Bible (Early Wycliffe)/Deuteronomie

Here begynneþ þe bok of Deutronomie.

Capitulum I.

Thes ben þe wordis þat Moiſes ſpak to al Yrael, biȝonde Jordan, in þe wijld feeldi wildernes, aȝens þe Reed See, bytwix Pharan and Tophel and Laban and Aſſeroþ, where is mych þing of gold, bi enleuen days fro Oreb bi þe wey of þe hil of Seyr, vnto Cades Barne. Þe fourteenþe ȝeer, þe enleuenþ moneþ, þe firſt day of þe moneþ, Moyſes ſpak to þe ſones of Yrael alle þingis þat þe Lord hadde comaundid to hym þat he ſhulde ſeye to hem, after þat he ſmoot Seon, þe kyng of Amorreis, þat dwellid in Eſebon, and Og, þe kyng of Baſan, þat dwellid in Aſſeroþ and in Edray, biȝonde Jordan, in þe loond of Moab. And Moyſes biganne to opne þe lawe, and ſeie, Þe Lord oure God haþ ſpoke to vs in Oreb, ſeiynge, It ſuffiſiþ to ȝow þat in þis hil ȝe han dwelt; turneþ aȝen, and comeþ to þe hil of Amorreis, and to oþer þat þere ben next, feeldi, and hilli, and þe more lower places aȝens þe ſouþ; and to þe loond biſide þe brenk of þe ſee of Chananees, and of Libany, vnto þe greet flood of Eufraten. Loo! he ſeiþ, I haue take it to ȝow; goo ȝe yn, and weelde ȝe it, vpon þe which þe Lord haþ ſworn to ȝoure fadres Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob, þat he ȝyue it to hem, and to þe ſeed of hem after hem. And I haue ſeid to ȝow in þat tyme, I may not aloone ſuſteyne ȝow, for þe Lord ȝoure God haþ multiplied ȝow, and ȝe ben many as þe ſterres of heuene; þe Lord God of oure fadris adde to þis noumbre many þowſandis, and bleſſe to ȝow, as he haþ ſpokun. Y may not alone ȝoure nedis ſuſteyn, and birþens, and ſtryues; ȝyue ȝe of ȝow wyſe men, and herti, and whos conuerſacioun be preued in ȝoure lynagis, þat I putte hem to ȝow princes. Þan ȝe anſwerden to me, A good þing it is þat þou wolt doon. And I took of ȝoure lynagis wiſe men, and noble; and I haue ordeynd hem princes, and tribunes, and centuriouns, and quynquagenaryes, and denes, þat techen ȝow alle þingis. And I haue comaundide to hem, ſeiynge, Here ȝe hem, and þat is riȝtwiȝe demeþ, wheþer he be cyteſeyn, or pilgrime. Noon ſhal be diſtaunce of perſones; ſo þe litil ȝe ſhulen here as þe more, ne ȝe ſhulen accept eny mannus perſone, for þe dome of God it is. And if eny þing hard to ȝow were ſeen, telliþ to me, and I ſhal here. And I comaundide alle þingis þat ȝe ſhulden doo. And goon forþ fro Oreb, we paſſiden bi feerful deſeert and mooſt wildernes, þat ȝe han ſeen, bi þe weye of þe hil of Amorrei, as þe Lord ȝoure God haþ comaundide to ȝow. And whanne ȝe weren comen into Cades Barne, Y ſeide to ȝow, Ȝe ben comen to þe hil of Amorrei, þat þe Lord oure God is to ȝyuynge to vs; looke þe loond þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee; and ſty vp, and weelde it, as þe Lord oure God haþ ſpoken to þi fadris; nyl þow drede, ne eny þing be agaſt. And ȝe comen to me alle, and ſeiden, ſende we men, þat biholden þe loond, and tellen to vs bi what weie we ſhulden ſtye vp, and to what cytees goon. And whanne to me þe word pleſide, Y ſente of ȝow twelue men, eche by her lynagis. Þe whiche whanne þei weren goon, and hadden ſtied vp into þe hillis, þei camen into þe valeye of Cluſtre; and þe loond biholdid, takynge of þe fruytis of it, þat þei myȝten ſhewe þe plenteuouſte, þei brouȝten to vs, and ſeiden, Good is þe loond þat þe Lord oure God is to ȝyuynge to vs. And ȝe wolden not ſtye vp, but myſbileuynge to þe word of þe Lord oure God, ȝe grutchiden in ȝoure tabernaclis, and ſeiden, Þe Lord hatiþ vs, and þerfore he haþ ladde vs out of þe loond of Egipte, þat he take vs in þe hoond of Amorrei, and doo awey. Wheþer ſhulen we ſtie vp? þe meſſangeris han feerde oure hertis, ſeiynge, Þe mooſt multitude is, and in ſtature more ſhapplych þan we; greet citees, and in to heuene wallid; þe ſones of Enachym we han ſeen þere. And I ſeide to ȝow, Wole ȝe not be feryde, ne drede ȝe; þe Lord God, þat is oure ledere, for vs he ſhal fiȝte, as he haþ doo in Egipte, alle men ſeynge. And in wildernes, ȝe han ſeen, þe Lord þi God haþ born þee, as a man is wonyd to bere a litil child, his ſone, in alle weie bi þe which ȝe han goo, to þe tyme þat ȝe comen to þis place. And ȝit not þus forſoþe ȝe leeueden to þe Lord ȝoure God, þat wente before ȝou in þe weie, and haþ ſet þe place in þe whiche ȝe ſhulden picche tentis, þe nyȝt ſhewynge þe weie to ȝow bi fier, and þe dai bi piler of a clowde. And whanne þe Lord hadde herde þe voyce of ȝoure wordis, wrooþ he ſwore, and ſeiþ, Þere ſhal not ſe eny man of þe men of þis worſt generacioun þe good loond, þat vndur ooþ Y haue bihoot to ȝoure fadris, ſaue Caleph, þe ſone of Jephone; he forſoþe ſhal ſe it, and to hym I ſhal ȝyue þe loond þat he haþ troden, and to his ſones, for he haþ folwid þe Lord. Ne þe indignacioun aȝen þe puple is to be meruelid, ſiþ to me forſoþe þe Lord wrooþ for ȝow, ſeide, Ne þow ſhalt go in þidir, but Joſue, þe ſone of Nun, þi ſeruaunt, he ſhal goo yn for þee; þis enfourme þow, and ſtrengþe, þat he þe loond bi lot dyuyde to Yrael. Ȝoure litil children, of þe whiche ȝe han ſeid, þat cheytif þei ſhulen be lad, and þe ſones þat to day of good and yuel vnknown þe diſtaunce, þei ſhulen goon yn; and to hem Y ſhal ȝyue þe loond, and þei ſhulen weeld it. Ȝe forſoþe turneþ aȝen, and goþ þens into wildernes, bi þe weie of þe Reed See. And ȝe anſwerden to me, We han ſynned to þe Lord; we ſhulen ſtie vp, and fiȝten, as þe Lord oure God haþ comaundid. And whanne ȝe, tauȝt in armes, wolden goo into þe hil, þe Lord ſeiþ to me, ſey þou to hem, Wole ȝe not ſtie vp, ne fiȝte; forſoþe Y am not wiþ ȝow, leſt ȝe fallen before ȝoure enemyes. I ſpak, and ȝe herden not, but contrariynge to þe heeſt of þe Lord, and bolnynge bi pride, ȝe ſtieden vp into þe hil. And ſo Amorre gon out, þat dwelt in þe hillis, and aȝen comynge purſuede vs, as been ben wont to be purſued, and ſlewen doun fro Seyr vnto Horma. And whanne turned aȝen ȝe wepten before þe Lord, he herde ȝow not, ne to ȝour voys wolde aſſent; ȝe ſeeten þerfor in Cades Barne myche tyme.

Capitulum II.

And goon forþ þens, we comen into wildernes þat lediþ to þe Reed See, as þe Lord ſeide to me; and we enuyrounden þe hil of Seyr long tyme. And þe Lord ſeide to me, Suffice it to ȝow to goon about þis hil; goo ȝe aȝens þe norþ. And to þe puple comaund, ſeiynge, Ȝe ſhulen paſſe bi þe cooſtis of ȝoure briþeren, þe ſones of Eſau, þat dwellen in Seyr, and þei ſhulen drede ȝow. Se ȝe þerfor biſilych, þat ȝe ben not meued aȝens hem; ne forſoþe I ſhal ȝeue to ȝow of þe loond of hem as myche as þe ſtap of a foot may treede, for into þe poſſeſſioun of Eſau Y haue ȝyue þe hil of Seyr. Meetis ȝe ſhulen bigge of hem for money, and eten; water bouȝt ȝe ſhulen drawe, and drynke. Þe Lord þi God haþ bleſſid to þee in al þe werk of þin hoondes; he haþ knowun þi weie, what maner wiſe þow haſt paſſid þis greet wildernes, bi fourti ȝeer, þe Lord þi God dwellynge wiþ þee, and no þing failed to þee. And whanne we hadden paſſid bi oure briþeren, þe ſones of Eſau, þat dwelliden in Seyr, bi þe feeldi weie fro Elaþ, and fro Aſiongaber, we camen to þe weie þat lediþ into deſeert of Moab. And þe Lord ſeide to me, Fiȝt þow not aȝens Moabites, ne go þou in aȝens hem to bateyl; forſoþe I ſhal not ȝyue to þee eny þing of þe loond of hem, for to þe ſones of Loþ Y haue take Ar into poſſeſſioun. Emyn weren þe firſt dwellers of it, a greet puple, and a ſtroong, and ſo hiȝe, þat of Enachym lynage as geauntis þei ben trowed, and weren lijk of þe ſones of Enachym; þerfor Moabites clepen hem Emyn. In Seyr forſoþe raþer dwelten Horrey, þe whiche put out and doon awei, þe ſones of Eſau dwelliden, as Yrael dide in þe loond of his poſſeſſioun, þat þe Lord ȝaf to hym. Þanne aryſynge, þat we myȝten paſſe þe ſtreem of Zareþ, we camen to it. Forſoþe þe tyme, in þe which we wenten fro Cades Barne vnto þe paſſynge of þe ſtreem of Zareþ, was of eiȝt and þretti ȝeer, to þe tyme þat al þe congregacioun of men of bateyl weren waſtid fro þe tentis, as þe Lord ſwore; whos hoond was aȝens hem, þat þei dien fro þe myddil of þe tentis. Forſoþe aftir þat alle þe fiȝters fellen, þe Lord ſpak to me, ſeiynge, Þou ſhalt paſſe to day þe cooſtis of Moab, þe citee, Ar bi name; and comynge nyȝ into þe ſide cooſtis of þe ſones of Amon, be war leſt þow fiȝte aȝens hem, ne be þou meued to batayl; forſoþe Y ſhal not ȝeue to þee of þe loond of þe ſones of Amon, for to þe ſones of Loþ I haue ȝeue it into poſſeſſioun. Þe loond of geauntis it is holdun, and in it ſum tyme dwelten geauntis, whom þe Ammonytes clepen Zoumym; myche puple, and greet, and of feyre lengþe, as Enachym, whom þe Lord dide awey fro þe face of hem, and made hem to dwelle for hem, as he dide to þe ſones of Eſau, þat dwellen in Seyr, doynge awey Horreis, and þe loond of hem to hem takynge, þe which þei weelden vnto þe tyme þat is nowe. Forſoþe Eueos, þat dwellen in Aſſerym vnto Gazam, men of Capadoce putten out; þe whiche goon out fro Capadoce, diden hem awey, and dwelliden for hem. Ryſe ȝe, and paſſiþ þe ſtreem of Arnon; loo! Y haue takun in þin hoond Seon, þe kyng of Eſebon, and Amorreis; and þe loond of it bigynne to take poſſeſſioun, and doo aȝens hym batayle. To day Y ſhal bigynne to ſende drede and þi feerde into puplis þat dwellen vndur al heuen, þat þi name herd, þei dreden, and bi maner of wymmen berynge child þei bigynnen to tremble, and wiþ ſorwe biholden. Y ſente þerfore meſſangeris fro þe wildernes of Cademoch to Seon, þe kyng of Eſebon, bi peſible wordis, ſeiynge, We ſhulen paſſe bi þi loond, þe comoun weye we ſhulen goo; we ſhulen not goo aſide, ne to þe ryȝt ne to þe left. Lyuelodis bi prijs ſel to vs, þat we eeten; water for money ȝif, and ſo we ſhulen drynke. Oonlich is, þat þow graunte to vs paſſyng forþ, as þe ſones of Eſau diden, þat dwellen in Seyr, and Moabitis, þat dwellen in Ar, to þe tyme þat we comen to Jordan, and paſſe to þe loond þat þe Lord oure God is to ȝyuynge to vs. And Seon, þe kyng of Eſebon, wolde not ȝyue to vs paſſynge; for þe Lord, þi God, inwardly hardide þe ſpirite of hym, and aȝen feſtnede þe herte of hym, þat ſo he were take into þin hoondis, as now þow ſeeſt. And þe Lord ſeide to me, Loo! Y haue begunne to take to þee Seon, and þe loond of hym; bigynne to weelde it. And Seon goon out to mete wiþ vs, wiþ al his puple, to þe batayle in Jaſa. And þe Lord oure God took hym to vs, and we han ſmyten hym, wiþ his ſones, and al his puple. And alle þe cytees in þat tyme we token, ſleyn þe dwellers of hem, men, and wymmen, and children; we laften not in hem eny þing, out take beeſtys þat camen into þe part of þe praye takers, and ſpoylis of þe citees whiche we token. Fro Aroer, þat is vpon þe brenke of þe ſtreem of Arnon, fro þe wallid town þat in þe valeye is ſet, vnto Galaad, was no ſtreet or cytee, þat oure hoondis aſkapide. Alle þe Lord oure God took to vs; wiþ oute þe loond of þe ſones of Amon, to þe which we comen not nyȝ, and alle þat liggen to þe ſtreem of Jeboch, and þe mounteyn citees, and alle þe places fro þe whiche þe Lord oure God haþ defendid vs.

Capitulum III.

And ſo turned we ſtieden vp bi þe weye of Baſan; and Og, þe kyng of Baſan, wente out into aȝencomynge to vs wiþ his puple, to fiȝte in Edray. And þe Lord ſeide to me, Ne drede þow hym, for in þin hoond he is taak, wiþ al þe puple, and his loond; and þow ſhalt doo to hym as þow didiſt to Seon, þe kyng of Amorreis, þat dwellid in Eſebon. Þe Lord oure God took alſo þanne in oure hoondis Og, þe kyng of Baſan, and al þe puple of hym; and we han ſmytun hym vnto þe deeþ, waſtynge alle þe cytees of hym o tyme; þere was no wallid town þat vs myȝte aſkape; ſexti citees, al þe regioun of Argob, of þe kyngdom of Og in Baſan. Alle þe cytees weren ſtrengþid wiþ mooſt hiȝe wallis, ȝatis, and barris; wiþ outen townes vnnoumbrable, þat hadden no wallis. And we diden hem awey, as we diden to Seon, þe kyng of Eſebon, deſtruyinge al citee, and men, and wymmen, and litil children; beeſtis forſoþe and ſpuyles of þe cytees we han frodrawen. And we han take þat tyme þe loond fro þe hoond of two kyngis of Amorreis, þat weren biȝonde Jordan, fro þe ſtreem of Arnon vnto þe hil of Hermon, þat Sydonys Saryon clepen, and Amoreis Sanyr; alle þe cytees þat ben ſet in pleyn, and al þe loond of Galaad, and Baſan, vnto Sewa and Edrai, þe citees of þe kyngdom of Og, in Baſan. Oonli forſoþe Og, þe kyng of Baſan, left of þe ſtok of geauntis; and þe bedde of hym is ſhewid yren, þat is in Rabaþ, of þe ſones of Amon, ten cubites hauynge of lengþe, and foure of brede, at þe meſure of þe cubite of mannus hoond. And þe loond we weeldiden in þat tyme, fro Aroer, þat is vpon þe brenk of þe ſtreem of Arnon, vnto þe myddil part of þe hil of Galaad; and þe cytees of it Y haue ȝeuen to Ruben and Gad. Forſoþe þat oþer part of Galaad, and al Baſan, of þe kyngdom of Og, Y haue take to þe half lynage of Manaſſe, al þe regioun of Argob. Al Baſan was clepid þe loond of geauntis. Jayr, þe ſone of Manaſſe, weeldide al þe regioun of Argob, vnto þe teermes of Geſſuri, and Machati; and he cleep Baſan bi his name, Anoþiayr, þat is, þe towns of Jayr, vnto þe day þat is nowe. Forſoþe to Machir Y haue ȝeue Galaad; and to þe lynage of Ruben and Gad Y haue ȝeue þe loond of Galaad, vnto þe ſtreem of Arnon, half of þe ſtreem, and þe nyȝ cooſtis vnto þe ſtreem of Jeboch, þat is þe teerme of þe ſones of Amon; and þe pleyn of wildirnes, and Jordan, and teermes of Cenereþ vnto þe ſee of deſeert, þat is mooſt ſalt, to þe rotis of þe hil of Phaſga, aȝens þe eeſt. And Y haue comaundid to ȝow in þat tyme, ſeyynge, Þe Lord oure God ȝyueþ to ȝow þis loond into herytage; fulſpeed goo ȝe before ȝoure briþeren, þe ſones of Yrael, alle þe ſtronge men, wiþ outen wyues and litil children and beeſtis. I haue knowun forſoþe þat ȝe han manye beeſtis, and in þes citees ſhulen abide, þe whiche Y ȝaf to ȝow, to þe tyme þat þe Lord ȝyue reſt to ȝoure briþeren, as he haþ ȝyue to ȝow; and alſo þat þei weelden þe loond þat he is to ȝyuynge to hem, biȝonde Jordan; þanne ſhal turne aȝen echon into his poſſeſſioun, þat Y haue ȝeue to ȝow. To Joſue forſoþe in þat tyme I haue comaundid, ſeiynge, Þin eyen han ſeen þat þe Lord oure God dide to þes two kyngis; ſo he ſhal do to al þe rewmes, to þe whiche þow art to paſſynge; ne drede þow hem; þe Lord oure God ſhal fiȝt for us. And I preyede þe Lord in þat time, ſeiynge, Lord God, þow haſt bigunne to ſhewe to þi ſeruaunt þi mochilnes, and mooſt ſtrong hoond, ne forſoþe þere is anoþer God or in heuene or in erþe, þat may doo þi werkis, and be comparyſound to þi ſtrengþe. I ſhal paſſe þerfor, and ſe þis beſt loond biȝonde Jordan, and þis noble hil and Liban. And þe Lord was wrooþ to me for ȝow, ne herde me, but ſeide to me, It ſufficiþ to þee; namore ſpek þow of þis þing to me. Sty vp to þe cop of Phaſge, and þin eyen turn about to þe weſt, and norþ, ſouþ, and eeſt, and bihold; ne forſoþe þow ſhalt paſſe þis Jordan. Comaund to Joſue, and ſtrengþe hym, and comfort; for he ſhal goo before þis puple, and dyuyde to hem þe loond þat þou art to ſeynge. And we dwelliden in þe valeye, aȝens þe mawmet temple of Phegor.

Capitulum IIII.

And nowe, Irael, here þe heeſtis and domys, þat Y teche þee; þat doynge þem þow lyue, and goynge yn þow weelde þe loond þat þe Lord God of ȝoure fadres is to ȝeue to ȝow. Ȝe ſhulen not adde to þe word þat Y ſpeke to ȝow, ne take awey from it; kepe ȝe þe heeſtis of þe Lord ȝoure God, þe whiche Y comaunde to ȝow. Ȝoure eyen han ſeen alle þingis þat þe Lord dide aȝens Belphegor; what maner wiſe he haþ bruſid down al þe heriers of it, fro þe myddil of ȝou. Forſoþe ȝe þat cleuen to þe Lord ȝoure God, lyuen alle, to þe day þat is nowe. Ȝe witen þat I tauȝt ȝow heeſtis, and riȝtwiſneſſes, as haþ comaundid to me þe Lord my God; ſo ȝe ſhulen doo hem in þe loond þat ȝe ben to weeldynge, and kepe and fulfille in dede. Forſoþe þis is ȝoure wiſdam, and vndirſtondynge before þe puplys, þat þei alle, herynge þes heeſtis, ſeyn, Loo! a wiſe puple and an vndirſtondynge! a greet folk of kynde! Ne þere is oþer nation ſo greet, þat haþ goddis neiȝynge to hem, as oure God is nyȝ to alle oure holi preiers. What is forſoþe oþer folk of kynde ſo noble, þat haþ ceremoyns, and ryȝtwis domys, and al þe lawe, þat I purpoſe to day before ȝoure eyen? Keep þerfor þi ſilf, and þi ſoule biſilich; ne forȝeet þow þe wordis þat þin eyen han ſeen, and ne falle þei out of þin herte, alle þe dayes of þi lijf. Þow ſhalt teche hem þi ſones, and þi ſone ſones; þe day þe which þow ſtodiſt before þe Lord þi God in Oreb, whanne to me ſpak þe Lord, ſeiynge, Gedre to me þe puple, þat he here my wordis, and lerne to drede me al tyme þat he lyueþ in erþe, and teche he his ſones. And ȝe neiȝeden to þe root of þe hyl, þat brent vnto heuene; and þere weren in it derkneſſis, and clowde, and myſtynes. And þe Lord ſpak to ȝow fro þe myddil of þe fier; þe voyce of þe wordis of hym ȝe herden, and þe forme out ryȝt ſawȝ ȝe not. And he ſhewide to ȝow his couenaunt, þat he comaundide þat ȝe ſhulden doo, and þe ten wordis, þat he wroot in þe two ſtonen tablis. And to me he comaundide in þat tyme, þat I ſhulde teche ȝow cerymoyns, and domes, þat ȝe owen to doo in þe loond þat ȝe ben to weelden. Kepe ȝe þerfor biſiliche ȝoure ſoulis; ȝe han not ſeen eny lickenes, in þe day þat þe Lord ſpak to ȝou in Oreb, fro þe myddil of fier; leſt perauenture diſſeyued ȝe maken to ȝow a graued liknes, oþer ymage of maal, or of femaal; liknes of alle beeſtis þat ben vpon erþe, or of briddis vndur heuene fleynge, and of crepynge beeſtis þat meuen in þe erþe, oþer of fiſſhis þat vndir þe erþe dwellen in watrys; leſt perauenture þe eyen reryd to heuene, þou ſe þe ſunne, and þe mone, and alle þe ſterris of heuene, and by errour diſſeyued þow honoure hem, and herye, þe whiche of nouȝt maad þe Lord þi God, into ſeruyce to al folk of kynde, þat ben vndur heuene. Forſoþe þe Lord took ȝow, and ladde ȝow oute fro þe yren forneys of Egipte, þat he haue a puple bi herytage, as it is in þe day þat is nowe. And þe Lord was wrooþ aȝens me, for ȝoure wordis, and ſwore þat I ſhulde not paſſe Jordan, ne goo into þe beſt loond, þat he is to ȝyuynge to ȝow. Loo! I dye in þis erþe; I ſhal not paſſe Jordan; ȝe ſhulen paſſe, and weelde þe noble loond. Be war, leſt eny tyme þow forȝeete þe couenaunt of þe Lord þi God, þat I made couenaunt wiþ þee, and make to þee a graued liknes of hem þat þe Lord defendide to make. For þe Lord þi God fier waſtynge is; a God gelows. If ȝe geten ſones, and ſones ſones, and dwelliden in þe loond, and deſſeyued make to ȝow eny liknes, doynge yuel before þe Lord ȝoure God, þat ȝe terren hym to wraþþe, witneſſes Y inwardly clepe to day heuene and erþe, þat ſoone ȝe ben to periſhen fro þe loond, þat, Jordan ouerpaſſid, ȝe ben to weelden; ȝe ſhulen not dwelle in it long tyme, but þe Lord ȝou ſhal doo awey, and ſcater into alle folkis of kynde, and ȝe ſhulen dwelle fewe in þe naciouns, to whiche þe Lord is to lede ȝou. And þere ȝe ſhulen ſerue to goddis, þe whiche bi hoond of men ben forgid of tree, and ſtoon, þat ſeen not, ne heren, ne eten, ne ſmellen. And whanne þou ſechiſt þere þe Lord þi God, þow ſhalt fynde hym; ſo neuerþelater þat wiþ al þin herte þow ſeche, and wiþ al þe tribulacioun of þi ſoule. After þat þee han foundun alle þingis þat ben before ſeid, forſoþe þe laſt tyme þow ſhalt turne aȝen to þe Lord þi God, and þow ſhalt here þe voyce of hym. For a mercyable God þe Lord þi God is; he ſhal not leeue þee, ne vtterlich doo awey, ne he ſhal forȝete þe couenaunt in þe which he ſwore to þi fadris. Aſk þow of þe oold dayes þat weren before þee, fro þe daye þat þe Lord þi God fourmede man vpon erþe, fro þe hiȝeſt of heuene vnto þe hiȝeſt of it, if þere is doon eny tyme ſiche a maner þing, or euer is knowun, þat þe puple herde þe voyce of þe God ſpekynge fro þe myddil of fier, as þow herdiſt, and ſawȝ; if God dide, þat he ȝede in, and took to hym a folk of kynde fro þe myddil of naciouns, bi temptaciouns, ſignes, and wondres, bi fiȝt, and ſtrong hoond, and ſtreiȝt out þe arme, and orrible ſiȝtes, after alle þingis þat dide for ȝow þe Lord ȝoure God, in Egipte, ſeynge þin eyen; þat þow knewe for þe Lord he a God, and þere is noon oþer but oon. Fro heuene he made þee to here his voyce, þat he teche þee; and in þe loond he haþ ſhewid to þee his mooſt fier, and þow haſt herde þe wordis of hym fro þe myddil of fier; for he haþ loued þi fadres, and choſun þe ſeed of hem after hem. And he ladde out þee, goynge before in his greet vertue, fro Egipte, þat he doo awey mooſt naciouns, and þe ſtrengere, in þin entree, and in lede þee, and ȝeue to þee þe loond of hem into poſſeſſioun, as þow biholdiſt in þe day þat is now. Know þow þerfor to day, and þenk in þin herte, þat þe Lord he is a God in heuene aboue, and in erþe beneþe, and þere is noon oþer. Kepe þow þe heeſtis of hym, and maundements, þat I comaunde to þee, þat wel it be to þee, and þi ſones after þee, and dwelle þow myche tyme vpon þe erþe, þat þe Lord þi God is to ȝyue to þee. Þanne Moyſes ſeuerde þre citees, biȝonde Jordan, at þe eſt plage, þat to hem fleeȝ þe which ſleeþ a neiȝbour, not wilnynge, ne were enemy before oon and oþer day, and to oon of þeſe citees myȝte aſcape; Boſor, in wilderneſſe, þat is ſet in þe wijlde feeldi loond, of þe lynage of Ruben; and Ramoþ, in Galaad, þat is in þe lynage of Gad; and Golan, in Baſan, þat is in þe lynage of Manaſſe. Þis is þe lawe þat Moyſes purpoſide before þe ſones of Yrael, and þeſe þe witneſſyngis, and cerymoyns, þat he ſpak to þe ſones of Yrael, whanne þei wenten out of Egipte, ouer Jordan, in þe valey aȝens þe mawmet temple of Phegor, in þe loond of Seon, kyng of Amorrei, þat dwellid in Eſebon, whom ſmoot Moyſes. Forſoþe þe ſones of Irael goon out of Egipte, weeldiden þe loond of hym, and þe loond of Og, kyng of Baſan, of þe two kyngis of Amorreis, þat weren biȝonde Jordan, at þe ryſynge of þe ſunne; fro Aroer, þat is ſet vpon þe brenk of þe ſtreme of Arnon, vnto þe hil of Seon, þat is in Hermon; al þe pleyn biȝonde þe Jordan, to þe eeſt plage, vnto þe ſee of widernes, and into þe rotis of þe hil of Phaſga.

Capitulum V.

And Moyſes clepide al Yrael, and ſeide to hym, Here, Yrael, cerymoyns, and domys, þat I ſpeke in ȝoure eris to day; lerne ȝe hem, and fulfilliþ in dede. Þe Lord oure God haþ couenauntid wiþ vs a boond of pees in Oreb; not wiþ oure fadres he made couenaunt, but wiþ vs, þat nowe ben, and lyuen. Face to face he haþ ſpoke to vs in þe hil, fro þe myddil of fier. I felawe and meene was bitwix God and ȝow in þat tyme, þat I tolde to ȝow þe wordis of hym; forſoþe ȝe dreden þe fier, and ȝe ſtieden not into þe hil. And he ſeiþ, I þe Lord þi God, þat haue ladde þee out of þe loond of Egipte, fro þe hows of ſeruage. Þow ſhalt not haue alyen goddis in my ſiȝt. Þow ſhalt not make to þee grauen þing, ne liknes of alle þingis þat in heuen ben aboue, and þat in erþe byneþe, and þat dwellen in watres vndur erþe; þow ſhalt not honoure hem, ne herye; forſoþe I am þe Lord þi God, a ielouſe God, ȝeeldynge wickidnes of fadres into ſones, into þe þridde and þe ferþe generacioun to hem þat hatiden me, and doynge mercy into many þowſandes to hem þat louen me, and kepen myn heeſtes. Þow ſhalt not myſtaak þe name of þe Lord þi God idillich, for he ſhal not be vnpunyſhid, þat vpon veyn þing þe name of hym takiþ. Kepiþ þe day of þe ſaboþ, þat þow halwe it, as þe Lord þi God haþ comaundid to þee. Six dayes þow ſhalt worche, and doo alle þi werkis; þe ſeuenþe day is of þe ſaboþ, þat is þe reſt of þe Lord þi God. Þow ſhalt not doo in it eny þing of werke, þow, and þi ſone, and dowȝter, ſeruaunt, and handmayden, and oxe, and aſſe, and al þi beeſt, and pilgryme þat is wiþ ynne þi ȝatis; þat þi ſeruaunt and handmayde reſten, and as þow. Haue mynde, þat and þi ſelf ſeruede in Egipte, and þe Lord þi God ladde þee out þens in a ſtronge hoond, and in an arme ſtreiȝt out; þerfore he haþ comaundid to þee, þat þow kepe wel þe day of þe ſaboþ. Honour þi fader and þi moder, as þe Lord þi God haþ comaundid to þee, þat longe tyme þow lyue, and wel be to þee in þe loond þat þe Lord þi God is to ȝyuynge to þee. Þow ſhalt not ſlee. And þow ſhalt do no leccherye. And þow ſhalt doo no þeft. Þou ſhalt not ſpeke aȝens þi neiȝbore fals witnes. Þow ſhalt not coueyte þe wijf of þi neiȝbour, ne hows, ne feelde, ne ſeruaunt, ne handmayde, ne oxe, ne aſſe, and alle þingis þat of hym ben. Þes wordes þe Lord ſpak to al oure multitude, in þe hil, of þe myddel of fier and clowde and derkneſſe, wiþ a greet voyce, no þinge addinge more ouer; and he wroot hem in two ſtonen tablis, þat he took to me. Ȝe forſoþe, after þat ȝe herden a voice fro þe myddel of derkneſſis, and þat ȝe ſeen þe hil to brenne, ȝe comen to me alle þe princes of þe lynages, and þe more þurȝ birþe, and ſeiden, Loo! þe Lord oure God haþ ſhewid to vs maieſte, and his mychylneſſe; þe voyce of hym we han herd fro þe myddil of þe fier, and we han preued to day þat þurȝ God ſpekynge wiþ man a man lyueþ. Whi þanne ſhulen we die, and ſhal deuowre vs þis mooſt fier? Forſoþe if we heren more þe voice of þe Lord oure God, we ſhulen die. What is al fleſh, þat he here þe voice of God lyuynge, þat fro þe myddil of fier ſpekiþ, as we han herd, and myȝten lyue? Þow more goo niȝ, and here alle þingis þat þe Lord oure God ſhal ſeye to þee; and þow ſhalt ſpeke to vs, and we herynge ſhal doon hem. Þe which þing whanne þe Lord hadde herd, ſeiþ to me, I haue herd þe voys of þe wordes of þis puple, þat þei han ſpokun to þee; wel alle þingis þei han ſpokun. Who ȝyueþ hem ſiche þouȝt to haue, þat þei dreden me, and kepen alle my maundementis in al tyme, þat wel it be to hem, and to þe ſones of hem, into wiþ outen ende? Go, and ſey to hem, Turneþ aȝen into ȝoure tentis. Forſoþe þow ſtoond here wiþ me, and I ſhal ſpeke to þee al þe maundementis, and ceremoyns, and domes, þat þow ſhalt teche hem, þat þei doon hem in þe loond þat Y ſhal ȝeue to hem into poſſeſſioun. Kepe ȝe þerfore, and doþ hem, þe whiche þe Lord God haþ comaundid to ȝow; ȝe ſhulen not bowe aſide, ne to þe ryȝt, ne to þe left, but bi þe weie þat þe Lord ȝoure God haþ comaundid, ȝe ſhulen goo, þat ȝe lyuen, and wel be to ȝow, and ȝoure daies ben drawun along in þe loond of ȝoure poſſeſſyoun.

Capitulum VI.

Theſe ben þe heeſtis, and cerymoyns, and domes, þat þe Lord oure God comaundide þat Y ſhulde teche ȝow, and ȝe doon hem in þe loond to þe which to be weeldid ȝe paſſen forþe; þat þow drede þe Lord þi God, and kepe alle þe maundementis, and heeſtis of hym, þat I comaunde to þee, and to þi ſones, and to þi ſones ſones, alle þe dais of þi lijf, þat þi days ben drawen along. Here, Yrael, and keep wel, þat þow doo þat þe Lord haþ comaundid to þee, and wel be to þee, and þow be multiplied forþermore, as þe Lord God of þi fadres haþ behoot, to ȝyue to þee þe loond flowynge mylk and hony. Here, Yrael, þe Lord þi God o God is. Þow ſhalt loue þe Lord þi God of al þin herte, and of al þi ſoule, and of alle þi ſtrengþis. And þes wordis þat I comaunde to þee to day, ſhulen be in þin herte; and þow ſhalt telle hem to þi ſones, and deuowtly þenk, ſyttinge in þin howſe, and goynge in þe weie, and ſlepynge, and aryſynge. And þow ſhalt bynd hem as a tokne in þin hoond; and þei ſhulen be before þin eyen, and not be meued; and þow ſhalt write hem in þe þresfold and dores of þin hows. And whanne þe Lord þi God haþ lad þee into þe loond, for þe which he ſwore to þi fadrys Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob, and ȝeueþ to þee greet and beſt citees, þat þow haſt not bilde, howſes ful of alle ritcheſſes, þat þow haſt not made out, and cyſterns, þat þow haſt not doluen, vyyn places, and olyue places, þat þow haſt not plantid, and eetiſt, and were fulfillid, be war biſily þat þow forȝete not þe Lord, þat haþ lad þee out of þe loond of Egipte, fro þe hows of ſeruage. Þe Lord þi God þow ſhalt drede, and to hym oonli þou ſhalt ſerue, and bi þe name of hym þow ſhalt ſwere. Ȝe ſhulen not go aftir alyen goddis, of alle gentilis þat about ȝow ben; for a gelouſe God þe Lord þi God, in þe myddil of þee, leſt eny tyme þe woodnes of þe Lord þi God wraþþe aȝens þee, and doo þee awey fro þe vttermooſt of þe erþe. Þow ſhalt not tempte þe Lord þi God, as þow haſt temptid in þe place of temptynge. Keep þe heeſtis of þe Lord þi God, and witneſſyngis, and cerymoyns, þat he comaundid to þee; and do þat is pleſaunt and good in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, þat it wel be to þee, and þow goon yn weelde þe beſt loond, of þe which þe Lord haþ ſwore to þi fadres, þat he ſhal do awey alle þin enemyes bifore þee, as he haþ ſpokun. And whanne þi ſone aſkiþ þee to morwe, ſeiynge, What to hem ſelf wolen þes witneſſyngis, and cerymoyns, and domes, þat þe Lord oure God haþ comaundid to vs? þow ſhalt ſeie to hym, Þrallis of Pharao we weren in Egipte, and þe Lord ladde vs out of Egipte, in a ſtrong hoond; and haþ doo ſignes, and greet wondris, and mooſt yuel in Egipte, aȝens Pharao, and alle þe ſeruauntis of hym, in ȝoure ſiȝt. And he ladde ȝow out þens, þat vs lad ynne, he ȝyue þe loond, vp þe which he haþ ſwore to oure fadres. And þe Lord haþ comaundid to vs, þat we doon alle þes lawful þinges, and drede þe Lord oure God, þat it wel be to vs alle þe dayes of oure lijf, as it is to day. And he ſhal be merciable of vs, if we doon and kepen alle þe heeſtes of hym, bifore þe Lord oure God, as he haþ comaundyd to vs.

Capitulum VII.

Whanne þe Lord þi God haþ lad þee into þe loond, þe which to weelde þow ſhalt goo yn, and doþ awey many gentilis before þee, Eþee, and Gergeſe, and Amorre, Chananee, Phereſe, Euee, and Gebuſe; ſeuen folkis, of myche more noumbre þan þow art, and ſtronger þan þow; and þe Lord God take hem to þee, and þow ſhalt ſmyte hem vnto þe deþ, þow ſhalt not maak wiþ hem couenaunt of pees, ne haue mercy of hem, ne felawſhip wiþ hem mariagis; þi douȝter þow ſhalt not ȝeue to his ſone, ne his douȝter þow ſhalt take to þi ſone; for ſhe ſhal lede aſide þi ſone, þat he folwe not me, and þat more he ſerue to alyen goddis; and þe woodenes of þe Lord ſhal wraþþe, and ſoone do þee awey. But raþer þes þingis ȝe ſhulen doo to hem; þe auters of hem vndurturneþ, and brekiþ togidres þe ymagis, and þe mawmet wodis hewiþ down, and þe grauen þingis brenneþ. For an holy puple þou art to þe Lord þi God; þe Lord þi God haþ choſen þee, þat þow be to hym a ſpecial puple, fro al þe puples þat ben vpon erþe. Not for al þe gentilis in noumbre ȝe vencuſiden, þe Lord is ioyned to ȝow, and haþ choſun ȝow, whanne ȝe ben fewer þan alle þe puples; but for þe Lord haþ loued ȝow, and haþ kept þe teſtament þat he haþ ſworn to ȝour fadres; and he haþ lad ȝow out in a ſtrong hoond, and haþ raunſomyd fro þe hows of ſeruage, and fro þe hows of Pharao, þe kyng of Egipte. And þow ſhalt wyte, for þe Lord þi God he is a ſtrong God, and a feiþful, kepynge couenaunt and mercy to þilk þat louen hym, and to hem þat kepen his heeſtis, into þowſande generaciouns; and ȝeeldynge anoon to hem þat haten hym, ſo þat he ſcater hem, and ferþer differre not; anoon ȝeldynge to hem þat þei deſeruen. Kepe þerfore þe heeſtis, and cerymoyns, and domes, þat I comaunde to þee to day, þat þow doo. If after þat þow heriſt þes domes, kepiſt hem, and dooſt, þe Lord þi God ſhal kepe couenaunt to þee, and mercy, þat he ſwore to þi fadres. And he ſhal loue þee, and multiplie, and he ſhal bleſſe to þe fruyt of þi wombe, and to þe fruyt of þi loond, and to þi whete, and to þi vyndage, oyle, and droues, flockis of þi ſheep, vpon þe loond for þe which he haþ ſwore to þi fadris, þat he ȝeue it to þee. Bliſſid þow ſhalt be among alle puples; þere ſhal not be anentis þee bareyn of eiþer kynde, as wel in men, as in þi flockis. Þe Lord ſhall doo awey fro þee al ſorwe; and þe worſt infirmytees of Egipte, þat þow haſt knowun, he ſhal not put in to þee, but to al þin enemyes. And þow ſhalt deuowr alle þe puples, þe whiche þe Lord þi God is to ȝyue to þee; þin eye ſhal not ſpare to hem, ne ſerue to þe goddis of hem, leſt þei ben into dounfallynge of þee. If þow ſeiſt in þin herte, Mo ben þes folk þan Y, what maner wiſe ſhal I mowe doo awey hem? wol þow not drede, but recorde þat þe Lord þi God haþ doo to Pharao, and to alle þe Egipciens, mooſt veniaunces, þat þin eyen han ſeen, and toknes, and wondres, and a ſtrong hoond, and a ſtrauȝt out arme, þat þe Lord þi God out lede þee; ſo þow ſhalt doo to alle puples þe which þow drediſt. Forþermore and horſefleȝis þe Lord þi God ſhal ſende to hem, to þe tyme þat he doo awey alle, and ſcater, þat fleen þee, and ben hid mowen þei not. Þou ſhalt not drede hem, for þe Lord þi God is in þe myddil of þee, þe greet God, and feerful. He ſhal waſte þes naciouns in þi ſiȝt, litilmele and bi partees; þow ſhalt not mowe doo hem awey togidre, leſt perauenture be multiplied aȝens þee þe beeſtys of þe erþe; and þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝeue hem in þi ſiȝt, and ſle hem, to þe tyme þat fulli þei ben doon aweie. And he ſhal take þe kyngis of hem into þin hoondes, and þow ſhalt ſcater þe names of hem vndur heuene; no man ſhal mowe wiþſtoonde to þee, to þe tyme þat þow al to-trede hem. Þe grauen þingis of hem wiþ fier þow ſhalt brenne; þow ſhalt not coueyt ſiluer and gold, of þe whiche þei ben maad, ne þow ſhalt take of hem to þee eny þing, ne offend þow for hem, for abhomynacioun it is of þe Lord þi God. Ne brynge þow yn eny þing of þe mawmet into þin hows, leſt þow be maad accurſid, as and it is; as ſtynk þow ſhalt looþ, and as filþhed and horþe of abbomynacioun þow ſhalt haue, for curſid it is.

Capitulum VIII.

Al maundement þat I comaunde to þee to day be war biſili þat þow doo, þat ȝe mowen lyue, and þat ȝe ben multiplied, and goon yn, ȝe weelden þe loond, for þe which þe Lord haþ ſworn to ȝoure fadres. And þow ſhalt recorde of al þe weie, bi þe which þe Lord þi God haþ lad þee fourti wintir, bi deſeert, þat he traueyle þee, and tempte; and weren knowun þat in þin inwitte weren ſtyryd, wheþer þow woldiſt kepe þe heeſtis of hym, or noo. He trauelde þee wiþ ſcarſenes, and ȝaf to þee meet manna, þe which vnknewe þow, and þi fadres, þat he ſhewe to þee, þat not in oonly breed lyueþ man, but in eche word of God, þat goþ out of þe mouþ of þe Lord. Þi cloþinge, wiþ þe which þow were couerd, for eelde faylide not, and þi foot was not vndur bryſſed, loo! þe fourtiþ ȝeer is; þat þow aȝen þenke in þin herte, for as a man techiþ his ſone, ſo þe Lord þi God tauȝte þee, þat þow kepe þe heeſtis of þe Lord þi God, and goo in þe weies of hym, and drede hym. Forſoþe þe Lord þi God ſhal lede þee into a good lond, þe lond of ryuers, and of watrys, and of welles, in whos feeldis and hillis breken out gedrynges of flodes; þe loond of whete, and of barly, and of vynes, in þe which figis, and poomgernettis, and olyues growen; þe loond of oyle and of hony; where wiþ out eny ſcarſenes þow ſhalt eete þi breed, and þow ſhal ful vſe þe plente of alle þinges; whos ſtones ben yren, and of þe hillis of it ben doluen metallys of braſſe; þat whanne þow eetiſt, and were fulfillid, þow bleſſe to þe Lord þi God for þe beſt loond þat he haþ ȝeue to þee. Kepe wel, and bewarre, leſt eny tyme þow forȝete þe Lord þi God, and myſleue þe heeſtis of hym, and domes, and cerymoyns, þat Y comaunde to þee to day; leſt after þat þow etiſt, and were fillid, feyr howſes bildiſt, and dwellidiſt in hem, and haſt droues of oxen, and flockis of ſheep, and plente of ſiluer, and of gold, and of alle þinges, þin herte be reryd, and haue no mynde of þe Lord þi God, þat haþ lad þee out of þe loond of Egipte, and of þe hows of ſeruage, and þi leder was in greet wildernes, and feerful, in þe which was ſerpent þurȝ blaſt brennynge, and ſcorpioun, and dipſas, þat is, an eddre þat whom he bitiþ, he makeþ þurȝ þreſte die, and noon algatis watris; þe which ladde out ryueres of þe mooſt hard ſtoon, and fedde þee wiþ manna in wildernes, þe which knewen not þi fadres. And after þat he trauelde þee, and ſtrengþide, at þe eende he hadde mercy of þee, leſt þow ſeidiſt in þin herte, My ſtrengþe, and myȝt of myn hoond alle þes þingis to me han ȝeuen. But record þow of þe Lord þi God, þat he ſtrengþes haþ ȝeue to þee, þat he fulfille his couenaunt, vp þe which he haþ ſworne to þi fadris, as þe preſent day ſhewiþ. If forſoþe forȝeten of þe Lord þi God, folwediſt alien goddis, and herye hem, and honoure, loo! now Y before ſeye to þee, þat vtterly þow ſhalt periſhe; as þe gentilis, þat þe Lord dyde awey in þin entre, ſo and ȝe ſhulen periſhe, if inobeiſhaunt ȝe ſhulen be to þe voys of þe Lord ȝoure God.

Capitulum IX.

Here, Yrael; þow ſhalt to day gon ouer Jordan, þat þow weelde mooſt naciouns, and ſtrenger þan þow; greet cytees, and into heuene wallid; a greet puple, and an hieȝe; þe ſones of Enachym, þe whiche þi ſelf haſt ſeen, and herd, to þe whiche no man may aȝen wiþſtoond. Þanne to day þow ſhalt wite, þat þe Lord þi God he ſhal go before þee; fier deuowrynge and waſtynge, þe which briſſe hem down, and doo awey, and ſcatre before þi face ſwiftly, as he haþ ſpokun to þee. Ne ſey þow in þin herte, whanne þe Lord þi God haþ doo hem awey in þi ſiȝt, For my riȝtwiſnes þe Lord haþ lad me in, þat þis loond I weelde; ſiþ for her wickidneſſes þes naciouns ben doon awey. Forſoþe ne for þi riȝtwiſneſſes, and euenneſſe of þin herte þow ſhalt goon yn, þat þow weelde þe loondes of hem; but for þei diden vnpitownes, þe comynge yn, ben doon awey, and þat þe Lord fulfille his word þat vnder ooþ he haþ bihoot to þi fadres Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob. Wite þow þen, þat not for þi riȝtwiſneſſe þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee þis beſt loond into poſſeſſioun, ſiþ þow art a puple of mooſt hard nolle. Haue mynde, and forȝete þow not what maner wiſe to wraþþe þow terrediſt þe Lord þi God in wildernes; fro þat day þat þow wentiſt out of Egipte vnto þis place, euere more aȝens þe Lord þou ſtriuediſt. For and in Oreb þow terrediſt hym, and wrooþ he wolde doo þee awey, whanne I ſtiede into þe hil, þat I took two ſtonen tablis, tablis of couenaunt, þe Lord couenauntide wiþ ȝou, and I abood in þe hil fourti days and nyȝt, breed not etynge, and water not drynkynge. And þe Lord ȝaf to me two ſtonen tablis, eiþer wrytun wiþ þe fyngre of God, and conteynynge alle þe wordis þat to ȝow he ſpak in þe hil, fro þe myddil of fier, whanne al þe companye of þe puple was gedrid. And whanne fourti days weren paſſed, and ſo feele nyȝt, þe Lord ȝaf to me two ſtonen tablis, tablis of boond of pees; and he ſeide to me, Ryſe, and go hens anoon, for þi puple, þat þow haſt lad out of Egipte, han forſake ſwiftli þe weie þat þou haſt ſhewid to hem, and han maad to hem ſelf a ȝoten calf. And eft þe Lord ſeide to me, I biholde, þat þis puple is of hard nolle; ſuffre me, þat I trede hym doun, and doo awey þe name of hym vndur heuene; and Y ſhal ſet þee vpon folk þat is more and ſtrenger þan þis. And whanne I ſhulde deſchalt ſcende fro þe hil brennynge, and two tablis of þe boond of pees I heelde wiþ eiþer hoond, and ſawȝ ȝow to haue ſynned to þe Lord ȝoure God, and haue maad to ȝow a ȝoten calf, and han forſake ſwiftly þe wey of hym, þat he ſhewide to ȝow, I þrewe afer þe tablis fro myn hoondis, and breek hem in ȝoure ſiȝt. And I felle down before þe Lord as before, fourti days and fourti nyȝt, breed not etynge, and water not drynkynge, for alle ȝoure ſynnes þat ȝe diden aȝens þe Lord, and hym to wraþþe han terred; forſoþe I dredde þe indignacioun and þe wraþþe of hym, in which aȝens ȝow ſtyryd, wold doo ȝow a wey. And þe Lord herde me alſo þis while. Forſoþe aȝens Aaron hugeli wrooþ, he wolde hym trede, and for hym lijk maner Y preiede. Forſoþe ȝoure ſynne þat ȝe diden, þat is, þe calf, takynge Y brent wiþ fier, and in gobetis brekynge, and vtterly into powdre doynge, Y þrewe ferre into þe ſtreem þat deſcendide fro þe hil. In þe brennynge forſoþe, and in þe temptynge, and in þe Sepulcres of Luſt, ȝe terreden þe Lord; and whanne Y ſente ȝow fro Cades Barne, ſeiynge, Stye ȝe vp, and weelde ȝe þe loond þat I haue ȝeue to ȝow, and ȝe han diſpiſid þe maundement of þe Lord ȝoure God, and han not leued to hym, ne his voyce heren ȝe wolden; but euer more ȝe weren rebel, fro þe day þat I biganne to knowe ȝow. And Y leye before þe Lord fourti days and fourti nyȝtis, in þe whiche hym mekely Y preyede, þat he ne ſhulde do ȝou awey, as he þratte. And preiynge I ſeide, Lord God, ne ſcater þow þi puple, and þin herytage, þat þow haſt bouȝt in þi mychilnes, þe which þow haſt lad out of Egipte in a ſtrong hoond. Record of þi ſeruauntis, Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob; ne bihold þow þe hardnes of þis puple, and vnpitowſnes, and ſynne, leſt perauenture þe dwellers of þe loond, of þe which þow haſt lad vs out, ſeyn, Þe Lord myȝte not lede hem into þe loond þat he bihiȝte hem, and hatide hem; þerfor he haþ lad out, þat he ſle hem in wildernes, þat ben þi puple, and þin herytage, þe which þow haſt lad out in þi greet ſtrengþe, and in þi ſtreiȝt out arme.

Capitulum X.

In þat tyme þe Lord ſeide to me, Plaan to þee two ſtonen tables, as þe raþer weren; and ſty vp to me into þe hil. And þow ſhalt make a treen ark, and I ſhal write in þe tablis wordes þat weren in hem þe whiche before þou breeke; and þow ſhalt putt hem into þe ark. I made þerfor þe ark of trees of Sechym; and whanne I hadde planed two ſtonen tablis, at þe lyknes of þe raþer, I ſtide vp into þe hil, hauynge hem in hoondes. And he wroot in þe tables, after þat þat he hadde wryten before ten wordes, þat þe Lord ſpak to vs in þe hil, fro þe myddil of fier, whanne þe puple was gedryd, and haþ ȝeue hem to me. And turned aȝen fro þe hil, Y deſſendid, and putte þe tables into þe ark þat I made, þe whiche ȝit hidir to þere ben, as þe Lord haþ comaundid to me. Forſoþe þe ſones of Yrael meeueden tentis fro Beroþ, of þe ſones of Jachan, in Moſera, where Aaron is deed, and biryed, for whom his ſone Eleazar bere þe office of preeſt. Þens þei camen in Galaad; fro þe which place goon forþ, þei ſettiden tentis in Geþabaþa, in þe loond of watris and of ſtremes. Þat tyme I ſeuerde þe lynage of Leuy, þat he bere þe ark of þe boond of pees of þe Lord, and ſtoond before hym in ſeruyce, and bleſſe in þe name of hym, into þe preſent day. Wherfor Leuy hadde no part ne poſſeſſioun wiþ his briþeren, for he þe Lord is þe poſſeſſioun of hym, as þe Lord þi God haþ bihoot to hym. I forſoþe ſtood in þe hil, as bifore, fourti dais and fourti nyȝt, and þe Lord herde me in þis while, and wold not leſe þee. And he ſeide to me, Go, and weend before þe puple, þat he goo yn, and weelde þe loond þat I haue ſworn to þe fadres of hem, þat I ſhulde take to hem. And nowe, Yrael, what þing þe Lord þi God aſkiþ of þee, but þat þow drede þe Lord þi God, and goo in þe weies of hym, and loue hym, and ſerue to þe Lord þi God in al þin herte, and in al þi ſoule; and kepe þe heeſtis of þe Lord þi God, and þe cerymouns of hym, þat I to day comaunde to þee, þat wel it be to þee. Loo! of þe Lord þi God is heuene, and heuene of heuene, erþe, and alle þingis þat in it ben; and neuerþelater to þi faders ioyned is þe Lord, and he louede hem, and haþ choſen þe ſeed of hem, after hem, þat is, ȝow, fro alle gentils, as to day is preued. Kutte ȝe about þerfore þe vttermore part of ȝoure herte, and ȝoure nolle forþermore harde ȝe not. For þe Lord oure God he is God of goddis, and Lord of lordyngis; a greet God, and myȝti, and dreedful, þat perſoone takeþ not, ne ȝiftis. He doþ doom to þe faderles child, and to widewe, and loueþ þe pilgrime, and ȝyueþ to hym lyuelod, and cloþinge. And ȝe þerfore loueþ pilgrimys, for and ȝe ȝoure ſelf weren pilgrimys in þe loond of Egipt. Þe Lord þi God þow ſhalt drede, and to hym þow ſhalt ſerue, and to hym þow ſhalt drawe to, and ſwere in þe name of hym. He is þi preyſynge, and þi God, þat haþ do to þee þes greet þingis, and feerful, þat þin eyen han ſeen. In ſeuenti ſoules þi fadres deſſendeden into Egipte, and loo! now þe Lord þi God haþ multiplied þee as ſterres of heuene.

Capitulum XI.

Loue alſo þe Lord þi God, and kepe wel þe heeſtis of hym, and cerymoyns, domes, and maundementis, al tyme. Knowe ȝe to day þat ȝoure ſones vnknowen, þat han not ſeen þe diſciplyne of þe Lord ȝoure God, þe greet þingis of hym, and ſtrong hoond, and ſtrauȝt arme, toknes and werkis, þat he dide in þe myddil of Egipte to Pharao þe kynge, and to al his loond, and to al þe ooſt of Egipciens, and to hors and charys; what maner wiſe couerden hem watris of þe Reed See, whanne þei purſueden ȝow, and þe Lord dide hem awey vnto þe day þat is now; and to ȝow what þingis he haþ doo in wildernes, to þe tyme þat ȝe camen to þis place; and to Daþan and Abyron, þe ſones of Eliab, þat was þe ſone of Ruben, whom þe erþe, his mouþ opned, ſowpide awey, wiþ howſes and tabernaclis, and al þe ſubſtaunce of hem þat þei hadden, in þe myddil of Yrael. Ȝoure eyen ſawȝen alle þe greet werkis of þe Lord, þe whiche he dide, þat ȝe kepen alle þe maundementis of hym, þe whiche I to day comaunde to ȝow, and mowen goo yn, and weelde þe loond, to þe which ȝe ſhulen goon yn, and myche tyme lyue in it, þat vndur ooþ þe Lord haþ bihoot to ȝoure fadres, and to þe ſeed of hem, mylk and hony flowynge. Forſoþe þe loond, to þe which to be weeldid þow ſhalt goon yn, is not as þe loond of Egipte, of þe which þow wentiſt out, where þe ſeed þrowun in maner of gardyns moyſtynge watrys ben lad; but it is hilli, and feeldi, abidynge fro heuene reynes, þat þe Lord þi God euermore viſitiþ, and þe eyen of hym in it ben, fro þe bigynnynge of þe ȝeer vnto þe eend of it. If þanne ȝe obeſhen to myn heeſtis þat I to day comaunde to ȝou, þat ȝe louen þe Lord ȝoure God, and ſerue to hym in al ȝoure herte, and in al ȝoure ſoule; he ſhal ȝyue to ȝoure loond reyn tymeli and laate, þat ȝe gederen to gider whete, and wyn, and oyle, haye of þe feeldes to beeſtis to ben fed, and þat ȝe eten and ben fulfillid. Be ȝe war, leſt perauenture ȝoure herte be diſſeyued, and ȝe goon a wey fro þe Lord, and ſeruen to alyen goddes, and honoure hem; and þe Lord wrooþ clooſe heuenes, and reynes comen not down, ne þe erþe ȝyue his buriownynge, and ȝe periſhen ſwiftli fro þe beſt loond þat þe Lord is to ȝeuynge to ȝow. Putte ȝe þes my wordis in þe hertis, and in ȝoure inwittis, and honge ȝe hem vp for a tokne in hoondis, and among ȝoure eyen ſette ȝe. Teche ȝe ȝoure ſones, þat hem þei deuowtli þenken, whanne þow ſittiſt in þin hows, and goſt in þe weye, and lyiſt, and aryſiſt. Þow ſhalt wryte hem vpon þe poſtis and ȝatis of þin hows, þat þi days and of þi ſones be multiplied in þe loond þat þe Lord ſwore to þi fadris, þat he ſhulde ȝyue to hem, as long as heuene ſtoont a boue to erþe. Forſoþe if ȝe kepen þe heeſtis þat I comaunde to ȝow, and doon hem, þat ȝe louen þe Lord ȝoure God, and goon in alle þe weyes of hym, drawynge to hym, þe Lord Almyȝti ſhal ſcater alle þes gentilis bifore ȝoure face, and ȝe ſhulen weelde hem þat ben more and ſtrenger þan ȝe. Eche place þat ȝoure foot trediþ, ſhal be ȝour; fro deſeert, and fro Libane, and þe greet flood of Effrate vnto þe weſt ſee, ſhulen ben ȝoure termes. No man ſhal ſtoond aȝens ȝow; ȝoure dreed and feerd ſhulen ȝyue þe Lord ȝoure God vpon al þe loond þat ȝe ben to trede, as he haþ ſpoke to ȝow. Loo! I purpoſe in ȝoure ſiȝt to day bleſſynge and curſynge; bleſſynge, if ȝe obeiſhen to þe heeſtis of þe Lord ȝour God, þat to day I comaunde to ȝow; curſynge, if ȝe heren not þe maundementis of þe Lord ȝoure God, but gon awey fro þe weie þat Y now ſhewe to ȝow, and gon after alien goddis þat ȝe knowen not. Forſoþe whanne þe Lord þi God lediþ þee into þe loond, to þe which to be had þow gooſt, þow ſhalt putte bleſſynge vpon þe hil of Gariſym, curſynge vpon þe hil Hebal, þat ben biȝonde Jordan, after þe weye þat turneþ to þe ſunne goynge down, in þe loond of Chananey, þat dwelliþ in þe wilde feeldes aȝens Galgalam, þat is biſide þe valey ſtrecchynge and entrynge aferre. Forſoþe ȝe ſhulen paſſe Jordan, þat ȝee weelden þe loond þat þe Lord ȝoure God is to ȝyue to ȝow, and ȝe han and weelde it. Se ȝe þerfore þat ȝe fulfillen þe cerymoyns and domes, þat I to day ſhal putte in ȝoure ſiȝt.

Capitulum XII.

Thes ben þe heeſtes and domes, þat ȝe owen to doon in þe loond þat þe Lord God is to ȝyue to þee, þat þow weelde it, alle dayes in þe whiche vpon þe erþe þow ſhalt goon. Turne ȝe doun alle places in þe whiche þe gentilis þat ȝe ben to weelde, heried her goddis, vpon hiȝe mounteyns, and hillis, and vndir al þik braunchid tree. Scatre ȝe þe auters of hem, and brekiþ togidre þe ymagis; þe mawmet wodes brenneþ wiþ fier, and þe mawmettis deſtruy ȝe; ſcatre ȝe þe names of hem fro þe places. Ȝe ſhulen not doo ſo to þe Lord ȝoure God; but to þe place þat þe Lord ȝoure God cheſiþ of alle ȝoure lynages, þat he putte his name þere, and dwelle in it; ȝe ſhulen come, and offre in þat place brent ſacrificis, and ȝoure ſlayn offryngis, and dymes, and firſt fruytis of ȝoure hoondis, and auowis and ȝiftis, þe firſt goten of oxen, and of ſheep. And ȝe ſhulen eete þere in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord ȝoure God; and ȝe ſhulen glade in alle þingis, to which putten hoond, ȝe and ȝoure howſes, in þe whiche þe Lord ȝoure God bleſſe to ȝou. Ȝe ſhulen not doo þere þat we doon here to day, eche þat to hym ſelf ſemeþ riȝt. Forſoþe ne vnto þe tyme þat is nowe ȝe comen to reſt and to þe poſſeſſioun, þat þe Lord God is to ȝeue to ȝow. Ȝe ſhulen paſſe Jordan, and dwelle in þe loond þat þe Lord ȝoure God is to ȝyue to ȝow, þat ȝe reſten fro alle enemyes bi enuyroun, and dwellen wiþ outen eny drede. In þe place þat þe Lord ȝour God cheſiþ, þat his name be in it. Þidre alle þingis þat Y comaunde ȝe ſhulen bere, brent ſacrifices, and ooſtis, and dymes, and firſt fruytis of ȝoure hoondes, and what euer þing cheefe is in ȝiftis, þat ȝe han vowid to þe Lord. Þere ȝe ſhulen eete before þe Lord ȝoure God, ȝe, and ſones, and ȝoure douȝtres, men ſeruauntis, and wymmen ſeruauntis, and Leuytis, þat in ȝoure cytees dwellen; forſoþe ne þei han oþer part and poſſeſſioun among ȝow. Be war þat þou offre not þi brent ſacrifices in alle places þat þou ſhalt ſe, but in it þat þe Lord ſhal cheſe in oon of þi lynagis þow ſhalt offre ooſtis, and doo alle þingis þat Y comaunde to þee. Forſoþe if þow wolt eete, and þee þe etynge of fleſh delyte, ſle, and eete after þe bleſſynge of þe Lord þi God, þat he haþ ȝeue to þee in þy cytees, oþer vnclene it were, þat is, wemmed and feble, oþer cleene, þat is, hool and wiþouten wemme, þat is leueful to ben offrid, and as capret and hert þow ſhalt eete; wiþ outen etynge oonli of þe blood, þat vpon þe erþe as water þow ſhalt heeld out. Þow ſhalt not mowe eete in þy burghtownes dimes of whete, of wyn, and of þin oyle, þe firſt geten of droues, and beeſtis, and alle þingis þat þow auowiſt, and wilfulli wolt offre, and þe firſt fruytis of þin hoondes; but bifore þe Lord þi God þow ſhalt ete hem, in þe place þat þe Lord þi God cheſiþ, þow, and þi ſone, and þi douȝter, knaue ſeruaunt, and meyde ſeruaunt, and þe Leuyte þat dwelliþ in þi citees; and þow ſhalt glade, and be fulfild before þe Lord þi God, in alle þingis to þe which þou ſtrecchiſt þin hoond. Be war þat þow forſake not þe Leuyte in al tyme, in þe which þow dwelliſt in erþe. Whanne þe Lord þi God ſhal large þi termes, as he haþ ſpoke to þee, and þow wolt ete fleſh, þat þi ſoule deſireþ, forſoþe þe place þat þe Lord þi God cheſiþ, þat his name be þere, if it were ferre, þow ſhalt ſlee of þe droues, and of þi beeſtis, þe whiche þow haſt, as he haþ comaundid to þee; and þow ſhalt eete in þi burȝtouns, as it pleſiþ to þee. As is etun a capret and an hert, ſo þow ſhalt eete hem; and cleene and unclene in comun ſhulen be ete. Þat oonli ſhun, leſt þow eete blood; forſoþe blood of hem is for þe ſoule, and þerfore þow ſhalt not eete a ſoule wiþ fleſh, but as water þow ſhalt heeld vpon erþe, þat wel it be to þee, and to þi ſones after þee, whanne þow doſt þat pleſiþ in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord. And þat þow auowiſt and halowiſt to þe Lord, þow ſhalt take, and come to þe place þat þe Lord cheſiþ, and offre þin offryngis, fleſh and blood, vpon þe auter of þe Lord þi God; þe blood of þe ooſtis þou ſhalt heelde in þe auter, and fleſh þi ſilf ſhalt eete. Kepe wel and here alle þingis þat I comaunde to þee, þat it wel be to þee, and to þi ſones after þee, into wiþ outen eende, whanne þow doſt þat is good and pleſaunt in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God. Whanne þe Lord þi God ſcaterreþ before þi face þe gentilis, to þe whiche to be weeldid þou ſhalt goon yn, and weelde hem, and dwelle in þe loond of hem, be war þat þow folwe not hem, after þat þe comynge yn þei weren vnder turned, and ſeche þe cerymoyns of hem, ſeiynge, As þeſe gentils heryden her goddis, ſo and Y ſhal hery. Þow ſhalt not do lijk maner to þe Lord þi God; forſoþe alle abhomynaciouns þat þe Lord contrarieþ þei han doon to her goddis, offrynge ſones, and dowȝtris, and brennynge wiþ þe fier. What I comaunde to þee, þat þow oonly do to þe Lord, ne adde þow eny þing, ne laſſe.

Capitulum XIII.

If þere riſe in þe myddil of þee a prophete, oþere eny man ſeiþ hym ſilf to haue ſeen a ſweuen, and he ſeiþ before a tokne and wondre, and comiþ þat he ſpak, and ſeiþ to þee, Goo we, and folwe we alien goddis, þat þow vnknowiſt, and ſerue we to hem, þow ſhalt not here þe wordis of þis prophete and dremer; for þe Lord ȝoure God temptiþ ȝow, þat it be maad opyn wheþer ȝe louen hym or not, in al ȝoure herte, and in al ȝoure ſoule. Þe Lord ȝoure God folowe ȝe, and hym drede ȝe; þe heeſtis of hym kepiþ, and heriþ þe voyce of hym; to hym ȝe ſhulen ſerue, and to hym ȝe ſhulen drawe to. Forſoþe þat prophete or feyner of ſweuens ſhal be ſlayn; for he haþ ſpoken þat he turne ȝow awey fro þe Lord ȝoure God, þat haþ lad ȝow out of þe loond of Egipte, and haþ raunſomed ȝow fro þe hows of ſeruage, þat he make þee to erre fro þe weye þat þe Lord þi God haþ comaundid to þee; and þow ſhalt doo awey yuel fro þe myddil of þee. If þi broþer, þe ſone of þi moder, wol meue þee, or þi ſone, or þi douȝter, oþer wijf þat is in þi boſome, oþer freende þat þow loueſt as þi ſoule, pryueli ſeiynge, Goo we, and ſerue we to alien goddis, þe whiche vnknowiſt þow, and þi fadres, of alle gentilis in enuyrown, þat biſide or ferre ben, fro þe bigynnynge vnto endynge of þe loond, aſſent þou not to hym, ne hyre, ne ſpare to hym þin eye, þat þow haue mercy, and hide hym, but anoon þow ſhalt ſle hym. Be firſt þin hoond vpon hym, and after þee al þe puple put on hoond. He ſhal be clepid þe þrowun down wiþ ſtonus; for he wold drawe þee awey fro þe Lord þi God, þat ladde þee out of þe loond of Egipte, fro þe hows of ſeruage, þat al Irael herynge drede, and no more do eny þing lijk of þis þing. If þow here in oon of þi citees, þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee to dwelle, ſum men ſeiynge, Þe ſones of Belial ben goon out fro þe myddil of þee, and han take awey þe dwellers of þi citee, and ſeiden, Goo we, and ſerue we to alyen goddis, þe whiche ȝe knowen not, ſeche wiſely and biſily, þe ſooþ of þe þing ful lokid; if þow fynde it to be certeyn þat is ſeid, and þis abomynacioun in dede fulfillid, anoon þou ſhalt ſmyte þe dwellers of þat citee in þe mouþ of þe ſwerd, and do it awey, and alle þingis þat in it ben, vnto þe beeſtis. And what euere þing were of purtenaunce, þow ſhalt gedre in þe myddil of þe ſtretis of it, and wiþ þat citee þow ſhalt brenne vp, ſo þat alle þingis þow waaſte to þe Lord þi God, and þere be an euere laſtynge ſepulcre; it ſhal be bild no more. And þere ſhal not cleue of þat curſid heed eny þing in þin hoond, þat þe Lord turne awey fro þe wraþþe of his wodenes, and haue mercy of þee, and multiplye þee, as he ſwore to þi faders. Whanne þow heriſt þe voyce of þe Lord þi God, þow ſhalt kepe alle þe heeſtis of hym þat I comaunde to þee to day, þat þow doo þat is pleſaunt in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God.

Capitulum XIIII.

Sones be ȝe of þe Lord ȝour God; ȝe ſhulen not kut, ne make ballidnes, vpon þe deed, for a puple holi þow art to þe Lord þi God, and þee haþ choſun þat þow be to hym into a ſpecial puple, of alle gentilis þat ben vpon erþe. Ne eete ȝe þingis þat ben vnclene. Þis is þe beeſt þat ȝe owen to eete; oxe, and ſheep, and ſhe geet, hert, capret, bugle, tragelaphum, þat is, a beeſt in part lijk an hert, and in part lijk a goot, phigarg, origen, camelion, þat is, a beeſt lijk a camele in þe heed, in þe bodi to a paard, and in þe nek to an horſe, in þe feet to a bugle, and pardelun, þat is, a litil pard. Al beeſt þat in two partis deuydiþ þe clee, and chewiþ code, ȝe ſhulen eete. And of þes þat chewen code, and dyuyden not clee, þes ȝe ſhulen not eete; chameyl, haare, yrchun, for þei chowen code, and deuyden not þe clee, þei ſhulen be vnclene to ȝow; a ſuwe forſoþe, for ſhe deuydiþ þe clee, and chewiþ no code, ſhe ſhal be vnclene; þe fleſh of hem ȝe ſhulen not ete, and þe careyns ȝe ſhulen not towche. Þes þingis ȝe ſhulen eete, of alle þingis þat dwellen in watris; þo þat han fynnys and ſcalis eete ȝe; þo þat wiþ outen fynnys and ſcales ben, eete ȝe not, for þei ben vnclene. Alle clene briddis eete ȝe; vnclene eete ȝe not, þat is, egle, and griffun, and a merliȝon, and yron, þat is, a whyte foul, laſſe þan a grijp, and of his kynde, and gryip, and kyte, aftir his kynde, and al þing of crowe kynde, and oſtrich, and nyȝt foul, and a koote, and an hawke, after his kynde, a gerfawkon, and a ſwan, and an ybyn, þat is a foule of Nyle flood, þat puttynge his bille into his ers, purgiþ hym ſelf, and a dyuedap, a pellican, and a nyȝt crowe, a cormeraunt, and a iay, eche in his kynde, and a lapwynk, and a reremos. And al þat crepiþ, and haþ fynnes, ſhal be vnclene, and not ben eten. Alle þat is clene, eete ȝe; al þat is faln wiþ deeþ, eete ȝe not of it. To þe pilgryme þat is wiþ ynne þe ȝatis ȝif þat he eete, or ſel to hym, for þow art an hooli puple of þe Lord þi God. Þow ſhalt not ſeeþe þe kidde in þe mylk of his moder. Þe tenþe paart þow ſhalt ſeuer fro alle þe fruytis þat growen in þi lond, bi eche ȝeer; and þow ſhalt eete in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God, in þe place þat he chees, þat in it þe name of hym be inwardli clepid, þe dyme of þi whete, of wyn, and oyle; and þe firſt gotun of droues, and of þi ſheep þow ſhalt offre, þat þow lerne to drede þe Lord þi God, in al tyme. Forſoþe whanne lenger were þe weye, and þe place þat þe Lord þi God chees, and haþ bleſſid to þee, ne þow mayſt not to hym alle þes þingis brynge, þow ſhalt ſelle alle, and into priys turne, and þow ſhalt bere in þin hoond, and go to þe place þat þe Lord þi God cheſiþ; and þow ſhalt bigge of þe ſame money what euere þing to þe pleſe, oþer of droues, or of ſheep; forſoþe wyn, and ſidre, and al þat deſyriþ þi ſoule; and þow ſhalt eete before þe Lord þi God, and ſhal eete, þow, and þin hows, and þe Leuyte þat is wiþ ynne þi ȝatis; be war þat þow forſake not him, for he haþ noon oþer paart in þi poſſeſſioun. Þe þridde ȝeer þow ſhalt ſeuer an oþer dyme of alle þingis þat growen to þee þat tyme, and put vp wiþ ynne þe ȝatis. And þe Leuyte ſhal come, þat haþ noon oþer paart ne poſſeſſioun wiþ þee, and þe pilgryme, and faderles child, and wedowe, þat wiþ ynne þi ȝatis ben; and þei ſhulen eete, and be fulfillid, þat þe Lord þi God bleſſe to þee, in alle þe werkis of þin hoondes þat þou ſhalt doo.

Capitulum XV.

The ſeuenþe ȝeer þow ſhalt doo remyſſyoun, þat in þis ordre ſhal be halowid. To whom is owed eny þing, of freend, or neiȝbore, and his broþer, he ſhal not mowe aȝen aſke it, for ȝeer of remyſſioun of þe Lord it is. Of pilgrime and comlyng þow ſhalt aſke; þow ſhalt not haue power of aȝen aſkynge þe citeſeyn and nyȝ kyn; and algatis nedi and begger þere ſhal not be among ȝow, þat þe Lord þi God bleſſe to þee, in þe loond þat þe Lord is to take to þee in to poſſeſſioun. If neuerþelater þou here þe voyce of þe Lord þi God, and kepiſt alle þingis þat he comaundiþ, and þat I to day comaunde to þee, he ſhal bleſſe to þee, as he haþ bihoot. Þow ſhalt leen vndur wed to many folk of kynde, and þi ſilf ſhalt borowe of no man; þow ſhalt haue lordſhip vpon manye naciouns, and no man ſhal haue lordſhip vpon þee. If oon of þi breþeren, þat dwelliþ wiþ ynne þe ȝatis of þi citee, in þe loond þat þe Lord þi God is to ȝyue to þee, to pouerte come, þow ſhalt not aȝen hard þin herte, ne wiþdrawe þe hoond, but opyn it to þe pore, and þow ſhalt ȝyue loon þat þow ſeeſt hym to nede. Be war leſt perauenture vndur crepe to þee a wickid þouȝt, and ſeye in þin herte, Þe ſeuenþe ȝeer of remyſſioun neiȝeþ; and þow turne awey þin eyen fro þi pore broþer, not wilnynge to leene hym, þat he aſkiþ to borwe; leſt he crye aȝens þee to þe Lord, and it be maad to þee into ſynne. But þow ſhalt ȝyue to hym, and þow ſhalt not doo eny þing fellich in his nedis to be releued, þat þe Lord þi God bleſſe to þee in al tyme, and in alle þingis to whiche þow puttiſt hoond. Þere ſhulen not faile pore men in þe loond of þi dwellynge; þerfor I comaunde to þee þat þow opyn þe hoond to þi nedi broþer, and pore, þat in þe loond dwelliþ wiþ þee. Whanne to þee were ſold þin Ebrewe broþer, or Ebrewe womman, and ſixe ȝeer ſerue to þee, in þe ſeuenþe ȝeer þou ſhalt leeue hym free. And whom wiþ freedam þow ȝyueſt, þou ſhalt not ſuffre to goon awey voyd; but þow ſhalt ȝyue weyfode of þe flockis, and of þe flore, and of þi preſſe, in þe which þe Lord þi God haþ bleſſid to þee. And haue mynde þat þi ſelf ſeruediſt in þe loond of Egipte, and þe Lord þi God haþ delyuered þee, and þerfor I now comaunde to þee. Forſoþe if he ſeiþ, Y wole not goo out, for þi þat he loueþ þee, and þin hows, and wel feliþ hym ſilf to be anentis þee, þow ſhalt take a nal, and þril his eer in þe ȝate of þin hows, and ſerue he to þee into wiþ outen eende; and to þe þral womman lijk maner þou ſhalt doo. Þow ſhalt not take awey fro hem þin eyen, whanne þow leeueſt hem fre, for after þe mede of þe hired man bi ſixe ȝeer he ſeruede to þee; þat þe Lord þi God bleſſe to þee, in alle þe werkis þat þow dooſt. Of þi firſt goten, þat ben born in droues, and þi ſheep, and what euere þing is of maal kynde, þow ſhalt halwe to þe Lord þi God. Þou ſhalt not worche in þe firſt goten of oxe, ne þou ſhalt ſhere þe firſt goten of ſheep. In þe ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God þow ſhalt eete hem bi eche ȝeer, in þe place þat þe Lord haþ choſen, þou, and þin hows. Forſoþe if it haue wemme, or were crokid, or blynde, or in eny part defourme, or feble, it ſhalt not be offerd to þe Lord þi God; but wiþ ynne þe ȝatis of þi cytee þow ſhalt eete it, as wel clene as vnclene, lijk maner þei ſhulen eete hem, as capret and hert. Þis onely þow ſhalt kepe wel, þat þe blood of hem þou eete not, but held þou out into þe erþe as water.

Capitulum XVI.

Kepe wel þe monþe of þe newe fruytis, and of þe firſt veer tyme, þat þou doo paſk to þe Lord þi God; for in þis monþe þe Lord þi God ladde þee out of Egipt bi nyȝt. And þou ſhalt offre paſke to þe Lord þi God, of ſheep, or of oxen, in þe place þat þe Lord þi God chees, þat þe name of hym dwelle þere. Þou ſhalt not eete in it ſowred breed; ſeuen days þou ſhalt eete wiþ outen ſourdowȝ, breed of greet traueyle, for in inward drede þou wentiſt out of Egipt, for þou ſhuldiſt haue mynde of þe day of þi goynge out of Egipt, alle þe days of þi lijf. Þere ſhal not apere ſowred breed ſeuen days in alle þi teermys, and þere ſhal not leeue of þe fleſh of it þat is offerd þe euen, in þe firſt day þe morwen. Þou ſhalt not mowe offre paſke in eche of þes þi citees þat þe Lord þi God is to ȝyue to þee, but in þe place þat þe Lord þi God cheſiþ, þat þe name of hym dwelle þere; þou ſhalt offre paſke þe euen, at þe ſunne goynge down, whanne þow wentiſt out of Egipt. Þou ſhalt make it ynowȝ, and eete, in þe place þat þe Lord þi God cheſiþ, and erly ryſyng þow ſhalt goo into þi tabernaclis. Sexe dayes þou ſhalt eete þeerf looues; and in þe ſeuenþe day, for it is þe quylet of þe Lord þi God, þou ſhalt not doo werk. Seuen wekis þou ſhalt noumbre to þee, fro þat day þat þou puttiſt þi kuttynge yren into þe corn; and þou ſhalt halwe þe feeſt day of þe ſeuen wekes to þe Lord þi God, a wilful offrynge of þin hoond, þat þow ſhalt offre after þe bleſſynge of þe Lord þi God. And þou ſhalt eete before þe Lord þi God, þou, and þi ſone, and þi douȝtre, and þi ſeruaunt, and þin handmayde, and Leuyte þat is wiþ ynne þi ȝatis, and comlynge, and faderles child, and wydowe, þat dwellen wiþ ȝow, in place þat þe Lord þi God cheſiþ, þat his name dwelle þere. And þou ſhalt record for ſeruaunt þou were in Egipt, and kepen and doon þat ben comaundid. And þe ſolempte of þe tabernaclis þou ſhalt halwe, bi ſeuen days, whanne þou haſt gedrid of þe flore, and of þe preſſe þi fruytis; and ſhalt eete in þi feeſt day, þou, and þi ſone, and þi douȝter, and þi ſeruaunt, and handmayd, Leuyte alſo and comlynge, and faderleſſe child, and widew, þat ben wiþ ynne þi ȝatis. Seuen days to þe Lord þi God feeſtis þou ſhalt halowe, in þe places þat þe Lord cheſiþ; and þe Lord þi God ſhal bleſſe to þee, in alle þi fruytis, and in al werk of þin hoondis, and þou ſhalt be in gladnes. Þre ſiþes in þe ȝeer ſhal apere eche þi maal child in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God, in þe place þat he cheſiþ, in þe ſolempnyte of þerf looues, and þe ſolempnyte of wekis, and in þe ſolempnyte of tabernaclis. He ſhal not apere before þe Lord voyd; but echon ſhal offre, after þat he haþ, after þe bleſſynge of þe Lord his God, þat he ȝyueþ to hym. Domeſmen and mayſtris þow ſhalt ordeyn in alle þi ȝatis, þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee, bi alle þi lynagis, þat þei demen þe puple bi riȝt doom, ne into anoþer paart declinen. Þou ſhalt not accept perſone, ne ȝiftis, for ȝiftis blynden eyen of wiſe men, and chaungen wordis of riȝtwis men. Riȝtwiſly þat is riȝt þou ſhalt purſue, þat þou lyue, and weeld þe loond, þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee. Þou ſhalt not plaunt a mawmet wode, and al tree biſide þe auter of þe Lord þi God; ne þou ſhalt make to þee and ordeyn ymage; þe whiche þingis hatiþ þe Lord þi God.

Capitulum XVII.

Thow ſhalt not offre to þe Lord þi God ox, and ſheep, in whom is wemme, or eny þing of vice, for abhomynacioun it is to þe Lord þi God. And whanne weren founden anentis þee, wiþ ynne oon of þi ȝatis, þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee, man or womman, þat doþ yuel in ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God, and ouerpaſſe þe couenaunt of hym, þat þei goon, and ſeruen to alien goddis, and honoure hem, þe ſunne, and þe mone, and al þe knyȝþod of heuen, þe whiche þingis I comaunde not; and þis were told to þee, and herynge þou enſerchiſt biſilich, and fyndiſt it to be ſooþ, and abhomynacioun is doon in Yrael; þou ſhalt lede out þe man and womman, þat þe mooſt yuel þing han doon, to þe ȝatis of þi cytee, and wiþ ſtonus þei ſhulen be þrowen doun. In mouþe of two or þree witneſſis, ſhal periſh he, þat ſhal be ſlayn; no man be ſlayn, oon aȝens hym ſeiynge witneſſe. Þe hoond of þe witneſſis firſt ſhal ſlee hym, and þe hoond of þat oþer puple laſt ſhal be put to, þat þou doo a wey yuel fro þe myddil of þee. If hard and dowtous anentis þee doom to be þow biholdiſt, bitwix blood and blood, cauſe and cauſe, lepre and not lepre, and of þe domes men wiþ ynne þi ȝatis þou ſeeſt þe wordis to be varied; aryſe, and ſty vp to þe place, þat þe Lord þi God haþ choſun; and þow ſhalt come to þe preeſtis of Leuyte kynde, and to þe domyſman þat were þat tyme; and þow ſhalt aſke of hem, þe whiche ſhulen ſhewe to þee þe trewþ of þe dom. And þow ſhalt doo what euere þing þei ſeyn, þat ben before to þe place þat þe Lord haþ choſun, and teche þee after þe lawe of hym; þou ſhalt folowe þe ſentence of hem; þou ſhalt not bowe aſide, to þe riȝt or to þe left. Who forſoþe wexiþ prowd, not wilnynge to obeiſhe to þe maundement of þe preeſt, þat þat tyme ſerueþ to þe Lord þi God, and to þe doom of þe domyſman, ſhal die þat man; and þow ſhalt doo a wey yuel fro þe myddil of Irael; and al þe puple herynge ſhal drede, þat no man þerafter inwardli boln wiþ prijd. And whanne þow ſhalt goo ynto þe loond, þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee, and weeldiſt it, and dwelliſt yn it, and ſeiſt, Y ſhal ſet vp on me a kyng, as han alle naciouns bi enuyroun; hym þow ſhalt ſet, whom þe Lord þi God cheſiþ of þe noumbre of þi breþeren. Þow ſhalt not mowe of oþer folk a man kyng make, þat be not þi broþer. And whanne he were ordeyned, he ſhal not multiplye to hym horſes, ne lede aȝen puple into Egipt, bi noumbre of horſynge arered, namelich ſiþ þe Lord haþ comaundid to ȝow, þat no more bi þe ſame weie ȝe turnen aȝen. He ſhal not haue many wyues, þat myſdrawen þe ſoule of hym, ne of ſiluer ne of gold greet birþens. And after þat he ſittiþ in þe dygnyte of his rewme, he ſhal diſcriue to hym a declaracioun of þis lawe in a volym, takynge a ſaumpler of þe preeſtis of Leuyte lynage; and he ſhal haue it wiþ hym, and he ſhal rede it alle þe dais of his lijf, þat he knowe to drede þe Lord his God, and to kepe þe wordis and cerymoyns of hym, þat in þe lawe ben comaundid; ne be areryd þe herte of hym into prijd vpon his breþeren, ne bowe he aſide in to þe riȝt paart or left, þat long tyme regne he, and his ſones vpon Yrael.

Capitulum XVIII.

Preeſtis and Leuytes, and alle þat ben of þe ſame lynage, ſhulen not haue part and herytage wiþ þat oþer puple of Yrael, for þe ſacrifices of þe Lord, and offryngis of hym þei ſhulen eete; and noon oþer þing þei ſhulen take of þe poſſeſſioun of her breþeren; forſoþe þe Lord he is þe herytage of hem, as he haþ ſpoke to hem. Þis ſhal be þe doom of preeſtis of þe puple, and of hem þat offren ſlayn offryngis; wheþer oxe, or ſheep þei offren, þei ſhulen ȝyue to þe preeſt þe ſhuldre, and þe litil woombe, þe firſt fruytis of whete, of wyn, and of oile, and a paart of wollis of ſherynge of ſheep. Forſoþe hym þe Lord þi God haþ choſun, of alle þi lynages, þat he ſtoonde and ſerue to þe name of þe Lord, he and his ſones, into wiþ outen ende. If a Leuyte goo out fro oon of his citees of al Yrael, in þe which he dwelliþ, and deſyrynge a place þat þe Lord cheſiþ, wol come he ſhal ſerue in þe name of þe Lord his God, as alle his briþeren Leuytis, þat ſhulen ſtoonde þat tyme before þe Lord. Þat ſame paart of meetis he ſhal take, þe which and oþer; out take þat, þat in his cytee of þe fadre ſucceſſyoun is owed to hym. Whanne þow gooſt into þe loond þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee, be war þat leſt þow wol folowe þe abhomynaciouns of þilk gentils; ne be foundun in þee þat go aboute his ſone, or his douȝter, ledynge bi þe fier, oþer þat aſkiþ dyuynours, þat he kepe ſweuens and dyuynyngis; ne be þer cleper of deuels, ne enchaunter, ne counſeil rerers of deed men, ne dyuynours, and ſeche of þe deed þe treuþ. Forſoþe alle þes þingis þe Lord wlatiþ, and for þes maner hidows ſynnes he ſhal doo hem awey in þin entre. Þow ſhal be parfite and wiþ outen wemme, wiþ þe Lord þi God. Þes gentils, whos loond ȝe ſhulen weeld, brydd coniurers and dyuynours heren; forſoþe þow of þe Lord þi God oþerweys art enfourmyd. A prophete of þi folk and of þi briþeren as me, þe Lord þi God ſhal arere to þee, hym þow ſhalt here; as þow haſt aſkid of þe Lord þi God, in Oreb, whanne þe company was gedryd, and þow ſeydeſt, I ſhal here namore þe voyce of þe Lord my God, and þis mooſt fier Y ſhal ſe namore, leſt Y dye. And þe Lord ſeide to me, Wel alle þingis þei han ſpoken. A prophet Y ſhal rere to hem, fro þe myddil of her briþeren, lijk þee; and I ſhal put my wordis in þe mouþ of hym, and he ſhal ſpeek to hem alle þingis þat Y comaunde to hym. Forſoþe who þe wordis of hym þat ſpekiþ in my name, wol not here, Y venieſour ſhal be. Forſoþe a prophete þat þurȝ prijd bi ſhrewid, wil ſpeke in my name þingis þat Y comaundid not hym for to ſeye, oþer of name of alyen goddis, he ſhal be ſlayn. And if bi ſtille þouȝt þow anſwerſt, What maner may I vndurſtonde þe word, þat þe Lord haþ not ſpokun? þis tokne þow ſhalt haue, Þat in þe name of þe Lord þilk prophete ſeiþ bifore, and comeþ not, þat þe Lord haþ not ſpokun, but bi bolnynge of his inwit þe prophet haþ feyned, and þerfor þow ſhalt not drede hym.

Capitulum XIX.

Whanne þe Lord þi God ſhal ſcatre þe gentilis, whos loond he is to take to þee, and þow weeldiſt it, and dwelliſt in þe citees of it, and in þe howſes; þre citees þow ſhalt ſeuer to þee in þe myddil of þe loond þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee into poſſeſſioun. Þow ſhalt biſily make redi a weye, and dyuyde in þre partis euenlich al þe prouynce of þi loond, þat he þat for manſlauȝter is flowun, haue fro nyȝ whedir he may ſcaap. Þis ſhal be lawe of þe manſleer fleynge, whos lijf is to be kept. He þat ſmytiþ his neiȝbore vnwitynge, and þat ȝiſterday or þe þridde day hens, noon aȝens hym to haue had haat is preued, but to haue goo aweye wiþ hym ſymplich into þe wode to trees to be kit, and in þe hewynge of þe trees þe axe fleeþ þe hoond, and þe yren, ſlipt of fro þe haft, ſmytiþ his freend, and ſleeþ; þis to oon of þe forſeid citees ſhal fleeȝ, and lyue; leſt perauenture þe next of kyn of hym, whos blood is ſhed, þurȝ ſorwe ſtyryd purſue, and take hym, if lenger þe weie were, and ſmyte þe ſoule of hym þat is not gilty of deeþ; for noon aȝens hym þat is ſlayn haat to haue hadde before is ſhewid. Þerfor Y comaunde to þee, þat þre citees of euen ſpace bitwixe hem ſelf þow deuyde. Forſoþe whanne þe Lord þi God haþ largid þi teermys, as he ſwore to þi fadres, and haþ ȝyue to þee al þe loond, þat to hem he bihiȝt; if neuerþelater þow kepiſt þe heeſtis of hym, and doſt þat to day I comaunde to þee, þat þow loue þe Lord þi God, and goo in his weyes al tyme, þow ſhalt adde to þee þree oþer citees, and of þe þree cyteſe aboue ſeide þe noumbre þow ſhalt dowble, þat giltles blood be not ſhed in þe myddil of þe loond þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee to be weldid, leſt þou be of blood gilti. Forſoþe if eny hauynge his neiȝbour to haat, weitid to þe lijf of hym, and ryſynge ſmyte hym, and were deed, and fleeþ to oon of þe aboue ſeid citees, þe aldren of þat citee ſhulen ſeende, and taken hym fro þe place of his out fleynge; and þei ſhulen take into þe hoond of þe neiȝbour of hym, whos blood is ſhed, and he ſhal die, ne þow ſhalt haue mercy of hym; and þow ſhalt doo awey gilti blood fro Yrael, þat wel it be to þee. Þow ſhalt not take, and ouerbere þe teermes of þi neiȝbour, þe whiche han maad raþer men in þi poſſeſſioun, þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee, in þe loond þat þow takiſt to be weldid. O witnes ſhal not ſtoond aȝens eny man, what euere þing it were of ſynne, or of greet treſpas; but in mouþ of two or of þree witneſſis ſhal ſtoonde ech word. If þere ſtoonde a witnes lyȝer aȝens man, accuſynge hym of treſpas, þei ſhulen ſtoond boþe, of whom is þe cauſe, before þe Lord, in þe ſiȝt of preeſtis, and domyſmen, þat weren in þilk days. And whanne mooſt biſily enſeerchynge þei fynden þe fals witnes to haue ſeide aȝens his broþir leeſynge, ȝeelde þei to hym, as he þouȝte to doo to his broþer; and þou ſhalt doo awey yuel fro þe myddil of þee, þat oþere men herynge, han drede, and be not hardy to doo ſiche þingis. Þow ſhalt not haue mercy of hym, but lijf for lijf, eye for eye, tooþ for tooþ, hoond for hoond, foot for foot þow ſhalt axe.

Capitulum XX.

If þow goſt out to batail aȝens þin enemyes, and ſeeſt rydinge, and charys, and more multitude of þe aduerſarye ooſt þan þow haſt, þow ſhalt not drede hem; for þe Lord þi God is wiþ þee, þat haþ lad þee out of þe loond of Egipt. And neyȝinge now batayl, þe preeſt ſhal ſtoond bifore þe poynt, and þus he ſhal ſpek to þe puple, Here, Yrael, ȝe to day aȝens ȝoure enemyes doon fiȝt; drede not ȝoure herte, wol ȝe not be feerd; wole ȝe not ȝyue ſted, ne drede ȝe hem; for þe Lord ȝoure God is in þe myddil of ȝow, and for ȝow aȝens þe aduerſaryes ſhal fiȝt, þat he delyuer ȝow fro perel. Þe leders forſoþe bi alle companyes, herynge þe ooſt, ſhal crye, Who is þe man þat haþ bild a newe hows, and haþ not parformed it? goo he, and turne he aȝen into his hows, leſt perauenture he dye in þe bateyl, and anoþer parfourme it. Who is þat man þat haþ plauntid a vyn, and ȝit not haþ maad it comoun, and of þe which it is leeueful to alle men to eete? go he, and turn he aȝen into his hows, leſt perauenture he dye in bateil, and anoþer man his office vſe. Who is a man þat haþ ſpouſid a wijf, and haþ not taak hir? goo he, and turn he aȝen into his hows, leſt perauenture he dye in bateil, and anoþer man take hir. Þes þingis ſeid, þei ſhulen adde oþer þinges, and ſpek to þe puple, Who is a man dreedful, and wiþ feerd herte? goo he, and turn aȝen into his hows, leſt he make to drede þe hertis of his briþeren, and as he by dreed is gaſt. And whanne þe duykis of þe ooſt ben ſtil, and þe eende of ſpekynge han doon, echon his companyes ſhal make redi to fiȝtynge. If eny tyme þow comeſt nyȝ to a citee to be ouercomen, firſt þow ſhalt offre to it pees. If he reſſeyue, and open to þee þe ȝatis, al þe puple þat is in it ſhal be ſaued, and ſhal ſerue to þee vndur tribute. Forſoþe if þei wolen not make couenaunt of pees, and bigynnen aȝens þee batayl, þow ſhalt fiȝt aȝens it. And whanne þe Lord þi God haþ take it to þee in þin hoond, þow ſhalt ſmyit al þat is in it of maal kynde in mouþ of þe ſwerd, wiþ outen wymmen, and litil children, and beeſtis, and oþer þat ben in þe cytee. Al þe praye þow ſhalt dyuyde to þe ooſt, and þou ſhalt eete of þe ſpuyles of þin enemyes, þat þe Lord þi God haþ ȝeue to þee. Þus þow ſhalt doo to alle cytees, þat fro þee ben ful fer, and ben not of þes cytees þat þow art to take into poſſeſſyoun. Forſoþe of þes cytees þat ſhal be ȝeue to þee, no man þow ſhalt ſuffre to lyue, but þow ſhalt ſlee in þe mouþ of ſwerd; Eþee, þat is, and Amorre, and Chananee, and Phereze, Eue, and Jebuſee, as þe Lord þi God haþ comaundid to þee; leſt perauenture þei techen ȝow to doon alle abhomynacyouns, þat þei han wrouȝt to her goddis, and ȝe ſynnen aȝens þe Lord ȝoure God. Whanne þow beſegiſt a citee myche tyme, and wiþ waardis enuyrounnyſt þat þow ouercome it, þow ſhalt not kyt down trees, of þe whiche may be eeten, ne bi enuyroun wiþ axes þow ſhalt waaſt þe regioun; for a tree it is and no man, ne yt may encrees þe noumbre of men fiȝtynge aȝens þee. Forſoþe if eny trees ben not berynge applis, but wijlde, and able into oþer vſes, kit doun, and mak engynes, to þe tyme þat þow taak þe cytee þat fiȝtiþ aȝens þee.

Capitulum XXI.

Whanne þere were founde in þe loond þat þe Lord þi God is to ȝyue to þee, a careyn of a ſlayn man, and ſhal be vnknowun þe gilti of þe deþ, þe more þurȝ birþ ſhulen goon out, and þi domeſmen, and þe ſpacis of alle þe cytees bi enuyroun ſhal be meetid fro þe place of þe careyn; and which þei biholden be ner þan oþer, þe aldre men of þat citee ſhulen taak a ſhee calf fro þe droue, þat haþ not taak ȝok, ne loond haþ kit wiþ ſhaar; and þei ſhulen lede it to þe rowȝ valey, and ſtony, þat neuer was eeryd, ne ſeed haþ reſſeyued; and þei ſhulen kit in it þe ſcullis of þe calf. And preeſtis, þe ſones of Leuy, whom þe Lord þi God haþ choſun, þat þei ſeruen to hym, and bleſſen in his name, ſhulen goo to, and at þe word of hem al þe nede ſhal honge; and what euere þing is clene or vnclene, be it demyd. And þe more þurȝ birþ of þat cytee ſhulen come to þe ſlayn man, and þei ſhulen waſſhe her hoondis vpon þe ſhee calf, þat ys ſmyten in þe valey; and þei ſhulen ſeye, Oure hondis han not ſhad þis blood, ne eyen han ſeen. Lord, be merciable to þi puple Yrael, þat þow haſt bouȝt, and rette not þe innocent blood in þe myddil of þi puple Irael. And þe gilt of þe blood ſhal be taak aweye fro hem. Forſoþe þow ſhalt be alyen fro þe blood of þe innocent þat is ſhad, whanne þow doſt þat þe Lord haþ comaundid. If þow goſt out to þe fiȝt aȝens þin enemyes, and þe Lord þi God haþ taken hem in þin hoond, and haſt brouȝt chaytyues, and ſeeſt in þe noumbre of cheytyues a feyr womman, and loueſt hir, and wolt han hir to wijf, þow ſhalt lede hir into þin hows; þe which ſhal ſhaue þe heer, and ſhal kyt about þe naylis, and ſhe ſhal do of þe clooþ in þe which ſhe is taak, and ſittynge in þin hows, ſhe ſhal weepe fader and hir moder o monþ; and aftyrward þow ſhalt goon yn to hir, and þow ſhalt ſleep wiþ hir, and ſhe ſhal be þi wijf. Forſoþe if afterward ſhe ſittiþ not in þin inwit, þow ſhalt leeue hir free, ne ſelle þow mayſt bi money, ne oppreſſe bi power, for þow haſt mekid hir. If a man haue two wyues, oon loued, and anoþer odyows, and getiþ of hir free chyldren, and þe ſone of þe odiows were firſt goten, and wold þe ſubſtaunce among his ſones dyuyde, he ſhal not mowe þe ſone of þe loued make firſt goten, and put before þe ſone of þe odiows, but þe ſone of þe odyows he ſhal knowe firſt goten, and he ſhal ȝyue to hym of þes þingis þat he haþ alle þingis dowble; forſoþe þis is þe bigynnynge of þe free children of hym, and to þis ben owen þe firſt goten. If a man gete a rebel ſone, and a fraward, þat heriþ not þe fadres and modres heeſt, and clepid to obeyſhe, diſpiſe, þei ſhulen taak hym, and lede to þe aldre men of þe citee of hym, and to þe ȝate of doom; and þei ſhulen ſeye to hem, Þis oure ſone is fraward, and rebel; oure heeſtis diſpiſiþ to here, to glotryes takiþ hede, and to leccherye, and to feeſtis. Þe puple of þe cytee ſhal þrow hym down wiþ ſtonus, and he ſhal dye, þat ȝe doon awei yuel fro þe myddil of ȝou, and al Iſrael hering wexe afeerd. Whanne a man ſynneþ þat þat is to punyſſhynge bi deþ, and demed to deeþ were hongid in þe gebet, þe careyn of hym ſhal not abide in þe tree, but in þe ſame day ſhal be biried; for curſid he is of God þat hongiþ in þe tree, and þow ſhalt not defoule þi loond þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee into poſſeſſioun.

Capitulum XXII.

Thow ſhalt not ſee þe oxe of þi broþer, oþer ſheep errynge, and biſide paſſe, but þow ſhalt leede aȝen to þi broþer. And if he is not þi niȝ broþir, ne knowiſt hym, þow ſhalt lede into þin hows, and þei ſhulen be anentis þee, as long as þi broþir ſechiþ hem, and reſſeyue. Lijk maner þow ſhalt doo of aſſe, and of cloþinge, and of al þing of þi broþer, þat is loſt; if þow fynde it, ne leeue it as alyen. If þou ſeeſt þe aſſe of þi broþer, or oxe, to haue faln in þe weie, þow ſhalt not diſpiſe, but vndur heeue wiþ hym. A womman ſhal not be cloþid wiþ mannus cloþinge, ne man ſhal vſe wommannus cloþing; abomynable forſoþe anentis God he is, þat doþ þes þingis. If goynge bi þe weie, in tree or in erþe a neſt of briddis þou fyndiſt, and þe moder to þe bryddis or to þe eyren aboue ſittynge, þow ſhalt not hold hyr wiþ þe ſones, but þow ſhalt ſuffre hir to goo awey, holdynge þe ſones takyn, þat wel it be to þee, and loong tyme þow lyue. Whanne þow bildiſt a newe hows, þow ſhalt mak þe wal of þe roof bi enuyroun, leſt þere be ſhad blood in þin hows, and þow be gilti, þat oþer ſlidynge and fallynge hedlynge. Þou ſhalt not ſowe þi vynȝeerd wiþ oþer ſeed, leſt and þe ſeed þat þow haſt ſowun, and þat growen of þe vynȝeerd, togidre ben halowed. Þow ſhalt not eere in oxe togidre and aſſe. Þow ſhalt not be cloþid þe cloþing, þat is weuen of wulle and of flex. Litil cordis in þe hemmes þow ſhalt make bi foure corners of þi mantil, wiþ þe which þow ſhalt be couerd. If a man taak a wijf, and afterward haue hir to haat, and ſechiþ occaſioun bi þe which he leeue hir, and caſtynge aȝens hyr a mooſt yuel name, and ſeye, Þis wijf I haue take, and goon yn to hir I foond hyr not mayde; þe fadir and þe moder of hir ſhulen taak hir, and bere wiþ hem þe toknes of hir maydynhod to þe aldre men of þe citee, þat ben in þe ȝate; and þe fader ſhal ſeye, My douȝter I haue ȝyue wijf to þis, whom for he hatiþ, he puttiþ to hir a mooſt yuel name, þat he ſeye, I haue not founde þi dowȝter mayde; and loo! þes ben þe tokens of þe meydynhod of my douȝter; and þei ſhulen ſpreede out þe cloþing before þe aldre men of þe cytee. And þe aldre men of þe citee ſhulen taak þe man of hir, and þei ſhulen beet hym, condempnynge alſo in an hundrid ſiclys of ſiluer, þe whiche he ſhal ȝyue to þe fader of þe mayde, for he haþ looſed þe mooſt yuel name vpon a maydyn of Yrael; and he ſhal haue hir to wijf, and he ſhal not mowe leeue hir, al þe tyme of his lijf. And if it is ſoþ, þat he putte aȝens hyr, and is not in þe womman founden maydenhod, þei ſhulen þrow hir out of þe ȝatis of þe hows of hir fader; and men of þat citee ſhulen þrow hyr down wiþ ſtonus, and ſhe ſhal dye, for ſhe haþ doon an vnleful þing in Yrael, þat ſhe dide lecherie in þe hows of hir fader; and þow ſhalt doo awei yuel fro þe myddil of þee. If a man ſleep wiþ þe wijf of anoþer, eyþer ſhal die, þat is, þe auowtreer and þe auowtreſſe; and þow ſhalt do awey yuel fro Yrael. If a womman mayden a man ſpowſe, and eny man in þe cytee fynde hir, and lye wiþ hir, þow ſhalt lede eiþer to þe ȝate of þat cytee, and þei ſhulen be þrowun doun wiþ ſtonus; þe maydyn, for ſhe cryed not, whanne ſhe was in þe cytee; þe man, for he haþ mekid þe wijf of his neiȝbour; and þow ſhalt doo awey yuel fro þe myddil of þee. Forſoþe if in þe feeld a man fynde a womman þat is ſpowſid, and takynge ligge wiþ hir, he ſhal dye alone; þe womman no þing ſhal ſuffre, ne is gilti of deeþ; for as a þeef ryſiþ aȝens his broþer, and ſleeþ þe ſoule of hym, ſo and þe womman haþ ſuffred; aloone ſhe was in þe feeld, and criede, and no man was niȝ þat myȝt delyuer hir. If a man fynde a womman meydyn, þat haþ no ſpows, and takynge lie wiþ hir, and þe þing comeþ to doom, he ſhal ȝyue, þat haþ ſlept wiþ hyr, to þe fader of þe womman fifti ſicles of ſiluer, and he ſhal haue hir to wijf, for he haþ mekid hir; he ſhal not mowe leeue hyr, alle þe dais of his lijf. A man ſhal not taak þe wijf of his fader, ne ſhal opne þe couerynge of hym.

Capitulum XXIII.

A geldynge, þe ballokis briſid, or kyt of, and þe ȝerde kyt awey, ſhal not goon into þe chirche of þe Lord. Þe born of an hore ſhal not goon into þe chirche of þe Lord, vnto þe tenþe generacioun. Amonytis and Moabites alſo aftir þe tenþe generacioun ſhulen not goon into þe chirche of þe Lord, wiþ outen eende; for þei wolden not aȝen come to ȝow wiþ breed and water in þe weie, whenne ȝe wenten out of Egipt; and for þei hiryd aȝens þee Balaam, þe ſone of Beor, fro Meſopotany of Syrye, for to curſe to þee; and þe Lord þi God wolde not here Balaam, and turnede þe curſynge of hym into þi bleſſynge, forþi þat he louede þee. Þou ſhalt not make wiþ hem pees, ne ſeche þow to hem goodis, alle þe days of þi lijf vnto wiþ outen eende. Þow ſhalt not wlaat Ydome, for he is þi broþer, ne Egipcian, for comlynge þow were in þe loond of hem. Þo þat weren born of hem, þe þridde generacioun ſhulen go into þe chirche of þe Lord. Whanne þow goſt out aȝens þin enemyes into fiȝt, þow ſhalt keep þee fro al yuel þing. If þere were among ȝow a man þat wiþ nyȝt ſleep is polut, he ſhal goo out of þe tentis; and he ſhal not turn aȝen before þat at euen he were waſſhe wiþ watyr; and after þe ſunne goynge down he ſhal turn aȝen into þe tentis. Þow ſhalt haue a place out of þe tentis, to þe which þow ſhalt goon out to þe needful þingis of kynde, berynge a ſtake in a girdel; and whanne þow ſittiſt, þow ſhalt delue bi enuyrown, and þe defied out þou ſhalt couer wiþ erþe, in þe whych þow art releued. Forſoþe þe Lord þi God goþ in þe myddil of tentis, þat he delyuer þee, and taak to þee þin enemyes, þat þi tentis ben hooli, and no þing in hem apere of filþed, leſt he forſake þee. Þow ſhalt not take a ſeruaunt to his lord, þat to þee haþ flowen; he ſhal dwelle wiþ þee in þe place þat to hym pleſiþ, and in oon of þi citees ſhal reſt; and make þow not hym ſory. Þere ſhal be no ſtrumpet of þe douȝtres of Yrael, ne horlyng of þe ſones of Yrael. Þow ſhalt not offre þe mede of þe hoorhows, ne þe prijs of an hounde, in þe hows of þe Lord þi God, what euere þing it be þat þow auowiſt; for abomynacioun is eiþer anentis þe Lord þi God. Þow ſhalt not leene to þi broþer at vſure money, ne fruytis, ne eny oþer þing, but to an alien. Forſoþe to þi broþer wiþ outen vſure þat þat to hym nediþ þow ſhalt lene, þat þe Lord þi God bliſſe to þee in al þi werke, in þe loond to þe which to be weeldid þow ſhalt goon yn. Whanne þow auowiſt auowe to þe Lord þi God, þow ſhalt not tary to ȝeelde, for þe Lord þi God ſhal requyre it; and if þow taryeſt, it ſhal be rettid to þee into ſynne. And if þow wolt not bihoot, þow ſhalt be wiþ outen ſynne. Forſoþe þat þat is onus goon out of þi lippis, þow ſhalt kepe wel, and do as þow haſt bihoot to þe Lord þi God, and þurȝ propre wil and þi mouþ haſt ſpokun. Þow goon vnto þe vyn of þi neiȝbour, þow ſhalt eete grapis, as myche as it likiþ to þee; out forſoþe ne beer þou wiþ þee. If þow goo into þe corn of þi freend, þow ſhalt breek eeris, and wiþ þe hoond briſſe; forſoþe wiþ kuttynge yren þow ſhalt not reep.

Capitulum XXIIII.

If man taak a wijf, and haue hyr, and fynde no grace before þe eyen of hir, for ſum filþed, he ſhal wryte a libel of forſakynge, and he ſhal ȝyue in þe hoond of hyr, and he ſhal leeue hir fro his hows. And whanne ſhe goon out anoþer houſboond takiþ, and he forſoþe hate hir, and ȝyue to hir a libel of forſakynge, and leeue fro his hows, oþer certeyn were deed, þe firſt houſboond ſhal not mowe taak her aȝen into wijf, for ſhe is polut, and is maad abomynable before þe Lord; leſt þow make to ſynne þi loond, þat þe Lord þi God to þee haþ taak to be weeldid. Whanne a man haþ taak a wijf laate, he ſhal not goo forþ to bateyl, ne to hym eny þing of nede ſhal be ioyned opynlich, but he ſhal taak hede wiþ outen blame to his hows, þat o ȝeer he ioye wiþ his wijf. Þow ſhalt not taak in ſtedde of a wed þe neþermore and ouermore grynſtoon, for his lijf he putte to þee. If a man were taak biſili weytynge his broþer of þe ſones of Yrael, and he ſolde take þe prijs, he ſhal be ſlayn; and þow ſhalt do a wey yuel fro þe myddil of þee. Biſily kepe wel, leſt þow renne into plage of lepre, but þow ſhalt doon alle þingis þat þe preſtis of Leuyte kynde han tauȝt þee, aftir þat Y haue comaundid to hem, and fulfil biſily. Haue ȝe mynde what þingis þe Lord ȝoure God dyde to Marye, in þe weye, whanne ȝe wenten out of Egipt. Whanne þow ſhalt aȝen aſke of þi neiȝbour eny þing þat he owiþ to þee, þow ſhalt not goon into þe hows of hym for to taak wed; but þow ſhalt ſtoond wiþ out, and he to þee ſhal brynge forþ þat he haþ. Forſoþe if he is pore, þe wed anentis þee ſhal not al nyȝt dwelle, but anoon þow ſhalt ȝeeld to hym before þe goynge down of þe ſunne, þat he, ſlepynge in his cloþinge, bleſſe to þee, and þow haue ryȝtwiſnes before þe Lord þi God. Þou ſhalt not denye þe mede of þe nedi, and of þe pore þi broþer, or of comlynge þat dwelliþ wiþ þee in þi loond, and wiþ ynne þi ȝatis is; but þe ſame day þow ſhalt ȝeeld to hym þe prijs of his traueyl, before þe ſunne goynge down, for he is pore, and of it ſuſteyneþ his lijf; leſt he crye aȝens þee to þe Lord, and be rettid to þee into ſynne. Fadrys ſhulen not be ſlayn for þe ſones, ne ſones for þe fadris, but echon for his own ſynne ſhal dye. Þow ſhalt not peruert þe doom of þe comlyng, and faderles child; ne þow ſhalt taak awey in ſtede of a wed þe clooþ of þe widewe. Haue mynde þat þow haſt ſerued in Egipt, and þe Lord þi God haþ delyuered þee þens; þerfor I comaunde to þee þat þow doo þis þing. Whanne þow repiſt corn in þi feeld, and a forȝetun handful þow leeueſt, þow ſhalt not turn aȝen for to taak it, but þe comlynge, and faderles child, and widewe þow ſhalt ſuffre to bere a wey, þat þe Lord þi God bleſſe to þee in al þe werk of þin hoondis. If þou gedreſt fruytis of olyues, what euere leeue in þe trees, þow ſhalt not turn aȝen for to gedre, but þow ſhalt leeue to þe comlynge, faderles child, and widewe. If þou kuttiſt þi vyn from grapis to wyn, þou ſhalt not gedre þe leeuynge reyſens, but þei ſhulen falle into þe vſe of þe comlynge, faderles child, and widewe. Haue mynde þat þow ſeruediſt in Egipt, and þerfor Y comaunde to þee, þat þow doo þis þing.

Capitulum XXV.

If þere were a cauſe bitwex eny men, and han aſkid iugis, whom þei biholden to be ryȝtwyſe, to hym þe palme of riȝtwiſnes þei ſhulen ȝyue, whom wickid, þei ſhulen condempne of wickidnes. Forſoþe if hym þat haþ ſynned þei ſeen worþi, þei ſhulen þrow doun wiþ ſcourgis, and before hem þei ſhulen make to be betun; for þe meſure of ſynne ſhal be and þe maner of ſcourgyngis, ſo oonlich, þat þe fourtiþ noumbre þei ouer paſſe not, leſt foulich rent before þin eyen þi broþer go awey. Þow ſhalt not bynde þe mouþ of þe oxe tredinge þi fruytis in þe flore. Whanne breþeren dwellen togidre, and oon of hem wiþ outen free children were deed, þe wijf of þe deed ſhal not wedde to anoþer, but ſhal taak hir his broþer, and he ſhal arere þe ſeed of his broþer. And þe fyrſt goten ſone of hyr he ſhal clepe bi þe name of hym, þat þe name of hym be not doon a wey fro Yrael. Forſoþe if he wol not taak þe wijf of his broþer, þat to hym bi þe lawe is owid, þe womman ſhal goo to þe ȝate of þe cyte; and ſhe ſhal aſke þe more men þurȝ birþ, and ſhal ſeye, Þe broþer of my man wol not arere ſeed of his broþer in Yrael, ne me into wedlok taak. And anoon þei ſhulen maak hym to be clepid, and þei ſhulen aſke. If he anſwere, I wol not taak hir to wijf; þe womman ſhal come nyȝ to hym, before þe aldre men, and ſhe ſhal taak þe ſho of his foot, and ſpit in his face, and ſeye, Þus it ſhal be doo to a man, þat wol not bilde vp þe hows of his broþer; and ſhal be clepid þe name of hym in Yrael, Þe hows of þe vnſhod. If þere han two men bytwix hem ſelf chidynge, and oon aȝens þat oþer bigynneþ to iangle, and wilnynge þe wijf of þat oþer to delyuer hir man fro þe hoond of þe ſtrenger, and haþ put þe hoond, and takun þe ſhamfaſt membris of hym, þow ſhalt kut of þe hoond of hir, ne be bowid on hyr wiþ eny mercy. Þow ſhalt not haue in ſak dyuerſe weiȝtis, more and laſſe, ne þere ſhal be in þin hows a buſſhel more and laſſe. Weiȝt þow ſhalt haue iuſt and verrey, and euen buſſhel and verrey ſhal be to þee, þat myche tyme þou lyue vpon erþe þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee. Þe Lord forſoþe ſhal wlaat hym þat doþ þes þingis, and wiþſtoondiþ alle vnriȝtwiſneſſes. Haue mynde what þingis dide to þee Amalech in þe weye, whanne þow wentiſt out of Egipt; what maner wiſe he aȝen cam to þee, and þe eendis of þi felawſhip, þat wery abeden, ſlewȝ, whanne þow were defoulid wiþ hungre and traueil, and dredde not God. Þerfor whanne þe Lord þi God haþ ȝyue to þee reſt, and maad ſugettis alle naciouns bi enuyroun, in þe loond þat he haþ bihoot to þee, þow ſhalt doo a wey his name vndre heuene; be war leſt þow forȝete.

Capitulum XXVI.

Whanne þow comyſt into þe loond þat þe Lord þi God is to ȝyue to þee to be weeldid, and holdiſt it, and dwelliſt in it, þow ſhalt taak of alle þi fruytis þe cheef, and put in a leep; and þow ſhalt goo to þe place þat þe Lord þi God haþ choſun, þat þere be inwardly clepid þe name of hym. And þow ſhalt goon to þe preeſt þat were in þo days, and ſeye to hym, I knowleche to day before þe Lord þi God, þat Y am comen into þe loond, for þe which he haþ ſwore to oure fadris, þat he ſhulde ȝyue it to vs. And þe preeſt takynge þe leep of þin hoond, ſhal put before þe auter of þe Lord þi God. And þow ſhalt ſpeke in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God, Sirus purſuede my fader, þat deſcendide into Egipt, and þere pilgrimagide in mooſt fewe noumbre; and he growide into a greet folk of kynde, and ſtrong, and of multitude wiþ out ende. And þe Egipciens greuowſly traueilyden vs, and purſueden, puttynge on mooſt greuows birþens. And we crieden to þe Lord God of oure faders, þat haþ herde vs, and bihold oure mekenes, and traueyl, and anguyſſes; and he haþ lad vs out of Egipt in a myȝti hoond, and in an arme ſtreiȝt out, in greet drede, in toknes, and wondres, and brouȝte into þis place; and haþ taak to vs þe loond mylk and hony flowynge. And þerfor nowe Y offre to þee þe cheef of þe fruytis of þe erþe þat þe Lord haþ ȝeue to me. And þow ſhalt leeue hem in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God. And þe Lord þi God honourd, þow ſhalt eete in alle goodis þat þe Lord þi God haþ ȝeue to þee and to þin hows, þow, and Leuytis, and comlyng, þat is wiþ þee. Whanne þow haſt fulfillid þe tiþe of alle þi fruytis, þe ȝeer of tiþis þe þridde, þow ſhalt ȝeue to Leuyte, and comlynge, and faderles child, and widewe, þat þei eten wiþ ynne þi ȝatis, and ben fulfillid. And þou ſhalt ſpeke in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord þi God, Y haue brouȝt þat is halowid fro myn hows, and haue ȝyue it to Leuyte, and comlynge, and faderles child, and widewe, as þow haſt comaundid to me; I haue not paſſid biſide þin heeſtis, ne haue forȝet þi maundement. Y haue not eete of hem in my ſorwe, ne haue ſeuerd hem in eche vnclennes, ne haue ſpendid of hem eny þing in þing of deed coors. Y haue obeiſhid to þe voyce of þe Lord my God, and haue doo alle þingis þat þow haſt comaundid to me. Bihold fro þi ſanctuary, fro þe hiȝe dwellynge place of heuens, and bleſſe þow to þi puple Yrael, and to þe loond þat þow haſt ȝyue to vs, as þow haſt ſwore to oure fadres, to þe loond mylk and hony flowynge. To day þe Lord þi God haþ comaundid to þee, þat þow doo þes maundementis and domys, þat þow kepe and fulfil of al þin hert, and of al þi ſoule. Þe Lord þow haſt choſun to day, þat he be to þee God, and þow goo in þe weies of hym, and keep his cerymoyns, and heeſtis, and domys, and obeiſh to his maundement. Loo! þe Lord haþ choſen þee to day, þat þow be to hym a ſpecial puple, as he haþ ſpoken to þee, and þow keep alle þe heeſtis of hym; and he ſhal maak þee hiȝer þan alle þe folkis, þat he haþ maad of nouȝt, into preyſynge, and name, and his glorye; þat þow be an holy puple of þe Lord þi God, as he haþ ſpokun.

Capitulum XXVII.

Moyſes forſoþe haþ comaundid, and þe eldren, to þe puple of Yrael, ſeiynge, Keep ȝe eche maundement þat I comaunde to ȝow to day. Whanne ȝe han paſſid ouere Jordan, into þe loond þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee, þow ſhalt arere greet ſtonus, and wiþ plaſtre þow ſhalt dawbe hem, þat þow mowe wryte in hem alle þe wordis of þis lawe, Jordan ouergoon, þat þow goo into þe lond þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee, þe loond mylk and hony flowynge, as he haþ ſwore to þi fadres. Whanne þanne þow ſhalt ouerpas Jordan, arere þe ſtonus þat Y to day comaunde to þee, in þe mownt of Hebal; and þow ſhalt dawbe hem wiþ plaſtre. And þow ſhalt bild þere up an auter to þe Lord þi God, of ſtonus whom yrun haþ not towchid, and of ſtonus vnfourmed and vnpoliſhid; and þow ſhalt offre vpon it brent ſacrificis to þe Lord þi God; and þow ſhalt offre peſible ooſtis, and þow ſhalt eete þere, and make metſhip before þe Lord þi God. And þow ſhalt wryte vpon þe ſtonus alle þe wordis of þis lawe, pleynly and cleerli. And Moyſes and þe preeſtis of Leuyte kynde ſeiden to al Yrael, Tak hede, and here þow, Yrael; to day þow art maad þe puple of þe Lord þi God; þow ſhalt here þe voice of hym, and do þe heeſtis, and ryȝtwiſneſſes, þat I comaunde to þee. And Moyſes comaundide to þe puple in þat day, ſeiynge, Þes ſhulen ſtoond to bleſſe þe Lord vpon þe hil of Garyſym, Jordan put ouer; Symeon, Leuy, Judas, Yſachar, Joſeph, and Beniamyn. And forn aȝens þes ſhulen ſtoond to curſe in þe hil of Hebal, Ruben, Gad, and Aſer, Zabulon, Dan, and Neptalym. And þe Leuytes ſhulen pronounce, and ſeye to alle men of Irael, wiþ an hiȝe voice, Curſid be þe man þat makiþ grauen þing and ȝotun, abomynacioun of þe Lord, þe werk of þe hoondis of crafti men, and ſhal put it in hidils; and al þe puple ſhal anſwer, and ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat honoureþ not his fader and moder; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat ouerberiþ þe teermes of his neiȝbore; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat makiþ to erre þe blynde in þe weye; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat peruertiþ doom of comlynge, faderles child, and widewe; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat ſlepiþ wiþ þe wijf of his fader, and opneþ þe couerynge of his bed; and al þe puple ſhal ſeie, Amen! Curſid þat ſlepiþ wiþ eny beeſt; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat ſlepiþ wiþ his ſiſter, douȝter of his fader, or of his moder; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat ſlepiþ wiþ his wyues moder; and al þe puple ſhal ſeie, Amen! Curſid þat priuely ſmytiþ his neiȝbour; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat ſlepiþ wiþ þe wijf of his neiȝbour; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat takiþ ȝiftis, þat he ſmyte þe ſoule of þe innocent blood; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen! Curſid þat dwelliþ not in þe wordis of þis lawe, ne hem in deede fulfilliþ; and al þe puple ſhal ſeye, Amen!

Capitulum XXVIII.

If forſoþe þow heriſt þe voyce of þe Lord þi God, þat þow doo and kepe alle þe heeſtis of hym, þat Y comaunde to þee to day, þe Lord þi God ſhal make þee hiȝer þan alle þe folkis of kynde, þat dwellen in erþe. And þere ſhulen come vpon þee alle þes bliſſyngis, and ſhulen taak þee; if neuerþelater þe heeſtis of hym þow heriſt. Bleſſid þow in þe citee, and bleſſid in þe feeld; bleſſid þe fruyt of þi wombe, and þe fruyt of þin erþe, and þe fruyt of þi beeſtis, þe flockis of þi droues, and þe fooldis of þi ſheep; bliſſid þi beernes, and bleſſyd þi relikis; bleſſid þow ſhalt be ingoynge, and out goynge. Þe Lord ſhal ȝyue þin enemyes, þat ryſen aȝens þee, fallynge in þin ſiȝt; bi o weye þei ſhulen come aȝens þee, and bi ſeuen þei ſhulen flee fro þi face. Þe Lord ſhal ſeend out bleſſynge vpon þi celers, and vpon alle þe werkis of þin hoondis; and he ſhal bleſſe to þee in þe loond þat þow ſhalt taak. Þe Lord ſhal rere þee to hym into an hooli puple, as he haþ ſwore to þee, if þou kepyſt þe heeſtis of þe Lord þi God, and goſt in þe weies of hym. And alle þe puples of erþes ſhulen ſeeyȝen, þat þe name of þe Lord be inwardly clepid vpon þee, and þei ſhulen drede þee. To be plenteuous in alle goodis þe Lord ſhal make þee, in fruytis of þi wombe, and fruyt of þi beeſtys, fruyt of þi loond, þat þe Lord haþ ſwore to þi fadres, for to ȝyue to þee. Þe Lord ſhal opne his beſt treſour, heuene, þat he ȝyue reyn to þi loond in his tyme; he ſhal bleſſe to alle þe werkys of þin hoondis; and þow ſhalt okyr to many folkis, and þi ſelf ſhal not borwe to oker of eny man. Þe Lord þi God ſhal ſett þee into heed, and not into tayl, and þow ſhalt be euere more aboue, and not vndur; if neuerþelater þow here þe maundementis of þe Lord þi God, þat Y comaunde to þee to day, and kepiſt, and doſt, and bowiſt not aſide fro hem, ne to þe riȝt, ne to þe left, ne haſt not folwid alien goddis, ne heried hem. And if þou wolt not here þe vois of þe Lord þi God, þat þow keep and doo alle þe maundementis of hym, and cerymoyns, þat Y comaunde to þee to day, ſhulen come vpon þee alle þes malyſouns, and holde þee. Curſid þow ſhalt be in citee, curſed in feeld; curſid þi bern, and curſid þi relikis; curſid þe fruyt of þi wombe, and þe fruyt of þin erþe, þe droues of þin oxen, and þe flockis of þi ſheep. Curſid þow ſhalt be ingoynge, and curſid out goynge. Þe Lord ſhal ſende vpon þee hungre inward, and hungre outward, and blamyng into alle þi werkis þat þow ſhalt do, to þe tyme þat he trede þee doun, and leſe ſwiftly, for þi mooſt yuel fyndyngis, in þe whiche þow haſt forſakun me. Joyn to þee þe Lord peſtilence, to þe tyme þat he waaſt þee fro þe erþe, to þe which þow ſhalt goon in to be weeldyd. Smyit þee þe Lord wiþ nede, feuer, and coold, and brennynge, and heet, and corrupt eyre, and ruſt; and purſue he to þe tyme þat þou peryſhe. Be heuene þat is aboue þee braaſny; and þe lond þat þou trediſt yrony. Ȝyue þe Lord þe wedre of þin erþe powdre, and fro heuene come down vpon þee aſkis, to þe tyme þat þow be al to-powned. Tak þee þe Lord fallynge down before þin enemyes; bi o weye go þow out aȝens hem, and bi ſeuen fle þow, and be þou ſcatered þurȝ out alle þe rewmes of þe erþe; and be þi careyn into meete to alle þe foulis of heuene, and beeſtis of þe erþe, and be þere noon þat driue aweye. Smyit þee þe Lord wiþ þe byil of Egipt, and þe paart of þe bodi bi þe which toordis ben ſheten out, wiþ ſcab forſoþe and itchynge, ſo þat þow may not be helid. Smyit þee þe Lord wiþ madnes, and blyndnes, and wiþ woodnes of þouȝt; and þow ſhalt graaſp in mydday, as is woned a blynd man to graaſp in derkniſſis; and make he not redi þi weyes; and alle tymes wrong chalenge ſuffre þou, and be þow born down wiþ vyolence, ne haue þow þat delyuer þee. A wijf tak þow, and anoþer man ſleep wiþ hyr; an hows bild þow, and dwel þow not in yt; plaunt þow a vyn, and kut þow not þe grapis of it. Þin ox be ſlayn before þee, and eete þow not of it; þin aſſe be cauȝt in þi ſiȝt, and be it not ȝoldun to þee; þi ſheep be þei ȝouen to þin enemyes, and be þere noon þat þee help. Þi ſones and þi douȝtren be þei takun to anoþer puple, ſeynge þin eyen, and defaylynge at þe ſiȝt of hem al day; and be þere not ſtrengþ in þin hoond. Þe fruyt of þin erþe, and alle þi traueyls eete þe puple þat þow knowiſt not; and be þow euer more wronge chalengis ſuſteininge, and born doun alle days, and ſtonyed at þe drede of þo þingis þat þin eyen ſhulen ſeen. Smyit þee þe Lord wiþ þe mooſt yuel biel in knees, and in ſparlyuers; and mow þow not be helid fro þe ſool of þe foot vnto þe nol. And þe Lord ſhal leede þee, and þi kyng, whom þow haſt ordeynd vpon þee, into a folk þat knowiſt not, þow, and þi fadris; and þow ſhalt ſerue þere to alien goddys, tree, and ſtone. And þow ſhalt be loſt into proueerb, and fable to alle puplis, to þe whiche þe Lord ſhal inleede þee. Myche ſeed þow ſhalt þrow in to þe loond, and litil þou ſhalt gedre; for locuſtis ſhulen deuowre alle þingis. A vyn þow ſhalt plaunt, and delue, and wyn þow ſhalt not drynke, ne gedre of it eny þing; for it ſhal be waſtyd wiþ wormes. Olyues þow ſhalt haue in alle þi teermes, and þow ſhalt not be anoynt wiþ oyle; for þei ſhulen falle awey, and periſhen. Sones and douȝtres þow ſhalt geete, and þow ſhalt not vſe hem; for þei ſhulen be lad into chaytifte. Alle þi trees and fruytis of þi loond ruſt ſhal waaſt. A comlynge, þat dwelliþ wiþ þee in þe loond, ſhal ſtey up vpon þee, and ſhal be hiȝer; forſoþe þow ſhalt goo doun, and be lower. He ſhal oker to þee, and þow ſhalt not oker to hym; he ſhal be into heed, and þow ſhalt be into tayl. And þere ſhulen come vpon þee alle þes maliſouns, and purſuynge ſhulen holde þee, to þe tyme þat þow dye; for þow haſt not herd þe voyce of þe Lord þi God, ne haſt kept þe maundementis of hym, and cerymoyns, þat he haþ comaundid to þee. And þere ſhulen be in þee ſygnes, and wondres, and in þi ſeed, vnto wiþ outen ende; forþi þat þow haſt not ſerued to þe Lord þi God in ioy of herte and gladnes, for plenteuowſnes of alle þingis. Þou ſhalt ſerue to þin enemye, þat God ſhal ſend into þee, in hungre, and þreſt, and nakidnes, and ſcaarſnes of alle þingis; and he ſhal put on an yren ȝok vpon þi ſcol, to þe tyme þat he haue al to-treede þee. Þe Lord ſhal brynge vpon þee a folk fro aferre, and fro þe vttermooſt cooſtis of þe erþe, into liknes of a fleynge egle wiþ feerſnes, whos tonge þow mayſt not vnderſtond; mooſt gredi folk, þat ſhal not ſpaar to þe old, ne haue mercy of þe litil child. And he ſhal deuowr þe fruyt of þi beeſtis, and fruytis of þin erþe, to þe tyme þat þow dye, and leeue he not to þee corn, wyn, and oyle, droues of oxen, and flockis of ſheep, to þe tyme þat he ſcatre þee, and al to-treede þee in alle þi citees; and þi faſt wallis and hiȝe ſhulen be deſtruyed, in þe whiche þow haddiſt truſt in al þi loond. Þow ſhalt be enſegid, wiþ ynne þi ȝatis in al þi loond, þat þe Lord þi God ſhal ȝyue to þee. And þow ſhalt ete þe fruyt of þi woombe, and þe fleſh of þi ſones, and of þi douȝtren, þat þe Lord þi God haþ ȝeue to þee, in angwiſh and waſtete, wiþ þe which þin enemye ſhal oppreſſe þee. A man delicate of lijf, and leccherous myche, ſhal enuye to his broþer, and to þe wijf þat ſittiþ in his boſum, þat he ȝyue not to hem of þe fleſh of his ſones, þe whiche he ſhal eete; forþi þat no þing oþer he haue in þe ſegynge and ſcaarſenes, þat þin enemyes han waſtid þee wiþ ynne alle þi ȝatis. A tendre womman and a delicate, þe which vpon þe erþe myȝte not go, ne fitch þe ſtap of þe foot, for ſoftnes and mooſt tendrenes, ſhal enuye to hir man þat reſtiþ in þe boſum of hir, vpon þe ſone and douȝtres fleſh, and þe filþ of þe lityl fellis, þat goon out fro þe myddil of þe hippis of hyr, and vpon þe free children þat ben born in þe ſame our. Þei ſhulen ete hem priuely, for þe ſcaarſneſſe of alle þingis in þe ſeege and waaſtete, bi þe which þin enemy ſhal oppreſſe þee wiþ ynne þi ȝatis. But if þow keep and doo alle þe wordis of þis lawe, þat ben wryten in þis volym, and drede þe name of him gloriows and feerful, þat is þe Lord þi God, þe Lord ſhal encrees þi veniaunces, and veniauncis of þi ſeed; greet veniaunces and ſtedfaſt, infirmytees mooſt yuel and euerelaſtynge. And he ſhal turn into þee alle þe turmentyngis of Egipt, þat þow haſt dredde, and þei ſhulen cleue to þee. Forþermore and alle þe langouris and veniauncis, þe whiche ben not wryten in þe volym of þis lawe, þe Lord ſhal brynge vpon þee, to þe tyme þat he haue al totrode þee. And ȝe ſhulen leeue fewe in noumbre, þat weren before as ſterrys of heuene for multitude; for þow herdiſt not þe voice of þe Lord þi God. And as before þee þe Lord gladdide vpon ȝow, wel doynge to ȝow, and ȝow multipliynge; ſo he ſhal be glad, ȝow ſcaterynge and vndurturnynge, þat ȝe ben doon awey fro þe loond, to þe which þow ſhalt go in to be weeldid. Þe Lord ſhal ſcater þee into alle puplis, fro þe hiȝte of þe erþe vnto þe teermes of it; and þou ſhalt ſerue þere to alien goddis, þe whiche þow knowiſt not, and þi fadris, to trees and ſtonus. In þo folkis forſoþe þow ſhalt not reſt, ne ſhal be reſt to þe ſtap of þi foot. Forſoþe þe Lord ſhal ȝyue to þee þere a dreedful herte, and faylynge eyen, and a ſowle waſtid wiþ priue ſorwe. And þi lijf ſhal be as hongynge before þee; þow ſhalt drede nyȝt and day, and þow ſhalt not trowe to þi lijf. Eerli þow ſhalt ſeye, Who ȝyueþ to me euen? and at euen, Who ȝyueþ to me eerlich? for þe drede of þin herte, bi þe which þow ſhalt be agaſt, and for þo þingis þat þow ſhalt ſe wiþ þin eyen. And þe Lord ſhal brynge þee aȝen wiþ multitude of ſhippis into Egipt, bi þe weye of þe which he ſeide to þee, þat yt þow ſhuldiſt ſe no more. Þere þow ſhalt be ſold to þin enemyes, into þrallis and þralleſſis; and þere ſhal not be þat bigge.

Capitulum XXIX.

Thes ben þe wordis of þe couenaunt of pees, þat þe Lord haþ comaundid to Moyſes, þat he ſhould ſmyte wiþ þe ſones of Yrael in þe loond of Moab, biſide þat boond of pees, þat wiþ hem he couenauntide in Oreb. And Moyſes clepide al Yrael, and ſeide to hem, Ȝe han ſeen alle þingis þat þe Lord haþ doo before ȝow in þe loond of Egipt, to Pharao, and alle þe ſeruauntis of hym, and to al þe loond of hym; greet temptaciouns, þat þin eyen ſeen, þilk ſygnes, and greet wondres. And þe Lord ȝaf not to ȝow an vndurſtondynge herte, and ſeynge eyen, and eeris þat miȝten here, vnto þe day þat is nowe. He ladde ȝow fourti ȝeer bi deſeert; ȝoure cloþes ben not apeyred, ne þe ſhoon of ȝoure feet for eeld ben not waſtid; breed ȝe eeten not, wyn and ſidre ȝe dronken not, þat ȝe ſhulden knowe for he is þe Lord ȝoure God. And ȝe ben comen to þis place; and Seon, þe kyng of Eſebon, went out, and Og, þe kyng of Baſan, aȝen comynge to ȝow to fiȝt. And we ſmyten hem, and token þe loond of hem, and ȝauen to be weeld to Ruben, and Gad, and to þe half lynage of Manaſſe. Keep ȝe þerfor þe wordis of þis couenaunt, and fulfil hem, þat ȝe vndurſtonden alle þingis þat ȝe ſhulden doo. Ȝe ſtonden to day alle before þe Lord ȝoure God, ȝoure princes, and lynagis, and þe more þurȝ birþ, and doctours, al þe puple of Irael, free children, ȝour wyues, and comlyngis þat wiþ þee dwellen in tentes, out taak þe hewers of trees, and hem þat beren watris; þat þow paſſe in þe couenaunt of þe Lord þi God, and in þe ooþ þat þe Lord þi God ſmytiþ wiþ þee, þat he arere þee to hym into a puple, and he be þe Lord þi God, as he haþ ſpokun to þee, and as he haþ ſworn to þi fadres Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob. Ne to ȝow alone I þis couenaunt ſmyte, and þes ooþes conferme, but to alle preſent and abſent. Forſoþe ȝe han knowe what maner wiſe we dwelten in þe loond of Egipt, and what maner wiſe we paſſiden bi þe myddil of naciouns; þe whiche paſſynge, ȝe ſeen abomynaciouns, and filþis, þat is, mawmettis of hem, tree and ſtoon, ſiluer and gold, þat þei heryeden. Leſt perauenture þere be among ȝow man or womman, meyne or lynage, whos herte is turned a wey to day fro þe Lord ȝoure God, þat he goo, and ſerue to goddis of oþer gentils; and be among ȝow a rote burionynge gal and bitternes; and whanne he hadde herd þe wordis of þis ooþ, he bleſſe to hym in his herte, ſeiynge, Pees ſhal be to me, and Y ſhal go in þe ſhrewidnes of myn herte; and a dronken take þe þriſti, and þe Lord forȝyue not to hym, but þanne mooſt þe woodnes of hym ſhal wax feers, and gelows aȝens þat man, and ſitten vpon hym alle þe curſid þingis þat ben wryten in þis volym; and he doo awey þe name of hym vnder heuene, and waaſt hym into þe loſt fro alle lynagis of Yrael, after þe maliſouns þat in þe book of þis lawe and couenaunt ben conteyned. And þe generacioun folowynge ſhal ſeye, and þe ſones þat ſhulen be born þerafter, and pilgrymys, and fro aferre comen, ſeynge þe veniauncis of þat loond, and þe infirmytees, wiþ þe whiche þe Lord tourmentid it, wiþ brimſtoon, and brennynge wiþ heet of þe ſunne, ſo þat forþermore it be not ſowed, ne eny þing green burioun, into enſaumple of þe vndurturnynge of Sodom and Gomor, Adame and Soboym, þe whiche þe Lord vndurturned in wreþ, and in his woodnes. And al folk ſhulen ſeye, Whi þus þe Lord haþ doon to þis loond? What is þis greet wraþ wiþ outen meſure of his woodnes? and þei ſhulen anſwere, For þei han forſake þe couenaunt of þe Lord, þat he couenauntide wiþ þe faders of hem, whanne he lad hem out of þe loond of Egipt, and ſerueden to alien goddis, and honoureden hem whom þei knewen not, and to whom þei weren not taken to; þerfor wraþþed þe woodnes of þe Lord aȝens þis loond, þat he brouȝt in vpon it alle þe curſid þingis þat in þis volym ben wryten; and he keſte hem out fro his loond in wraþþe, in woodnes, and in mooſt indignacyoun; and he keſte aferre in to an alyen loond, as to day is preued. Hid þingis of þe Lord oure God ben, þat ben open to vs, and to oure ſones vnto wiþ outen ende, þat we doon alle þingis of þis lawe.

Capitulum XXX.

Whanne þerfor were comen vpon þee alle þes wordes, bleſſynge or malyſoun, þat I haue purpoſid in þi ſiȝt, and brouȝt þurȝ forþenkyng of þin herte in alle folkis of kynde, into þe whiche þe Lord þi God haþ ſcatred þee, and were turned aȝen to hym, and obeyſhideſt to þe heeſtis of him, as Y to day comaunde to þee, wiþ þi ſones, in al þin herte and in al þi ſoule, and þe Lord þi God ſhal bryng þee aȝen fro þi chaytifte, and ſhal haue mercy of þee, and eft ſhal gedre þee fro alle puplis, into þe whiche þee before he ſcatride; if to þe eendis of heuene þow were ſcatryd, þens ſhal aȝen drawe þee þe Lord þi God; and ſhal taak, and brynge into þe loond þat weldiden þi fadris; and þow ſhalt holde it, and bleſſynge to þee, of more noumbre he ſhall make þee to be þan weren þi fadris. Þe Lord þi God ſhal circumcyde þin herte, and þe herte of þi ſeed, þat þow loue þe Lord þi God in al þin herte and in al þi ſoule, and þow may lyue. Forſoþe alle þes maliſouns þe Lord ſhal turn vpon þin enemyes, and hem þat haten þee þei ſhulen purſue. Forſoþe þow ſhalt turne aȝen, and here þe voice of þe Lord þi God, and þow ſhalt doo alle þe maundementis þat I comaunde to þee to day; and þe Lord þi God ſhal make þee to be plenteuous in alle þe werkis of þin hoondis, in þe progeny of þi woomb, and in þe fruyt of þi beeſtis, in plenteuowſte of þin erþe, and in largyte of alle þingis. Forſoþe þe Lord ſhal turne aȝen, þat he ioye on þee in alle goodis, as he ioyede in þi fadres; if neuerþelater þow hereſt þe voyce of þe Lord þi God, and kepiſt þe heeſtis of hym, and cerymoyns, þat in þis lawe ben writen, and turn aȝen to þe Lord þi God, in al þin herte, and in al þi ſoule. Þis heeſt þat I comaunde to þee to day, is not aboue þee, ne ferre put, ne in heuene ſet, þat þow maiſt ſeye, Who of vs may to heuene ſty vp, þat he brynge it to vs, and we heren it, and fulfillen in dede? ne biȝond ſee ſet, þat þow pleyn, and ſeye, Who of vs may paſſe ouer þe ſee, and it to vs hidir brynge, þat we mowen here, and doon þat þat is comaundid? But riȝt nyȝ þee is þe word, in þi mouþ and in þin herte, þat þow doo it. Bihold þat to day I haue purpoſid in þi ſiȝt lijf and good, and aȝenward deþ and yuel; þat þow loue þe Lord þi God, and goo in þe weies of hym, and keep þe heeſtis of hym, and cerymoyns, and domes; and þow lyue, and he multiplie þee, and bleſſe to þee, in þe loond to þe which to be weeldid þow ſhalt goon yn. Forſoþe if þin herte were turned awey, and woldiſt not here, and bi errour diſſeyued honouriſt alyen goddis, and ſerueſt hem, I before ſeye to þee to day, þat þow periſhe, and litil tyme þow ſhalt dwelle in þe loond, to þe which Jordan ouer put þow ſhalt goon yn, þat it be weeldid. Wytneſſes Y inwardly clepe heuene and erþe to day, þat Y haue purpoſid to ȝow lijf and deþ, good and yuel, bleſſynge and curſynge; chees þerfor lijf, þat and þow lyue and þi ſeed, and þow loue þe Lord þi God, and þow obeyſh to his voyce, and to hym þow drawe to; forſoþe he is þi lijf, and þe lengþe of þi days; þat þow dwelle in þe loond, for þe which þe Lord haþ ſwore to þi fadris Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob, þat he ȝeue it to hem.

Capitulum XXXI.

And ſo Moyſes ȝede, and ſpak alle þes wordes to al Yrael, and ſeide to hem, Of an hundrid and twenti ȝeer Y am to day, Y may namore goon out and come yn, namelich whanne and þe Lord haþ ſeide to me, Þow ſhalt not paſſe þis Jordan. Þerfor þe Lord þi God ſhall paſſe before þee; he ſhal doo a wey alle þes gentils in þi ſiȝt, and þow ſhalt weeld hem; and þis Joſue ſhal paſſe before þee, as þe Lord haþ ſpoken. And þe Lord ſhal doo to hem as he dide to Seon, and to Og, þe kyng of Amorreis, and to þe loond of hem; and he ſhal do hem a wey. Whanne þanne and þes he ſhal taak to ȝow, lijk maner ȝe ſhulen doo to hem, as I haue comaundid to ȝow. Manlich do ȝe, and be ȝe coumfortid; wole ȝe not be feerd, ne dred at þe ſiȝt of hem, for þe Lord þi God he ys þi leder, and he ſhal not leeue, ne forſaak þee. And Moiſes clepide Joſue, and ſeide to hym before al þe multitude of þe ſones of Yrael, Tak coumfort, and be þow ſtrong; forſoþe þow ſhal lede in þis puple into þe loond þat þe Lord haþ ſworn hym to ȝeuynge to þe faders of hem; and þow ſhalt it dyuyde bi lot. And þe Lord þat is ȝour leder, he ſhal be wiþ þee, ne ſhal leeue ne forſaak þee; wole þow not drede, ne be feerd. And ſo Moyſes wroot þis lawe, and took it to þe preeſtis, þe ſones of Leuy, þat beren þe ark of þe boond of pees of þe Lord, and to alle þe aldren of Yrael. And he comaundide to hem, ſeiynge, After ſeuen ȝeer þe ȝeer of remyſſioun, in þe ſolempnytees of þe tabernaclis, alle men of Yrael comynge togidre, þat þei aperen in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord her God, in þe place þat þe Lord haþ choſun, þow ſhalt rede þe wordis of þis lawe before al Yrael, hem herynge, and in oon al þi puple gedrid, as wel men as wymmen, litil children, and comlyngis þat ben wiþ ynne þi ȝaatis; þat herynge þei lernen, and dreden þe Lord oure God, and keep and fulfille alle þe wordis of þis lawe; forſoþe þe ſones of hem þat now vnknowen, þat þei mowen here, and þei dredden þe Lord her God alle days in þe whiche þei dwellen in erþe to þe which, Jordan ouer put, ȝe ſhulen goon þat it be had. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Loo! nyȝ ben þe days of þi deeþ; cleep Joſue, and ſtoond ȝe in þe tabernacle of witneſſynge, þat Y comaunde to hym. Þerfor Moyſes and Joſue ȝeden, and ſtoden in þe tabernacle of witneſſynge; and þe Lord aperide þere in a pelere of a clowde, þat ſtood in þe entre of þe tabernacle. And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Loo! þow ſhalt ſleepe wiþ þi fadris, and þis puple aryſynge ſhall doo fornycacioun after alien goddis, in þe loond to þe which he ſhal goon yn, and dwelle in it; þere he ſhal forſaak me and make at nouȝt þe couenaunt of pees, þat Y couenauntid wiþ hym. And my woodnes ſhal wraþþe aȝens hym in þat day, and Y ſhal forſaak hym, and hiyde my face fro hym, and he ſhal be into deuowrynge; and alle yuels and turmentyngis ſhulen fynde hym, ſo þat he ſeie in þat day, Forſoþe for God is not wiþ me, þes yuels han foundun me. Forſoþe Y ſhal hide, and hile my face in þat day, for alle þe yuels þat he haþ doo, for he haþ folwid alien goddis. And ſo now wryte ȝe to ȝow þis ſonge, and teche ȝe þe ſones of Yrael, þat myndfulli þei hoolden, and wiþ mouþ ſynge; and þis dyte be to me for witneſſinge among þe ſones of Yrael. Forſoþe I ſhal leede hym into þe loond, for þe which I haue ſworn to þe fadris of hym, mylk and hony flowynge; and whanne þei hadden eete, and weren fillid, and fat, þei ſhulen turn to alien goddis, and ſerue to hem; and myſſey to me, and þei ſhulen make at nouȝt my couenaunt. After þat many yuels and tourmentyngis han founden hym, þis ſonge ſhal anſwere to hym for witneſſynge, þat no forȝetynge ſhal doo awey fro þe mouþ of þi ſeed. I knowe forſoþe þe þowȝtis of hym, what þingis he be to doo, to day or Y lede hym into þe loond þat I haue bihoot to hym. Þanne Moyſes wroot a ſonge, and tauȝte þe ſones of Yrael. And þe Lord comaundide to Joſue, þe ſone of Nun, and ſeiþ, Tak coumfort, and be ſtronge; forſoþe þou ſhal brynge yn þe ſones of Yrael into þe loond þat I haue bihoot, and I ſhal be wiþ þee. After þanne þat Moiſes wroot þe wordes of þis lawe in a volym, and fulfillide, he comaundide to þe Leuytis þat beren þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord, ſeiynge, Take ȝe þis book, and puttiþ it in þe ſide of þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord ȝoure God, þat it be þere aȝens þee into witneſſynge. Forſoþe Y knowe þi ſtryuynge, and þi mooſt hard nol; ȝit lyuynge me, and goynge yn wiþ ȝowe, euermore ſtryuyngly ȝe diden aȝens þe Lord; myche more whanne I ſhal be deed. Gedre ȝe to me alle þe more þurȝ birþ, bi ȝoure lynages, and doctours, and I ſhal ſpeke hem, herynge þes wordes, and I ſhal inwardly clepe aȝens hem heuene and erþe. Forſoþe I haue knowun, þat after my deeþ wickidlich ȝe ſhulen doo, and ȝe ſhulen bowe aſide ſoon fro þe wey þat I haue comaundide to ȝow; and þere ſhulen come aȝens to ȝou yuels in þe laſt tyme, whanne ȝe han doon yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, þat ȝe terren hym bi þe werkys of ȝoure hoondis. Þanne Moyſes ſpak, herynge al þe company of Yrael, þe wordis of þis dite, and vnto þe eende fulfillid.

Capitulum XXXII.

Here ȝe, heuens, þingis þat Y ſpeke; here þe erþe þe wordis of my mouþ. To gidre ſprynge in reyn my loore; flowe as dewe my ſpeche, as wedre vpon erbe, and as dropes vpon cornes. For þe name of þe Lord I ſhal inwardly cleep; ȝeueþ huge doynge to oure God. Of God perfit ben þe werkys, and alle his weyes domes; a trewe God, and wiþ outen eny wickidnes, ryȝtwis and euen. Þei han ſynned to hym, and not his ſones in filþis; ſhrewid kynred, and myſturnyd. Þes þingis aȝenward ȝeeldiſt þow not to þe Lord, O fole puple and vnwiſe? Wheþer is he not þi fader, þat haþ weeldid þee, and maad, and fourmed þee of nouȝt? Haue mynde of olde days, and þenk eche generaciouns; aſke þi fader, and he ſhal telle to þee, þi more, and þei ſhulen ſeie to þee. Whanne deuydide þe hiȝeſt folkis of kynde, whanne he ſeuerde þe ſones of Adam, he ſette þe teermys of puplis after þe noumbre of þe ſones of Yrael. Part forſoþe of þe Lord þe puple of hym; Jacob þe litil corde of his herytage. He foond hym in a deſeert loond, in place of orrour, and of waaſt wildernes; he ladde hym aboute, and tauȝte, and kept as þe apple of his eye. As an egle forþclepynge his bryddis to flee, and on hem houynge, he ſprade out his weengis, and took to hym, and beer in his ſhuldres. Þe Lord alone was þe leder of hym, and was not wiþ hym an alien God. He ſette hym on an hiȝe erþe, þat he myȝte ete þe fruytis of feeldes, þat he myȝte ſowke hony of þe ſtoon, and oyle of þe mooſt hard ſtone; butre of þe droue, and mylk of ſheep, wiþ þe talwȝ of loombs and of weþers, of þe ſones of Baſan; and goot wiþ margh of whete, and blood of grapis myȝte drynk mooſt cleer. Ful fat maad is þe loued, and aȝen wynſed; fulfattid, fulgreſid, outlargid; he laft God his maker, and ȝeed abak fro God, his ȝyuer of heelþ. Þei eggiden him in alyen goddis, and in abomynaciouns to wraþþe arereden. Þei offriden to deuels, and not to God, to goddis þe whiche þei knewen not; newe and freſſhe camen, þe whiche heryeden not þe faders of hem. God þat þee gat þow haſt forſaak, and haſt forȝet þe Lord þi ſhaper. Þe Lord ſawȝ, and to wraþþe was rerid; for eggiden hym his ſones and douȝtres. And he ſeiþ, Y ſchal hyde my face fro hem, and I ſhal behold þe laſt þinges of hem; generacioun forſoþe myſturned it is, and vntrewe ſones. Þei han eggid me in hym þat was not God, and han terred in her vanytees; and I ſhal egge hem in hym þat is no puple, and in fole folk of kynde I ſhal terre hem. Fier is vndurtent in my woodnes, and it ſhal brenne vnto þe laſt þingis of helle; and it ſhal deuowre þe loond wiþ his buriownynge, and of hillis þe foundementis ſhulen brenne. I ſhal gedre vpon hem yuels, and myn arewis I ſhal fulfil in hem. Þei ſhulen be waſtid wiþ hungir, and briddis ſhulen deuour hem in biting mooſt bitter; teeþ of beſtis I ſhal ſende in hem, wiþ woodnes of hem drawinge on erþe, and crepinge. Wiþ out forþ ſhal waaſt hem ſwerd, and wiþ yn forþ dreed; þe ȝong togidre and mayden, þe ſowkynge wiþ þe old man. And I ſeide, Where forſoþe ben þei? to ceeſe Y ſhal maak fro men þe mynde of hem. But for þe wraþ of enemyes I lafte for a while, leſt perauenture wolden wexe prowde þe enemyes of hem, and ſeye, Oure hiȝe hoond, and not þe Lord, haþ doon alle þes þingis. Folk wiþ out counſeil it is, and wiþ out wiſdom; wolde God þei ſauerden, and vndurſtoden, and laſt þingis purueyden. What maner wiſe oon purſuede a þowſand, and two myȝten dryue ten þowſand? Wheþer not þerfore for her God ſolde hem, and þe Lord cloſide hem? Forſoþe oure God is not as þe goddis of hem, and oure enemyes ben iugis. Of þe vyn of Sodoms þe vyn of hem, and of þe ſubaarbis of Gomor; þe graap of hem graap of gal, and þe cluſter mooſt bittre. Gal of dragouns þe wyne of hem, and venym of eddres vncurable. Wheþer ben not þes þingis hid anentis me, and merkid in my treſours? Myn is veniaunce, and Y ſhal ȝeeld to hem in tyme, þat þe foot of hem ſlyde; nyȝ is þe day of perdicioun, and to be nyȝ hiȝen þe tymes. Þe Lord ſhal deme his puple, and in his ſeruauntis he ſhal haue mercy; he ſhal ſe þat feble be þe hoond, and cloſid forſoþe han faylid, and þe lafte ben waſtid. And þei ſhulen ſeye, Where ben þe goddis of hem, in whiche þei hadden truſt? Of whos ſlayn ſacrifice þei eten þe fatneſſe, and drunken þe wyn of þe offryngis of licours, ariſe, and helpe þei to ȝow, and in nede ȝow defende. Seeþ þat Y am alone, and þere is noon oþer God ſaue me; I ſhal ſlee, and I ſhal maak to lyue; Y ſhal ſmyte, and I ſhal heel; and þere is not þat fro myn hoond may delyuer. I ſhal heue vp to heuene myn hoond, and Y ſhal ſeye, I lyue wiþ outen eende. If I whette as leit my ſwerd, and myn hoond taak doom, Y ſhal ȝeeld vengynge to myn enemyes, and to hem þat hatiden me, I ſhal quite. I ſhal drenche myn arewis in blood, and my ſwerd ſhal deuour fleſh of þe blood of ſlayn, and of þe chaytifte of þe nakid heed of enemyes. Preyſe ȝe, gentils, þe puple of hym, for þe blood of his ſeruauntis he ſhal wreek, and veniaunce he ſhal quyte into þe enemyes of hem; and he ſhal be merciful to þe erþe of his puple. Þanne Moyſes cam, and ſpak alle þe wordis of þis ſonge in þe eris of þe puple; and he and Joſue, þe ſone of Nun. And he fulfillide alle þes wordis, ſpekynge to al Yrael; and ſeide to hem, Put ȝe ȝoure hertis into alle þe wordys þat I witneſſe to ȝow to day, þat ȝe comaunden hem to ȝoure ſones to keep, and to doo, and to fulfille alle þingis þat ben wryten of þis lawe; for not in veyn þei ben comaundid to ȝow, but þat echon in hem ſhulde lyue; þe which doynge long tyme ȝe abiden in þe loond, to þe which to be weeldid, Jordan ouerput, ȝe ſhulen goon yn. And þe Lord ſpak to Moiſes in þe ſame day, ſeiynge, Sty vp into þis hil Abarym, þat is, paſſynge, into þe hil Nebo, þat is in þe loond of Moab, aȝens Jeryco; and ſe þe loond of Chanaan, þat to be hold I ſhal taak to þe ſones of Yrael, and dye þow in þe hil. Þe which ſtiynge vp, þow ſhalt be ioyned to þi puplis, as died Aaron, þi broþer, in þe hil of Hor, and was put to his puples. For ȝe han treſpaſſid aȝens me, in þe myddil of þe ſones of Yrael, at þe Watris of Aȝenſeiynge, in Cades of þe deſeert of Syn; and ȝe halwide not me amonge þe ſones of Yrael. Aȝenward þow ſhalt ſe þe loond, and ſhalt not goon into it, þat I ſhal ȝyue to þe ſones of Irael.

Capitulum XXXIII.

This is þe bliſſynge, wiþ þe which Moyſes, man of God, bliſſede þe ſones of Irael before his deeþ; and ſeiþ, Þe Lord fro Syna cam, and fro Seir is ſprongun to vs; he aperide fro þe hil of Pharan, and wiþ hym þouſandis of ſeyntis; in þe riȝt hoond of hym firy lawe. He louede puples; alle ſeyntis in þe hoond of hym ben, and þat neiȝen to þe feet of hym, ſhulen taak of þe loor of hym. Lawe comaundide to vs Moyſes, þe erytage of þe multitude of Jacob. And þere ſhal be anentis þe mooſt riȝt a kyng, þe princis of þe puple gedrid wiþ þe lynagis of Yrael. Lyue Ruben, and dye he not, and be he litil in noumbre. Þis is of Jude þe bleſſynge; here, Lord, þe voyce of Jude, and to his puple wiþ ynne leede hym; his hoondis ſhulen fiȝt for it, and helper of it he ſhal be aȝens þe aduerſaryes of it. Forſoþe to Leuy he ſeiþ, Þi perfeccioun and þi loor fro þin hooli man, whom þow haſt preued in temptacioun, and haſt demed at þe Watris of Aȝenſeiynge; þe which haþ ſeide to his fader and to his moder, I knowe ȝow not, and to his briþeren, I vnknowe hem; and þei knewen not her ſones. Þes kepten þi ſpeech, and þi couenaunt; heelden þi domys, O! Jacob, and þi lawe, O! Yrael; þei ſhulen put maad encenſe in þi woodnes, and brent ſacrifice on þin auter. Bleſſe, Lord, þe ſtrengþ of hym, and þe werkis of þe hoondis of hym tak; ſmyit þe backis of þe enemyes of hym, and þat haten hym, aryſe þei not. And to Beniamyn he ſeiþ, Mooſt loued of þe Lord ſhal dwelle triſtili in hym; as in a chaumbre al day he ſhal dwelle, and betwix þe ſhuldres of hym he ſhal reſt. Forſoþe to Joſeph he ſeiþ, Of þe bleſſynge of þe Lord þe loond of hym; of þe applis of heuene, and of þe dewe, and of þe ſee vnderligging; of applis of þe fruyt of ſunne, and of mone; and of þe cop of þe oold mounteyns, and of applis of euerlaſtynge hillis; and of fruytis of þe erþe, and plente of it. Bleſſynge of hym þat aperyde in þe buſſhe come vpon þe heed of Joſeph, and vpon þe fortop of Nazarey among his briþeren. As of þe firſt goten bool þe feirnes of hym; hornes of an vnicorn þe hornes of hym; in hem he ſhal wyndowe gentilys, vnto þe teermes of þe erþe. Þes ben þe multitudys of Effraym, and þes þouſandis of Manaſſe. And to Zabulon he ſeiþ, Glad þow, Zabulon, in þi goynge out, and, Yſachar, in þi tabernaclis. Puplis at þe hil þei ſhulen cleep, and þere þei ſhulen offre ſlayn ſacrifices of ryȝtwyſneſſe; þe whiche þe flowynge of þe ſee as mylk ſhal ſowke, and hid treſours of graueils. And to Gad he ſeiþ, Bleſſid in breede Gad; as a lioun he reſtide, and he took arme and fortop. And he ſawȝ his prynſehod, þat in his paart a doctour he was ſeid vp; þe which was wiþ princis of puple, and dide riȝtwiſneſſes of þe Lord, and hys doom wiþ Yrael. To Dan forſoþe he ſeiþ, Dan, keetlyng of a lyon, ſhal flowe laargly fro Baſan. And to Neptalym he ſeide, Neptalym plenteuowneſſe ſhal ful vſe, and ful ſhal be wiþ bleſſyngis of þe Lord; eerly and mydday he ſhal weeld. To Aſer forſoþe he ſeiþ, Bleſſid in ſones Aſer, be he pleſynge to his breþeren; weet he in oyle his foot. Yrun and bras þe ſhoynge of hym; as days of þi ȝongþ ſo and þin eelde. Þere is noon oþer God as þe mooſt riȝt God; þe ſtier of heuen þin helper; þurȝ þe hidows doynge of hym to and fro rennen þe clowdes. Þe dwellynge place of hym aboue, and vndurneþe euerlaſtynge aarmys; he ſhal caſt out fro þi face þe enemye, and he ſhal ſeye, Be þow to-trode. Yrael ſhal dwelle truſtilych, and aloone; þe eye of Jacob in þe loond of whete, and of wyn; and heuens ſhulen wexe derk þurȝ dewe. Bleſſid art þow, Yrael; who lijk of þee, þou puple þat art ſaued in þe Lord? Sheeld of þin help and ſwerd of þi glorye þi God; þin enemyes ſhulen denye þee, and þow ſhal treed neckis of hem.

Capitulum XXXIIII.

Aſcende þanne Moyſes fro þe wijlde feeldys of Moab, vpon þe hil of Nebo, in to þe cop of Phaſga, aȝens Jericho. And þe Lord ſhewide to hym al þe loond of Galaad vnto Dan, and al Neptalym, and þe loond of Effraym and Manaſſe, and al þe loond of Juda, vnto þe laſt ſee; and þe ſowþ paart, and þe breede of þe feeld of Jericho, cyte of Palmys vnto Seor. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, Þis is þe loond for þe which Y ſwore to Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob, ſeiynge, To þi ſeed I ſhal ȝyue it; þow haſt ſeen it wiþ þin eyen, and þow ſhalt not paſſe to it. And þanne Moyſes, þe ſeruaunt of þe Lord, dyed þere, in þe loond of Moab, comaundynge þe Lord. And he biryede hym in þe valey of þe loond of Moab, aȝens Phegor; and no man knewe þe ſepulcre of hym vnto þe day þat is now. Moyſes of an hundrid and twenty ȝeeris was whanne he diede; þe eyȝe of hym daſwed not, ne þe teeþ of hym ben meued. And þe children of Irael wepten hym in þe wijlde feeldis of Moab þretti dais; and fulfillyd ben þe dais of mournynge of hem weylynge Moiſes. Forſoþe Joſue, þe ſone of Nun, is fulfillid wiþ þe ſpyryt of wiſdom, for Moyſes putte on hym his hoondis; and to him obeiſhiden þe ſones of Yrael, and diden as þe Lord comaundide to Moyſes. And þere roos not a prophete ferþermore in Yrael as Moyſes, whom þe Lord knewe face to face, in alle ſygnes and wondres, þe whiche bi hym he ſente, þat he ſhulde doo in þe loond of Egipte to Pharao, and to alle þe ſeruauntis of hym, and to al þe loond of hym; and al ſtrong hoond, and greet merueyls, þat Moiſes dide before al Irael.

Here endiþ þe book of Deutronomi, and nowe bigyneþ þe prolog of Joſue and of Judicum and of Ruþ.