Zechariah · Chapter 7

[ edit] And it is maad in þe fourþe ȝeere of Darius, kyng, þe word of þe Lord is maad to Zacharie, in þe fourþe day of þe nynþe moneþe, þat is Caſleu. And Saraſar, and Rogumelech, and men þat weren wiþ hem, ſenten to þe hous of þe Lord, for to preye þe face of þe Lord; þat þei ſhulden ſaye to preſtis of þe hous of þe Lord of ooſtis, and to prophetis, ſpekynge, Wher it is to wepe to me in þe fifþe moneþ, or Y ſhal halewe me, as Y dide now manye ȝeeris? And þe word of þe Lord of ooſtis is maad to me, ſayinge, Speke þou to al þe peple of þe lond, and to preſtis, ſayinge, Whenne ȝe faſtiden, and weiliden in þe fifþe and ſeuenþe moneþe, by ſeuenty ȝeeris, wher ȝe faſtiden a faſt to me?

And when ȝe eeten, and drunken, wher ȝee eeten not to ȝou, and drunken to ȝour ſelf? Wher wordis of prophetis ben not, whiche þe Lord ſpak in þe hond of former prophetis, when ȝit Jeruſalem was enhabited, and was ful of ritcheſſis, and it, and þe citees þerof in cumpas þerof, and at þe ſouþ and in feeldi place was enhabited? And þe word of þe Lord is maad to Zacharie, ſayinge, Þeſe þingis ſaiþ þe Lord of ooſtis, ſayinge, Deme ȝe trewe dome, and mercy, and doyngus of mercy do ȝe, eche man to his broþer. And nyl ȝe falſly chalenge þe wydue, and fadirleſſe, or moderleſſe, and þe cumlyng, and pore man; and a man þenke not in his herte yuel to his broþer.

And þei wolden not take heed, and þei turneden awey þe ſhuldre goynge awey, and aggregiden, or maden heuy, her eeris, leſt þei herden. And þei puttiden her herte as an adamaunt, leſt þei herden þe law, and wordis whiche þe Lord of ooſtus ſente in his holy Spirit, by hond of former prophetis; and grete indignacioun is maad of þe Lord of ooſtis. And it is don, as he ſpak; and as þei herden not, þei ſhuln crye, and Y ſhal not heere hem, ſaiþ þe Lord of ooſtis. And Y ſcatride hem by alle rewmys, whiche þei knewen not, and þe lond is deſolate fro hem, for þat þere was not a man goynge and turnynge aȝein; and þei han putt þe deſirable lond in to deſert.