my vyne yarde what thinge more coulde I haue done to my vyne yarde which I did not to it And wherfor then I lokinge y t it shulde haue yilded me grapes hath it brought me forth thornes Suerly I shal shewe you therfo r what I wil do to my vyne yarde I shal go breke vp hir fense y t she maye be robbed destroyed I shal thro downe hyr wall y t she maye be troden downe with mennis fete I shal leve hyr desolate al a lone noman to cut hyr nor yet to digge hyr She shal be overgrowne with bryers thornes I shal forbyd y ◠clowdes to geve hyr eny rayne But yet y e vyne yarde of y e lorde of hostes is the house of Israel y e mē of Iuda ar his goodly plētuous plantes which when he loked for iugemēt lo al wasful of iniquite whē he loked for equite lo al was iniurye cōplayntes wo be to yow y t ioyne house to house ād laye felde to felde vntyl there be no more rome lefte for yowe as thoghe ye wolde haue y e worlde all a lone But y e lorde of pow rs roundeth me ī myn eare saying If these grete and fayer houses be not lefte a lone nomā dwelling in them ye a vyne yarde of .v. akres shal yilde but a fyrkyn of wyne of zo bushells of sede skāt shal aryse thre wo be to the haunters of dronkenes which ryse erly to drinke cōtinuinge in it tyl nighte beīg hot with wyne in whose bankets there are harpes and futes taberet pype washed with wyne but in the meane tyme the very worke of the lorde thei beholde not nether consyder thei what his hādes haue made Be cause therfore that my people hath no knowledge thei ar sone brought into captiuite their nobles are made thynne with honger and the proude multitude peresheth for thirste And for this cause the helles haue opened their vnsaciable throtes and their mouthes gape be yende mesure that thither mought descende pryde pompe riches and al that are addicte to these vices Thus is man plucked downe the stowte stoupeth and highe lokes are abated but the Lorde of powers and the holy god is exalted and stableshed into a gloriouse exēple of equite and rightwisnes that the poore lābes might be fed of the thinge apoynted thez and the stourdy strayīge rammes mought go graze vppon the baren deserte Wo be vnto these vayne skorners which drawe vnto them selfe wykednes as ye wolde saye with a lyne ād pluk synne also to them even with carte ropes in whose mouthes are al wayes the se sayinges let hym worke on faste that we might once se it let the mynde of Israels holy maker come to passe ād be once presente that we myght once knowe it Wo be vnto them that saye that thing to be evel which thei knowe to be good and that to be good which they knowe to be evel which reken derknes to be light and the lighte to be derknes that at is bitter they saye is swete ād swete to be bitter Wo be to thez that at wyse in their owne eyes and haue vnderstandinge in their owne iugemente Wo be vnto these grete drinkers of wyne and to men hardye to receyue dronkenes which absolue y e wiked for giftes and condempne the iuste for his rightwisnes wherfore lyke as y e tonge of the fyer licketh yn the stubble and as the flame consumethe the strawe even so their rote putrifyed the flow r of them shal vaynesshe a waye lyke duste which contempne the lawe of the lorde of powers and despyse the worde of hym that maketh holye Israel wherfore y e wrathe of the lorde is kyndled agenste his people and he hath turned his hande to smyte them that these hilles mought tremble and theire karcases mought lye stinkinge lyke dongehills in the highe wayes And yet after al this shal he nothinge abate his wrathe but shal yet farther stretche forth his hande shal geve a token to the straunge nacion a farreof whistelinge thē frome the fartheste partes of the erthe lo thei shal come a none that swyftlye There is not one wearye or faynte emonge them not one of them drowsye or sleapye their girdles a boute their raynes thei do not once slak nor yet vnlose the latchets of their shoes their arows are sharpe and their bowes redye bente their horse howves shode as sharpe as flyntes and the wheles of their charyets turninge lyke a whirlewinde This nacion roreth lyke a lyon and grenneth lyke the lyons whelpes they shal grenne and snatche vp their proye nether shal there be one that maye escape nor yet eny that maye delyuer them Thei shal grenne vpon the people of Israel at y t tyme like a fyerce sea Then if we beholde the erthe lo all shal be derkenes and no refugye If we beholde the starres lo they shal be derkened into ower hevynes with oute hope Ch. vi THe yeare in the whiche Dzias the kynge dyed I see the Lorde sittinge in an highe seate all aboue and the trayne of his robe filled y ◠temple And the Seraphims apered above ouer him and eche of them had siye winges with two of their wīges thei kouerde their faces with two thei kouerde their fete and withe the tother two they flewe and they kryed to eche other sayinge Holy holy holy is y e lorde of powers all the erthe be fulfylled with his gloriouse maiestye ye and the postes with their windowes were moued at the voyce of these angels kryinge y e same house was ful of smoke then sayde I Ah lasse for I was a stonned in asmych as I me selfe beynge a man hauynge polluted lippes and conuersaunte withe people hauinge also polluted lippes yet not withstandinge had sene with my eyes a kinge even the lorde of powers Then one of the Seraphims flwe vnto me bringinge a quicke cole taken srome the alter with a payer of tonges and he touched my lippes saynge these wordes beholde as sone as this cole hath touched thi lippes thy in iquitie is gone and thy sinne is purged Farthermore I harde the voice of the lorde takinge aduysmente on this maner whome shal I sende Or who shal go on ower message And then answerde I lo here at your plesure to sende me And he sayde Go thy wayes and saye vnto this people ye shal heare verely and yet shal ye not vnderstonde and ye shal see playnly but yet shal ye not knowe Make grosse and fatte the hartes of this people make thicke their eares and kover their eyes leste thei see with their eyes or heare with their eares or vnderstande with their hartes ād so be conuerted and saued And here I begane to speake for them sayinge howe longe my lorde vntil the cytes sayde he be destitute their dwellers not a man lefte in the houses and the grownde be layed voyde For ful farre shal the lorde baneshe the men and there shal
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
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
of y â— soyle And to do these thinges duely in ordre do not his god teache aÌ„d dyrecte hym for he thressheth not his fetehes with a wayne nor turneth the carte whele vpon his Coomyn But the fetches he thressheth with a flayle and his Coomyn he beateth forth withe a staffe and even so lykwyse he gryndeth his whete into brede Which he coulde never do with thresshinge it For nether the violence of the turninge of the carte whele nor yet the tredinge of the beastâ—sfete maye grynde it into meale And this thinge is shewed hym of the Lorde of powers which is the moste meruelste counseler and the gretest magnifyer of equyte Chap. xxix WO be vnto y â— Ariel Ariel a cyte sometyme subdued of Dauid Take yet a fewe yeares respite set some festes yet passe ouer awhyle then suerly shal I besege Ariel Then shal she be so heauye aÌ„d so kareful that she maye welbe called Ariel I shall coÌ„pase the rownd a boute with tentes and castells and shitte the yn withe towers and dryue vp bolwerkes agenste the. And thow shalt be so lowe brought that thow shalt speake even oute of y â— grownde and as of one buryed in the duste thy voyce shal be harde For thy voice shal be lyke a sprite speakinge oute of therth so fayntly shalt thow grone oute of the grownde For the multitude of thy enymes shal be lyke the motes in y â— sonne beames aÌ„d the cruel multitude of them shalcome vpon the lyke duste reased vp and karyed sodenly in the twinklinge of an eye Then shalt thow be visited of the lorde of powers with thondre erthe quakes aÌ„d fearful crackes with whyrlwiÌ„des stormey tempestes with the flame of a devoweringe fyer But nowe al this multitude of the gentyles beinge aboute to bringe forth their armye ageÌ„ste Ariel all this hoste the compassinge aboute hyr aÌ„d hir besegers al appere abyet to be but a dreame of an hongrye man dreaminge to haue eaten which nowe waking is ful hongrye hauinge his bely emptye and lyke a thirstye man dreaminge that he drinketh a non as he is a wake he is ful faynte drye whose desyer yet birneth for drynke Thus I saye appereth the multitude of al these gentyls as yet to be lyke which shal fight agenste the mounte Zion But then shal ye be amased astoned gapynge and beholdinge al these thinges ye shal be dronken but not with wyne ye shal rele but not for dronkenes for the lorde shal power forth vpon you the spryte of a depe slomber aÌ„d shal shit vp yower eyes that is to saye he shal kouer yow r prophetes and cheffe seinge men And al prophecyes shal be vnto yowe even as the wordes of a clasped boke and sealed vp which if thou offerest vnto a wel lettred man saynge I praye yow read this boke he shal saye I cannot read it for it is sealed vp Also if it be geuen to an vnlerned man saynge I praye the read this boke he shal answere the. I am not lettrede Wherfore thus saith the lorde Because that this people draweth nighe me withe their mouthes aÌ„d with their lippes speak mich worship by me their hartes beinge farre fro me and because the feare that they owe vnto me they geue it me aftyr the doctryne and the commaundements of men therfore beholde I my selfe shall do to this people a thinge to be merueled and woundred at a bo ve mesure that is to saye I shal destroye the wysdome of their wysemen and the vnderstandinge of their men of moste actiuite shal haue a fall Wo be to them that so depely drowne their selues in their own policye that they thynke to hyde their thoughtes and counsells frome the lorde Which hyde their enforcements aÌ„d studes in derkenes saynge presumptuously Who sethe vs or who knoweth vs which yower presumpcion is as thoughe y â— potters claye shulde devyse with in it selfe or that y â— worke shulde saye to hyr master Make me not and as thoghe y â— potte shulde reporte vpon hyrpotter that he vnderstandeth not See ye not now therfore to be euen at hande that Libanus shal be turned into Charmelum and Charmelus shal be rekened amonge y â— wodes Even then shal the deffe vnderstande the wordes of the boke and the eyes of the blynde the derke clowde taken a waye shal receyue lyghte And y â— oppressed shal celebrate a glad daye to y â— lorde the nedyons shal reioyse in hym that maketh holye Israel For these violente tyrauntes shal be consumed and these wylye mockinge hypocrytes shall perish And these that are so bente vpon myschefe to leade men into sinne for the noonce goinge a bought to supplante y â— reprover that sitteth in iugement thorow lyes lead the rightwyse into a contrarye pathe shal be kutof Wherfore thus saith the lorde the saviow r of Abraham vnto the house of Iacob Let not Iacob now be ashamed neth r chaÌ„ge his chere when he seithe even them also whom my handes haue made to be emonge his chylderne to sanctifye my name ye to sanctifye hym that maketh holy Iacob to worshipe y â— god of Israel Which geÌ„tyls lately erred but now haue they the spyrit of vnderstanding which before were barbarouse aÌ„d fyerce but nowe ar they tamed and learned the lawe Chap. xxx Fyghe vpon these vnnatural chylderne goiÌ„g oute of kynde saith the lorde which dare make a counsel with oute my counsel and weaue a web nothinge aftyr my mynde to heape synne vpon synne For they goforth to descende into Egypte and asked not my mouthe trustinge to Pharaos strength and in the shadewe os the Egypcions but Pharaos helpe shal be turned into yower confusion and the confidence y t ye haue in the protection of y â— EgyptioÌ„s shal turne ye to ignominye yow r princes were in Zoana yower Ambassiatours came to Hanesam But yet shall ye be all ashamed of y â— people that maye not helpe yowe for they shal nether brynge yow helpe nor ayed but shal bringe yowe into confusion and opprobrye yower beastes wente laden by the sowth waye ye thorow a region ful of perel and feare be cause of lyons and lyonesses kocketryces and swyfte fleyng dragons laye there yower mules were laden vpon their shulders with yower tresure Camels bore vpon their bunchedbackes yow r ryche presentes to people vnalbe to helpe yowe For ful vayne and vnprofytable shal be the Egypcions helpe wherfore I kryed vpon yow on this maner let yow r prowde audacite ceasse And nowe therfore go wryte this thinge in their owne tables aÌ„d recorde it in a boke to endwer into a perpetual testimonye to their posterite For this people is stowrdie they ar false chylderne chylderne that loue not to heare the lawe of the Lorde Whiche dare saye to the prophetes kare ye not for vs and also to the seinge men tell not vs of thinges to come but preach vs pleasaunte thinges loke vs oute deceytes
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
Isaye in the .lxj. chap. redde saynge The spirit of god is with me for the lorde hathe anoynted me and sente me to preache his gospel to the poore afflicte troubled in mynde to byndup the woundis of theÌ„ y t ar wounded coÌ„trite iÌ„ harte to shewforth delyueraunce to men in captiuite to open y e preson to men in holde to publesshe the tyme of grace decreed of the lorde cetera And when he had redde he shitte the boke and restored it to y â— ministre of the Synagoge And nowe at the laste the worlde corrupte with the same Idolatrye aÌ„d lyke abhominacioÌ„ as it was in Isayes tyme at Christes comynge vhom therfore ther muste nedes abyde lyke destruccion captiuite if we be not captyue al redye God of his infinite goodnes hathe restored vs his prophete Isaye speakinge playne englysshe which haue ben locked vp longe in latyne so y t the laye maÌ„ I dare saye vnderstode hym not nor yet parauenture many that repute thez selfe learned Nowe maye we reade him for the moste parte gatheriÌ„ge grete frute with oute eny grete glose so y t we bringe withe vs a pure harte purged from all carnall affects askynge vnderstandinge of god by whose spirit it was al spoken so that we knowlege oure vngodlynes our Idolatrye false worshipe with our lippes our hartes beinge farre froÌ„ god which hitherto haue rendred feare worship to him aftyr the doctryne and coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts of men Isaye .xxix eth r syde y â— goodnes of god hath euer set godlynes erudicioÌ„ not this erudicion which is sone puftvp w t y â— hastye wynde of vaine glorie but y t which is iÌ„flaÌ„med w t y e soft oyle of charite y t y e godlye lerned might mo r clearly se pearse thorowe y e vayne vysare of hypocrysy Fore wher caÌ„ suê‘sticioÌ„ byd hir selfe but godlynes wil finde hir out how caÌ„not paiÌ„ted eloqueÌ„ce bolde babling but fear godlye erudicion ¶ Wherfore when it was so y t in Isayes tyme vyce raigned so sore but yet thorow y â— fauoure of hypocrysy it was taught for vertue curiouse fables walked in y t stede of goddis worde the lorde steredvp this heavenly witte whoÌ„ he had made before to fighte agenste this wylye effeminate monstre with al hir longe tayle thinking it conuenient for y t state of y e worlde to briÌ„gforth so wel apoynted a prophete agenste so delycate an enymye which prophete shulonot only fight w t strength but also with prudence polycye y t y â— spirit shuldnot wante his aparel y t because yn those dayes men studyed to painte their speache to coloure their wordes Wh r fo r his counsel which cannot be deceaued toke effect this prophete camforth a man right godly prudeÌ„t coÌ„staÌ„t vehement learned ientle wel nourtred of a singler witte which so stretched forthe al y e powers of his giftes agenst this visard hypocrysy effeminate skorner for y e poore chirches profite y e his godlynes w t erudicion his prudence with humanite his constancy with vrbanite his rebukinge with vehemence al togith r myght fight in their place aÌ„d tyme so y t if thou woldst esteme al the giftes of a prophete with pure iugement sette Isaye alone to whose faithful office of preaching prophecying god ioyned so excelleÌ„t erudicion grace gaue hym vnto vs vnto vs I saye not only to the people of Iuda Let vs therfore with thankes heare reade this godly Prophete diligently in whom we shal fynde the heavenly cleare solutions of al qÌ„stions pertayning to christen religion here shal roying his people Israel weÌ„te drye shode thorou y e sea his enimes drowned we ar ledde suerly thorou y â— perellouse ieoperdes of this iÌ„â—et troublouse worlde so ful of persecution wheryn our Pharao this LeuiathaÌ„ this DragoÌ„ playeth mocketh taketh his plesu r for a tyme Isaye .xxvij. but he is nowe in drowniÌ„ge synking downe to y e botome lyke leade kylled w t y e breathe of goddis mouthe y t is to saye with his almyghty worde for now is y â— daye cuÌ„ of y â— which Isaye thei r speaketh y â— y â— lorde shal viset this inuiÌ„cible serpeÌ„t LeuiathaÌ„ w t his harde great mighty swerde y t is to saye w t his eu rlastinge worde which so mercifully nowe offred vs we do not only receaue but violeÌ„tly resiste it w t swerde fyet wat r w t oth r iÌ„numerable iÌ„tolerable tormeÌ„tiÌ„ges ignomynes Let vs know lege this greuouse offence coÌ„mitted ageÌ„st god ageÌ„st his worde y â— professours therof we ar al synners waÌ„te y e prayse as saith Paule Rom. iij y t shuldbe geueÌ„ of vs to gad y t is to saye we waÌ„te y t faith whe rbi he wolde be glorifyed then praysle glorifye we God when we beleue y t christe is geuen vs to dye for our right wis makiÌ„ge as testifyeth paule Roma iiij of Abraham which made stronge in faith gaue this prayse honour to god assuerd aÌ„d persuaded that he y t promised hym was able to performe it cet In this sentence is Isaye hole whom to heare faithfully to reade frely diligeÌ„tly to vnderstande truly graunte vs our mercyful fath r which wolde al his electe to be saued come to the knowlege of y e trutheby his spirit of truthe Amen ¶ Burne nomore goddis worde but meÌ„ de it where it is not truly translated ¶ A note for the clearer vnderstandinge of the Prophete ¶ ye muste holde diligently in mynde y â— storye of these .iiij. kinges in whose dayes Isaye prophecyed which storye beginneth at the .xv. Chapiter of the fowerth boke of the kinges where Azarias called here Ozias beganne to raygne aÌ„d so forthe to y e raigne of Iosias rede also in the seconde boke of Paralipoin frome the .xxvj. to the .xxxviij. chap. ¶ The diuision of this boke accordinge to these .iiij. kinges what was prophecyed in eche of their dayes Vnder Ozias Isaye prophecied from y â— beginniÌ„ge of his boke vnto the .vj. chap Vnd r IothaÌ„ he sawe y â— visioÌ„ of y e .vj. cap. Vnd r Ahaz he prophecied froÌ„ the ende of y â— sixte vnto the ende of the .xiiij. cap. Vnder Ezechias he spake froÌ„e the .xiiij. vnto the .xl. chapiter The reste vnto the ende of the boke we haue no certayntye wheth r he spake it vnd r Ezechias or in Manasses dayes his successou r But this is certayne that from the .xl. cap. vnto the .xlix. he prophecieth y â— storye of kinge Cyrus aÌ„d the deliueraunce out of y â— captiuite of Babylon from the .xlix. vnto y e bokis ende he prophecieth clearly with out eny figure of Christe of his chirche notwithstondinge yet vnd r y e for sayde kiÌ„ges he mixte his sayiÌ„ges w t many clea r prophecyingis of Christe and his kingdome
¶ 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
of the which one is called Heliopolis Also then shal there be an altar for y e lorde in the myddes of Egipte entytlede to the lorde to be into a signe and testymonye for the lorde of powers in y e lande of Egipte y t when thei krye vnto him for feare of their oppressours he mought sende them a saviowr and a guyde which mought delyuer them The lorde shal knowe the Egypcions aÌ„d agene the Egipcions shal knowe the Lorde then shal thei worship him with sacryfices gyftes They shal vowe vnto the lorde and performe it Thus shal the lorde smyte the Egypcions and heale them agene thus shal they be conuerted to the lorde and thus shal he be merciful vnto them and shal heale theÌ„ Then shal the waye be comenly hawnted frome Egypte to Assyria and the Assyrions shal come to the Egypcions and Thegypcions agene to them thei shall both worshippe one God Then shal Israel with Egipte Assyria make all thre one blessed trinite in the myddes of the erthe which trinite the lorde of powers shal blesse saynge Blessed be Egipte my people blessed be the Assirions y e worke of my handes aÌ„d blessed be Israel my inheretaunce Chap. xx IN the yeare that Thartan came to Azotum sente of Sargon kynge of the Assyrions and had wonne by bataile and taken Azotum y e lorde spoke vnto Isaye the sonne of Amoz thus saynge Go and draw of thy sacke frome thy loynes and lose thy shoes frome thy fete which so doynge wente naked and bare fote And the lorde sayd y e nakednes and barefote goinge of my seruante Isaye is a token aÌ„d a fore shewinge of a woundrefull thinge that shall fall vpon Egypte Ethiope aftyr thre dayes for so shall the kynge of Assyrye dryve the captyues of Egypte and the baneshed of Ethiope both yonge and olde shall he dryue awaye naked and barfote and shal vnkouer the arses of thegipcions beinge ashamed of the Ethiops and Ehethiops of thegypcions and then shall the dwellers of this eylonde saye is this ower hope vnto whom we fled for helpe to be delyuerde frome the kinge of Assyrye howe shal we escape The .xxi. Chapiter THe grevouse affliccion of y e wylde sea There is an hevye vision shewed me lyke as when a storme brought frome the southe comethe owte frome the deserte that terrible lande Babylon shal be beseged rownde aboute and shal be vtterlye destroyde Come vp Elam besege it Mede all theyr syghes shal I swage At these wordes my raynes were a stoned and panges came vpon me lyke the paÌ„ges of a woman travelinge of chylde When I harde this I fell downe when I se it I was amased My harte trembled and panted I shoke for feare because this thiÌ„ge was derke to me al my wittes wer a stonned For even this noyse was harde also let the table be layed sodenly and the watche wel apoynted eate drynke aryse capytaynes and take ye to bukler aÌ„d shylde Then thê° sayd the lorde to me Go aÌ„d set vp a spye that shal tel what he se which when he hadde diligently loked rownde aboute he espyed a cowple of men cominge rydinge togither one of an asse and tother of a Camel and this spye kryed lyke a lyon O my master I haue stande here besely watchinge all daye aÌ„d haue kepte my stadinge diligently al this nighe to And lo there are come a cowple of the which one hath brought this message and sayd Babylon is fallen Babylon is fallen in very dede and all the karued graven Images of their Goddis ar braste agenste the grounde these are the tydinges o my felawes in worke and offyce whiche I haue harde of the Lorde of powers to shewe vnto yowe The heuye affliccion of Dume Me thought I harde a noyse of one kringe frome Seir saynge watche man what haste thou espyed this mighte watche man what haste thou espyed this nighte which me thought answerde The daye is come and the night shall come agene and if ye be so desyerouse to knowe come agene then aÌ„d aske The hevye affliccion layed vpon the Arabens ye shall lodge all nyght in the wode in the waye to Dedamin but o ye cyteseÌ„s of Theme bringeforth water for the thyrstye and mete ye the men in slyght withe vytel for thei shal flee frome the face of yerne even frome the edge of the naked swerde frome the presens of the bente bowe aÌ„d frome the edge of the sette felde cominge vpon them for thus hath the lorde spoken vnto me Aftyr this yeare al the power of Cedar shall haue an ende even lyke the goinge forth of the seruyce of an hyerde man his yeares nowe serued oute and the reamnaunte of the Archers of Cedar shal be thruste into a ful narowe straighte For it is the Lorde God of Israel that hath spoken it Chap .xxij. THe hevye affliccion of the vale of the vision What ayeldeth yowe thus al togither to clyme vp vpon yow r house toppes O cyte ful of woundringe and running togither on heapes whiche sometyme hast ben so welthy a towne ye are yet a lyue and yet areye but as slayne men with swerde in bataile for al your capytayns ar fled on horsebacke oute of boweshote ye al thy princes are slipte a waye and fledde ful farre frome the. When I harde these thinges I sayde Go yowrr wayes frome that I myght wepe bitterlye nether be yow aboute to conforte me as concerninge the destruccion of my people For this is the daye of tribulacion downtredinge and confuse perplexite of y â— vale of the vysion the lorde god of powers so throing downe hyr walles that the noyse rebowndeth agenste the mountayns And I sawe y â— Elamytes takinge to them their quyvers and the horse men with their Charietes beÌ„dinge their selves to fyghte aÌ„d Cir made bare their shyldes Thy chosen valeys were filled with chariets and the horse men assayled boldely the gates Then the beutiful deckinge of Iuda was taken a waye and the house of ordinaunce made with the tymber of lybani was layed wyde open then shall ye se thorow chynnes into euery korner of the cyte of Dauid yt shal be so sore shaken aÌ„d rente and ye shall gather to gither the waters of the lower pole ye shall also tell the houses of Ierusalem and breke them downe to defende the walles and ye shal be compelled to make a dyke betwene the two walles withe the waters of the olde pole hauinge no consyderacion of the firste makinge there of nor yet of y â— porpose of hyr first maker Farther more in those dayes the Lorde god of hostes shall cal yow to wepinge and moorninge to tearing of yower heare of yower heades and to wearinge of sacke whyles lo some men laughe and make mery slaing oxen and shepe eating flesshe and drinkinge wyne saynge let vs eate and drynke for we shall dye to morowe whiche thinge when it came to y â— eares of the
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
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
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
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
thinges are naught that it is I that am the Lorde no nother I fashione the light create derkenes I make peace bringe forthe trouble It is I the lorde that dothe al these thiÌ„ges Heauen shal geue downe dewe froÌ„ a bone aÌ„d the clowdes shal rayne downe rightwylnes y â— ertheshalbe opened bringeforth the sauyower Ryghtwysnes also shal bud forth with hym Euen I the lorde shal create this thinge Wo be to him that disputeth with his mak r even the potsherde with y e potter shal the claye saye to the potter what thiÌ„ge makest thou or thy worke â—ueth to no vse Wo be to him that sayth to the father wherfor wilt thou gete chylderne to the mother wherfor wilt thou bring forthe frute Thê° saith y e lorde that maketh holy Israel his maker also Aske me thinges to come vpon my chylderne byd me tell yow of the workes of my haÌ„des I made therthe created man ther vpon I stretched the heauens with my handes al hyr myghty hoste or beutyful aperel are at my coÌ„maundemeÌ„t I shal stervp this kyng Cyrê° with rightwysnes al his wayes shal I directe He shal edyfe my cyte let lose my captiuite that persuaded nether by money nor mede saith the lorde of powers Farthermore thus said y e lorde the marchantes of Egipte of Ethiope the tributaryes of Sabe shall coÌ„e to the shal be thyne they shal folowe the they shalgo in gyves of their fete they shal knefe before the make theyr supplicacioÌ„ prayer vnto the for verely god is with the besydes whoÌ„ there is no god howe profounde howe depely hyd arte thou o god eveÌ„ the god sauiow r of Israel let theÌ„ beshamed coÌ„founded go their wayes togith r with ignomynye al theys worshipers of Idols but Israel shal be saued in the lorde w t a ê‘petual helth Thei shalnot be shamed ne noted w t ignomynye for evermo r for thê° sayd the lorde that created heauens eveÌ„ god that fashioned therthe he made prepared it I haue not made it in vayne but to be inhabited I am the lorde besydes whoÌ„ their is none Neth r haue I spoken in hyd places nor in eny derke korner of the erthe Neth r in vayne sayd I to the sead of Iacob seke me For I am y e lorde speakinge that at iuste is and shewing that at right is let them be gatherd to gither aÌ„d come let the tother nacion escaped that is to saye the gentyles come also vnto me What vnderstandinge haue they that fyft vp an image of tree aÌ„d so praye to a god that cannot saue them Let them come to me I saye and let them agree in one aÌ„d tel me who hath shewed them these thinges before or who expownded thez firste Did not I the Lorde besydes whom there is no god It is I that am the rightwyse god and sauiow r besydes whom ther is non Beturned therfore to me al the costes of the erthe and ye shal be saued for I am god ther is no noth r. I swere be my selfe that rightwysnes shalgoforth of my mouthe my worde returneth not iÌ„ vayne but euery knee shal be bowed vnto me euery toÌ„ge shal swere saye In y e lorde standeth my rightwysnes aÌ„d strength vnto hym shall men come but they shal be confounded as many as speake agenst him And al the sead of Israel shal be iustifyed and haue their plesure in the lorde Bel shal be broken downe Nebo shal haue a fall with whose heauy images y e poore beastes shal be laden weryed with their grevous wayght these beastes with other bearets of these stockes shal faldowne vnd r theyr burdens for they maye not cast them of and thus shal they be karyed into captyuite The .xlvi. Chap. HEare me Iacobs famylye al the reamnaunte escaped of the house of Israel whom I toke euen from theyr mothers wombe haue borne theÌ„ from their byrtheâ— ye shal bare theÌ„ vnto their olde age in their bederethye for sythe I haue made theÌ„ I shal also beare theÌ„ helpe theÌ„ delyuer them To whoÌ„ I praye yow wyl yowe laye me lyken me or compare me WhoÌ„ am I lyke wyl yow then vayne lyers go and waye yow r golde or syluer oute of yow r purse at a payer of seoles hyer yow a caster of metall to make ye a God therof for men to faldowne before it so to worship it which notwithstandinge yet muste be layed on mennis shulders be borne aÌ„d se in his place to stande faste caÌ„not moâ— se frome his place farther more let men krye vnto it yet maye it not answere neth r delyuer them from their anguysshe trouble Consyder this aÌ„d loke vpon yow r selues o brekers of goddes coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes turne to a better mynde cal to mynde olde thinges done from y e creacioÌ„ of the worlde that ye maye se that I am god that there is no moth r god neth r eny thiÌ„ge lyke me which froÌ„ the begiÌ„niÌ„ge shewe the laste thinges aÌ„d even froÌ„ the creacion tell you thiÌ„ges which ar not yet done My counsel standeth at a worde so do I accoÌ„plesshe all my plesures I cal a swyfte byrde frome the easte and what so euer I wysdo from a farre it shal be done at a belt for as sone as I se it it is done Heare me ye proude meÌ„ in harte and farre frome the rightwysnnes I shal bringe nighe my rightwisnes nether shal it be absent and my helthe shal not tarye I shal geue a sauinge helthe to Zion and my beutyful glorye to Israel The .xlvij. Chapiter BVt thou shalt godowne sit in y â— duste O virgen the daughter of BabyloÌ„ thou shalt sit on y e grounde not in thy kinges sete o daughe r of the Chaldes thow shalt nomore be called tendre and dylicate Thou shalt go take the querne sweape griude out the flower of the corne Thou shalt caste of thy preciouse tyre bonettes thy shulders shal be naked and bare legged shalt thou wade thorowe y â— brokes thou shalt not haue one bratte on thy narse men shal se thy secretes to thy grete shame For I wyl take vengeaunce aÌ„d wilnot be entreded These thiÌ„ges hathe ow r redemer spokeÌ„ whose name is y â— for de of pow rs the maker holye of Israel Sit downe daughter of Chaldye aÌ„dbe styll go thy wayes into some derke place for thou shalt nomore be called y e ladye of realmes I was verely so angrye with my people y â— I scourged my heretage betoke theÌ„ into thy power thou haddest no pyte on theÌ„ but oppressedst evâ— their sage men with thy hevye yoke aboue mesure thiÌ„kiÌ„ge thus I shal be a ladye for euer but thow consyderdste not these thiÌ„ges in thy harte nether remeÌ„bredst thiÌ„ges to coÌ„e wherfore heare now these thinges O Delicate ladye which sittest so
wysely wherfore he shal be exalted extolled set in right hyghe honour for lykwyse as many shal woundre vpon hiÌ„ to se his face so deformed hiÌ„selfe so shamefully entretede lyke noman favourlesse beutelesse eveÌ„ so shal the r many gentyls loke vp vnto hiÌ„ w t prayer kiÌ„ges shal holde their mouthes for they vnto whoÌ„ no meÌ„cioÌ„ was made of hiÌ„ shal se hiÌ„ they which nev r harde of him shal moste vnd rstaÌ„de regarde hiÌ„ But who is he y t beleueth our preachinge or vnto whoÌ„ is y e arme of y e lorde shewed he shal growe verely before y e lorde lyke a yonge groue lyke a rote in a hotte grounde he shal haue nether beutye nor fauoure when we shal beholde him he shal be out of shappe fauour so y â— we shall not desyer hym he shal be despysed leste set bye of al men a man hauinge experience fealinge bothe ow r sorowes sykenesses we shal I saye repute hym so vyle lothely y t we shal hyde our faces at him When this notwithstandinge yet is eveÌ„ he y â— muste beare our sykenesses and sorowes but we shaliuge hiÌ„ to be thus castdowne smyten with some plage of god ye when he is wounded even of our transgressions thus smyten for our vngodlynes for y e punyshment for our correccion shal be layed vpon hym by his strypes hurte we shal be healed Al we are strayed a waye lyke shepe euery man folowinge his owne waye but y â— lorde layeth al our wykednesses vpon hiÌ„ to pardone vs. It is he y t shal abyde y â— anguyshe be scourged aÌ„d yet shal he not on s opene his mouth he shal be led lyke a lambe to be offred vp shal be as styl as a shepe vnd r hyr clyppers handes shal not ons opene his lippes he shal be taken away put to dethe his cause not examined aftyr trwe iugement as a man frenlesse kynles yet who maye noumbyr his kynrede even then when he shal be thought clene to be kut oute of this worlde whiche plage shal fal vpoÌ„ hiÌ„ for y e transgressioÌ„ of his owne people farthermore he shal be thought to dye emoÌ„g y â— vngodly be lyfted vp on y e crosse betwene theves althoughe he nev r dyd hurte nor yet eny desaight founde in his wordes but the lorde had decreed hiÌ„ to be thus brokeÌ„ with infirmite y t he offred for our synnes mought se his longe lyued posterite aÌ„d this decree of y e lorde shal prospere in his haÌ„de w t y e perel of his owne lyfe he shal fynde ryches by this means my right â—uaÌ„t shal iustifye many meÌ„ for he hiÌ„ selfe shal bea r away their sinnes wh r fo r I shal diuide to hiÌ„ y â— proye bothe of y e many men also of y e stroÌ„ge violente because he shal let his lyfe to dethe be reputed emonge the mysdoers which not withstandinge yet shal he take awaye y e synnes of many and make intercession for the transgressours Chap. liiij REioyse therfore eueÌ„ froÌ„ thy very hart with prayse thou baren which temeste not beglad singe clappe thy handes for ioye thou whiche bareste no more chyldern for y e diuorsed forsaken woman shal haue mo chyldern then y â— maryed wyfe saith y e lorde Dilate the place of thy tentes and let the cortayns of thi tabernacles be stretched wyde Se thou spare not to draweforth at length thy meate lynes steke theÌ„ down faste w t stakes for thou shalt be encresed w t chylderne on every syde thi seade shal haue possession emoÌ„g y e nacioÌ„s iÌ„habit desolate cytes fear not for thou shalt not beshamed be not astoÌ„ned forthou shalt not be coÌ„fuÌ„ded thou shalt forget y e shamefacenes of thi yougth nev rmo r remeÌ„b r y â— opprobry of thi wedewhed for thi maker shal be thy lorde housbonde even he whose name is y e lorde of powers he that maketh holy Israel even y e god of al the erthe shal be called thy kynsman thy redemer for y e lorde shal cal y e as a diuorsed woman as one sore troubled in mynde he wil cal the to him as a yonge wyfe y e had broke promyse with hir housbonde saith thy god I forsoke y â— for a litel tyme but I called the to me agene with myche mercye I hyd my face froÌ„e y e for alytel space whyles I was angrye but I will take y â— into my armes agene with an euerla stiÌ„ge mercye saith y e lorde thy redemer for this thiÌ„ge shal be to me as were y e wat rs of Nohe for lyke wyse as I swore neuermore to briÌ„ge agene y e waters of Nohe vpon y e erthe eveÌ„ so haue I sworne to be not angrye with the agene neth r yet to chyde with y e for y e mountaiÌ„s shal soner forsake theyr places the hylles shal soner falldowne then other my mercye shall forsake y â— or the promyse of my peace shal fayle y saith thy mercyful lorde Beholde my litel poore afflicte forsakeÌ„ I shal make thy walles of preciouse carboÌ„cles shall laye thy foundacions with Saphyrs thy windows gates shal I make of cleare Christal al thy vttermoste buyldinges shal I sette with riche stones And besydes all this al thy chylderne shal be taughte of the lorde I shal endue theÌ„ with ryche peace Thou shalt be buylded al of ritghtwysnes be oute of all daunger of violence wherof thou shalt not nede to feare no plage shal coÌ„e a nyghe y e. Beholde a noth r nacioÌ„ which were strauÌ„g rs to me shal come dwel with the the aleauntes shal be ioyned with the lo it is I that make this smythe which first kyndleth y e colles with his blowynge then makethe these peaceable weapeÌ„s accordiÌ„ge to his kraft Also it is I that create y â— destroyer to subuerte to destroye also but al y e weapens made ageÌ„st y â— shalnot prospere euery toÌ„ge that shall aryse speke ageÌ„st y â— in iugemeÌ„t thou shalt ouercome aÌ„d condeÌ„ne Siche shal be the heretage of y â— lordes â—uaÌ„tes this innoceÌ„cyâ— aÌ„d favour shal be geuen them of me saith the lorde The .lv. Chap. Oye al therfor which ar a thirste come to the waters Also yowe that wante syluer go aÌ„d bye y t ye mought eate go yower wayes bye wyne mylke with oute money aÌ„d pryce wherfore do yow laye oute yow r moneye for y t fode that fedeth not spende yow r labo raboute y t thiÌ„g that satisfyeth yow not And wherfore rath r lysteÌ„ yow not vnto me that yow r soules mought eate of y â— beste take theyr fill vpon the moste fatteste dylicates Gyue eare to me coÌ„e to me take hede to me yower soules shal be refresshed for I wyl smite
with whoÌ„ thou art confedred but y â— wynde shal first take a waye al these thy helpers aÌ„d vanite shal plucke theÌ„ in sondre but they y t truste in me shal possesse y â— lande aÌ„d shal inherit my holy hyll wherfore thê° saith he Make waye geue rome take awaye al obstacles stomblyng stockes in y e waye which leadeth vnto my people For thê° speaketh he that dwelleth iÌ„ y e moste hyghest place for euer whose name is holye I inhabit bothe y â— moste hyghest aÌ„d holyest place I dwel also with the coÌ„trite homble sprited to refresshe y â— myndes of men deiected aÌ„d to heale y â— broken hartes For I am not wrath nor chyde not alwayes but I blowe ouer a non my haterede yet do I breath in breathe I am wrathe I smyte I abhorre haue indignacioÌ„ at a man geuen all to his owne lustes aÌ„d especially when he gothe fro my lawes aÌ„d foloweth y e studyes counsells or thoughtes of his owne harte But agene I beholde his wayes I heale hym I briÌ„ge hym into y e waye agene I restore him vnto theÌ„ whoÌ„ he maye conforte to them also which desyerde him I create frendlye conuersacion louiÌ„ge coÌ„municatioÌ„ one with a nother I make peace suernes bothe with theÌ„ y t dwel farre with these y t dwel nighe saith y t Lorde healer of his But the vngodly are lyke the wode sea called Euripus which canne neuer reste hyr waters contynually troubled with slyme stynkinge mudde aÌ„d euen so haue the vngodly never rest nor peace saith my God The .lviij. Chap. THou therfore whosoeuer thow arte beinge a verye trwe preacher se y t thou kryest with opene mouthe beware thou ceassest not lyftvp thy voyce lyke a trompet aÌ„d tel my people their synnes tel the house of Iacob theyr offences For they apere to seke me beselye by their disputacioÌ„s aÌ„d wold be sene te knowe my wayes as folke y t wolde be sene to work rightwisnes not to forsake the plesures of their god They moue me questioÌ„s weth r my iugemeÌ„ts ar iuste in rightwy smakinge ar ful besye to contende aÌ„d dispute with god saynge Wherfore do we faste when thou lokeste not vpon vs we chasten our selues yet thou wiltnot knowe it Beholde saith the lorde agene to them when ye faste yet abyde yow r owne wyl aÌ„d lustes styl withe yowe for yower faste notwithstandinge yet do yow constrayne and vexe yow r detters lo yow faste to thenteÌ„te yow might applye yow r sutes stryffes aÌ„d to smyte orto entrete yow r condemned detters more cruelly ye faste not nowe a dayes to please god y t your voyce might be harde of him aboue Thinke yow that I loue thys maner of fastiÌ„g wherby men at prescripte aÌ„d certayne dayes chastene their selues goinge with thei r heades writhen downe lyke an hoke strewed with asshes clothed with sacke wilt thow say y t this maner of faste and that vpon this or that apoynted daye is more accepte to y â— lorde but rath r euen contrarye wyse This maner of fastiÌ„ge do I alowe love forgeue thy detters wrapped in shrewd bargoyns vnlose their violente obligacions set them at lybertye whom thou castedst in to presone for dette and breke of frome them al maner of bondes yokes Dâ—uyde oute thy meate drynke to y e hongrye thyrstye and the poore way faeringe straunger leade thou hoÌ„e into thy house when thou seestâ— y e naked clothe hym turne not thy face froÌ„ thy nowne flesshe Then shal thy light brekeforthe as fresshe as y e morniÌ„ge thy helthe shal spryngforth right sone Then shal these dedesbe cleare testimones of thy rightwysnes y e gloriouse maiestye of y e lorde shal embrase the Then shalt thou cal vpon him y e lorde shal hea r y â— thou shalt krye he shal answere lo here at thy hande If thou nowe puttest of thy burdeÌ„s holdest thy fingers ceasseste to speake vngodly if thou offerest thy selfe to y e hoÌ„grye refresshest y e poo r afflicte soul then shal thy lighte spriÌ„geforth in derkenese thy derkenes shal be lyke y e mydday ye y e lorde shal directe y e alwayes he shall satisfye y e desyers of thy mynde confirme y e in goodnes Also thou shalt be lyk a freshe watred garden and as y e ryuers whose vaynes neuer ceasse runniÌ„ge Places of longe tyme not iÌ„habited thou shalt occupye dwel vpoÌ„ and shalt stervp their foundacioÌ„s for y e generacioÌ„s to cum And then shalt thou be called y e repayerer of brokeÌ„ places y e mend r of y e waye of y â— Sabbat daye If thou refraynest thy fote froÌ„ y e Sabbat daye y t is to saye if thou doiste not thy nowne plesure wyl in my holye daye then shalt thou becalled vnto y e ioyful holye gloriouse reste of y e lorde If thou honourst him I saye so y t thou nethe r doist thy nowne wayes nor sekest thy nowne wyl nor speakest thy nowne wordes then shalt thou delight iÌ„ y â— lorde which shal karye y t vp aboue y e highest places of therthe aÌ„d shal nouresshe y â— vp iÌ„ y e heretage of thy fath r Iacob for so haue y e lorde promysed with his owne mouthe The .lix. Chap BEholde y e lordes hande is not so cut of y t he may no mo r saue neth r his eares so dulled y t he may not heare but it is you r inites y t make this grete diuisioÌ„ betwene you your god aÌ„d your synnes make hym to hyde his face froÌ„ you to th eÌ„teÌ„t he wolde not hea r. For your haÌ„des ar polluted w t bloude you r fyngers embrwed w t synne your lyppes speke lyes your toÌ„ge paiÌ„teth mischefe NomaÌ„ calleth yn rightwisnes for his aduocate in the lawe nomaÌ„ iugeth faithfully but euery man leaneth to vanyte adlyes studieth phaÌ„tasyes coÌ„ceyueth laboriouse busynes briÌ„geth forth myschefe they sit hatchiÌ„ge y â— kocatryces egges weauiÌ„ge y â— spyd rs webbe he y t eateth of theyr egges shal dye but if he trede theÌ„ vnd r his fete y eserpeÌ„t shal yet brekeforth of thei r webbe thei r is made no clothe so y t w t thei r owne workes they maye not kou r theÌ„â—elf for they ar myscheuous eveÌ„ workis of robery stelth shalt thou fynde iÌ„ their haÌ„des their fete runne to do mischef swyftely they haste theÌ„ to shede iÌ„noceÌ„t bloude theyr studye thoughtis ar abhoiÌ„nable destruccioÌ„ deth drawe they w t theÌ„ wheresoeu r they becoÌ„e but y e waye of peace they knowe not the r is no eq ite iÌ„ their processe they haue so depraued their pathes y t euery maÌ„ y t passeth thorou theÌ„ shal knowe no peace wherfo r fulfarre is eq ite exyled froÌ„ vs aÌ„d rightwisnes wil not coÌ„e nighe vs we loked
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
〈◊〉 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 ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞