Matthew · Chapter 7

[ edit] Nyle ȝe deme, þat ȝe be nat demyd; for in what dome ȝe demen, ȝe ſhulen ben demyd, and in what meſure ȝe meten, it ſhal be meten to ȝou. But what ſeeſt þou a feſtu, or a litil mote, in þe eiȝe of þi broþer, and þou ſeeſt nat a beme in þin owne eiȝe? Or what maner ſaiſt þou to þi broþer, Broþer, ſuffre þat I caſte out a feſtu fro þin eiȝe, and loo! a beme is in þin owne eiȝe? Ypocrite, caſt out firſt a beme of þin eiȝe, and þan þou ſhalt ſee for to caſt out a feſtu of þe eiȝe of þi broþer.

Nyl ȝe ȝeue holy þing to houndis, neþer ſende ȝe ȝour margaritis, or preciouſe ſtoonys, before ſwyne, leſt perauenture þei defoulen hem wiþ þeire feet, and leſt houndis turned to gidre al to-breke ȝou. Axe ȝe, and it ſhal be ȝouen to ȝou; ſeke ȝe, and ȝe ſhulen fynde; knocke ȝe, and it ſhal be opnyd to ȝou. For eche þat axiþ, takiþ; and he þat ſechiþ, fyndiþ; and it ſhal be opnyde to a man knokynge. Oþer who of ȝou is a man, whom ȝif his ſone axe breed, wher he ſhal dreſſe to hym a ſtoon? Oþer ȝif he ſhal axe a fiſhe, wher he ſhal dreſſe to hym a ſerpent?

Þerfore ȝif ȝe, when ȝe ben yuel men, han knowen for to ȝeue good þingus ȝouen to ȝoure ſonys, hou myche more ȝoure fadir þat is in heuenes ſhal ȝeue good þingis to men axinge hym? Þerfore alle þingis, what euer þingis ȝee wolen þat men don to ȝou, and ȝe do to hem, forſoþe þeſe þingis ben þe lawe and prophetis. Entre ȝe bi þe ſtreyt ȝate; for þe gate þat lediþ to perdicioun, or dampnacioun, is brode, and þe weye large, and þer ben many þat entren bi it. How ſtreit is þe ȝate, and narewe þe weye, þat lediþ to lijf, and þere ben fewe þat fynden it.

Perceyue ȝe, and flee fro fals prophetis, þe whiche cummen to ȝou in cloþingis of ſheepis, bot wyþynne þei ben rauyſhynge wolues; of her fruytis ȝe ſhulen knowe hem. Wheþer men gaderen grapis of þornys, or fijgis of breeris? So euery good tree makiþ good fruytis; ſoþely an yuel tree makiþ yuel fruytis. A good tree may nat make yuel fruytis, neþer an yuel tree make good fruytis. Euery tree þat makiþ nat good fruyt, ſhal be kitte doun, and ſhal be ſent in to þe fire. Þerfore of her fruytis ȝee ſhulen knowe hem. Nat eche man þat ſaiþ to me, Lord, Lord, ſhal entre in to þe kyngdam of heuenes; but he þat doþ þe wille of my fadir þat is in heuenes, he ſhal entre in to þe kyngdam of heuenes.

Many ſhul ſay to me in þat day, Lord, Lord, wheþer we han nat prophecied in þi name, and han caſt out deuelis in þi name, and han don many vertues in þi name? And þan Y ſhal knowliche to hem, For I knewe ȝou neuer; departe awey fro me, ȝe þat worchen wickidneſſe. Þerfore eche man þat heriþ þeſe my wordis, and doþ hem, ſhal be maad liche to a wijſe man, þat haþ bildid his hous vpon a ſtoon. And rayn came doun, and flodis camen, and wyndis blewen, and ruſheden in to þat hous; and it felle nat doun, for it was foundid on a ſtoon. And euery man þat heriþ þeſe my wordis, and doþ hem nat, is liche to a man fool, þat haþ bildid his hous on grauel, or ſoond.

And rayn came doun, and floodis camen, and wyndis blewen, and þei hurliden in to þat hous; and it felle doun, and þe fallyng doun þerof was grete. And it is maad, when Jheſus hadde eendid þeſe wordis, þe cumpanyes wondreden on his techyng; ſoþely he was techynge hem, as a man hauynge power, and nat as þe ſcribis of hem, and Phariſees.