne persons Cha .xxvij. THe tyme
in it let y e worlde heare and al thinge that springeth oute of it for the lorde is angrye with all nacions and his wrathe is so kyndled agenste the power of them that he wyll curse them and be take thē to dethe so that theire karions shal be throne awaye to lye and stynke and the mountaynes shal be whasshed with their bloude fore even the beutifull power of the heavens shal be consumed and shal be layed wyde opene lyke a boke vnder the skye so that all their beuteful aparel shall fall downe lyke leaves frome the vyne and frome the fygge tre For even in the heauens wil I bathe my swerde and from thense shal it descende straight to Idumea and to the people whom I haue apoynted to my vengeaunce Then shal the swerde of the Lorde be bathed in blowde and in the fatte and blowde of lābes and gotes and shal be noynted with the fatte of the wethers kydneys for the Lorde shal slaye a grete sacrifice in Bozra and in the lande of Edom whe re the vnicornes and stowerdye bulles the whiche is to saye the mightye men of power shal be smytendowne and the erthe shal be wasshed with theyr bloude and y ◠grounde shal be dounged with their fatte kydnes ye the daye of goddis vengeaunce and the yeare where in thy stowerdenes shal be rewarded shal come vpon the O Zion and thy brokes shal be turned into pitche and thy grounde into brymstone with whiche thy soyle shal be so sore brente that nether daye nor night maye it be quenched but it shal smoke ever It shal be drye frome age to age and noman shal passe over it for evermore but oestroges ibices ouls ravens shal inhabit it for the lorde shal meate it forth with the lyne of destruccion and waye it withe the waighte of wastynge and then if thow callest hykinges they shall no where apere fore even all hyr princes shal be broughte to naught then shal hyr palaces bringeforthe bryers and thornes nettels and sowthystels shall growe where hyr walles and castells stode and thus shal they be dennes fore dragons and palace◠for struthyons there shall sprytes lyk◠monstrose bestes apere to eche other āl the roughe wodouses shal call there for eche other also there shal come these lamyes to take their reste Erchyns shal there make their nestes lye they shal make them dennes and nouryshevp their whelpes thyther shal Gryphes be gatherd every on to his mate Serche ye the scripture of the lorde and reade it for there is not one of these thinges that shal fayle there is not one worde but shal be fulfylled all a lyke fore what he commaundeth with his mouthe they are finesshed by his spirit loke to whom he dealeth his heretage and deuydeth it withe his owne hande or meate it owte with a lyne that muste nedes abyde faste for ever so that they muste dwell in it frome age to age Chap. xxxv THe desertes and wyldernes shal be glad y ◠drye lande also shal reioyse and flouresshe lyke a lyle It shal flouresshe righte plesantly it shal laughe and reioyse more and more and be beutyfull to beholde For the beutye of Libanus shal be geven hyr the come lynes of Charmelus and Sarone also shall she haue the Gentyles shall knowledge the glorye of the lorde and y ◠magestye of ower God Be therfore counforted ye syke handes and be steffe ye faynte knees speake vnto the faynte harted saynge be bolde and stronge and feare not Beholde yower God shall come to avenge yowe and to rewarde yowe ye he shal come to saue yowe And then shal the eyes of the blynde be illumined and the eares of the deffe shal be opened Then shal the lame leape lyke an harte and the domme tonge shall speake prayse Fountayns and springes shal breke forth in the deserte and swete ryuers in the drye lande so that the drye lande shal have hyr pondes ād the thirstye erthe hyr quycke springes In the same dennes where the dragons laye shal growe swete flowers and grene rushes There shall lye bypathes and the kinges highe waye whiche shal be called even the holy waye A polluted man shall not passe thorowe it for the Lorde hym selfe shall go withe them thorowe the same waye that fooles go not oute of it here shal be no lyō nor eny other nyouse beste shall come vp to this waye or befownde yn it but ryght suer shall the passage be also they that shal be redemed of the Lorde shal be turned and come vnto Zion with prayse shal haue euerlastinge Ioye gladnes solace shal acompany them but hevynes and sorowe shal be fled awaye The .xxxvi. Chapiter IT came to passe that in the .viiij. yeare of kinge Ezekias Senherib Kinge of the Assyrions wolde come vp to conquere and to take al the noble and stronge cytes of Iuda Wherfore this Assyrius sente Rabsacen frome Lachis to Ierusalem vnto Ezekias withe a grete hoste which Rabsace when he had layed his hoste at the sluse of y ◠ouer pole in the waye to the fullers felde there cameforth vnto hym Eliakim the sone of Helkie president of the towne house Sobna the scrybe and Ioas the secreterye sonne vnto A saphe vnto whome Rabsace spake thus Go yower wayes I praye yow and tel Ezekias howe that the grete kinge of Assprye hathe spoken these same wordes what is this thy confidence to which thou stekest so faste Arte thow so folyssh hardye to thinke to haue counsel and power to wage batayle other in whome nowe at laste trustest thow so myche that thow darest rebel agenste me I shal tel the thou trustest to the ayed ād vpholdinge of this broken reede that is to an Egypcion to the which reede whoso ever leaneth he pearseth his hande and boreth it thorowe Fore even siche on is Pharao kinge of Egypte to al that truste vpon hym but if thou wylt saye we truste in the lorde ower God a suer truste in dede to truste in hym whose highe places and alters Ezekias hathe taken awaye commaundinge Iuda and Ierusalem to worshipe befor this alter Be it in case I praye the that I shulde geve the now notwithstandinge thy bargayn made withe my Lorde the kinge of Assyrye two thousand horses art thou able yet of thy selfe to mā them And howe is it then that seinge thou arte not able to abyde the violence and power even but of one of the leste princes of my Lorde yet not withstandinge wylte thou truste to the horse men and chariets of the egypcions Thinkest thou that I of my nowne heade am come vp hither to destroye this lande It was my Lorde that commaunded me saynge Go thy wayes vp to that lande ād destroye it Then spake Eliakim Sobna and Ioas vnto Rabsacen speake vnto vs thy seruaunts I praye the in the Syre tonge for we vnderstande that languege and speke not to vs in the Iwes languege leste the people nowe
coÌ„syder y e stone oute of whoÌ„ ye ar hewen y e pitte oute of whoÌ„ ye ar digged drawne CoÌ„sid r. I saye AbrahaÌ„ your father Sara your moth r how y e I called hiÌ„ one alone blessed hiÌ„ made him riche encresed his substance coÌ„sid r how the lorde hath counforted Zion in al hir poore state turniÌ„g hir deserte into a paradise hirdrie bareÌ„ grounde in to the lordes gardeÌ„ ioye gladnes shal dwel in hir the r shal be thankes geving w t the voice of men praisinge Wherfo r loke to me my folke aÌ„d geue eare to me my people for the lawe shal goforthe of me I shal publesshe my iugements to lighten the gentils the time is nighe y â— my rightwisnes and my sauinge helth shal goforth to gouerne the people thorow my power The eylands shal waite on me trusting to my strength lyfte vp your eyes to heaveÌ„ beholde the erthe vnder you for heaveÌ„ shal be dispersed lyke smoke the erthe shal be broken lyke a garment thinhabitours shall peresshe in lyke maner but my sauinge helthe shal enduer for euer my mercy wherwith I make men rightwyse shal neuer fayle heare me ye y t loue rightwysnes namely thou o my people which holdest my lawe in thy harte be not a frayed of mennes reuyliÌ„ges fear not theyr rebukes for mottes shal eate theÌ„ as clothes aÌ„d wol but my rightwysnes shal enduer everlastiÌ„g my helth shal abyde from age to age be thou steredvp do vpoÌ„ y â— strength even the arme of the lorde be steredvp as in tymes paste thorowte al ages Art thou not euen he y t smytdown y â— proud Rahab woundedst the dragoÌ„ of Egypte Art thou not the very same y â— dryedste vp y â— gret depe sea madest the depe botome of it so playne that thou gauest fre passage thorowe it vnto the delyuerde men so that thei set at lybertye thorow y e lorde mought returne come agene to ZioÌ„ with ioye there to haue gladnes for a longe tyme that they moughte there haue ioye and mirthe al sorowe and hevynes set a parte And yet answerde the lorde it is I I saye that conforte yow at all tymes and who art thou then that wylt feare and worshipe a mortall man redy to fal and wither awaye lyke grasse wyle thou forgete the lorde which hath made y â— which hath stretched abrode the heauens and hath layed the foundacions of y â— erthe For this cause thou oughtst to feare at al tymes the anger of hym displesed which is bente to destroye but thow wylt saye where is his wrathe it hasteth it cometh swyftly to apere he shal not ons fal by y e waye wherby he maye be hyndred to destroye nether shall his sustinance fayle hiÌ„ I am y e lorde thi god which now make playne y e sea a non I let it swel aboue mesure am called y e lorde of powers I shal put my wordes into thy mouth shal caste vp my hande befo r y â— for thy defence y t thow maiste plante heauens set therthe y t it may be sayd to Zion Thou art my people Stertout of thy sleape stertoute of thy slepe springevp Ierusalem which haste dronke of y e lordes hande the cuppe of his indignacion which haste dronke soukedoute even the very dregges al his cuppe of slomber neth r is there one emoÌ„ge al thy chyldern whom thou hast noureshed vp y t wil take the by y e hande to leade sustayne y e. These two plages ar fallen vpon y e but who therfore is sorye for y e these also ar come vpon y â— as pestelence honger aÌ„d swerde but who is thy counforter Thy chylderne fylled with the wrath of the lorde indignacion of thy God lye troden vnder fote at thenteringe into every streat lyke a rayne deare taken hyr fete bounde togither with a corde wherfo r heare this one thinge I praye y e thou wretched dronken Ierusalez althoughe it be not with wyne Thus sayth thy master the lorde thy god y e auenger of his people Beholde I shal take frome thy hande y e cuppe of slomber with y e dregges of y e cuppe of my indignacion so y e thou drynkeste nomore here aftyr therof I shal put it in to y e handes of theÌ„ y â— scourge y t which haue sayed to thy soule lye downe on y â— grounde y t we mought go vpoÌ„ your backes y t you might be vnto vs as y e pavement of y â— streates to go vpon Cap. lij ARyse Aryse vp Zion do vpoÌ„ the thy strength do vpon y e thi beutyful robes Ierusalem which art y e cyte of y e holye god for the vncircuncised polluted shal nomore come into the shake of y e duste froÌ„ the Aryse Ierusalem sit vp lose thy necke oute of y e bondes o captyue daughter of Zion for thus saith the Lorde ye are solde frely wherfore ye shal be redemed also w tout syluer for thus saith y e lorde god somtyme my people went downe in to Egipte ther to be straungers y e AssyrioÌ„s also dyd theÌ„ gret violence wroÌ„g and that with oute eny cause and nowe what profite ariseth therof vnto me saith the lorde that my people are thê° ledawaye with oute a cause and their lordes and masters constrayned theÌ„ to krye oute wayle yet is my name blasphemed coÌ„tinually saith the lorde wherfore to th entent y t my people might know my name I my selfe shal speake yn these dayes saynge Beholde I my selfe am come Oh how happye fayer shal the fete be of y â— messagers sente by the authorite of god to preache this peaceable delyueraunce to tel vs these good tydinges to preache vs the very sauinge helthe saynge vnto ZioÌ„ thi god mought raigne and lyve when thi overseers lyftvp this voyce they shal also with their voyce shewe yow hiÌ„ with prayse for they shal se clearly w t their eyes wheÌ„ y e lorde shal cuÌ„ agene to ZioÌ„ Thei shal saye O desolated IerusaleÌ„ be thou glad and reioyse for the lorde shal conforte his people shal redeme IerusaleÌ„ y e lorde shal dovp his sleve stretchforth his bare holy arme iÌ„ y e sight of al nacioÌ„s al the coostes of ther the shal se y e sauiour sente froÌ„ our god thei shal byd yow go your wayes cleane gete you oute froÌ„ hense touche no polluted thinge goforth froÌ„ emoÌ„ge theÌ„ se y t ye be cleane y â— bare y e vessels iwels of y e lorde but go not forth as it we r to muster neth r w t to grete haste as men y t fled for the lorde shall go befo r you y e god of Israel shal gather your coÌ„pany togither Cap. liij BEholde my â—uaÌ„t shal briÌ„ge this mater to passe
heale the woundes of y e broken in harte to sheweforth delyueraunce to thez y t ar in captiuite to opene y e presone to theÌ„ y t ariÌ„ bondes to publesshe y e tyme of grace remission apointed of y e lorde y e tyme wheryn our god wylbe auenged of his aduersares to counforte al y t moorne to geue thez y t sorowe in ZioÌ„ fayernes for asshes glad ointement for their sorowing y e ioyful garment of thankis geuiÌ„ge for their heuye mynde y t they might be called excellent in rightwisnes aÌ„d a budde newe spronge oute to magnifye y e lorde y t they mought restore places desolate occupye olde forlaten houses buylde agene destroyed cytes wylde groundes of loÌ„ge tyme paste y t y e aliauntes mought staÌ„de feade your flockis straungers be your tylmen vyneplanters y t you might be called y t prestes of y e lorde y t men mought cal yow y e ministers of our god y â— you mought eate the substaÌ„ce of the geÌ„tils take your plesurs of their aboundaunce for your grete confusion ignomynye thei shal reioyse to haue lyke ê‘te with you to deuyde the riche heretage in their lande y t thei myght haue gladnes for a longe ceason for I am y e lorde y e loueth equite hate roberye ye althoughe a man wolde brene it offere it vp to me also I shal make y t their workis shal be done of trw faith I shal sin ite a ê‘perual bargeÌ„ w t theÌ„ their yssue shal be knowne of the geÌ„tils their posterite in the myddis of y e people all y t se theÌ„ shal know y â— thei ar y â— blessed sede of y e lorde wh rfo r I ioy excediÌ„gly iÌ„ y e lorde soule leapeth for ioye in my God for he clothe me with the garmentes of the sauinge helth shal kouer me with y e maÌ„tel of innocencye I shal be lyke a brydegrome comely arayede lyke y e bride rychely apparelde in hyr ornamentes for lyke as ther the bringeth forth hir settes y e gardeÌ„ hir seades even so shal y e lorde god make rightwysnes godly worshipe spring forth before al nacions The .lxij. Chapiter WHerfor for ZioÌ„s sake I shal not reste for Ierusalems plesure I shal not ceasse vntil hir rightwisnes be comforth shewed lyke y e shyning lighte hir sauinge helthe brenneth like a laumpe For y e gentyls shal se thy rightwysnes al kinges shal beholde thy glorye and shal call y e be a newe name which y e mouthe of y e lorde shal declare thou shalt be lyke a beutiful crowne in y e hande of y e lorde as a kynges dyademe yn y e hande of thi god thou shalt nomore be called y e forsaken neth r shal thy lande be called enymore y e desolated But thou shaltbe called Hephziba that is to saye my beste beloued aÌ„d thy lande shal be called Beula that is to saye my wedded wyfe For the lorde is anambred on the aÌ„d thy lande shal be maryed to hym thy very housbonde as y e yongman marieth to him a mayden sâ— shal thy chylderne be maryed vnto the lorde as y e brydegrome is ioyouse ouer the bryde even so shal thy god be ioyouse vpon the. Vpon thy walles O Ierusalez shal I set watche men whiche shalnot ceasse daye nor nighte preachinge the lorde Farthermore euen yow y t are of the comen people shalnot ceasse in noman r wyse vntyl IerusaleÌ„ be repayerde tyl she be made the moste prayse worthye in al the erthe The lorde hath sworne by his righthande by the strength of his arme that he wyl nomore geue thy whete iÌ„to meate for thy enymes ne th r thy swete wyne for the which thow haste sore swette into driÌ„ke for straunge chylderne but they y t gathe r it shal eate it also geue thankes to the lorde and they y t gath r it togith r shal driÌ„ke it also in y e porches of my sanctuarye Stande abacke get ye a syde which staÌ„de iÌ„ y e gates geue rome o prople prepare y e waye take awaye al ftoÌ„bliÌ„ge stones setvp a signe for y e people for beholde the lorde telleth forth these good tydiÌ„ges vnto y e vttermoste partes of the erthe Saye ye daughters vnto Zion beholde thy Sauiowr is come Beholde he hath brought withe hym his riches and his noble actes go before hym they y â— shal be redemed of the Lorde shal be called the holye people and euen thow shalt be called the gretely haunted populose cyte aÌ„d thou shalt nomore be called the forsaken The .lxiij. Chap. THen shal it be sayd who is this y t cometh froÌ„ Edom his clothes thus dyed with y e red of Bozra who is this y t goth so myghtely so coÌ„ely in his cote armoure I am he I tel you that warnethe speaketh rightwysnes am ryche to saue wherfo r then ar thy garments so red and thy clothes so wette as thoughe thou haddest troden in y e wyne presse The wyne presse I tel yow haue I troden al alone aÌ„d of al the people was there not one with me I trode I trode downe my enymes in my ferueÌ„t wrathe so y t they haue thê° sprinkled my clothes with their bloude haue thus spotted al my garmentes For y e daye of vengeaunce which I had conceyued in my harte and y e yeare wheryn I wold redeme is toÌ„e I loked rounde aboute but there was not one helper I was destitute al hope but the r was not one that wolde sustayne me and then cleued I to my nowne arme and feruoure which helpte me and then I trode downe the people in my wrathe and bathed them so in my furye that theyr bloude ranne downe vpon the erthe The mercyes of y e lorde I shal remenbre geue hym thaÌ„kes for all thiÌ„ges which he hath geue vs y â— is to saye for the iÌ„numerable goodnes done to the house of Israel whiche of his mercye and goodnes hath geueÌ„ it theÌ„ for he said verely these men shal be my people and these shal be y e chylderne which shal not go out of kynde For he was their Sauiour and brought it so passe that in al their tribulucion he wolde not suffer them to bescourged but wolde delyuer theÌ„ by his angel whoÌ„ he sente thez And because he loued and pytyed thez he redemed he defended aÌ„d bore theÌ„ vp frome the beginniÌ„ge of y e tyme but althogh they so rebelled chafed his holy mynde that he wolde be turned into their enemye fight ageÌ„st theÌ„ yet he remembred the tyme paste he remembred even Moses his people how that he led theÌ„ oute frome the sea lyke as the shepherde leadeth his flocke aÌ„d how he gaue theÌ„ his holy goste he remembred howe he led Moses by his gloryouse arme takinge
¶ The title of this boke ¶ The vilsonor Prophecy of Isaye the sonne of Amoz which he prophecyed vpon Iuda Hierusalem in the dayes of Ozias IothaÌ„ Ahaz Ezechias Kinges of Iuda ¶ The firste Chapiter HEare heaven aÌ„d listen erthe for it is the Lorde that speaketh Childerne haue I noureshte vp and promoted aÌ„d they haue despyghtfully rebelled ageÌ„ste me The vnreasonable oxe knoweth his owener the very asse his masters stall but Israel is vnsensible my people is with oute vnderstandynge Oh synful nacion a nacion laden with wikednes a myschevous generacion pestelent children The very Lorde haue thei forlakeÌ„ euen hym that chose made holy Israel haue thei prouoked to anger are fled backwarde withe what plage more shall I then smyte you sith the more ye ar correkt y â— worse ye are All your heads ake euery harte is ful syk from toppe to toe is ther not an hole place in all your bodye All are woundes runninge sores ful of botches blaynes which noman maye clense or bynd plaster to nor yet sowple with eny oyntement your regioÌ„ is desolate your cites are brent vp with fyer your lande before your eyes a straÌ„ge natioÌ„ devowerth It is wasted lyk as with a cruel hoste And y â— daughter of Zion is lefte a lone lyk an hovelin a vyne yarde lyke a skoulke lodge in tyme of warre and lyke a beseged cyte And excepte y e lorde of powers had saued vs a fewe reamnauntes we had beÌ„ lyke So dome and Gomorre Heare therfore the worde of the Lorde ye prynces of Sodome And thou people of Gomorre take hede to the lawe of owre God sayinge thus what haue I to do with yower so manyfolde and so ofte offeringes and sacrifices I abhorre yower brente wethers I am ful of the kidnese of yower fatte beastes the bloude of oxen of laÌ„bes and gotes thei yrke me WheÌ„ ye come to se my face who requyreth these of feriÌ„ges at your handes Is this y â— waie to trede my temple Offere no more I praye yowe your giftes thus in vayne this inceÌ„se is abhominacion to me your festes of the newe mone your Sabbath dayes and solempne festes I maye not a waye withe for ful wyked are yower ydle congregacions yower kalendes and feries my harte hatethe yower fastes are all in vayne I am wery of these thinges and it yrketh me to se them when ye shal stretch forth your handes I wil hyde myne eyes from yowe And pray ye never so miche yet shal I not heare yowe for your handes are bathed in bloude wasshe ye be cleane put a waye your yuel thoughtes croked counsells oute of my sighte ceasse to do hurte studye for equyte seke iustice delyuer the oppressed avenge y â— poore fatherlesse defende y s cause of the wedowe Come hither I praye ye and let me be proued saithe the Lorde when yower synnes were as redde as skarlet were thei not made as whyte as snowe And when thei were as redde as purple were thei not made as whyte as woll If ye wil heare and be ruled shal ye not take your plesure even of the best frutes of the londe But if ye wil be steffe necked thinke ye not to be devowerde with swerde Suerly God hath so promysed with his owne mouthe But howe is it thus come to passe that this cite whiche sometyme was faithful ful of equite in the whiche iustice was excercysed hath thus changed hir face lyke an harlet and is nowe become a murtherer of hir owne innoceÌ„t citesens Thi syluer is turned into drosse Thy wyne is marred withe water Thy rulers arbetrayers and bakslyders frome God even felowes vnto theves All they love giftes and are sentence sellers they restore not his righte to the fatherlesse and the wedewes cause comethe neuer at theÌ„ Wherfore thê° saith the lorde god of powers and the myghty forth leader of Israel Ahlasse I muste neades ease my mynde and be auenged vpon my aduersares I shal suerly sette my hande vpon the I shal seeth oute thy drosse and trye oute thy pureste and I shal take awaye all thy leade Aftyr this shal I restore the thy iuges aÌ„d senatours as they were before And then shalte thow be called the cite of rightwysnes and the faithful towne Thus shal ZioÌ„ nowe redemed frome captiuite be accustomed with equite and excercised in rightwisnes when the vngodly transgressours and bakslyders frome the Lorde shal be alto broken and vtterly peresshe And excepte ye be ashamed of your stockes and Idolls in wodes and hilles in whiche ye delighted and leve your groves and gardens which ye chose for yowe ye shal be lyke okes whose leaves fal a waye and lyke a garden with oute water For the glysteringe glorye of these images shal be turned into stubble and the makers of them into sparkes of fyer and bothe of them shal be brente togither noman quenchinge them The seconde Chapit the title prefixed THe worde whiche was shewed vnto Isaye y e sonne of Amoz vppon Iuda and Ierusalem Thus shal it be in the laste dayes The hill of the house of the Lorde shal be so prepared and setvp that it shal apere aboue al the toppes of wother hilles And then shal there flowe vnto it all Gentyls and infinite folke shal goforth sayinge one to a nother come let vs ascende vnto the hyll of the lorde to the house of the god of Iacob that he mought teache vs his wayes aÌ„d that we moughte walke in his pathes For oute of Zion the lawe shal goforth and the worde of the lorde frome Ierusalem that he mought be a iuge emonge the Gentyls and rule therwith that infinite multitude And then a none shal thei cause their swerdes to be smyten into matoks and coultres and their speares into sythes and sykels For the one nacion shal no more lifte vp swtrde agenste the other nether shal they enymore excercyse them selfe into batayle And nowe speake I vnto the o house of Iacob Come neare I praye yowe that we moughte walke togither in the light of the Lorde But wherfore do I bidde the o thow vnhappye house of Iacob seinge y t thou with thy people ar now fledbacke froÌ„ y e Lorde for ye are far worse then yower elders both in soth saiÌ„gs aftyr y e maner of y e palestyns in calkynge of mennes birthes ye passe eveÌ„ y e very haitheÌ„ for as sone as your lande abounded in goolde syluer ye knewe non ende of your tresure as sone as it was replenesshed with horsemeÌ„ chariets a none was it ful of Idolls ymages eveÌ„ y e workes of your owne haÌ„des which ye made with your owne fingers ye ye worshipte theÌ„ But doiste thou o maÌ„ faldowne befo r these Idols worshipest theÌ„ ye y t so supersticiously so steffly y t no thiÌ„ge may plucke y e frome them Gete the hence quikly go hyde the in the
be grete destructioÌ„ in the londe but yet shall there be lefte a tythe in it to returne a gene so that their pasture shal be restored and as their okes and lyne trees caste of their frutes even so shal that holy seade shoteforth frutefully emonge them The seventh Chapiter THen was it so that in the raigne of Ahaz y e sonne of Iotham the sonne of Ozias kinge of Iuda Rezin the kinge of Aram and Phecca the sonne of Romelie kinge of Israel ascended to Ierusalem to laye sege agenste it whiche at that tyme they myght not wynne then tolde they the house of Dauid that the Syryons wer confederde with Ephraim which tydynges made Ahaz with the house of Dauid to treÌ„ble lyke trees in the wode smyten with wynde wherfo r the lorde sayde vnto Isaye Haue done and get the forthe with thy sonne Iasus whiche is lefte the and mete Ahazat y e heade of the over pole in the waye towerde the suffers felde and saye vnto hym Se y t thou be still feare not let not thy harte melte at these two tayles with theyr smokynge fyerbrandes that is to saye at the furye of Rezin kynge of the Syrions and of the sonne of Romelye because the Syrions Ephraim and Romelis sonne haue thus myscheuously counselde and conspyred agenste the saynge We will go vp into Iuda and scourge them and translate them vnto vs and we shal sette the sonne of Tabal to be kinge ouer them For even thus sayth the lorde This thinge shall not ryse nor come to passe but Damascus shal be y â— head of Syria Rezin shal be y e head of Damascê° aftyr .65 yeares EphraiÌ„ karyed awaye shal no more be y e people although now Samarya be head of Ephraim aÌ„d y e sonne of Romelye y e heade of Samaria If ye beleve not yowe are but gone to And besydis thys the Lorde commaunded hym to saye thê° also vnto Ahaz Aske the some token of y e Lorde thy God whether it be frome y e deapest benethe or frome the hyghest above And Ahaz answerde I wil not aske nether will I tempte the Lorde Wherfore he sayde Heare then ye house of Dauid is it not enough for yowe to veye men but ye must wearye my god to The lorde therfore his owne selfe shall geve yow a tokeÌ„ Beholde a mayde shal be with chylde and bringeforth a sonne and she shall call his name Immanuel Boter and honey shal he eate vntil he can eschewe yuel and chose good notwithstandynge before this childe be thê° waxen thy londe shal be desolated for y â— which thou arte so a frayde of their two kinges ye the lorde shal bringe both vpon the and vpon thy people and vpon thy fathers house siche dayes as haue not ben sene frome the departinge of Ephraym from Iuda that is to saye he shal bringe vpon yowe the kynge of the Assyrions For the tyme shal come that the lorde shal whystle for a flye whiche dwelleth beyende the flowde of Egypte for bees which ar in the lande of the Assyrions which shal come all hole togither and besege the even with yn thy drye dykes at the kaves with in the rockes in every wode at euery stertinge hole ye in that tyme the Lorde shall shaue the with a raser he shal hyer a raser beyende the flowde Euphrates even the kynge of the Assyryons and he shal shave of the heares of thy heade fete and even thy verye berde shall he wype of then shal the tyme come that a man shal lyue with a kowe aÌ„d tway eâ—es and for the plentye of mylke eate boter for yet shal every on lefte in the myddes of the lande eate boter and honey and yet in those dayes a vyne yarde of a thousand vynes bought for more then a thousand penys shal be turned into bryers and thornes For the kinge of the Assyrions shal not come hither armed so thicke withe bowe and arows as the bryers and thornes shall stande over al this region Also euery frutefull hill which was wonte to be delved and ploughed then shal not a man come to them for feare of thornes bryers but shal serue to put yn heardes aÌ„d beastes to graze yn The aight Chapiter ANd then sayde the Lorde agene to me take the a grete rolle aÌ„d wryte yn it withe a pen lyke a man Maherschalal haschbaz which ys to saye haste the to robbe spede the to spoyle Then I toke me certayne faithfull witneses vry the preste Zachary the sonne of Barachy and came vnto a prophetise which had now coÌ„ceyued and brought forth a sonne the Lorde spake vnto me Geve hym this name hastye robber gredy spoyler for before thys chylde can call Dadye MaÌ„mye he shal bare away the riches of Damasce and the proye of Samarye yn y â— sight of the kynge of Assyrye And agene the Lorde spake vnto me these wordes For asmych as this people abhorreth the waters of Siloah that flowe so still and hathe rather plesure in thys kynge Rezin and in the sonne of Romely Lo the lorde therfore shal let the grete myghtye flowdis breke in vpon them that is to saye the kinge of the Assyrions withe all his power whiche shal aryse every where a bove their ryuers and run over all their bankes dryuynge into Iuda redowndyng and swellyngevp even to theyr throtes And the tyme shal come that the spreadinge a brode of their winges shal kover the breadeth of thy lande O Immanuel Get ye togither ye people into counsel and all ye of the fartheste partes of the lande caste yower heades togither haste ye togither to take counsell and yet shall all togither be yn vayne Conclude ye vpon eny thynge and yet shall it not come to passe excepte Immanuel Thus then sayd the Lorde vnto me takynge me by the hande lyke a guyde nourteringe me that I shulde not go in the waye of this people saynge Breke not yower myndes aboute eny confederation with other for eny helpe for althoughe this people speaketh of nothinge but of coniurations and confederations yet let them not fraye yow but sanctifie yowe the Lorde of powers hiÌ„ feare hym dreade ye for it is he that is y â— very holymakynge and the stomblynge stone also even a rocke to fal at snare and net to ether of y â— houses that is to saye to Israel and to them that dwell aboute Ierusalem and many shall stomble at hym they shall fall they shal be broken they shal be trapt and taken Nowe sayth the Lorde rollvp thys testemony and sealevp the lawe withe my disciples Nowe shal I loke for the lorde faith Isaye whiche hath hyd his face frome the house of Iacob and I shal truste yn hym both I me selfe and y e seruantes whom the Lorde hath geven me to be a miracle and woundre yn Israel for the lorde of powers plesure that dwelleth yn the mounte Zion And when men shall saye to
yowe O my childerne and disciples of the lorde aske counsell of the Pythonyts and soth sayers of sorcerers and charmers then answere yowe saynge do not euery nacion aske counsel and knowledge of theyr owne goddes shal they then aske of y ◠dede to know thinges concerninge the lyuinge gete ye to the lawe and to goddes testymones for who so ever speaketh not aftyr these wordes they ar not of y ◠morninge lyght If a man be negligent and dyspyse the lawe he smyteth hymselfe agenste a rok and faileth of his porpose and when he thus failethe of his porpose he shal be angrie so fret hymselfe that he shal curse his kynge his god And when he shal loke ether vpwarde or downwarde to the grownde lo all are full of anguyshe derknes and tribulacion floteringe aboute hym with the clowdes of erroure whiche shall not be taken from him that is thus grevously tangled in anguisshe as it haue bene sene of late in the lande of Zabulon in the lande of Neptalim Ch. ix FIrste y e londe was ridde of Zabulon ād Neptalim but at laste it shal be right greuously scourged The londe of Zabulon and Neptalim laye by the waye from over Iordan to the sea thorow Galile whervpon then bordred the gentyls the folke that walked in derkenes which shal see a grete lyght and over them dwelling in the region of y e dedly shadewe light shal springe thou shalt multiplye the gētyls shalt thou not therwith also magnifye gladnes thei shal be glad with y ◠as men reioyse in their reapīge as mē hauinge victory reioyse in deuyding of their proie For y ◠hevye yoke of y e gentyls and the burden of their shulders the pow r of their tyrauntes thou shalte breke euē as thou once delyuerdst thy people frome the tyranye of the Madianites ye al vyolente roberye al hastye insurreccion and al cruel bloud shed shal fead the fyer For a chylde shal be borne for vs and a sonne shal be geuen vs vppon whese shulders Impery and the gouernaunce shal be put and he shal be called the meruelous counseler the myghtye God the father everlastinge the prince of peace this kinge shall neuer haue ende in encresinge his Impery yet shal he therwith nouryshe peace sittinge in the seat regall of Dauid ād in his kingdome to mayntayne it in equyte rightwysnes frome thence into euerlastinge the zele of y ◠lorde of powers shal bringe this to passe The lorde sente a worde into Iacob and it fell into Israel which all the people shal know euen Ephraim the citesens of Samarye althoughe yet of a prowde harte thei saye thus Ower buldīges of brycke are smyttē downe but we shal buylde thē agene with fower sqwared stones ower houses of wilde figtres ar broken downe but we shal restore thē buylded with Cedre trees wherfore y ◠lorde shal stere vp Resin with other enemes vpon thez whom he shal so dispose ordre that Syrus shal come yn vpon y ◠fronte of Israel and the palestines shal come in on their backes ād devower them with open mouthe and yet for al this shal he not swage his wrath but shal yet stretche forth his hande for nether the people returneth vnto hym that plaged them nor yet seke thei the lorde of powers wherfore y ◠lorde shal kutof from Israel both toppe and tayle braunche and bande al at once by the toppe vnderstande thou the aldermā and him y t bearethe rule by y ◠tayle vnderstande thou the prophete that preachethe lyes For they whiche preache this people to be happye or blessed are deceyuers and they that are thoughte happye emonge them are the moste nyghest their destruction Wherfore the Lorde delighteth not in their yongons and is vnmerciful vnto the fatherles and to their wedews for thei ar al hypocryts and kursed and thei al speake folishnes and yet for all this shall he not swage his wrathe but stretche stil forth his hande For their vngodlynes burneth lyke fyer which is noureshed with brambles and thornes and the smoke of their pryde fleethforth lyke y e smoke of fyer that is fallen emonge thycke bryers wherfore the lande shal be brente in the wrathe of the lorde of powers ād the people shall fede the fyer for noman shal spare a nother And if eny man turne hym on his righthande he shal sterve for honger and if he turne hym on his lefte hande to eats yet shal he fynde no fode every man shal eate the brawne of his owne armes Manasse shal eate Ephraim and Ephraim Manasse ād then shal these togith r also eate Iuda And yet for al this shal he not swage his wrathe but stretch styll forth hys hande Chapi x. WO be to yowe that make vngodly lawes and set statutes to harde to kepe to oppresse the poore in iugement and vtterly to beger my afflicte simple people with stryfe ād lawe that the wedewe myght be a proye for yow and to robbe the fatherlesse What then shal ye do in the daye of visitation and destruccion cominge frome a farre to whome then shall ye flee for helpe Or where shall ye leave yower glorye for a pledge that ye be not caste into fetters or fall into emonge the sīayne And yet for all this shal he not swage his wrathe but stretche still forthe his hande Wo be to Assur also the weapen of my wrathe which holdethe the rodde of my indignacion in his hande for I muste sende hym emonge hypocrytes and to people that hathe deserued my Indignacion shal I sende him to robbe and to spoile thez of al that thei haue to stampe them vnder his fete lyke the dyrte in the streates not with standinge yet he himselfe shal not so consyder y ◠thinge nether thus thinke it in his harte but hitherto loketh his harte his luste is to destroye ād to wype awaye with his swerde not a fewe folke for thus thinketh he saynge with hymselfe Are not al other kinges and princes trybutares vnto me shal not I subdwe to me Calenum as easelye as Charchamim and as sone take Antioch as I haue Arphad and Damase as Samariam as who saye I haue goten by my nowne power these kingdoms in y ◠which Idols karued images ar worshiped and can I not then get Ierusalē and Samarye shall not I be as able to do to Ierusalem and to hir Images as I haue done to Samarye and to hir goddes Then the tyme shal come saith y e lorde when I haue fyneshed al my worke in the mounte of Zion and Ierusalem y t I muste vyset and loke vpon this Ioylye byrde and so fortunate a felowe even vpon the stoute harte of the kynge of the Assyrions and vpon his hyghe loke for thus he thinketh of him selfe by my nowne power and wysdome do I these thinges for I am wise It is I that haue taken awaye y
e coostes of y e nacions and haue spoyled their princes ād I lyke a gyaunte haue plucked downe men sittinge a lofte and the hostes of y e innumerable people with theyr substaunce are al brought into my handes as egges into a neste for I haue gatherd to me euery region of the erthe even as scatred egges are gatherd togither into one place and there is not one in the meane tyme that dare move his winge y t dare open his mouthe or once chatter agenste me But I praye yowe dothe y ◠axe glorye agenste hym that vsethe it to cutte therwith Or doth y e sawe magnyfye it selfe agenste the drawer there of this were as lyke as though the rodde shulde lyftvp hyr selfe agenste hyr bearer and the staffe exalte it selfe agenste the smyter as though it we r no tree Wherfore the Lorde God of powers shal sende penurye into hys plentuousnes ād fyer shal krepe in vnder his pow r and waste it and the lyghte of Israel shal be his fyer and Israels sanctuarye shal be his flame which shal kyndel and devower his bryers and thornes all one a daye Also the beutye of his wodes and hilles shal be vtterly consumed and in conclusion he hymselfe shal be lyke a chased vagabonde and the reaste of his trees lefte in his wodes shal stande so thynne that a chylde maye tel and write them And then the reamnaunte of Israel and thei that shal be saued pertayninge to the house of Iacob shal no more cleave to hym as their smyter but by faithe they shall truste to the Lorde that maketh holy Israel there shal but a fewe I saye returne evē but the reamnaunte of Iacob I tel yowe shal be turned to the myghtye god For althoughe O Israel thy people be lyke the sandes of the sea yet but a fewe of them shal be turned to hym For y ◠sentence of hym that is ryche in ryghtwysmakinge muste neades stande wherfore dowtlesse the lorde god of powers shal do this assuerde thinge even in the myddes of all the worlde For thus speaketh the Lorde god of powers be not a frayde of Assur my people which dwellest in Zion for with a rodde verely shal he smyte the and shal lyftvp his weapen agenste the lyke as somtyme dyd the Egiptions but aftyr a lytel space ye in lesse then a lytel space the mesure of my indignacion and wrathe for their synnes shal be fulfilled saith the Lorde for then the Lorde of powers shal sterevppe a scourge agenste them as he dyd once agenste the Madianytes at the rocke of Oreb and as he lyftedvp his rodde vpon the sea and shal smyte thē as he smyt the Egypcions Then shal his burden be taken frome thy shulders ād his yoke from thy necke and hys yoke shal rotte for fatte But this Assur verely shal come yn firste vnto Aiath ād from thense shal he conne into Migron In Machmas shall he nowmber hys hoste there shal he go ouer the foorde so turne to Gabaam then shal Rama be a frayde and Gabaa which is called Saules Gabaa shall flee The neaynge of their horses shal sownde over al y ◠dawghter of Gallim which shal be harde vnto Lais and to lowe Anathot but whyles Madmena be a frayde se that ye citesens of Gebim pluckevp your hartes for this one daye shal he yet taryein Noba and from thence shal he turne his hoste towerd the mounte y ◠daughter of Zion and to the hyl of Hierusalem But yet beholde for the Lorde god of powers shall cut of this gloriouse renowne with grete feare he shal cut downe the talle men and they that are a lofte shall come full lowe the thorney places of the wodes shal he smyte downe with axes and the grete hyghe Ceder trees shal haue a fall Theleuenth Chapiter But at laste shal the Gryffe comeforth of the stocke of Iesse and the floury shinge budde shal springe forth of his rote which shal be endued withe the spirit of the Lorde even withe the spirit of wysdome and of vnderstandinge with the spyrit of counsel and strength the spyrit of knowledge and feare of the Lorde and shall make hym accepte or of swete savoure in y ◠feare of the Lorde for he shal not Iuge aftyr the face nor reprove aftyr the fame brought vnto his ears but shal avenge the poore with right wisnes reason for the lowe oppressed of the erthe with equyte The erthe shal he smyte with the rodde of his mouthe and wythe the very breath of his lippes shall he slaye the vngodly man for rightwisnes shal be the gyrdele of his loynes trowthe and faithfulnes shal gyrde aboute hys sydes that the wolfe myght dwel and acorde with the lombe the leoparde lye downe with the gote and lykewyse the hey fore with the lyon and that euery wylde beaste moughte agre with the tame and become so meke that a lytel chylde myght rule them the kowe and the female beare shal fede togither in one hearde and shall nourysh vp their yonge togith r in one place the lyon shal eate chaffe with the oxe here y e yonge babe shal playe vpon the Serpents denne and aftyr that it be weaned it shal put his hande into the neste of y e venoumse kockatrice Noman shal hurte or destroye other thorowt al my holy hyll for y e lande shall swymme in y e knowledge of the lordis worshipe as it were a sea flowinge ouer all and then shall it come to passe that the gentils shal seke this roote of Iesse which standeth vp for a signe emonge the folke For his quyet habitacion shal be right glouriouse And then the Lorde shall put to his hande agene to chalenge and to possesse the reamnaunte of his people whome he reserued salfe frome the Assyrions frome the Egiptions frome the harde Arabens frome the yindes frome the Elamytes frome the Chaldes frome the Antiochens and frome the eylands of the sea then shal he geve a signe to the Gentyls and shal gather to gither the scaterde men of Israel bringe togither also the dispersed of Iuda frome the fower quarters of the erthe Ephraim shal be eased of hir hateful aduersares and the enymes of Iuda shal be clene wyped a waye Nether shall Ephraim enuye or hate Iuda nor Iuda shall inuade Ephraim but their shal flee bothe togither vpon the shulders of the Palestynes towerde the weste returninge both togither to robbe the chylderne of the Easte the Idumes and y e Moabites shal be at their becke ād the sonnes of Ammon shal obaye them ād the Lorde shall stoppe the tonge of the sea of Egipte and shal shake his hande over this flovde with a vehement wynde smytinge hyr seven mouthes so that men maye go over hyr drye shod and the waye shallye wyde open for the reamnaunte of his people which were saued frome the Assyrions even as it laye open for Israell when they came vp frome Egypte so
that then euery one of them shal saye thus Chap. xij I Thanke the Lorde for thow wast wrathe with me but thy countenaunce nowe changed thou arte mercyfull and counfortest me Lo God is my savioure I shal truste in hym aÌ„d shall not feare For the Lorde god is my strength and prayse It is he that wil be my refuge ye shal drawe waters with grete ioye owte of the welles of ow r saviow r and shal saye in those dayes Let vs geve thankes to the Lorde let vs spreade his name Let vs publeshe his plesures to the people and let vs neuer forget that right highe is his name exalted Let vs synge vnto the lorde for he hath done highe thinges that they shulde be knowne thorowe all the erthe Lawghe and be glad frome thy very harte thou that dwelleste in Zion for right grete is thy prynce which maketh holye Israel Chap. xiij THe heuy destruction of BabyloÌ„ whiche Isaye the sonne of Amoz sawe before Lyftevp a token to the hill a bove krye to them beken yow r handes to thez that the prynces might coÌ„vaye theirselues into withyn the gates For I saith the Lorde shal commaunde my apoynted messagers and cal my mightyons that delight in my maiestye to fyneshe my wrathe And methought then that Iharde a noyse frome the mountaynes lyke the noyse of miche people swellinge and clusteringe togither eveÌ„ a noyse of men musteringe as thoughe the realmes of the geÌ„tyles had beÌ„ gatherde altogither hauinge the lorde of powers for their capytain aÌ„d as thoughe thei had come frome farre regions euen frome the extreme partes of the worlde ye as thoughe bothe the Lorde himselfe his ministers and vessels of his indignacioÌ„ shulde haue come to destroye y â— wholl worlde Howle ye therfore for ful nyghe is the daye of the lorde which shal come vpon vs lyke a destroyer frome the moste myghtyeste then shal euery maÌ„nes haÌ„de haue the palsaye and their hartes shal faynte thei shal be astonned holden with anguyshe and dazynges in their heades thei shal haue panges lyk women trauelinge of childe euery man shal be a frayde of other aÌ„d their chekes shal glowe for shame for beholde y e daye of the lorde shall be presente ful of fyarcenes Indignacion wrathe anger vntyl their lande be brought into a wyldernes and synne be castoute of it for the starres the planets of heuen shalnot geve their lighte The sonne shal be quenched in his vprysing y e mone shal with drawe hyr lighte I shal saith y e lorde loke vpon the malice of the worlde shal punyshe the synnes of the vngodly I shal abate the pryde of the prowde aÌ„d the wanten lustes of tyrants shal I bringe downe I shal make that a man shal be then more preciouse then y e pureste golde ye that but a vyle man shal be bet r then a wedge of gold of Ophyr Wherfore I shal so sinyte heven that the erthe shal shake frome hyr place these plages I saye shal fall vpon Babylon at the Indignacion of the lorde of powers and that in the daye of his fyarce wrathe then shal a man be as fearful as a chased doo and as a flocke of shepe whom noman can bringe to gither one countreman shal flee to a nother for helpe and euery man to his owne lande aÌ„d he that shal be fownde alone shal be steked and he that abydeth in the raye shal be smyt downe their chylderne shal be throne agenste y e grownde before their faces their houses shal be robbed and their wyues defyled For lo I shal stere vp the Medes vpon them which shal set nothing by syluer but a lytel by golde of whom y e bowes of the yonge men shal be brokeÌ„ thei shal haue lytel petye of wemen with chylde and lesse shame to kyll their chylderne And Babylon the heade of al kingdomes the beuteful flower of the Chaldes shal be destroyde even as the lorde destroyde Sodome aÌ„d Gomor it shal neuer be inhabited nether eny man shall dwell in it frome age to age The Arabes shal nomore pitche bothes there nether the herdemen shall thith r bringe their flocke but wylde beastes shal lye there aÌ„d their houses shal be ful of owles there shal inhabit Struthions there shal scyppe these wodouses there shall krye these nyght ravens one agenste a nother in the houses of Babylon and dragons shal there playe in the palaces Chapiter .xiiij. ANd the tyme of his cominge is nowe at hande his daye shall not be longe differred But yet agene the lorde wil be mercyful to Iacob and shal yet chose Israel and bringe them agene vnto their owne lande and strauÌ„gers shal be cowpled with them and Ioyned to the house of Iacob Thei shal take this straunge nacion leade them to their places and the house of Israel shall holde them for seruantes and handemaydes in the lordes lande holde them in captiuite vnder whose gyrdel thei their selfe where before shal commaunde thez which before were their masters And then when y e lorde shal geve the reste frome thy laboures and tremblinge and frome thy grevouse seruitute by which thou were thê° holden vnder thou shalte take vp this lameÌ„table songe agenste y e kinge of BabyloÌ„ sayng howe is this extorsener brought to reste with his golden tayes aÌ„d trybutes The lorde verely hath broke the staffe of the vngodly even the septre of these lordely rulers which when he is angry smyteth the people with a plage vncurable when he is chafed he tameth these Gentyles persuâ—th them still so that nowe al ower lande is at reste and singeth for Ioye ye the very fyrtrees and the Cedres of Libani reioyse vpoÌ„ thy fall sainge Aftyr that thou were layed a sleape noman clymed vp to kut vs downe helle trembled at thy cominge Gyauntes and al prynces of the erthe came forthe to mete the all kinges of the gentyles rose vp frome theire trones all these in course magnifyed the saynge Arte thou not wounded as well as we made lyke vs but thy pryde was plucked downe to hell with thy vayne folyshnes Mottes shal be strewed vnder the wormes shal be thy koverled Howe felle ye frome heuen lucifer ye fayer sonne of the morninge ar ye nowe fallen so wretchedly to the erthe which were wonte to be Emperow r over the gentyles ye and that even when thou thus thoughtest in thy harte I shal ascende into heven and shal exalte my seate aboue the starres of heven and sitte in the congregacion hill at the northe syde I wyl ascende hygher then the clowdes aÌ„d be equale with the moste hyghest But nowe arte thou plucked downe to helle vnto the moste deapest plage of the erthe thei that se the come now nerer and dare tote y e in the face thinkinge thus vpon the Is not this the stoute man that made the erthe a frayde that shoke the kingdoms to gith r made the
nomore be a cyte but throne downe into an heape of stones The cites of Aroer shal be turned into pasture layers for flockes of shepe aÌ„d other heardes so that noman shal fraye them a waie Ephraim shal nomore be stroÌ„ge defensed Damascus shal be nomore a kingdome Also the glorye of the lefte cytes of Syrie shal be lyke the glorye of the chylderne of Israel saith the lorde of powers then shal the glorye of Iacob be ful thynne and the well lykinge of theire fatte bodyes shal be full leane For they shal be lyke a gatherer of corne yet staÌ„dinge after the sykle which reapeth down the handfulles withe his Arme but when he gathereth or thrusteth them togither even in the valye of Rephaim yet he levethe som what for the gleaners they shal be lyke one beatingeof olyve beryes which yet leveth two or thre beryes in the toppe and not passinge fower or fyve in all the other bouwes saithe y e lorde god of Israel Then shal man returne vnto his maker and his eyes shall loke vnto hym that maketh holye Israel and shall not loke vnto Altars the worke of theyr handes neth r shal he beholde those thinges whiche his owne fyngers made nether wordes nor ymages Then shal the stronge cytes be lefte desolate as were the ploughes harows sometyme of the chananites for feare of the chylderne of Israel Because thou hast forgoten god thy saviower and not remembred thy stronge rocke therfore hast thou planted the so fayer settes and sowne the so straunge seades When thou plantedste them thou waste riche and in thy flowers and beleuedste to haue had fulerlye frutes of thy seade But when the tyme shall come to gather and to possesse them thou shalt reape right plentuouse affliccioÌ„ and sorowe Wo be to this confuse clustre and monstrose multitude of so prowde people swellinge lyke the sea whiche haithen hoste ryseth vp lyke a fearce water But let this heady folke be they never so many neuer so vnrulye and lawles swell yet as sone as the Lorde blameth them and sette agenste them thei shall flee full farre a waye and shal be wynnowed of the wynde lyke the duste of y e drye mountayne and lyke a whirlewynde at the comynge of a storme For lo lyke as at the eveninge thei were mervelouse terrible so before the morninge shal thei begone This is the very ende of them that scourge vs this is the rewarde of them that robbe vs of ower goodes Chap. x viij WO be to the lande whose shippes are so swyfte which lande lyeth one thys syde of the flowde of Ethiopye which sendeth ambassiatours by the sea and that in shippes of reedes and bulrushes put vpon the waters saynge Go yower wayes ye messagers vnto a y e pyssed aÌ„d ragged nacion people more fearfull then owers and farre vnlyke a vyle nacion litel set bye whose lande the floudes devyde But o ye all that dwel vpon the erthe and inhabit the rownde worlde take hede and loke when ye se the signe lyfted vp to yowe in the hylles and when ye heare the trompetes blowne vp to bataile For thus sayd the Lorde to me I laye downe to reste consyderynge withe my selfe yn my house in the myddaye when it was full warme lyke as a genste a shower of rayne as it is wonte to be in haruest ceason but yet before the corne be redye to reape and the clusters of grapes be perfitly rype and the r was one which kutdowne the clusters with a kutting knyfe and he kut a waye even the branches also and toke them a waye the resydwe were lefte as well fore the fowles of the mountayns as for the beastes of the felde that y e fowles myght lye there all the somer aÌ„d the beastes of the feldes all wynter And then shall the r be offred the Lorde of powers a gyfte of y e pild ragged nacion and dredfull people farre above vs a vyle nacion aÌ„d troden vnd r fote Whole landes y e flowdes deuyde vnto the lorde of powers I saye these gentyles shal be offerd at the place consecrated vnto his name even at y e mounte Zion Chap. xix THe heuye afflicion which y e lorde shewed to Isaye vppon Egypte Beholde the lorde shal come rydinge vpon a swyfte clowde into Egypte at whose cominge the Idols of Egypte shal sheake aÌ„d the harte of Egypte shal faynte in hyr owne bodye For I shal set the Egipcions saith the lorde one agenste a nother so that euery man shal fyght with other even brother agenste brother cyte agenste cyte kyngdome agenste kyngdome and the breath of Egypte shal be broken in hyr belye and I shal scater hyr counsel when she shal go aboute to aske it of hir Idols wytches soth sayers and diuyners I shal betake Egypte into the handes of cruel lordes and a violente kinge shal rule theÌ„ saith the lorde god of powers The waters of the sea shal synke awaye and Nilus shal be dryedup their flowdes shal be dronke vp and their dykes and brooks shal be ful shalowe and fayle reed and rushes shal be wytherdvp the medewes aÌ„d all the feldes a boute Nilê° which wer wonte to wexe grene at the openinge of hyr lippes shal be dryed vp and of no valwe The fyshers shal morne aÌ„d al that were wonte to laye hokes bende nettes at their waters shal lamente the spynners and makers of lynyne the sylke wemen with y e weavers therof shal be begerde and coÌ„funded At that made pondes aÌ„d stwes shal breke vp their bankes Also the counsells of the folesshe princes of Zoan the wyse counsel of Pharao shal be turned al into felyshnes Howe dare ye then be so bolde to saye vnto Pharao I am come of a wyse stocke aÌ„d I am of an auncyaÌ„t noble bloude where nowe where I praye the are thy wyse men let them tell the nowe I praye the what y e lorde entendeth and hath thought to do with Egipte The folyshe priÌ„ces of Zoan and the prowde princes of Mempheos begylde Egipte with their noble hyghe stocke The lorde shall mingle the sprite of erroure emonge thez that then shulde seduce Egipte in all thinges even as the dronken and vomytinge man is brought oute of the waye Egipte shal want counsel to convaye hyr causes she shal not knowe where she shal beginne nor where she shal make an ende whether it be vpon y e lande or sea Then shall Egipte be lyke wemen fearfull and astoÌ„ned at y e lyftinge vp of the haÌ„de of the lorde of powers which he shall lyftup agenst hyr Also te lande of Iuda shal be a thondreclappe to Egipte so that who so euer mynde hyr to Egipte she shal a non be sinayde with feare at y e counsel of the lorde of powers whiche he hath decreede agenste hyr Then shall there be .v. cytes in the lande of Egipte which shal speake the Chananytes tonge and shal be sworne vnto y e lorde of powers
shal come that the lorde shall vyset Leuiathan that inuincible serpent with his harde grete stronge swerde even Leviathan that subtel serpente and shal slaye this dragone of the sea Then shall men heare this songe vpon the amiable vyneyarde of Hemer one answeringe a nother I the Lorde defende and water hyr in dwe tyme. I kepe hyr daye nighte leste eny man inuade hyr I am withe oute all wrathe who then maye so move me to be so grete an enymye to hyr that my promyse neglecte I wolde set hyr a fyer all at once with thornes bryers Or who maye holde bak my strength to pacefye me and to reconcyle me vnto hyr if I wolde not But Iacob brought owte of Captiuite vnloked for shal be roted agene Israel shal budde and floureshe so that the holl worlde shal be repleyneshed with their frutes For shall not the lorde smyte his smyters agene even as he was smyten or shal he not slaye as he was slayne what mesure so ever mengeue the same shall they receyve agene He bloweth forth his vehemeÌ„t skorchinge wynde Wherfore the iniquite of Iacob is pourged on this maner and by this meanes he taketh awaye all their synful seade as when he turnethe all the stones of their alters into powlder when their images worshiped in wodes and solitary teÌ„ples be layed downe when their stronge cytes are destroyde when their goodlye fayer cytes are lefte desolate lyke a wyldernes for bullocks to fede theryn to lye aÌ„d brose on the bouwes when their corne is brentvp and the wemen which in their cominge forthe garneshed their cytes are defyeled fore thys people is with owte vnderstandinge Wherfore their maker wilnot pyte them aÌ„d their potter shal haue no fansye to them In these dayes the lorde shal smyte downe all the frutes frome the fyerce flowde Euphrates vnto Nilus the flowde of Egypte and ye chylderne of Israel one by one shal be gatherd togither in to one place And then shall there blowvp a meruelouse grete trompet thei that had perysshed in Assyria and bene outlawes in Egipte shal come forth to worshipe the Lorde in the holye hyll which is in Ierusalem Chap. xxviij WO be to the proude crowne of dronken Cphraim and to the fallinge flower of hyr gloriouse beutie which is set in the toppe over the moste plentuoust vale wo be to the dronkherds Beholde the stronge power of the lorde comethe lyke an hay le storme dryuynge downe stronge holdes and lyke a grete shower of rayne dryuinge vpon euery parte of therthe even withe mennis fete shall the prowde crowne of dronken Ephraim be troden downe aÌ„d it shall happen to the fadinge flower of hyr gâ—oriouse beutye which yet standeth on the toppe ouer the moste plentuouse vale even as it happeneth vnto the hastye frute rype before y â— harueste which as sone as on espieth it he is redye to devower it before his hande canne reche it Aftyr this the lorde of powers shal be a Ioyefull crowne and a beutifull garlande to the residwe of his people and shal be the spyrit bothe of iugement to y â— iuges and the spirit of strength to thez that shal dryve his enemis from the gates But yet euen these also erre witheoute knowlege by the reason of wyne are with oute their wittes for theyr welthy dronkenes ye their preestes and prophetes also erre oute of the waye for dronken welthynes For they laden with wyne and drowned with luste erre in preachinge aÌ„d offende in iuginge foâ— all their tables are so fylled with vometes and fylthynes that no parte shal be lefte vnfylled Which of them I praye you shal be then able to iÌ„structe eny man or to teache the right disciplyne to eny of these chylderne newely weaned plucked froÌ„ y â— teate Or what els maye they teache then clowtinge constitution to constitution throyng one coÌ„maundement vpon a noth r inhibicion vpoÌ„ inhibicion a lytel here a lytel whyles there Wherfo r lorde shal speake vnto this people confusely in a straunge toÌ„ge vnto whoÌ„ he sayde sometyme This shal quyet thy consciens this refressheth y â— weary afflicte soule It is this I tel the that shal bringe thy harte into a blessed peace reste but they wolde not heare wherfo r y â— lorde shal speake to theÌ„ saynge Byd coÌ„maunde agene forbyd and forbyd agene a lytel here and a lytel whyles there that they mought go backwarde fall and be alto broken ye y â— they mought fall into their snares and be taken Wherfore heare the worde of the lorde Oye olde wylye skorners whiche playe the Lordes ouer my people which is in IerusaleÌ„ for thê° thiÌ„ke ye we ar at a bargaine with deth at a poiÌ„te with hel that when eny gret myscheffe or plage cometh it shal not touche vs for dissembliÌ„g hypocrysye shal be our refugye with lyes we shal be defended Wh r fo r even thus telleth you y e lorde god saynge Beholde I shal laye a stone yn zioÌ„ a touche stone a kornerd stone a preciouse stone to stablesshe y e foundacion so y t whoso ev r beleueth cleueth to this stone shal not lightly slyde for his equite eavenes shal I trye by plomet aÌ„d squyer his rightwysnes shal be poÌ„derd as in a payer of balaÌ„ces But an haple storme shal take awaye your refuge which ye stablessed your defence painted with kraftye lyes swellinge waters shal bare away yo r bargeÌ„ made with deth shal be brokeÌ„ your apointmeÌ„t also made with hell shalnot staÌ„de for when this swellinge destruccioÌ„ shal aryse come vpon yow it shal swelowe yow in karye you a waye sodenlye For when it shal beginne erly in the morning it shal enduw r but the same daye and nyghte aÌ„d there shal be siche a feare that it alone shal breke euen the hartes of theÌ„ that do but heare of this Then shal beddes be so narowe that noman maye haue his reste and the koueringes so skante y â— noman maye be wrapped in them for the lorde shal stepeforth as he dyde in the mounte of Perazim and shal roffle angerly as he dyd in the vale of Gibeon to worke his owne worke he taketh a meruelouse strange wayes to briÌ„ge his owne worke to passe ful straunge wouÌ„dreful are his dedes Nowe therfore dispyse not this warninge lesteyow r captiuyte be the more grevouse For I haue harde of the lorde god of powers that there shal come a soden ende and destruccion vpon al the erthe Lysten therfore and heare my voyce geue hede and beleue my wordes Is not the tylman alwayes busye in duwe tyme to ploughe to opene and to kutforth his lande to sowe it dothe he not a non as he hath made it eaven and playne sowe his fetches or sprynkel his Coomyn and aftyr warde sowe it orderly now with whâ—te and then with barley and so forth withe other corne acordinge to the strength
saye forsake this waye go frome that waye and at laste take from vs even him that maketh holy Israel Wherfore thus saith he that maketh holy Israel For as myche as ye haue thus abhorred my worde trustinge in fraude and violence cleuynge there vnto this same yower wykednes shal be yow r breke fall even lyke a relinge high holowe walle which cometh downe al at once yere eny man beware ye yow r destruction shal be lyke the breakinge of an erthen pitsherde whose fall and breakynge noman shal pyte no althoughe it be so smal broken that there be not fownde therof so miche as wolde fetche a cole of fyer or take vp a litel water from the pitte for even thus hath the lorde god which sanctifiyth Israel promysed saynge In sittinge styll quyetlye shall ye be saued for in sylence aÌ„d hope standeth yow r strength but as for yow ye neuer receiued it but rather sayd naye not so but we wylget vs to horskacke and so estape but thynke ye so to flee and to escape ye wyl answer the swyfter that ow r horse be the soner shall we be oute of daunger And I tell yowe agene that the faster ye flee the swyftlyer shal yower persuers folowe vpon yow so that a thousande of yow shal fle at y e feare of one man or of fyde at the moste vntyl ye be lefte as thynne as stande the trees in y â— hyll toppes lefte for mastes of shippe ye shal stand as naked in sighte as a marke in a molle hyll Not withestandinge yet in the meane tyme the Lorde abyddeth with longe sufferinge to haue mercye vpon yowe and suspendeth his counsell to then tente he wolde be bountuously mercy ful to yow for the lorde god is ful rightwyse And blessed are all men that wayte on hym If ye thus do O people of Zion and cytesens of Ierusalem ye shulde neuer wepe for suerly he wolde haue mercy on yowe ye as sone as he harde the voyce of yower kryige he wolde helpe yowe It is the Lorde verely that geueth yowe the brede of affliccion and the water of heuynes But yet will not yower master abhorre yow longe if ye loked vp withe yower eyes reuerently vnto yower teacher and yower ears heare the wordes of hym warniÌ„ge and tellinge yowe saynge This is the waye this waye see that ye go whether he se yowe swaruiÌ„ge ether on the right hande or on the left hande If ye heare yow r master I tell yow and wyl despyse the curiouse sylveringe of yower ka ruen Images and thro a waye the costuouse gyldinge of them euen as ye wolde abhorre clothes polluted withe menstrwe and byd them walke straungers Then shall he geue rayne to yo wer sede whiche ye shall committe vnto the grounde and it shall bringe forth fode from the erthe and there shal be plentye and grete aboundaunce And then shall yower heardes fede vpon yower brode medewes yower drafte oxen and muses shall eate fatte prouendoure wenâ—wâ—d with the fanne Also diuerse ryuers of waters shal flow downe frome euery highe mountayne and highe hylle But aftyr grete slaughter and ruyne of towers y â— mone shal be as bryghte as the sonne the light of the sonne shal be seuen tymes bryghter then it is and so grete as is the lighte of .vij. dayes altogither ye especially in that tyme when the Lorde shal bynde togither the breke of his people and shall heale the gappe of their wounde For beholde the maiestye of y e lorde shal come from a farre his face shal brenne so bryght that none maye abyde it his lippes shal be ful of indignacion aÌ„d his tonge lyke a devoweringe fyer his breath shal be lyke a swelling flowde arysinge vp to the throte to take a waye the haithen which are geuen to vanyte and to take a waye the brydel of erroure beinge yet in the chaves of the people but yow shall syngeas men in y â— vygils of holyfestes and be glad in harte lyke them that go by the trompet blowers goinge forthe to the hyl of the lorde even the rocke of Israel Also the lorde shal put forthe the gloriouse power of his voyce shal shewe forth his threteninge arme with a grymme countenaunce and with the flame of deuoweringe fyer ye aÌ„d that with an erthe quake and a grete hayle storme Then shal the Assyrions be a frayde at the voyce of the lorde which shal smyte theÌ„ with a rodde and the rodde that the Lorde shal bende agenst them shal go thorow euery foundacion Which rodde he shall laye vpon them with tympanes harpes and batayle to ouercome theÌ„ For even frome the beginninge huth he prepared the fyer of affliccion ye and that for the very kinges which fyer hath he made both depe and brode runninge violently as in A grete heape of wode whose violence the blaste of the lorde setteth a fyer lyke y e floteringe noyse of brym stone Chap .xxxj. WO be to thez that godowne in to Egypte for helpe whiche truste in their horse and put their confidence in their chariets because they ar so many and in their horse men because theire strengthe is myghtye but vnto hym y t maketh holy Israel they haue no respecte and the lorde never seke they when he of his infinyte wysedome bringeth affliccion vpon men and yet his worde maketh he not voyde he ryseth agenst the famylye of the wyked aÌ„d agenst the helpe of eveldoers The EgipcioÌ„s verely ar men and not goddes and their horse ar flesshlye and not of y e spirit Wherfore when the lorde shal stretche forth his hande both the helper and he that loketh for helpe shal fall aÌ„d shal be altogither destroyed For thê° hath the lorde spoken to me Even as a lyon or y e lyoÌ„s whelpe roreth over hyr proye nowe taken fearing nothiÌ„ge at the noyse of al y â— herdmenkrying at hym no not once abasshed at their oute shryte so shall the lorde of hostes come downe to defende fyght for the mounte Zion aÌ„d for hir fytel hyll The lorde of powers shal defende Ierusalem lyke a byrde flotteringe aboute hyr neste kepinge delyvering awaytinge and sauynge hyr Come vp agene O ye chylderne of Israel as farre as ye haue gone downe forsakyng yow r god for the tyme shal come y t every man shal caste a waye their syluer images golden Idols which yow r vngraciouse handes haue made into yow r synne Assur shal be smitendowne with swerde but not with y e swerde of man y e swerde shal devower hym but not y e swerde of man and he shal fle froÌ„ y e slaughter his hoste takeÌ„ he shal overrunne his owne castel for feare his capitayns shal abhorre be ashamed of their owne baners badges These thiÌ„ges hath y e lorde spoken whose lauÌ„pe is fedde in Zion and his fyer is nouresshed in Ierusalem Chapiter .xxxij. BEholde a kynge shal raigne aftyr the rule of rightwysnes and his chefe
rulers shall governe and ordyr aftyr the balaunce of Equite Which dwe adminstracion shal be vnto the subiects as shelter frome the wynde and defence frome the storme Siche princes shall refresshe theirs even as swete ryvers in a drye place aÌ„d lyke the shadewe of a grete hyghe rocke in a thyrstye lande The eyes of the seers shalnot be deceaued and the eares of the hearers shal take good hede aÌ„d the hartes of the stockysshe fooles shal vnderstande learinge the stuttinge tonge shal speake distinctly and eloquently also the knaue shalnomore be called Ientelman nether the nyggerde shal be called lyberall but the knaue shal thinke knauyshe thinges and his harte shall properly convaye wykednes to playe the hipocryte and to conspyre abhominacion agenste y e lorde pylling and polling the hongrye soule taking the drynke forme y â— thyrstye These are his myschevouse weapens these ar his dedely counsels to destroye to pylle to robbe y e poore afflicte with lyiÌ„ge wordes ye y t whyles he mynistreth y e lawe vnto theÌ„ but y e IeÌ„telmaÌ„ coÌ„ceyueth IeÌ„tel thiÌ„ges by which IeÌ„tel noble deads he arysethe is becoÌ„e cleare But o ye ryche cytes geven al to welthye ydlenes aryse and heare my voyce Geve eare vnto my wordes ye cytes that sitte so faste and suer for aftyr certayne dayes and yeares ye shal be troubled o ye cytes so suer When y â— grape gatheringe shal be at a staye aÌ„d the gatherer of the frutes shalnot come you shal be a stonned o ryche cytes in so welthy ydlenes ye shal be amased fore al yower suer confidence to se yower selfe brought so bare and yower bare loynes gyrte with sacke At the very soukinge teate shal there be waylinge for y â— croppe of the yeare and for thencrese of the vyne yarde fore my peoples feldes shal yilde them bryers and thornes because that all the house holdes and cytes are full of vayne mirthe and welthye wantenes Their palaces shal be throne downe and their cytes so full of peple shal be lefte voyde Their towers turrettes of defence shal be brought into perpetual dennes into battlinge places for mules and pastures for flockes Vntyl the spyret be powerd into vs frome aboue Charmelus shal be turned into a deserte and Charmelus shal be takeÌ„ for a wode and equyte shall dwell in y â— deserte and rightwysnes shal inhabite Charmelum and peace shal be the ende of rightwysnes reste and suernes shall folowe rightwysnes for ever And my people shall dwell yn the fayer house of peace in suer tabernacles and in ryche beddes Hayle when it shal defcende it shal fall only vpon wodes and cytes O how happye are yowe whiche shal sowe boldely and suer ye and that by every ryuersyde settinge the fete of your oxen and asses whother wardes so ever ye luste Chap. xxxiii BVt wo be vnto the that robbeste and destroyste wother for shaft not thow thy selfe thinkest be robbed agene And wo be vnto the that layeste awaighte for other for thynkeste thow thy selfe to escape Even as thow hurtest wother so shalt thow be hurted agene and as thow haste layed wayte to destroye wother even so lyke maner shalt thow thy selfe peryshe Lorde haue mercy on vs fore vpon the do we depende Thoghe it be so that they re power be bente to persue vs yet be thow a presente savyowre to vs yn tyme of tribulacion Let thys people fle a waye at thy angrye voyce Let these haythen folke be scaterd and dispersed a waye at thy busklynge vp to ruffle Let theire proye be taken a waye frome them as men take awaye locustes when they gather a grete multitude togither and caste thez into a dyke Be thow exalted Lorde whiche dwellest above Let Zyon be fylled withe equyte and ryghtwysnes Let the faithe be yn hyr tyme Let strengthe helthe wysdome knoweledge and feare of the Lorde be hyr tresure Beholde the aungels of them krye witheowte the aungels of peace wepe bitterly the pathes are forsaken the wayefayerers are gone the conuenauntes are broken cytes are neglecte noman setteth by a nother the lande nowe destroyed lyeth moorning the beutye of Libanus is cut downe and turned into hyr shame the goodly pasture of Saron is lyke a drye deserte the plentuous feldes of Basan and charmelus are gone Wherfore now shal I aryse saith the lorde now wil I be exalted now will I be borne vp an highe But you shal conceyue chaffe and bringeforth stubble and yower owne fyerye breathe shal devower yowe the people shal be burned lyke lyme and shal be lyk thornes cut downe sor the fyer Heare therfore ye that dwell a farre what I will do and ye that are nighe knowe my power The synners are a frayde in Zion and tremblinge feare holdeth hypocrytes saynge whiche of vs shall abyde in this devoweringe fyer which of vs shal continue in this perpetual burninge But he that lyueth iustlye I tell yow and speketh the trwthe he that abhorreth to do iniuryes couetuously aÌ„d smyteth a waye his handes frome giftes he that stoppethe his heares lestet hey hear the desaightful oppression of thinnocent bloude and shit his eyes leste he se evel this man shal inhabit hyghe places this mannis savegarde shal be in right highe and stronge holdes of stone vnto this man shal there be geven y â— very pure fode his eyes shal se the kinge in his gloriouse estate and shal loke over the fartheste region Also his harte shal delight in the feare of god But where is now the wyse craftye scrybe where is nowe the depe sercheroute of the wordes of the lawe where is the disputinge doctour aÌ„d teacher of yonge men But here seest thow no strange tonged people neth r yet of eny hard speach to y â— which thou mayest not attayne but beholde thow Zion ower solempne cyte let thy eyes loke vpon Ierusalem that riche habitacion even the tabernacle which shal not be moued frome hyr place whose nayles shal never be plucked oute whose ropes al shal never wexolde for the maiestye of the Lorde shal abyde there present with vs. This is the place where brode flowdes shal go full styl rownâ—aboute in sighte in the which nether rouinge galeys shall sayle to robbe nor yet eny woth r charged shippe of warre for y e lorde is ow r iuge ow r lawe gev r the lorde shal be ower kynge it is he y t shal saue vs here shal the ropes and gables be so stretched forthe that they shall nede neuer to be repayerde The mâ—ste shal stande as styfe asthoghe there were no sayle bentevp and then shal there be grete proyes distrybuted when even the lame men shal catche proyes Here shal there be non caste downe into his beâ— saynge I am syke but the people that dwelleth here shal be quyte frome all deceases Chap. xxxiiij APproche nighe ye gentyles to heare and ye people come aÌ„d take hede heare erthe and what so euer is
beinge at the walles heare Whome Rabsices answerde Why thinke ye that my Lorde sente me only to yow and to your Lorde to saye this message and not rather to these kareful miserable men that sitte vpon the walls that they shulde not be constrayned to eate theire owne dyrte and to drynke their owne pisse with yow Rabsace therfore proceded stefly in his oracion kryinge with a lowde voyce in the Iuwes tonge saing heare what the grete king the Kinge of the Assyrions commaundeth Thus coÌ„maundeth the kinge take hede leste kinge Ezekias deceyue yowe for it lieth not in his power to defende yowe Nether let hym persuade yow to truste in his lorde affirminge that y â— Lorde with oute doute wyl delyuer you and that this cyte shal not be delyuerde into the handes of the kinge of Assyrye se that ye obaye not Ezekie for thus promyseth yow the kynge of Assyrie If ye wyll beare me so myche favoure as to forsake hym and turne to me every man shal enioye styll his owne vyneyarde his fygge trees and euery man shal drinke the waters of his owne pytte vntyl I shal come and leade yow vll to a lande as good as is this yowers even a lande wheryn is plentye bothe o whete and wyne ye a lande al redy sowne withe al maner corne and planted with y e beste vynes Take good hede y t Ezekias deceyve yowe not saynge the Lorde shal delyver yow For haue therever yet eny of the goddis of the gentiles delyuerd their lande frome the pow r of the kinge of the Assyrians Where is nowe the God of Hemath aÌ„d Arphad Whe r is the god of Sepharuaim And who I praye yowe delyuerde Samaria fro my power Whiche on emonge all the goddes of these kingdomes hath delyverde their region from my power so that ye maye truste to the lorde to delyver Ierusalem from my hande At these wordes the kinges legates we r so put to sylence that they had not a worde to answere Then returned Eliakim the presydent of y e towne house sonne of Helkie Sobna the scrybe and Ioas Secreterye the sonne of Asaph vnto Ezekias their clothes alto cutte and tolde hiÌ„ the oracion of Rabsacen The .xxxvij. Chapiter THen kinge Ezekias hearing this cut his clothes and he clothed with sacke wente into the temple of the Lorde and in the meane tyme he sente Eliakim the president of y e towne Sobnam the scribe and the seniours of the preestes clothed with sacke vnto Isaye the prophete sonne of Amos whiche sayed vnto hym Thus commaundeth vs Ezekias to saye vnto the. The daye of tribulacion the daye of affliccion and blasphemye is nowe come even lyke as thoughe the tyme of delyueraunce of chylde were presente and strengthe to put it forth shulde fayle the mother Verely the Lorde thy god hath harde the wordes of Rabsace whome his Lorde the Kinge of Assyrye hathe sente to blaspheme and to revyse the lyuinge god with certayne wordes which the lorde thy god hath harde wherfore thou muste geve the to pray r for y â— reamnaunte which ar yet left a lyue Then Isaye answerd y e seruaÌ„ts of kiÌ„ge Ezekie thê°sente comen on this maner Thus shall ye tell yower lorde Thus saith the lorde Feare thou not for these wordes which thou hast harde in y â— which the seruants of the kinge of Assyrye haue thus revyled and blasphemed me for lo I shall sende vpon him but a blaste of wynde whose noyse as sone as he heareth he shal returne into his owne lande where I shall cause him to be slayne with swerde Nowe was Rabsaces returned and fownde the kinge of Assyrye making warre agenst Lobnam for he had knowledge that he was remoued from Lachis and it was reported also of Tharhaca kinge of the Ethiops y t he shuldbe nowe coÌ„e to make warre with him which message when the kinge of Assyrye harde anon he sente other aÌ„bassiatours to Ezekias with this commaundement Thus shal ye tell Ezekias kinge of Iuda Take hede thy god deceyue the not in whom thou trusteste promysinge the that IerusaleÌ„ shal not be delyuerd into the hands of the kinge of the Assyryons For thou hast harde what great actes the kinge of Assyry hath done to al kingdomes in subuertinge them aÌ„d darest thou haue yet eny hope to escape Did the goddis of y â— Gentyles delyuer them whom my predicessours haue coÌ„quered Coulde thei delyuer Gozan Haran Rezeph and the Chyldern of Eden whiche holde of Thalassar where is the kinge of Hamath kinge of Arphad kinge of Sepharuaim Hene and Aue Then toke kinge Ezekias the Pystel of the handes of the Ambassiatours when he had red it he wente vp into the house of the lorde and opened it before the lorde makiÌ„ge his prayer on thys maner O lorde of powers the God of Israel which dwellest at the Cherubyms thou arte y e God which is the only god even the god of al the kingdoms of the erthe for it is thou that haste made bothe heauen aÌ„d erthe Bowe downe thy eare lorde and lysten opene thy eyes aÌ„d beholde Consyder al the wordes of Senherib which hath sente hither a blasphemous message wheryn he curseth and blasphemeth the lyuinge god Verely lorde I knowe this to be trwe that the kinges of Assyrye haue conquered all tye kingdoms and regions of the other nacions that they casted their goddes into the fyer for these were no goddis but the workes of mennis handes made of tre and stone wherfore they haue destroyed them worthely But nowe lorde ow r god nowe saue vs frome the handes of Senherib that nowe al the kingdoms of the erthe might knowe that thou art the lorde a lone When the thinge was at this poynte Isaye the sonne of Amos sente aÌ„d tolde Ezekias these wordes Thus hath the Lorde God of Israel spoken vnto these thinges which thou in thy prayer askedste of me as concerninge the kinge of the AssyryoÌ„s Thê° answerth the lorde agenst him O virgyn and daughter of Zion the kinge of Assyrye hathe despysed aÌ„d scorned the he shoke his head aftyr the o daughter of IerusaleÌ„ but thow proude kynge whoÌ„ revilest thou whom curseste and blasphemeste thou Agenste whom krowest thou or lyftest vp thy stately loke verely euen agenst him that sanctifieth Israel For thy seruants sente hither thou reuyledst the lorde and hast taken so stoughtly vpon thy selfe this thinge sayng I shal kouer the moste highest mountayns aÌ„d sydes of Libani with the multitude of my horse men and chariets I shal cutdowne hir highe Ceder trees hir beste fyr trees I shal entre thorowe both hir highe mountayns and also hyr wodes aÌ„d fayer feldes And where I fynde waters I shal drye them al vp with the fete of my hoste Speakest thow not now euen thus to kinge Ezekias saiÌ„ge hast thou not harde what actes and by what power I haue done them in tyme paste and what I am abonte to do now also that
is to wete that I am aboute to subuerte thy cytes be they neuerso stronge and to bringe thez into heapes of stones aÌ„d into ruyne whose inhabitours shal quake for feare lyke handlesse men beinge confounded for they shal be lyke the grasse of the felde which nowe is grene and a noÌ„ is it thek for houses ye which often tymes is withred before it be rype But I know I knowe saith y â— lorde thy conuersacion I knowe thy settinge forth and thy returninge ye I knowe thy furyouse rebellinge agenst me For this therfore thy hasty conspyrison agenste me and for thy pryde which al I wel knowe I shal put a brydle vpon thy nose and shal set a snaffle vpon thy lyppes where with I shal plucke y â— backe agene by the same waye thou camste But o Ezekias this token shal I geue y â— this yeare shalt thou eate siche as ye haue in store the nexte yeare shal ye eate siche as shal growe of their selfe with oute tillinge or sowinge but the thirde yeare ye shall both sowe aÌ„d reape for ye shal plante vynes and eate their frutes And then thei shal come agene togither which escaped beinge of the house of Iuda and their rotes sente downe into the erthe they shal yilde forthe their fruteful highe For oute of IerusaleÌ„ shal coÌ„e the reamnaunt that are lefte and thei that ar saued shall come from the mounte Zion These thinges shall the zele of the lorde of hostes thus bringe to passe wherfore thus promyseth the lorde as touchinge kynge Assyrye That in no maner of wyse shall he enter into this cyte no not so myche as an arowc shal he shote hither there shal no shylde or buckler be bente vp agenste hyr Nether shal they dygvp eny bulwerke agenste hyr but the same waye that he came shal he retourne For vnto this cyte shal he not come sayd the lorde for Ishal fyghte for this cyte and shal defende it saith the lorde aÌ„d shal saue it for my nowne sake and for my seruante Dauides sake Then wente forth the angel of the lorde and smyt .v. thousande an hoÌ„dred and .iiij. score in the tentes of the Assyrions and when the people of Ierusalem rose erly in the morniÌ„ge lo they laye aldede wherfore Senherib kinge oâ— Assyrie departed aÌ„d wente his waye froÌ„ thence and abode at Niniue And after this it chaunced on a tyme y t as he worshiped his god in the house of Nisroch Adramesech aÌ„d Sarezer his sonnes smit of his head with a swerde and fled into the lande of Ararat And aftyr this Esarhadon his sonne raigned for hym The .xxxviij. Chapiter NOt loÌ„ge before these thiÌ„ges were in doinge Ezekias was sore syke and lykely to haue dyed and then came there vnto him Isaye y â— prophete the sonne of Amoz sayd vnto him Thus sayth the lorde Set an ordyr in thy house for thou shalt dyeaÌ„d not lyue Then Ezekias turned his face to the walle and made his prayer to y â— lorde saynge Remembyr lorde I beseche the how I haue walked before the intrwe faithe with ê‘fit harte doinge thy plesures And thus saynge Ezekias wepte sore Then spake the lorde to Isaye on this maner Go thy wayes and tell Ezekias Thê° sayth the lorde the god of thy father Dauid I haue harde thy prayer I haue sene thy teares wherfore lo I adde yet vnto thy lyfe .xv. yeares also I shal delyuer the and this cyte which I defende frome the handes of the kinge of the Assyrions And this token shal be geuen y â— of the lorde that he will performe his promyse Beholde I shall bringe backe the shadue of the dyall which shadne is now descended withe the sonne arysinge in Ahazdy all and shall turne it vp agene .x. howers then turned backe the sonne the same .x. degrees ascending agene by the which the shadue had descended before The thaÌ„kesgeuinge which Ezekias kiÌ„ge of Iuda write aftyr he had bene sycke was nowe rekouerd frome his sore I had wente y t I shulde haue gone to my graue in my beste dayes when I moste desyerde the resydue of my age I sayd with my selfe I shal no more apere before y e lorde god in this lyfe I shal nomore be coÌ„uersante with the mortal men but shal be with y e banesshed cytesens My dayes are foldenvp and taken awaye fro me lyke an herdemannis tente My lyfe is kutof lyke y â— weauers webbe whylys I prouyded to lyue he kut me of He made an ende of me on a daye I trusted at the leste to haue lyued vnto the morowe but he alto broke my bones lyke a lyon and made an ende of me on a daye Then chattred I lyke a swalowe and murmured lyke a Crayne I moorned lyke a dove lyftiÌ„ge vp my eyes vnto y â— highe god saynge Lorde I am sore handled delyuer me vpon thy worde What myght I thiÌ„ke or what might I saye that he wolde do this miche for me That I mought yet ê‘use al my dayes ye although it be to my bytter payne For I knowe verely lorde y t this lyfe is saulsed with galle and that my lyfe is subiecte to all bitter myserye I knowe that thou makest me heuye of sleape wakenest me agene But lo yet shal I thiÌ„ke that thou doste me grete plesure if thou grauntest me these kareful bitternesses Here thou stayest my lyfe that it ê‘esshed not whiles thou castedste al my synnes behynde thy backe For nether men layed in their graues prayse the nor yet y â— deade loaue the nor they that descende into their graues abyde for thy faithfulnes But it is the lyuiÌ„ge man it is the lyuinge I saye that prayseth the euen as I do nowe this daye For the fathers laye forth thy faithfulnes vnto theire chylderne Sane vs lorde and we shal synge ower psalmes all the dayes of ower lyfe in the house of the lorde Then commaunded Isaye sayng take the plaster and laye it vpon his botche aÌ„d he shal amende And then sayed Ezekias Oh what a meruelouse thinge is this that I shal yet asceÌ„de into the house of the lorde The .xxxix Chapiter AT the same tyme Merodach Baladan y â— sonne of Baladan kinge of Babylon sente letters aÌ„d presents vnto Ezekias For he had harde how that he was sycke ameÌ„ded And Ezekias was glad of theÌ„ and shewed theÌ„ his tresure houses of his syluer and golde of his riche spyces aÌ„d his fyned oyles aÌ„d his preciouse oyntments he shewed theÌ„ al the houses of his plate and what soeuer tresure he had There was nothinge that Ezekie had other in his house or thorowte al his realme but he shewed it theÌ„ And then came Isaye y â— prophete vnto kiÌ„ge Ezekias sayng to him What saye these men or froÌ„ whense ar they comeÌ„ vnto y â— Ezekias answerde him sayng they arcomon vnto me froÌ„ a farre lande euen froÌ„ Babylon And Isaye sayd what haue they sene in thy house Ezekias
answerde al y t I haue in my house haue they sene I haue shewed them also all my tresure Then sayd Isaye to Ezekias heare the worde of y â— lorde of powers Beholde y â— dayes shal come that what so euer is in thy house whatsoeuer thy fathers haue gathred layed vp in store vnto this daye it shal be takeÌ„ awaye karyed to BabyloÌ„ neth r shal therbe eny thiÌ„g left saith y â— lorde ye certaiÌ„e of thy chylderne which shal go forth of the aÌ„d whom thow shalt begete shal be taken awaye also shal be come gelded men in the kynge of Babylons courte And then sayd Ezekias vnto Isaye The lorde turne it to good that thou hast nowe expressed but in my dayes sayd he I beseche y â— lorde that al thinges mought be quyet suer Here begineth of kynge Cyrus Cha. xl BE of good chere be of good chere my people say the yower god Se that ye counforte y e hartes of Ierusalem tel them of their reste and delyueraunce from captiuite tel theÌ„ howe their synnes shal be forgeuen aftyr that thei haue receyued their ful chastisinge of the lordes haÌ„de for al their synnes Wherfore there kryeth a voyce saynge Prepare ye the waye for the lorde in the deserte and make the pathes playne for yower god in the wyldernes let euery vale be exalted aÌ„d euery mountayne and hyllbe layed lowe let kroked wayes be made straight rowghe wayes smothe For the gloriouse maiestye of the lorde shal appere which euery maÌ„ shal see for the lorde hath promysed it Farthermore the same voyce commaunded sayng krye thou And I asked hiÌ„ what shal I krye which answerde That euery man is but grasse aÌ„d all their gloriouse beutye is lyke a flower of the felde Grasse as sone as it is wythred y â— flower falleth a waye And euen so the people is but grasse aftyr that the spirit of the Lorde hath blowne vpon them notwithstandinge this grasse be witherd and the flower faded yet abydeth the worde of ower god for euer yet this voyce commaunded agene â—aynge Go vp into the highe hill O Zion which preachest vs good tydiÌ„ges Lyftvp thy voyce as lowde as thow mayste O IerusaleÌ„ whiche preachest the gospel Lyftvp thy voyce Isaye be not a frayed and tell the cytes of Iuda saynge Beholde it is yower god beholde the lorde almighty shal come with grete might shal rule by his owne power Beholde he beinge cleare noble both in counsell aÌ„d in his actes shal bringe forth his ryches withe greate triumphe He shall feade his flocke lyke an herdman he shall gather his lambâ—â— into his armes and bare theÌ„ in his besome But the ewes grete with laÌ„be shal he wel noureshe Who hath concluded the waters in his fist spanned the heauens with his hande or hath holden vp the waight of the wholl erthe vpon his thre fingers Who wayeth y e mountayns in a payer of balaunces pondreth the hilles in a payer of scoles Who hath enformed the mynde of y e lorde or who hath bene of his counsel to teache hym or of whoÌ„ hath he fetched his counsel to be taught the waye of iugement to instructe hym of eny knowledge or to declare hym the waye of vnderstandinge Beholde al nacioÌ„s in comparison to hym ar but a drope of a bucket or a batemeÌ„t of a balaunce The eylandes ar but motes in y â— sonne beame All the trees of Libanê° are not sufficieÌ„t to make him a fyer nether al the beastes theryn ar enoughe for his brente sacrifyces al nacions compared to hym are as ye welde saye but nothinge aÌ„d but a tryful Vnto whom then wyl ye lykeÌ„ God or aftyr what fasshion will ye paynte or karue hym Canne eny goldsmyth set forth his Image or caÌ„ne he with al his goold and thinne syluer plate caste him into eny forme that maye represente him Shal a keruer for eny maÌ„nis plesure that foly shly delyghteth to beholde his Image and haue not wherwithe to make it of gold or syluer chose oute a tree iÌ„putrible to setforthe his Image that caÌ„not moue oute of his owne place are ye so blynde that ye se not these thiÌ„ges Maye ye not heare wer not these vngodlinesses declared yow euen froÌ„ y â— begynninge Were ye not moneshed of these thinges at the laynge of the foundacioÌ„ of the erthe Sitte he not of whom we now speake vpon the ronnde worlde lyke as vpon a balle and are not we that inhabit it as lytel locustes Stretchethe he not forth the heauens lyke a cortayne and lyke a tente that is faste pitched to be inhabytede Doth he not bringe princes to nothiÌ„ge the iuges of the erthe to duste so that they be neuer more plaÌ„ted nor soweÌ„ agene nor yet their stocke roted in the erthe For a non as he hath blowne vpon them they ar wythred awaye and gathred vp lyke the stubble with a whyrlewynde But to what thynge I praye yowe wyll yow lyken me or aftyr what fasshion shal I be made saith the holyon lyfte vp yower eyes into the skye above consyder who made these thinges which ledeth forth their a raye or apparel into so grete a nowmber of whom he calleth euery one by his name For by y â— reason of his infinite pow r strength aÌ„d mighte ther is not one of thesehyd frome him Wherfore then shuld Iacob thinke and Israel saye My wayes are hyd frome the lorde my iugemeÌ„t scapeth my god for is it possible for the to be ignorant or not to haue harde that God is euerlastinge The lorde y t made the worlde laboureth not nether is he wearye nether is it possible his wy sedome to be serched oute But he geueth strength to the wearye and hiÌ„ y t faynteth he restoreth right wel Chyldern ar weary almoste brethlesse aÌ„d yonge men vtterly falldowne but to them that wayte vpon the Lorde strengthe is encresed and oute of thez shal growforth egles wynges so y t whiles they runne they shall not faynte whyles they walke they shal not be wearye Ch. xl LEt the eylandes lysten vnto me and let the people take good harte vnto theÌ„ let theÌ„ come before me pleate their cause let vscall eche oth r to iugemeÌ„t wo stereth vp y t rightuouson froÌ„ y e easte calling hiÌ„ forth to subdue to hym y e gentyles to holde downe kinges to dinge theÌ„ downe to the grounde with his swerde to scater theÌ„ a brode lyke stubble with his bowe so y t in folowing vpon theÌ„ he maye passe thorowe with oute perel nether be coÌ„pelled to slippe a syde into eny bypathe wohathe wroughte made ordined y â— generacioÌ„s froÌ„ y â— begiÌ„niÌ„g Even I y â— Lorde which am both before the firste and aftyr the laste Beholde ye ey landes wonder ye angles of the erthe come and see whiche of yowe haue louingly byd yower neghboure and brother to dyner
in whose eyes I am gret which is my god my streÌ„gth and he sayed It is no grete thiÌ„ge for y e to be my â—uante to stervp y â— trybes of Iacob to restore y e destruccioÌ„ of Israel excepte I make y â— also y e lyghte of y e geÌ„tyls to be y â— sauinge helth sente fro me to y e vttermoste coostes of therthe Thê° spake y â— lorde y â— redemer mak r holy of Israel vpoÌ„ Christe conteÌ„ned despysed of y e geÌ„tyls â—uante to al y â— bare rule Kynges priÌ„ces shal se ryse vp to worshipe for y â— lordes sake for he is faithful for his sake y t maketh holy Israel which hath chosen y â— o Messias agene thê° spake y e Lorde in the tyme apoynted shal I come be present withe the in the article of thy helth I shal helpe y â— saue y e and I shal geue the into an erneste of y e promyse tomy people to restore therthe y â— thou myghtste chalenge agene y e dispersed he retages saye to theÌ„ in bondes go your wayes oute to theÌ„ y â— ar in derknes comeforth into y e lighte y e they mought feade by y â— woye sydes take their plesures in al theyr plentuoâ—se pastures thei shal not honger nor thirste y â— heate of y â— sonne shal not smyte theÌ„ for theyr goyde shal tender kepe thez ientely shal geue them drinke at the vaynes of waters I shal make all my hylles playne and redy wayes my pathes shal apere troden for euery man Beholde for there shall come some frome a farre some from the northe from the sea aÌ„d some frome the sowthe Beglad heavens reioyse erthe clap your handes hylles for ioye for the lorde shal conforte his people haue mercy on hys poore afflicte But here parauenture Zion wyll saye The lorde hath forsaken me the lorde hath forgoten me Shal the woman forgete hyr yonge chylde borne of hyr owne bodye but if she forgete hyr chylde yet shal I neuer forgete the for so I haue printed the in these my handes thy walles shal neuer fal fro my mynd they y t casted the downe shal come as faste to buylde the agene thei y t destroyde the shal haue continual course recourse vnto the lyft vp thy eyes loke aboute see al these gentyls shal be gathred togither come to the as verely as I lyue sayth the lorde shalt thou be or ned arayed with theÌ„ as w t a riche ornament aparel even lyke a bryde decked in hyr cleane costely araye for thy lande which lyeth desolate wasted loste shal euen by by be to lytel to coÌ„tayne thinhabitours theryn they y t wold devow r y â— shal be far baneshed then shal thy childern born iÌ„ thi barenes speak to y â— sayng this place is to narowe let me haue a place to sit iÌ„ thê° shalt thou thinke who hath begoteÌ„ me these childern sith I am baren aÌ„d a banesshed diuorsed wedue who hath nouresshed brought me vp these chyldern beholde I am sole forsaken of wheÌ„ce then ar these Thê° therfo r answereth y e lorde god behold I shal stretch forth myhaÌ„d to y e geÌ„tils to y t populose nacioÌ„ shal I lyftvp my signe they shal briÌ„ge sonnes to the in their bosoms daughters vpoÌ„ their shulderne shal they briÌ„ge y â— theyr kinges shal fede y â— their quenes shal be thi nourses they their faces bowed downe to therthe shal reuerence y â— licke of y â— duste froÌ„ thy fete thou shalt knowe y â— I am y â— lorde in whom who so ev r trusts they ar not confounded Who maye take y â— proye froÌ„ y â— stroÌ„ge or y e captyue froÌ„ y e mighty but because y e lorde hath so spokeÌ„ it bothe y e captyue shal be takeÌ„ froÌ„ y e myghtye y e proye froÌ„ y e stroÌ„ge for I wil defende thy cause ageÌ„st thi aduersarye saue thy chyldern thy enemes shal I fede w t theyr own flessh w t their owne bloude shal thei be droÌ„keÌ„ like as w t swete wyne by y â— which veÌ„geaunce every flessh shal se y t I am y e lorde thy saviour thy myghty redemer o Iacob Cap. l. Thus saith y e lorde Whe r is this testimonial of y e diuorse of your moth r which I sent hyr or who is my creditour to whoÌ„ I solde you beholde for eveÌ„ for your own iniquites ar ye solde for brekiÌ„g of mycoÌ„maÌ„dements is your moth r diuorsed put awaye wherfo r wolde nomaÌ„ receyue me when I came nor yet answe r when I called was my haÌ„de so cutof shortened y t it might not delyuer you or was my pow r so my neshed y t it was not able to redeme you which by a worde only dry vp y e sea turne y e floudes into drye laÌ„de so y t their fysshes be corrupte for want of wat r perisshe for thyrste it is I y t clothe y e heauens in a blacke moorning clowde kou r theÌ„ w t sak the lorde god hathe geueÌ„ me a lerned tonge to know how when I shoulde speake w t the weake afflticte erly in the morninge he twitched me by y e eare wakened me as my masters were wont to do to make me lysten take hede it was y â— lorde god y t opened myne eare how then coulde I not but obaye or how coulde I auoyde or slyppe bak Wherfore I offere my backe to the smyters my chekes to the twitchers my face I turne not away froÌ„ rebukes spetel for y â— lorde god bringeth me helpe wherfo r I shal not be confounded but I set my face agenste them as harde as a flynte for I knowe wel y t I shal not be shamed for I haue my defend r by me to delyuer me who then maye stryue agenste me Let vs go stande togither before a iuge if eny maÌ„ wil contende with me in iugemente let hym come hither Beholde the lorde god hathe taken vp my cause to defende it who then shal condempne me lo al these thy Idols aÌ„d goddes shal be worne oute lyke a garment wormes shal eate thez Who so ev r he be then emonge you y â— fear y e lorde let hym heare y e voyce of his seruaÌ„te who ho euer walketh in derkenes y e light shyneth not vpon hym let him truste in y e name of the lorde cleaue to his god Beholde al you haue kindled a fyer aÌ„d eveÌ„ your selues gyrtaboute w t y e flame walke in y e myddes of your own fyer which ye haue kindled but this one thinge is brought to passe be my haÌ„d for you y t ye shal sleape with sorowe Chap. li HEare me ye y t folowe rightwisnes sekinge y e lorde
handes withe yow into an euerlastinge conuenaunte to geue yowe these assuerd mercyes promysed vnto Dauid Beholde I shall geue hym to testifye of me to the people to be prynce and goyde vnto the Gentyles Beholde thow shalt call an vnknowen nacion vnto the and the Gentyles vnto whome thowe were vnknowne shal haste theÌ„ to y â— aÌ„d that euen for the lordes sake thy god aÌ„d the maker holye of Israel whiche hath set the in thy hyghe honow r. Seke ye y â— lorde whyles he wolde be founde cal vpon hym whyles he is nighe let y e vngodly forsake his owne wayes euery wyked man his owne imaginacioÌ„s and thoughtes aÌ„d returne to the lorde for he wyl haue mercye on him let him I saye turne vnto ow r god for he is redye bente to forgeue for euen thus saith the lorde yower counsells aÌ„d thoughtes at not lyke my counsels thoughtes yower wayes ar not lyke my wayes but as farre as the heaueÌ„s ar aboue the erthe even so farre excede my wayes yow r wayes my thoughtes yow rs for lyke as the rayne or snowe descendeth froÌ„ heauen turneth not thither agene but moysteth the erthe maketh it to budde to bringe forth frute that it shulde geue corne to the sower fode to eate even so my worde which goithe out of my mouth shall not returne to me voyde but shaldo whatsoeuer I wyl shal prosper in those thinges for which I sente it for yow shal lyue in gladnes shal leade yow r lyfe in peace Mountayns and hylles shal leape aÌ„d singe for ioye withe yowe aÌ„d al the trees of the feldes shall clappe their handes for the bushe shall there ryse a fyrtre for the thorne a pyne tre Al this shall make for the glorye of the Lorde and shal be a token y t it shal euermore abyde The .lvj. Chap. THus sayed y â— lorde Se y t ye obserue equyte do rightwisnes fo r my sauiÌ„ge helth hasteth him to-come vnto yowe my ritghtwisnes spedeth him to be declared Blessed is the man that shal do this thiÌ„ge the sonne of man y t maye receyue this thinge eveÌ„ him I meane that kepe the y t Sabbat daye defyelleth it not that is to saye that holdeth his handes dothe no euel Here let not the straungers which shall cleaâ—e to the Lorde saye on this maner Ah lasse for sorowe the lorde seperatethe me frome his people Nether let y â— Gelded man saye lo I am a drye stocke for thus hathe the lorde fyrste of al promysed the Gelded men as loÌ„ge as they kepe my Sabbat dayes that is to saye haue these thiÌ„ges in moste pryce to chose to obserue thez which it pleaseth me to coÌ„maunde wyl holde faste my conuenaunte I shal geue vnto theÌ„ in my house witheyn my walles both a better parte a better name then oother of my nowne sonnes or daughters I shal geue theÌ„ I tell yowe siche a name that it shal neuer fayle Secondaryly he promysethe to the chylderne of the straungers whiche desyer to be ioyned vnto the lorde that they shal serue hym and kysshe the name of the lorde and that they shal be his seruauntes that is to saye al those which take hede that they pollute not my name that is to saye holde faste my coÌ„uenaunt For these men shal I bringe vnto my holy hyll and shal cheare theÌ„ in my house of prayer their breÌ„te sacryfyces with rheir o th r oblacioÌ„s shal be accepte vnto me vpon my alter For my house shal be an house of prayers to all nacions For thê° sayde y e lorde god which gathereth to gither y â— dispersed people of Israel yet shall I gather vnto theÌ„ siche as pertayne to their coÌ„gregacioÌ„ eueÌ„ al y â— beastes of y t felde al the wylde beastes of their wodes shal come to them to eate hym vp Notwithstandinge yet al their byshopes are blynde they aral without knowledge ye they ar aldoÌ„me dogges maye not barke they lye loÌ„ge sleapiÌ„ge dreamiÌ„ge delightiÌ„ge in vayne ydle plesures they ar dogges ye y t the moste vnshamefaced never satisfyed These herdemen vnderstaÌ„de nothinge but euery one of theÌ„ foloweth his owne counsells and thoughtes every one foloweth his owne couetuouse harte with al his might sayng thus come I shall briÌ„ge y t to y t wyne let vs driÌ„ke droÌ„ken as largely shal we driÌ„ke to morowe as to daye ye more largely But iÌ„ y e meane tyme the innoceÌ„te is iuged to dethe and noman consydereth it in his harte y e moste beste men ar conueyde out of the waye and noman so loketh vpon this y â— he wyl saye beholde the synful maketh a waye y â— rightwyse y t he hymselfe might lyue at his plesure in reste y t he myght be suer in his bedde aÌ„d walâ—e aftyr his owne luste The .lvij. Chap. COme hither therfor ye childerne of wytches borne betwene y e whoremonger harlete whom do ye thus scorne aÌ„d take yower plesure of Vppon whom do ye mowe withe yower mouthes bleare oute yower toÌ„ges at Ar not yowe conceyued in adulterye aÌ„d euen y t lyinge desayghtful ysswe takiÌ„g yow r lybidinouse plesure at the okes aÌ„d vnder euery brode shadewed tre destroynge chylderne in valeys aÌ„d vnder the rockes of stone In highe places of stone buylded by ryuer sydes is thy porcioÌ„ wherfore y â— flowdes shal be thy lot for thou haste powerd forth thy lyquet sacryfices vnto theÌ„ haste the r offerd thy oblacioÌ„s shal I suffer these abominacioÌ„s In highe mountayns thou madest thy beddes thether thou asceÌ„dedst to offere thy sacryfices behynde y â— gates postes thou leftedst a remeÌ„braÌ„ce of y â— when thou madest naked thy selfe as wel to me as to a nother Thow wentst madest thy bedde wyder when thou hewedste pluckedst certayne of y t goddis of y t gentyls vnto y â— thou wentest into y e beddes of them where so euer thou syest theÌ„ And thou anoyntedst thy selfe w t swete oyn temeÌ„tes wasshedst y â— with dyuerse swete wat rs wentedst strayte vnto kiÌ„gis when thou sentedst thy messagers into farre countres thorowe whiche thinge thou fellest vnto hell Thou labouredst in y â— multitude of thy nowne wayes aÌ„d neuer thiÌ„kedste it is sufficieÌ„t Thou beleuedst to haue goteÌ„ y â— thy lyuing thorowe thy nowne laboure aÌ„d pollicye so y t thow shuldst neuer neded to haue kared or to haue asked it of me but whom oughtedst thou to dreade fear aftyr that thow haste broken promyse withe me Thou regardedst not me thow calledst not me into thy mynde Thinkest thou y t I will holde my peace as I haue done hitherto so y t thow nedest not be a frayd of me No verely but I shal rather disclose thy rightwisnes thy workes and declare howe lytel they shal profite the Let theÌ„ delyuer y t at thy nede
taryed for lighte lo what derkenes is the r we waited for y e morninge but lo we walke iÌ„ y e derke mydde nighte we go gropiÌ„g by y e walles lyke bliÌ„de meÌ„ we grope as thoughe ow r eyes we r putoute we stoÌ„ble at none dayes as thoughe we waÌ„dred iÌ„ y e derke morninge lyke olde meÌ„ halfe dede stoÌ„bliÌ„ge at thei r graues we grone lyke beares morne coÌ„tinually lyke douves we loke for eq ite but she appereth no whe r we tarye for helthe but it is very farre froÌ„ vs that because ow r wikednes is so encresed befo r y e y t we are so synful for our transgressions we denye not our synnes we knowledge that is to saye we are synners we ar false lyers agenst y e lorde we haue forsaken our god and turned our backes to hym we haue blasphemed hym folowed strange goddes we haue conceyued euel in our hartes occupyed our myndes aboute false wordes deades Wherfore equite hath forsaken vs and rightwisnes standeth al a farre moornyngeâ— for trwthe is fallen downe yn the streutes equyte ys locked vp ye truthe is cruelly handled he y t forsaketh euel is torne in peses these thinges when the lorde saw he was not coÌ„tent y t there was no equite he saw y t ther was non y t wolde make intercession it beruwed hym he turned hiÌ„ selfe vnto his owne power cleued to his rightwisnes a non he dyd vpon him selfe rightwysnes as a cote of mayle put helthe vpoÌ„ his hed in stede of anhelmet he dyd vpon hiÌ„ vengeaunce for his vesture aÌ„d kouerd hym selfe with indignacion lyk as with a cloke ther was siche hatrede as is wâ—nt to be betwene two enimes reuenging ether other this armed he hiÌ„ selfe to rewarde y e cruel tyraunts wherfore they shal feare y e name of y e lorde froÌ„ y â— weste his maiestye froÌ„ y e easte for he shal cuÌ„ lyke a violent floude which the lorde hath steredvp with a wynde but vnto Zion theÌ„ which beinge of y e seade of Iacob repente theÌ„ selfe turne froÌ„ their wikednes he shal cuÌ„ a redem r saith y â— lorde For I me selfe saith y â— lorde shal make this conuenaunte promyse with theÌ„ y t is to saye My sprite w t whoÌ„ I shal instructe y â— my wordis which I shal put into thy mouthe shall not fal froÌ„ thy mouth neth r froÌ„ the mouthes of thi childerne nor froÌ„ y e mouth of their childers chylderne here after into everlasting saith the lorde The .lx. Chap ARyse therfore haste y â— for thy lighte is come y e maiestye of y t lorde shal shyne vpon y e beholde for whiles the derke cloudes kov r therthe y e people y e lorde shal shyne ouer the his gloriouse maiestye shal apere with the. Then shall the gentils comeforth vnto thy lighte aÌ„d the kynges shal walke vnto the brightnes y t springethforth with the lyfte vp thy eyes roundaboute the beholde al these ar gath rde togith r come to the eveÌ„ froÌ„ farre countres sonnes shal come to y e daughters shal flee vnto the on every syde then shalt thou perceyue be in prosperite thy harte shal reioyse be opened wyde even when the grete multitude of the sea shal be conuerted vnto y e y t is when the infinite noumber of the geÌ„tyls shal come vnto the aboundance of camels shall cover the Dromedares of Madian Epha shal cloye y e al y e Sabens shal come bringinge golde incense geuinge prayse to the lorde al the wylde beastes of Cedar shal come togith r to the y â— wethers of Nebaioth shal do y eseruice thei shal be offerde at y t altar which I haue chosen at y e house of my maiestye whiche I haue magnified lo who ar these y t come fleiÌ„g like cloudis doves to their wyndous also y e eylands shal be gatherd to me the shippes of the sea shal come togither to karye their childerne to the from farre countres with their golde syluer to y e honour of y e lorde thy god y â— maketh holye Israel magnifyethe y e Also straunge chylderne shal buylde thy walles aÌ„d their kinges shal ministre to the for when I was angrye I smyt y e when it pleaseth me I wyll haue mercy on y e. Thy gates shal stand open daye night they shal neu r be shyt y t y e multitude of y e gentyls myght cuÌ„ to the their kinges be brought yn for bothe y e geÌ„tils y e people or kingdoms y e wyl not serue the shal peresshe be smyten downe with swerde even y e ryches of Libani shal be brought vnto y e as hyr Cypresse trees pyne trees Cedres al togither a lyke shal garneshe the place of my sanctuarye for I shal make y e place of my fete right honourable they y t sometyme scourged y e shal cuÌ„ nowe hombly lowely to y e they y â— spake evell vpon the shal faldowne at thi fete cal the the cyte of y e lorde even y e holye ZioÌ„ of Israel Farthermore where as thow wast forsaken so odyouse y t noman wolde go thorowe y e nowe shal I make y â— clear goodlye for ev r right glad thorout al ages Thou shalt souke y e mylke of the gentyls be nouresshed at the brestes of kynges aÌ„d knowe y t I am the lorde thy sauioure y e stronge avenger of Israel for thy brasse I shal geue the golde for yerne syluer for wode brasse for stone yerne I shal geue y e peace to be thi rulers rightwysnes shal be thy lawiers The r shalneth r roberye nor extorsion be hardof eny more in thy costes nether destruccion nor losse with in thi region thi walles shal be called helthe thi gates named prayse The sonne shal no more be thy seruante to ministre to the lyghte be daye nether y e mone be nighte but y e lorde shal be thi continual lighte thi god shal be thi clearnes thi sonne shal nomore go downe nor thi mone enymore be hyd for y e lorde shal be thy perpetual lighte thy moorninge dayes shal haue an ende aÌ„d be matched with gladnes al thi people shal be innocent iuste possesse y e lande for ev r thei shal be y e flow r of my plantiÌ„ges my nowne handye worke in whom I wyl glorye y e leste shal encrese into a thousande y e laste shal growe into a right stronge nacion I the lorde shal spede this thinge in hyr tyme. The .lxi. Chap. The spirit of the lorde god is with me for y e lorde hath anoiÌ„ted me hath sente me to preache to y e meke afflicte in harte to biÌ„devp to
him by the right haÌ„de diuidiÌ„ge the waters before theÌ„ to get him selfe a name for euer he remembred how he led theÌ„ thorow the depthe thorow the deserte lyke as by an euen aÌ„d playne waye that thei stombled not for the spirit of the lorde directed them lyke the beastes y t go in the felde So leddest thou thy people O god to gete the a gloriouse name Lokeforth therfore froÌ„e heauen froÌ„ the holy habitacion of thy maiestye beholde howe is it thus cuÌ„ to passe that thy zele thy streÌ„gthe thy plentuouse intere petye aÌ„d soste mercye ar so hardened agenste me Thow arte owr father Abraham knoweth not vs neth r Israel knoweth vs but it is thou lorde that art owr father aÌ„d redem r thy name is of euer Wherfore lorde haste thou led vs froÌ„e thy wayes haste thou hardened owr hartes y t we shulde not feare the briÌ„ge vs agene into thy fauou r for thy promyses sakes made to thy seruants which ar of the trybs of thy heretage It was not longe that thy holy people enioyed thy sanctuarie for our enymes destroyed and spoylde it and as for vs we haue bene thy people euen froÌ„ the begiÌ„niÌ„ge of y e worlde but as for theÌ„ they knewe the not for their god neth r were thy called aftyr thy name The .lxiiij. Chapi I Wolde thow woldest cleve insondre heaueÌ„ and come downe that the hylles mought melte awaye at thy presens even as agenst an hotte fyer aÌ„d that the violent tyraÌ„ts mought be set a fyer as is water inflammedde with fyer that thy name mought be knowne vnto thy enymes aÌ„d these haithen mought tremble at thy presens Descende I saye with thy woundreful vnwonte workes vnloked fore that these hilles mought consume in thy syghte For from al tymes paste there was noman that wolde heare or take hede nether beholde with his eyes these thinges which thou haste done for men waytinge for the but thow a lone O god thou helpest hym that boldely foloweth rightwysnes aÌ„d socourste them that depende on the to go in thy wayes But lo thow arte nowe angrye because we are synners and continue stil in ower synnes and there is not one salfe for we are all lyke an vnclene thinge and all ower rightwisnesses are lyke clothes polluted withe menstrwe all we fall lyke leaves for ower iniquites take vs awaye lyke y e wynde there is noÌ„ that wil cal vpon thy name or endeuer hym selfe to holde the wherfore thou hydest thy face frome vs and scourgest vs for ower wykednes Nowe therfore when it is so that thow art ower father and we ar but claye thou arte vnto vs as a potter and all we ar the workes of thy hande Be not so sore angrye Lorde I beseche the nether remember owr iniquites alwayes but rath r I praye the consyder al vs to be thy people Boholde the cytes of thy holy lande are turned into a wyldernes ZioÌ„ is forsaken ye and even Ierusalem is a deserte ow r holy temple which was ower beutyful flower whereyn owr fathers praysed the is brentvp and all ower plesaunte places are turned into wyldernesses Wylt thou not Lorde aftyr all these thinges be entreted and bowed with prayer wilt thou be styl scourge vs so grevouslye The .lxv. Chap. MEn shal seke me whiche now seke me not they shall fynde me y â— nowe seke me not vnto whome I shal saye anon lo lo I am here at yow r haÌ„de thus shal it be sayde vpon these gentyles which yet cal not on my name for I haue stretched forthe my handes al this tyme paste vnto a nacion that beleued not whiche goithe not the right waye y e is to saye lyueth not aftyr my mynde and plesures which also neu r ceasseth to exasperat to anger me eueÌ„ to my face offeringe their offeringes in groves wodes breÌ„niÌ„ge their incense vpoÌ„ alters made of stone they sit prayiÌ„ge at tombes shrynes sleapiÌ„ge al y e night in chyrches ful of images they eate hogges flesshe vncleane potage is in their â—â—â—hes they saye if thou coÌ„est nighe theÌ„ touch me not lest I make y â— vnclene these meÌ„ shal smoke at my wrathe be set a fy r to brene for eu r. Beholde these thiÌ„ges ar decreed in my presens y â— I shulde not forgete theÌ„ but geue you you r rewarde wh r fo r I shal laye yo r wykednes y e wikednes also of your fath rs iÌ„ your own bosoms sayth y e lorde which breÌ„te their sacrifices vpoÌ„ muÌ„taiÌ„s blasphemed me in y e hilles wh r for I shal meate oute their iniq â—tes ageÌ„ turn theÌ„ into their own bosoms thê° saith y e lorde as meÌ„ wil say to hiÌ„ y e happeneth on an holy vyne pluk no grapis of this for it is holy eveÌ„ so shal I do for my â—uaÌ„ts sakes because I wolde not destroye theÌ„ al but I shal briÌ„gforth a sede out of Iacob thinheretour of my hyl oute of Iuda y â— is to saye my chosen shal possesse it my ministers shal dwel ther sarone shal be fylled w t flockis heardes y e vale of Achor shal be layers for herdes of my people y t seke me but you haue betrayed y e lorde forgoteÌ„ my holy hyl you garnesshed an alt r for y e goddes of Fortune consecrated your offeriÌ„g to y e god of tresu r I shal therfor kepe you iÌ„ sto r as tresu r for y e swerde y e you mought al be smitdown w t it because y t wheÌ„ I called you ye wolde not answer wheÌ„ I spake ye wolde not hear but ye dyd evel iÌ„ my sight chosed those thigis which I hated Wh r for thê° speketh y e lorde Lo my â—uaÌ„ts shal eat when ye shal be ful hoÌ„grye beholde my â—uaÌ„ts shal drink wheÌ„ ye shal be ful thirsty beholde my â—uaÌ„ts shal be glad wheÌ„ ye shal be ashamed Lo my â—uaÌ„ts shal reioyse singe eveÌ„ for y e very helth of their hartis but you shalkrye oute for y e very sorow of your hartes for anguysh of mynde ye shal houle as houÌ„dis your name shal not be swornby emoÌ„g my chosen for y e lorde shal slaye you cal his â—uaÌ„ts by a noth r name He y t shal be praysed in y e erthe let hiÌ„ be praysed in y e true god he y t shal swer in y e erthe let hiÌ„ swer by y e true lord for olde enymytes shal be forgoteÌ„ takeÌ„ away saith he out of my sight for lo I shal make newe heaueÌ„s a newe erthe their shal be no meÌ„tion of y e olde neth r shal thei enymo r asceÌ„de to meÌ„nis hartis but these meÌ„ shal reioyse enioye these y e I shal make for ev r for lo I shal make Ierusalez right glad even froÌ„ hyr very harte whose people shal be ioyful w t whoÌ„ I my selfe shal be glad merye with
〈◊〉 people there shal not be harde in hireny wepiÌ„ge or kryinge neth r shal there be aftyr this eth r infant or olde mn y t haue not their ful dayes but y â— yoÌ„ge maÌ„ at an C. years shaldye y e transgressour of an C. years shal be daÌ„ned they shall buylde houses iÌ„habit theÌ„ thei shal plaÌ„te vynes eate of their frutes thei shal not edifie for a noth r to dwel in it neth r plante for a noth r to eate it but y e lyfe of my people y e workes of their haÌ„ds shal be as fresshe as y e tre of lyfe my chosen shal se many years shal not labour in vayne nor bring forth their frute w t trouble for thei ar y e blessed sead of y e lorde their yssue shal abyde w t theÌ„ y e tyme shal cuÌ„ y t I wil answer theÌ„ befor thei cal on me I wil hear theÌ„ whyle thei ar yet but in coÌ„ceyuing their peticioÌ„ y e wolfe y e laÌ„be shal fede togith r y e lyoÌ„ shal eate haye w t y e oxe but y e erthe shal be meate for y e â—peÌ„t ther shal be nomo r trouble nor plage in al my holy hil saith y â— lorde c. 66 THus saith y e lorde heauen is my seate y e erthe is my fote stole where then shal this house stoÌ„de which ye 〈◊〉 buylde me whe r is this place wherin Ishal rest wheÌ„ my haÌ„dis made al these thing is thei ar rekened emonge y e thingis which ar made saithe y e lorde but to whoÌ„ shal I loke eueÌ„ to y e hoÌ„ble in spirit which treÌ„bleth at my speach for he y t slayeth an oxe slayeth a maÌ„ he y t slayeth a shepe haÌ„geth a dogge he y t offereth to me anvtwarde offeriÌ„g pleaseth me as wel as to offer me swynes bloude he y t iÌ„ceÌ„se me doth eveÌ„ a lyke thiÌ„g as to pray se blesse an idole but these meÌ„ haue chosen these thiÌ„gis their myndes haue delighted iÌ„ these wayes abhominacioÌ„s wh r for Ishal eueÌ„ lykwise chose oute their skorners those thiÌ„gis y t thei feared I shal briÌ„ge on their neckis because y â— wheÌ„ I called nomaÌ„ wolde answ r wheÌ„ I spake nomaÌ„ wolde hear but they dyd euel iÌ„ my presens chosed those thinges which I reproue Hear y e worde of y e lord ye y e treÌ„ble fear at his speache your broth rn which hate abhorre you because ye cal on my name saye let y e lorde magnifye hiÌ„ selfe y t we mought se your gladnes but siche meÌ„ shal be coÌ„fuÌ„ded ye eueÌ„ now begiÌ„neth y e voyce of y e lorde as coÌ„cerniÌ„g y e destruccioÌ„ of y e cyte teÌ„ple takiÌ„g veÌ„geaÌ„ce rewarding his enemes to be harde like y e lameÌ„tatioÌ„ of a womaÌ„ grete w t chylde before hir paÌ„ges labours cuÌ„ wheÌ„ she is briÌ„giÌ„gforth a maÌ„ childe who hath harde siche thiÌ„gis or who hath sene siche thiÌ„gis do y e erthe briÌ„gforth al on a day or ar al folke borne at once as ZioÌ„ coÌ„ceyueth briÌ„gethforth hir childern do I destroye or do I not rath r begette do I not begette do I not make bareÌ„ saith god beg lad w t IerusaleÌ„ singe w t hir for ioye al hir louers reioyse w t hyr euen froÌ„ your hartes al hir moorners for ye shal souke be satisfyed at hir teatis of coÌ„solacioÌ„ ye shal souke be rep leneshedâ—xith hir gloriouse pleÌ„tuousnes for thê° spake y e lorde Lo I shal lede forth peace to hyr lyke af loude y e pow r of y e geÌ„tils shal I ledeforth lyke a gret rysing wat r ye shal souke th r for be borne in hir bosome daÌ„sedvpoÌ„ hir knees for I shal coÌ„fort you eueÌ„ in IerusaleÌ„ shal you receyue coÌ„solacioÌ„ as of a moth r coÌ„forting hyr sonne wheÌ„ ye se this your hartis shal ioye aÌ„d your bones shal floureshe lyke a grene plaÌ„t y e lordes â—uaÌ„t shal prayse his pow r his enymes shal he threaten For lo y e lorde shal cuÌ„ in fyer his chariets lyke a whirlewinde w t grete fury to aveÌ„ge in his wrath he shal cuÌ„ in y e flame of fyer for w t fyer w t his swerde shall he iuge eu ry flessh his welbe loued slayne for his sake shal be eÌ„cresed but they y â— vowed to make theyr selfe cleane in groues thei y â— eat opeÌ„ly emoÌ„ge theÌ„ selfe hoggis flessh my se sich o th r abhominable vnclennes shal be takeÌ„ awaye altogith r saith y e lorde for I shal cuÌ„ to gath r togith r bothe ev ry nacioÌ„ toÌ„ge thâ—ir studyes workis thei shal cuÌ„ semy maiestye Also I shal geue theÌ„ a tokeÌ„ sende some of my chosen to y e geÌ„tyls as to y â— Cylicks Lybes Lydees which ar noble archers I shal sende to Italye Grece to y e fardest eylaÌ„ds w ch yet hâ—rd not my preaching nor saw my glory they shal preach my glorye emoÌ„ge the geÌ„tils briÌ„ging al your broth rn froÌ„ y e multitude of y e geÌ„tils to be an oblacioÌ„ to y e lorde thei shal briÌ„ge theÌ„ on horse in wageÌ„s chariets on mules iÌ„ cartes to IerusaleÌ„ my holy hyl saith y e lorde no noth r wyse theÌ„ y e chyldern of Israel we r wont to bring their oblacioÌ„s into y e house of y e lorde in clene vessels out of theÌ„ shal I take some preestes leuytes saith y e lorde for as this newe heaueÌ„ erth w ch I shal make shal abyde in my presens saith y e lorde even so shal your seade your name abyde also th r shal be ê‘petual festes of y e newe mones ê‘petual sabbath days euery flessh shal cuÌ„ to worshipe befo r me saith y e lord thei shal goforth to beholde y e karioÌ„s of y e synners agenst me for y e worme of theÌ„ shal nev r dye their fyer shal nev r be queÌ„ched theish albe lothed of every flessh The ende of y e prophecye of Isaye ¶ Printed in Straszburg by Balthassat Beckenth in the year of our lorde 1531. the .x. daye of Maye 4. Re. 15 Iud. vij ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞