Ecclesiastes · Chapter 40

[ edit] Gret ocupacioun is ſhape to alle men, and a greuous ȝoc vp on þe ſonus of Adam, fro þe day of þe goyng out fro þe wombe of þe moder of hem, vn to þe day of þe biriyng in to þe moder of alle þingus. Þe þoȝtis of hem, and þe dredes of herte, þe fyndyngus of abidyng, and þe daȝes of endynge; fro þe cheef ſittere vp on þe glorious ſete, vn to þe meekid vn to þe erþe and aſken; fro hym þat vſeþ blu ſilc, and berþ þe croune, vn to hym þat is couered wiþ raw lynen, wodneſſe, enuye, noyſe, wagering, and dred of deþ, wraþefulneſſe ſtedefaſtly bidende, and ſtriuyng; and in tyme of repaſt in þe bed, ſlep of nyȝt chaungeþ his kunnyng.

Litil forſoþe as noȝt in reſte; and of hym in ſlepes as in þe day reſpit. He ys diſturbid in þe ſiȝte of his herte, as he þat is ſcapid in þe dai of bataile. In þe tyme of his helþe he ros out, and wndrende at no drede, wiþ alle fleſh, fro man vn to beſte, and vp on þe ſynneres ſeuenfold. To þeſe þingus, deþ, blod, ſtrif, and two bitende ſwerd, opreſſiouns, hungres, and totreding, and ſcourges; vp on wickid men ben formed alle þeſe þingus, and for hem was mad þe ieneral flod. Alle þingus forſoþe þat of þe erþe ben, in to erþe ſhul ben turned; and alle watris in to þe ſe ſhuln be turned. Alle ȝifte and wickidneſſe ſhal ben don awey; and feiþ in to world ſhal ſtonde.

Þe ſubſtaunces of vnriȝtwis men as a flod ſhul ben dried; and as gret þunder in reyn þei ſhul ſowne ful. As þe riȝtwis man in openyng his hondis ſhal gladen; ſo þe lawe brekeres in þe ende ſhuln wanen awey. Þe ſonus ſonus of vnpitous men ſhul nott multeplie braunches; and vnclene rootes vp on þe cop of þe ſton ſounen. Vp on eche water greneneſſe; and at þe hour of þe flod biforn al þe hey it ſhal be pullid vp. Grace as paradis in bliſſingus; and mercy in to þe world abit ſtille. Þe lif of þe ſuffiſaunt werkere to hymſelf ſhal be mad ſwete; and in it þou ſhalt fynde treſor. Þe bilding vp of þe cite ſhal confermen þe name; and ouer þis an vndefoulid womman ſhal be countid.

Wyn and melodye gladen þe herte; and ouer eiþer þe loouyng of wiſdam. Trumpes and ſautre maken ſwete melody; and ouer eiþir þe ſwete tunge. Grace and fairneſſe þe eȝe ſhal deſyren; and ouer þeſe grene tilþis. A frend and a mete felawe in tyme comende togidere; and ouer eiþer a womman wiþ a man. Breþern in to help in tyme of tribulacioun; and ouer þem mercy ſhal delyueren. Gold and ſiluer, and ſetting of feet; and ouer eiþer counſeil wel pleſid. Facultes and vertues enhauncen þe herte; and ouer þeſe þe drede of þe Lord. Þer is not in þe drede of þe Lord laſſing; and þer is not in it to ſeche helpe. Þe drede of þe Lord as paradis of bleſſing; and ouer alle glorie þei couereden it.

Sone, in þe tyme of þi lif ne nede þou; betere is to dyen, þan to neden. A man biholdende in to an oþer mannes bord, þe lif of hym is nott in þe þenking of liflode; forſoþe he nurſheþ his lif wiþ oþer mennus metes. A man forſoþe diſciplyned and taȝt, ſhal kepe hymſelf. In þe mouþ of þe vnprudent ſhal be maad myſeiſe; and in þe wombe of hym fyr ſhal brenne.