Numbers · Chapter 5

[ edit] And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Comaund to þe ſones of Yrael, þat þei caſten out of þe tentes alle leprows, and þat flowiþ ſeed, and is polut vpon þe deed; as wel þe maal as þe femaal caſteþ out of þe tentis, leſt þei defoulen hem, whanne þei dwellen wiþ ȝow. And þe ſones of Yrael dyden ſo, and þei caſteden hem out of þe tentes, as þe Lord hadde ſpokun to Moyſes.

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to þe ſones of Irael, A man or womman, whanne þei doon of alle þe ſynnes þat ben wont to falle to men, and bi negligence ouer paſſid þe maundement of þe Lord, and treſpaſſen, þei ſhulen knowleche her ſynne, and þei ſhulen ȝeelde þat heed, and þe fifþe part þere aboue, to hym in whom þei ſynneden. If forſoþe þere weren not þat ſhulde reſſeyue, þei ſhulen ȝyue to þe Lord, and it ſhal be of þe preeſt, out take þe weþer þat is offryd for þe purgynge, þat þe ooſt be pleſable.

Alle forſoþe þe firſt fruytis þat offren þe ſones of Yrael, to þe preeſt perteynen; and what þing in þe ſeyntuarye is offred of eche, and is takun to þe hondes of þe preeſt, ſhal be of hym.

And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeyynge, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and þow ſhalt ſeye to hem, A man, whos wijf erreþ, and, þe houſbonde deſpiſynge, ſlepe wiþ anoþer man, and þat þe houſbonde may not knowe of, but þe auowtrye is hidde, and wiþ witnes may not be vndurnom, for ſhe is not foundun in þe hordom; if þe ſpiryt of gelouſnes ſtire þe man aȝens his wijf, þe which ouþer is polut, or wiþ fals ſuſpecioun is coueitid, he ſhal lede hire to þe preeſt, and he ſhal offre for hir an offrynge, þe tenþe part of a buſſhel of barly melowe; and he ſhal not heelde vpon it oyle, ne putte enſence, for þe ſacrifice of gelouſte it is, and offrynge enſerchynge auowtrye.

Þerfor þe preeſt ſhal offre it, and ſette before þe Lord; and he ſhal take þe holy watre in a britil veſſel, and a litil of þe erþe of þe pament of þe tabernacle he ſhall putt into it. And whanne þe womman ſtondiþ in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, ſhe ſhal diſcouere her heed, and putt vpon hir hondis þe ſacrifice of recordynge, and offryng of gelowſte. He forſoþe ſhal holde þe moſt bittir watris, in þe whiche wiþ curſid curſyng he caſt togidir.

And he ſhal ſwere to her, and ſeie, If anoþer man haþ not ſlept wiþ þee, and if þow art not polut, forſaked þe bedde of þe houſboond, þes mooſt bittre watris ſhulen not anoye þee, into þe whiche curſid þinges I haue gederyd to gydere; if forſoþe þow haſt bowide a weie fro þin houſboond, and art polut, and haſt leyn wiþ anoþir man, to þes curſingis þow ſhalt vndurligge; þe Lord ȝyue þee into curſynge, and enſaumple of alle in his puple; mak he þin hippe to ſtynke, and þi ſwellynge wombe be al to broſtun; goon in þee curſyd watris into þi wombe, and ſwellynge þi wombe ſtynke þin hippe. And þe womman ſhal anſwere, Amen! amen!

And þe preeſt ſhal wryte in a libel þes curſid þingis, and he ſhal do hem out wiþ þe mooſt bittir watris, into þe whiche curſid þinges he dide togidris, and he ſhal ȝyue hir to drynke. Þe which whanne ſhe haþ dronkun vp, þe preeſt ſhal take of hir hoond þe ſacrifice of gelowſte, and he ſhal arere it vp before þe Lord, and he ſhal putte vpon þe auter; ſo oonli, þat before he take an hondful of ſacrifice of it þat is offerd, and tynde vpon þe auter, and ſo ȝyue drynke to þe womman þe mooſt bitter watres.

Þe whiche whanne ſhe drinkiþ, if ſhe is polut, and, deſpiſid þe man, ſhe is gilti of auowtrie, þe watres of curſynge ſhulen paſſe þurȝ hir, and þe womb blow wiþ ynne, þe hippe ſhal ſtynke, and þe womman ſhal be into curſynge, and into enſaumple to al þe puple. And if ſhe were not polut, ſhe ſhal be harmles, and make free children. Þis is þe lawe of gelowſnes, if þe womman bowe doun fro hir man, and were polut, and þe houſboond, þurȝ ſpiryt of gelowſnes ſtired, brynge hir in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and þe preeſt do to hir after alle þinges þat ben writun, þe houſboond ſhal be wiþ outen blame, and ſhe ſhal reſſeyue hir wickidnes.