chapter, verse I,1G

1

HERE BIGYNNETH GENESIS.

2

CAP. I.

3
4    In the bigynnyng God made of nouȝt
5heuene and erthe. Forsothe the erthe was
6idel and voide, and derknessis weren on
7the face of depthe; and the Spiryt of the
8Lord was borun on the watris. And God
9seide, Liȝt be maad, and liȝt was maad.
10And God seiȝ the liȝt, that it was good,
11and he departide the liȝt fro derknessis;
12and he clepide the liȝt, dai, and the derknessis,
13nyȝt. And the euentid and morwetid
14was maad, o daie. And God seide,
15The firmament be maad in the myddis of
16watris, and departe watris fro watris. And
17God made the firmament, and departide
18the watris that weren vndur the firmament
19fro these watris that weren on the firmament;
20and it was don so. And God
21clepide the firmament, heuene. And the
22euentid and morwetid was maad, the secounde
23dai. Forsothe God seide, The watris,
24that ben vndur heuene, be gaderid in
25to o place, and a drie place appere; and
26it was doon so. And God clepide the drie
27place, erthe; and he clepide the gadryngis
28togidere of watris, the sees. And God
29seiȝ that it was good; and seide, The erthe
30brynge forth greene eerbe and makynge
31seed, and appil tre makynge fruyt bi his
32kynde, whos seed be in it silf on erthe;
33and it was doon so. And the erthe brouȝte
34forth greene erbe and makynge seed bi his
35kynde, and a tre makynge fruyt, and ech
36hauynge seed by his kynde. And God
37seiȝ that it was good. And the euentid
38and morwetid was maad, the thridde dai.
39Forsothe God seide, Liȝtis be maad in the
40firmament of heuene, and departe tho the
41dai and niȝt; and be tho in to signes, and
42tymes, and daies, and ȝeeris; and shyne
43tho in the firmament of heuene, and liȝtne
44tho the erthe; and it was doon so. And
45God made twei grete liȝtis, the gretter liȝt
46that it schulde be bifore to the dai, and
47the lesse liȝt that it schulde be bifore to
48the niȝt; and God made sterris; and settide
49tho in the firmament of heuene, that
50tho schulden schyne on erthe, and that
51tho schulden be bifore to the dai and
52nyȝt, and schulden departe liȝt and derknesse.
53And God seiȝ that it was good.
54And the euentid and the morwetid was
55maad, the fourthe dai.

chapter, verse I,20G

56Also God seide, The
57watris brynge forth a crepynge beeste of
58lyuynge soule, and a brid fleynge aboue
59erthe vndur the firmament of heuene.
60And God made of nouȝt grete whallis, and
61ech lyuynge soule and mouable, whiche
62the watris han brouȝt forth in to her
63kyndis; and God made of nouȝt ech volatile
64bi his kynde. And God seiȝ that it
65was good; and blesside hem, and seide,
66Wexe ȝe, and be ȝe multiplied, and fille ȝe
67the watris of the see, and briddis be multiplied
68on erthe. And the euentid and
69the morwetid was maad, the fyuethe dai.
70And God seide, The erthe brynge forth a
71lyuynge soul in his kynde, werk beestis,
72and crepynge beestis, and vnresonable
73beestis of erthe, bi her kyndis; and it was
74don so. And God made vnresonable beestis
75of erthe bi her kyndes, and werk beestis,
76and ech crepynge beeste of erthe in his
77kynde. And God seiȝ that it was good;
78and seide, Make we man to oure ymage
79and liknesse, and be he souereyn to the
80fischis of the see, and to the volatilis of
81heuene, and to vnresonable beestis of erthe,
82and to ech creature, and to ech crepynge
83beest, which is moued in erthe. And
84God made of nouȝt a man to his ymage
85and liknesse; God made of nouȝt a man,
86to the ymage of God; God made of nouȝt
87hem, male and female. And God blesside
88hem, and seide, Encreesse ȝe, and be ȝe
89multiplied, and fille ȝe the erthe, and
90make ȝe it suget, and be ȝe lordis to fischis
91of the see, and to volatilis of heuene, and
92to alle lyuynge beestis that ben moued
93on erthe. And God seide, Lo! Y haue
94ȝoue to ȝou ech eerbe berynge seed on
95erthe, and alle trees that han in hem silf
96the seed of her kynde, that tho be in to
97mete to ȝou; and to alle lyuynge beestis
98of erthe, and to ech brid of heuene, and
99to alle thingis that ben moued in erthe,
100and in whiche is a lyuynge soule, that
101tho haue to ete; and it was doon so.
102And God seiȝ alle thingis whiche he
103made, and tho weren ful goode. And
104the euentid and morwetid was maad, the
105sixte day.
106

chapter, verse II,1G

107

CAP. II.

108
109    Therfor heuenes and erthe ben maad
110perfit, and al the ournement of tho. And
111God fillide in the seuenthe dai his werk
112which he made; and he restide in the
113seuenthe dai fro al his werk which he
114hadde maad; and he blesside the seuenthe
115dai, and halewide it; for in that dai God
116ceesside of al his werk which he made of
117nouȝt, that he schulde make. These
118ben the generaciouns of heuene and of
119erthe, in the day wherynne the Lord God
120made heuene and erthe, and ech litil tre
121of erthe bifore that it sprong out in erthe;
122and he made ech erbe of the feeld bifore
123that it buriownede. For the Lord God
124had not reyned on erthe, and no man
125was that wrouȝte erthe; but a welle
126stiede out of the erthe, and moistide al
127the hiȝere part of erthe. Therfor the
128Lord God formede man of the sliym of
129erthe, and brethide in to his face the
130brething of lijf; and man was maad in to
131a lyuynge soule. Forsothe the Lord God
132plauntide at the bigynnyng paradis of
133likyng, wherynne he settide man whom
134he hadde formed. And the Lord God
135brouȝte forth of the erthe ech tre fair in
136siȝt, and swete to ete; also he brouȝte forth
137the tre of lijf in the middis of paradis,
138and the tre of kunnyng of good and of
139yuel. And a ryuer ȝede out fro the place
140of likyng to moyste paradis, which ryuer
141is departid fro thennus in to foure heedis.
142The name of the o ryuer is Fyson, thilke
143it is that cumpassith al the lond of Euilath,
144where gold cometh forth, and the
145gold of that lond is the beste, and there is
146foundun delium , that is, a tree of spicerie ,
147and the stoon onychyn; and the name
148to the secounde ryuer is Gyon, thilke it
149is that cumpassith al the loond of Ethiopie;
150forsothe the name of the thridde
151ryuer is Tigris, thilke goith aȝens Assiriens;
152sotheli the fourthe ryuer is thilke
153Eufrates. Therfor the Lord God took
154man, and settide hym in paradis of likyng,
155that he schulde worche and kepe it.
156And God comaundide to hym and seide,
157Ete thou of ech tre of paradis; forsothe
158ete thou not of the tre of kunnyng of good
159and of yuel; for in what euere dai thou
160schalt ete thereof, thou schalt die bi deeth.
161And the Lord God seide, It is not good
162that a man be aloone, make we to hym
163an help lijk to hym silf. Therfor
164whanne alle lyuynge beestis of erthe, and
165alle the volatils of heuene weren formed
166of erthe, the Lord God brouȝte tho to
167Adam, that he schulde se what he schulde
168clepe tho; for al thing that Adam clepide
169of lyuynge soule, thilke is the name therof.

chapter, verse II,20G

170And Adam clepide bi her names alle lyuynge
171thingis, and alle volatils, and alle
172vnresonable beestis of erthe. Forsothe to
173Adam was not foundun an helpere lijk
174hym. Therfore the Lord God sente sleep
175in to Adam, and whanne he slepte, God
176took oon of hise ribbis, and fillide fleisch
177for it. And the Lord God bildide the rib
178which he hadde take fro Adam in to a
179womman, and brouȝte hir to Adam. And
180Adam seide, This is now a boon of my
181boonys, and fleisch of my fleisch; this
182schal be clepid virago, for she is takun
183of man. Wherfor a man schal forsake
184fadir and modir, and schal cleue to his
185wijf, and thei schulen be tweyne in o
186fleisch. Forsothe euer eithir was nakid,
187that is, Adam and his wijf, and thei
188weren not aschamed.
189

chapter, verse III,1G

190

CAP III.

191
192    But and the serpent was feller than alle
193lyuynge beestis of erthe, whiche the Lord
194God hadde maad. Which serpent seide
195to the womman, Why comaundide God to
196ȝou, that ȝe schulden not ete of ech tre of
197paradis? To whom the womman answerde,
198We eten of the fruyt of trees that ben in
199paradis; sothely God comaundide to vs,
200that we schulden not ete of the fruyt of
201the tre, which is in the myddis of paradijs,
202and that we schulden not touche it,
203lest perauenture we dien. Forsothe the
204serpent seide to the womman, Ȝe schulen
205not die bi deeth; for whi God woot that
206in what euere dai ȝe schulen ete therof,
207ȝoure iȝen schulen be opened, and ȝe schulen
208be as Goddis, knowynge good and yuel.
209Therfor the womman seiȝ that the tre was
210good, and swete to ete, and fair to the
211iȝen, and delitable in biholdyng; and sche
212took of the fruyt therof, and eet, and ȝaf
213to hir hosebonde, and he eet. And the
214iȝen of bothe weren openid; and whanne
215thei knewen that thei weren nakid, thei
216sewiden the leeues of a fige tre, and maden
217brechis to hem silf. And whanne thei
218herden the vois of the Lord God goynge
219in paradijs at the wynd after myddai,
220Adam and his wijf hidden hem fro the
221face of the Lord God in the middis of the
222tre of paradijs. And the Lord God
223clepide Adam, and seide to hym, Where
224art thou? And Adam seide, Y herde thi
225vois in paradijs, and Y drede, for Y was
226nakid, and Y hidde me. To whom the
227Lord seide, Who forsothe schewide to
228thee that thou were nakid, no but for
229thou hast ete of the tre of which Y comaundide
230to thee that thou schuldist not
231ete? And Adam seide, The womman
232which thou ȝauest felowe to me, ȝaf me of
233the tre, and Y eet. And the Lord seide to
234the womman, Whi didist thou this thing?
235Which answerde, The serpent disseyued
236me, and Y eet. And the Lord God seide
237to the serpent, For thou didist this, thou
238schalt be cursid among alle lyuynge thingis
239and vnresonable beestis of erthe; thou
240schalt go on thi brest, and thou schalt ete
241erthe in alle daies of thi liif; Y schal
242sette enemytees bitwixe thee and the womman,
243and bitwixe thi seed and hir seed;
244sche schal breke thin heed, and thou schalt
245sette aspies to hir heele. Also God seide
246to the womman, Y schal multiplie thi
247wretchidnessis and thi conseyuyngis; in
248sorewe thou schalt bere thi children; and
249thou schalt be vndur power of the hosebonde,
250and he schal be lord of thee. Sothely
251God seyde to Adam, For thou herdist the
252voys of thi wijf, and hast ete of the tree,
253of which Y comaundide to thee that thou
254schuldist not ete, the erthe schal be cursid
255in thi werk; in traueylis thou schalt ete
256therof in alle daies of thi lijf; it schal
257brynge forth thornes and breris to thee,
258and thou schalt ete eerbis of the erthe; in
259swoot of thi cheer thou schalt ete thi
260breed, til thou turne aȝen in to the erthe
261of which thou art takun; for thou art
262dust, and thou schalt turne aȝen in to dust.

chapter, verse III,20G

263And Adam clepide the name of his wijf
264Eue, for sche was the moder of alle men
265lyuynge. And the Lord God made cootis
266of skynnys to Adam and Eue his wijf,
267and clothide hem; and seide, Lo! Adam
268is maad as oon of vs, and knowith good
269and yuel; now therfore se ȝe , lest perauenture
270he putte his hond, and take of
271the tre of lijf, and ete, and lyue with
272outen ende. And the Lord God sente
273hym out of paradijs of likyng, that he
274schulde worche the erthe, of which he was
275takun. And God castide out Adam, and
276settide bifore paradis of lykyng cherubyn,
277and a swerd of flawme and turnynge
278aboute to kepe the weie of the tre
279of lijf.

chapter, verse VI,1G

280

CAP. VI.

281
282    Forsothe Noe whanne he was of fyue
283hundrid ȝeer gendride Sem, Cham, and Jafeth.
284And whanne men bigunnen to be
285multiplied on erthe, and hadden gendrid
286douȝtris, the sones of God seiȝen the douȝtris
287of men that thei weren faire, and
288token wyues to hem of alle whiche thei
289hadden chose. And God seide, My spirit
290schal not dwelle in man with outen ende,
291for he is fleisch; and the daies of hym
292schulen be an hundrid and twenti ȝeer.
293Sotheli giauntis weren on erthe in tho
294daies, forsothe aftir that the sones of God
295entriden to the douȝtris of men, and tho
296douȝtris gendriden; these weren myȝti of
297the world and famouse men. Sotheli God
298seiȝ that myche malice of men was in
299erthe, and that al the thouȝt of herte was
300ententif to yuel in al tyme, and repentide
301him that he hadde maad man in erthe;
302and God was war bifore aȝens tyme to
303comyng, and was touchid with sorewe of
304herte with ynne; and seide, Y schal do
305awei man, whom Y made of nouȝt, fro the
306face of the erthe, fro man til to lyuynge
307thingis, fro crepynge beeste til to the
308briddis of heuene; for it repentith me
309that Y made hem. Forsothe Noe foond
310grace bifore the Lord. These ben the generaciouns
311of Noe. Noe was a iust man
312and perfit in hise generaciouns; Noe ȝede
313with God, and gendride thre sones, Sem,
314Cam, and Jafeth. Forsothe the erthe was
315corrupt bifore God, and was fillid with
316wickidnes. And whanne God seiȝ, that
317the erthe was corrupt, for ech fleisch
318ether man hadde corrupt his weie on
319erthe, he seide to Noe, The ende of al
320fleisch is comen bifore me; the erthe is
321fillid with wickidnesse of the face of hem,
322and Y schal distrye hem with the erthe.
323Make thou to thee a schip of trees hewun
324and planed; thou schalt make dwellynge
325placis in the schip, and thou schalt anoynte
326it with pitche with ynne and with outforth.
327And so thou schalt make it. The
328lengthe of the schip schal be of thre hundrid
329cubitis, the brede schal be of fifti
330cubitis, and the hiȝnesse therof schal be
331of thretti cubitis. Thou schalt make a
332wyndow in the schip, and thou schalt
333ende the hiȝnesse therof in a cubite; sotheli
334thou schalt sette the dore of the
335schip in the side binethe; thou shalt make
336soleris and placis of thre chaumbris in the
337schip. Lo! Y schal brynge watris of diluuye
338ether greet flood on erthe, and
339Y schal sle ech fleisch in which is the spirit
340of lijf vndir heuene, and alle thingis
341that ben in erthe, schulen be wastid. And
342Y schal sette my couenaunt of pees with
343thee; and thou schalt entre in to the
344schip, and thy sones, and thi wijf, and the
345wiues of thi sones schulen entre with thee.
346And of alle lyuynge beestis of al fleisch
347thou schalt brynge in to the schip tweyne
348and tweyne, of male kynde and female,
349that thei lyue with thee;

chapter, verse VI,20G

350of briddis bi her
351kynde, and of werk beestis in her kynde,
352and of ech crepynge beeste of erthe, by
353her kynde; tweyne and tweyne of alle
354schulen entre with thee, that thei moun
355lyue. Therfore thou schalt take with thee
356of alle metis that moun be etun, and thou
357schalt bere to gidre at thee, and tho schulen
358be as well to thee as to the beestis in to
359mete. Therfor Noe dide alle thingis whiche
360God comaundide to hym.
361

chapter, verse VII,1G

362

CAP. VII.

363
364    Also the Lord seide to Noe, Entre thou
365and al thin hous in to the schip, for Y
366seiȝ thee iust bifore me in this generacioun.
367Of alle clene lyuynge beestis thou
368schalt take bi seuene and bi seuene, male
369and female; forsothe of vnclene lyuynge
370beestis thou schalt take bi tweyne and bi
371tweyne, male and female; but also of volatils
372of heuene thou schalt take, be seuene
373and bi seuene, male and female, that her
374seed be saued on the face of al erthe. For
375ȝit and aftir seuene daies Y schal reyne on
376erthe fourti daies and fourti nyȝtis, and Y
377schal do awey al substaunce which Y made,
378fro the face of erthe. Therfor Noe dide
379alle thingis whiche the Lord comaundide
380to hym. And he was of sixe hundrid
381ȝeer, whanne the watris of the greet flood
382flowiden on erthe. And Noe entride in
383to the schip, and hise sones, and hise wijf,
384and the wyues of his sones, entriden with
385him for the watris of the greet flood. And
386of lyuynge beestis clene and vnclene, and
387of briddis of heuene, and of ech beeste
388which is moued on erthe, bi tweyne and
389bi tweyne, male and female entriden to
390Noe in to the schip, as the Lord comaundide
391to Noe. And whanne seuene
392daies hadden passid, the watris of the
393greet flood flowiden on erthe. In the sixe
394hundrid ȝeer of the lijf of Noe, in the
395secunde moneth, in the seuententhe dai of
396the moneth, alle the wellis of the greet see
397weren brokun, and the wyndowis of heuene
398weren opened, and reyn was maad
399on erthe fourti daies and fourti nyȝtis. In
400the ende of that dai Noe entride, and Sem,
401Cham, and Japheth, hise sones, his wijf,
402and the wyues of hise sones, entriden with
403hem into the schip. Thei entriden, and
404ech beeste bi his kynde, and alle werk
405beestis in her kynde, and ech beeste which
406is moued on erthe in his kynde, and ech
407volatil bi his kynde; alle briddis and alle
408volatils entriden to Noe in to the schip,
409bi tweyne and bi tweyne of ech fleisch in
410whiche the spirit of lijf was. And tho
411that entriden, entriden male and female of
412ech fleisch, as God comaundide to hym.
413And the Lord encloside hym fro with outforth.
414And the greet flood was maad
415fourti daies and fourti niȝtis on erthe, and
416the watris weren multiplied, and reiseden
417the schip on hiȝ fro erthe. The watris
418flowiden greetli, and filliden alle thingis in
419the face of erthe. Forsothe the schip was
420borun on the watris. And the watris
421hadden maistrie greetli on erthe, and alle
422hiȝe hillis vndur alle heuene weren hilid;

chapter, verse VII,20G

423the watyr was hiȝere bi fiftene cubitis ouer
424the hilis whiche it hilide. And ech fleisch
425was wastid that was moued on erthe, of
426briddis, of lyuynge beestis, of vnresonable
427beestis, and of alle reptilis that crepen on
428erthe. Alle men, and alle thingis in whiche
429the brething of lijf was in erthe, weren
430deed. And God dide awei al substaunce
431that was on erthe, fro man til to beeste,
432as wel a crepynge beeste as the briddis of
433heuene; and tho weren doon awei fro
434erthe. Forsothe Noe dwellide aloone, and
435thei that weren with hym in the schip.
436And the watris of the greet flood ouereȝeden
437the erthe an hundrid and fifti daies.
438

chapter, verse VIII,1G

439

CAP. VIII.

440
441    Forsothe the Lord hadde mynde of Noe,
442and of alle lyuynge beestis, and of alle
443werk beestis, that weren with hym in the
444schip; and brouȝte a wynd on the erthe.
445And watris weren decreessid, and the
446wellis of the see weren closid, and the
447wyndowis of heuene weren closid, and
448reynes of heuene weren ceessid. And watrys
449turneden aȝen fro erthe, and ȝeden
450aȝen, and bigunnen to be decreessid aftir
451an hundrid and fifti daies. And the schip
452restide in the seuenthe monthe, in the seuene
453and twentithe dai of the monthe, on
454the hillis of Armenye. And sotheli the
455watrys ȝeden and decresiden til to the
456tenthe monethe, for in the tenthe monethe,
457in the firste dai of the monethe, the coppis
458of hillis apperiden. And whanne fourti
459daies weren passid, Noe openyde the wyndow
460of the schip which he hadde maad,
461and sente out a crowe, which ȝede out,
462and turnede not aȝen til the watris weren
463dried on erthe. Also Noe sente out a culuer
464aftir hym, to se if the watris hadden
465ceessid thanne on the face of erthe; and
466whanne the culuer foond not where hir
467foot schulde reste, sche turnede aȝen to
468hym in to the schip, for the watris weren
469on al erthe; and Noe helde forth his
470hoond, and brouȝte the culuer takun in to
471the schip. Sotheli whanne othere seuene
472daies weren abedun aftirward, eft he leet
473out a culuer fro the schip; and sche cam
474to hym at euentid, and bare in hir mouth
475a braunche of olyue tre with greene leeuys.
476Therfor Noe vndirstood that the watris
477hadden ceessid on erthe; and neuerthelesse
478he abood seuene othere daies, and
479sente out a culuer, which turnede no more
480aȝen to hym. Therfor in the sixe hundrid
481and o ȝeer of the lijf of Noe, in the firste
482monethe, in the firste day of the monethe,
483watris weren decreessid on erthe; and Noe
484openede the roof of the schip, and bihelde
485and seiȝ that the face of the erthe was
486dried. In the secunde monethe, in the
487seuene and twentithe dai of the monethe,
488the erthe was maad drie. Sotheli the
489Lord spak to Noe; and seide, Go out of
490the schip, thou, and thi wijf, thi sones,
491and the wyues of thi sones with thee; and
492lede out with thee alle lyuynge beestis
493that ben at thee of ech fleisch, as wel in
494volatilis as in vnresonable beestis, and alle
495reptils that crepen on erthe; and entre
496ȝe on the erthe, encreesse ȝe, and be ȝe
497multiplied on erthe. Therfor Noe ȝede
498out, and hise sones, and his wijf, and the
499wyues of hise sones with hym; but also
500alle lyuynge beestis, and werk beestis, and
501reptils that crepen on erthe, bi her kynde,
502ȝeden out of the schip.

chapter, verse VIII,20G

503Forsothe Noe
504bildide an auter to the Lord, and he took
505of alle clene beestis and briddis, and offride
506brent sacrifices on the auter. And the
507Lord sauerede the odour of swetnesse, and
508seide to hym, Y schal no more curse the
509erthe for men, for the wit and thouȝt of
510mannus herte ben redi in to yuel fro ȝong
511wexynge age; therfor Y schal no more
512smyte ech lyuynge soule as Y dide; in
513alle the daies of erthe, seed and ripe
514corn, coold and heete, somer and wyntir,
515nyȝt and dai, shulen not reste.
516

chapter, verse IX,1G

517

CAP. IX.

518
519    And God blisside Noe and hise sones,
520and seide to hem, Encreesse ȝe, and be ȝe
521multiplied, and fille ȝe the erthe; and
522ȝoure drede and tremblyng be on alle vnresonable
523beestis of erthe, and on alle
524briddis on heuene, with alle thingis that
525ben moued in erthe; alle fischis of the
526see ben ȝouun to ȝoure hond. And al
527thing which is moued and lyueth schal be
528to ȝou in to mete; Y have ȝoue to ȝou
529alle thingis as greene wortis, outakun that
530ȝe schulen not ete fleisch with blood, for
531Y schal seke the blood of ȝoure lyues of
532the hoond of alle vnresonable beestis and
533of the hoond of man, of the hoond of man
534and of hys brother Y schal seke the lijf
535of man. Who euere schedith out mannus
536blood, his blood schal be sched; for man
537is maad to the ymage of God. Forsothe
538encreesse ȝe, and be ȝe multiplied,
539and entre ȝe on erthe, and fille ȝe it,
540Also the Lord seide thes thingis to Noe,
541and to his sones with him, Lo! Y schal
542make my couenaunt with ȝou, and with
543ȝour seed after ȝou, and to ech lyuynge
544soule which is with ȝou, as wel in
545briddis as in werk beestis and smale
546beestis of erthe, and to alle thingis that
547ȝeden out of the schip, and to alle vnresonable
548beestis of erthe. Y schal make
549my couenaunt with ȝou, and ech fleisch
550schal no more be slayn of the watris of
551the greet flood, nethir the greet flood distriynge
552al erthe schal be more. And God
553seide, This is the signe of boond of pees,
554which Y ȝyue bitwixe me and you, and to
555ech lyuynge soule which is with you, in
556to euerlastynge generaciouns. Y schal
557sette my bowe in the cloudis, and it schal
558be a signe of boond of pees bitwixe me
559and erthe; and whanne Y schal hile
560heuene with cloudis, my bowe schal appere
561in the cloudis, and Y schal haue
562mynde of my boond of pees which Y made
563with ȝou, and with ech soule lyuynge, that
564nurschith fleisch; and the watris of the
565greet flood schulen no more be to do awey
566al fleish. And my bowe schal be in the
567cloudis, and Y schal se it, and Y schal haue
568mynde of euerlastynge boond of pees,
569which is maad bitwixe God and man,
570and ech soul lyuynge of al fleisch which
571is on erthe. And God seide to Noe, This
572schal be a signe of boond of pees, which
573Y made bitwixe me and ech fleisch on
574erthe. Therfore thei that ȝeden out of
575the schip weren Noe, Sem, Cham, and
576Japheth; forsothe Cham, thilke is the fadir
577of Chanaan. These thre weren the sones
578of Noe, and al the kynde of men was
579sowun of hem on al erthe.

chapter, verse IX,20G

580And Noe, an
581erthe tiliere, bigan to tile the erthe, and
582he plauntide a viner, and he drank wyn,
583and was drunkun; and he was nakid,
584and lay in his tabernacle. And whanne
585Cham, the fadir of Chanaan, hadde seien
586this thing, that is, that the schameful
587membris of his fadir weren maad nakid,
588he telde to hise tweye britheren with out
589forth. And sotheli Sem and Jafeth puttiden
590a mentil on her schuldris, and thei
591ȝeden bacward, and hileden the schameful
592membris of her fadir, and her faces weren
593turned awei, and thei sien not the priuy
594membris of her fadir. And forsothe Noe
595wakide of the wyn, and whanne he hadde
596lerned what thingis his lesse sone hadde
597do to hym, he seide, Cursid be the child
598Canaan, he schal be seruaunt of seruauntis
599to hise britheren. And Noe seide, Blessid
600be the Lord God of Sem, and Chanaan be
601the seruaunt to Sem; God alarge Jafeth,
602and dwelle in the tabernaclis of Sem, and
603Chanaan be seruaunt of hym. Forsothe
604Noe lyuede aftir the greet flood thre hundrid
605and fifti ȝeer; and alle the daies of
606hym weren fillid nyn hundrid and fifty
607ȝeer, and he was deed.

chapter, verse XII,1G

608

CAP. XII.

609
610    Forsothe the Lord seide to Abram, Go
611thou out of thi lond, and of thi kynrede,
612and of the hous of thi fadir, and come
613thou in to the lond which Y schal schewe
614to thee; and Y schal make thee in to a
615greet folk, and Y schal blisse thee, and Y
616schal magnyfie thi name, and thou schalt
617be blessid; Y schal blesse hem that blessen
618thee, and Y schal curse hem that cursen
619thee; and alle kynredis of erthe schulen
620be blessid in thee. And so Abram ȝede
621out, as the Lord comaundide hym, and
622Loth ȝede with hym. Abram was of
623thre scoor ȝeer and fiftene whanne he
624ȝede out of Aran. And he took Saray,
625his wijf, and Loth, the sone of his brother,
626and al the substaunce which thei hadden
627in possessioun, and the men whiche thei
628hadden bigete in Aran; and thei ȝeden
629out that thei schulen go in to the loond of
630Chanaan. And whanne they camen in to
631it, Abram passide thorou the lond til to
632the place of Sichem, and til to the noble
633valey. Forsothe Chananei was thanne in
634the lond. Sotheli the Lord apperide to
635Abram, and seide to hym, Y schal ȝyue
636this lond to thi seed. And Abram bildide
637there an auter to the Lord, that apperide
638to hym. And fro thennus he passide forth
639to the hil Bethel, that was aȝens the eest,
640and settide there his tabernacle, hauynge
641Bethel fro the west, and Hay fro the eest.
642And he bildide also there an auter to
643the Lord, and inwardli clepide his name.
644And Abram ȝede goynge and goynge forth
645ouer to the south. Sotheli hungur was
646maad in the lond; and Abram ȝede doun
647in to Egipt, to be a pilgrime ther, for hungur
648hadde maistrie in the lond. And
649whanne he was nyȝ to entre in to Egipt,
650he seide to Saray, his wijf, Y knowe that
651thou art a fair womman, and that whanne
652Egipcians schulen se thee, thei schulen
653seie, it is his wijf, and thei schulen sle me,
654and schulen reserue thee. Therfor, Y biseche
655thee, seie thou, that thou art my
656sistir, that it be wel to me for thee, and
657that my lijf lyue for loue of thee. And
658so whanne Abram hadde entrid in to Egipt,
659Egipcians sien the womman that sche was
660ful fair; and the prynces telden to Farao,
661and preiseden hir anentis him; and the
662womman was takun vp in to the hous of
663Farao. Forsothe thei vsiden wel Abram
664for hir; and scheep, and oxun, and assis,
665and seruauntis, and seruauntessis, and sche
666assis, and camels weren to hym. Forsothe
667the Lord beet Farao and his hous with
668moste veniaunces, for Saray, the wijf of
669Abram. And Farao clepide Abram, and
670seide to hym, What is it that thou hast
671do to me? whi schewidist thou not to me,
672that sche was thi wijf? for what cause
673seidist thou, that sche was thi sister, that
674Y schulde take hir in to wife to me? Now
675therfor lo! thi wiif; take thou hir, and
676go.

chapter, verse XII,20G

677And Farao comaundide to men on
678Abram, and thei ledden forth hym, and
679his wijf, and alle thingis that he hadde.
680

chapter, verse XIII,1G

681

CAP. XIII.

682
683    Therfore Abram stiede fro Egipt, he,
684and his wijf, and alle thingis that he hadde;
685and Loth stiede with hym, to the south
686coost. Forsothe he was ful riche in possessyoun
687of siluer and of gold. And he
688turnede aȝen bi the weye in which he cam
689fro the south in to Bethel, til to the
690place, in which bifore he hadde sett tabernacle,
691bitwixe Bethel and Hay, in the
692place of the auter which he made bifore,
693and inwardli clepide there the name of
694the Lord. But also flockis of scheep, and
695droues of oxun, and tabernaclis weren to
696Loth, that was with Abram; and the lond
697miȝte not take hem, that thei schulden
698dwelle to gidre, for the catel of hem was
699myche, and thei miȝten not dwelle in
700comyn. Wherfor also strijf was maad bitwixe
701the keperis of flockis of Abram and
702of Loth. Forsothe Chananei and Feresei
703dwelliden in that lond in that tyme. Therfor
704Abram seide to Loth, Y biseche, that
705no strijf be bitwixe me and thee, and bitwixe
706my scheepherdis and thi scheepherdis;
707for we ben britheren. Lo! al the
708lond is bifore thee, Y biseche, departe thou
709fro me; if thou go to the left side, Y schal
710holde the riȝt side; if thou chese the
711riȝt side, Y schal go to the left side. And
712so Loth reiside hise iȝen, and seiȝ aboute
713al the cuntrei of Jordan, which was al
714moistid, bifor that the Lord distriede Sodom
715and Gomorre, as paradis of the Lord,
716and as Egipt, as men comen in to Segor.
717And Loth chees to him the cuntre aboute
718Jordan, and departide fro the eest; and
719thei weren departid ech fro his brother.
720Abram dwellide in the lond of Chanaan;
721sotheli Loth dwellide in townes aboute
722Jordan, and wonide in Sodom. Forsothe
723men of Sodom weren ful wickid, and synneris
724greetly bifore the Lord. And the
725Lord seide to Abram, aftir that Loth was
726departid fro him, Reise thin iȝen forth
727riȝt, and se fro the place in which thou
728art now, to the north and south, to the
729eest and west; Y schal ȝyue al the lond
730which thou seest to thee and to thi seed,
731til in to with outen ende. And Y schal
732make thi seed as the dust of erthe; if
733ony man may noumbre the dust of erthe,
734also he schal mowe noumbre thi seed.
735Therfor rise thou, and passe thorou the
736lond in his lengthe and breede, for Y schal
737ȝyue it to thee. Therfor Abram, mouynge
738his tabernacle, cam and dwellide bisidis
739the valei of Mambre, which is in Ebron;
740and he bildide there an auter to the
741Lord.
742

chapter, verse XIV,1G

743

CAP. XIV.

744
745    Forsothe it was don in that tyme, that
746Amrafel, kyng of Sennaar, and Ariok,
747kyng of Ponte, and Chodorlaomor, kyng of
748Elemytis, and Tadal, kyng of folkis, bigunnen
749batel aȝens Bara, kyng of Sodom, and
750aȝens Bersa, kyng of Gomorre, and aȝens
751Sennaar, kyng of Adama, and aȝens Semeber,
752kyng of Seboym, and aȝens the
753kyng of Bale; thilke Bale is Segor. Alle
754these camen togidre in to the valey of
755wode, which is now the see of salt. For
756in twelue ȝeer thei seruyden Chodorlaomor,
757and in the threttenthe ȝeer thei departiden
758fro hym. Therfor Chodorlaomor cam in
759the fourtenthe ȝeer, and kyngis that weren
760with him, and thei han smyte Rafaym in
761Astaroth Carnaym, and Susym with hem,
762and Emym in Sabe Cariathaym, and Choreis
763in the hillis of Seir, til to the feldi
764placis of Faran, which is in wildirnesse.
765And thei turneden aȝen, and camen til to
766the welle Mesphath; thilke is Cades. And
767thei han smyte al the cuntre of men of
768Amalec, and Amorrei, that dwellide in Asason
769Thamar. And the kyng of Sodom,
770and the king of Gomorre, and the kyng of
771Adama, and the kyng of Seboym, also and
772the kyng of Bale, which is Segor, ȝeden
773out, and dressiden scheltrun aȝens hem in
774the valei of wode, that is, aȝens Chodorlaomor,
775kyng of Elamytis, and Thadal, kyng
776of folkis, and Amrafel, kyng of Sennaar,
777and Ariok, kyng of Ponte; foure kyngis
778aȝens fyue. Forsothe the valey of the
779wode hadde many pittis of pitche; and
780so the kyng of Sodom and the kyng of
781Gomorre turneden the backis, and felden
782doun there; and thei that leften fledden
783to the hil. Sotheli thei token awei al the
784catel of Sodom and Gomorre, and alle
785thingis that perteynen to mete, and ȝeden
786awei; also and thei token awey Loth and
787his catel, the sone of the brother of Abram,
788which Loth dwellide in Sodom. And,
789lo! oon that ascapide, telde to Abram
790Ebrew, that dwellide in the valei of
791Mambre of Amorrei, brother of Escol, and
792brother of Aner; for these maden couenaunt
793of pees with Abram. And whanne
794Abram hadde herd this thing, that is, Loth
795his brothir takun, he noumbride his borun
796seruauntis maad redy thre hundrid and
797eiȝtene, and pursuede hem til to Dan.
798And whanne his felowis weren departid,
799he felde on hem in the niȝt, and he smoot
800hem, and pursuede hem til to Hoba, and
801Fenyce, which is at the left side of Damask.
802And he brouȝte aȝen al the catel,
803and Loth his brother with his catel, also
804wymmen and the puple. Sotheli the kyng
805of Sodom ȝede out in to the metyng of
806him, after that he turnede aȝen fro sleyng
807Of Chodorlaomor, and of kyngis that weren
808with him, in the valei of Sabe, which is
809the valey of the kyng. And sotheli Melchisedech,
810kyng of Salem, brouȝte forth
811breed and wyn, for he was the preest of
812hiȝeste God;

chapter, verse XIV,20G

813and he blesside Abram, and
814seide, Blessid be Abram of hiȝ God, that
815made heuene and erthe of nouȝt, and blessid
816be hiȝ God, bi whom defendynge, enemyes
817ben bitakun in thin hondis. And Abram
818ȝaf tithis of alle thingis to hym.

chapter, verse XXII,1G

819

CAP. XXII.

820
821    And aftir that these thingis weren don,
822God assaiede Abraham, and seide to hym,
823Abraham! Abraham! He answerde, Y am
824present. God seide to him, Take thi sone
825oon gendrid, whom thou louest, Ysaac;
826and go into the lond of visioun, and offre
827thou hym there in to brent sacrifice, on
828oon of the hillis whiche Y schal schewe to
829thee. Therfor Abraham roos bi niȝt, and
830sadlide his asse, and ledde with hym twey
831ȝonge men, and Ysaac his sone; and whanne
832he hadde hewe trees in to brent sacrifice,
833he ȝede to the place which God hadde comaundid
834to him. Forsothe in the thridde
835dai he reiside hise iȝen, and seiȝ a place
836afer; and he seide to hise children, Abide
837ȝe here with the asse, Y and the child
838schulen go thidur; and aftir that we han
839worschipid, we schulen turne aȝen to ȝou.
840And he took the trees of brent sacrifice,
841and puttide on Ysaac his sone; forsothe
842he bar fier, and a swerd in hise hondis.
843And whanne thei tweyne ȝeden togidere,
844Isaac seide to his fadir, My fadir! And
845he answerde, What wolt thou, sone? He
846seide, Lo! fier and trees, where is the
847beeste of brent sacrifice? Abraham seide,
848My sone, God schal puruey to hym the
849beeste of brent sacrifice. Therfor thei
850ȝeden togidere, and camen to the place
851whiche God hadde schewid to hym, in
852which place Abraham bildide an auter,
853and dresside trees aboue; and whanne he
854hadde bounde togidere Ysaac, his sone, he
855puttide Ysaac in the auter, on the heep
856of trees. And he helde forth his hond, and
857took the swerd to sacrifice his sone. And
858lo! an aungel of the Lord criede fro
859heuene, and seide, Abraham! Abraham!
860Which answerde, I am present. And the
861aungel seide to hym, Holde thou not forth
862thin honde on the child, nether do thou
863ony thing to him; now Y haue knowe
864that thou dredist God, and sparidist not
865thin oon gendrid sone for me. Abraham
866reiside hise iȝen, and he seiȝ bihynde his
867bak a ram cleuynge bi hornes among
868breris, which he took, and offride brent
869sacrifice for the sone. And he clepide
870the name of that place, The Lord seeth;
871wherfore it is seyd, til to dai, The Lord
872schal see in the hil. Forsothe the aungel
873of the Lord clepide Abraham the secounde
874tyme fro heuene, and seide, The Lord
875seith, Y haue swore bi my silf, for thou
876hast do this thing, and hast not sparid
877thin oon gendrid for me, Y schal blesse
878thee, and Y schal multiplie thi seed as the
879sterris of heuene, and as grauel which is
880in the brynk of the see; thi seed schal
881gete the ȝatis of hise enemyes; and alle
882the folkis of erthe schulen be blessid in thi
883seed, for thou obeiedist to my vois. Abraham
884turnede aȝen to hise children, and
885thei ȝeden to Bersabee togidere, and he
886dwellide there.

page XIII,1N

887

CAP. XIII.

888
889    And the puple ȝede forth fro Asseroth,
890whanne the tentis weren set in the deseert
891of Pharan. And there the Lord
892spak to Moises, and seide, Sende thou men
893that schulen biholde the lond of Canaan,
894which Y schal ȝyue to the sones of Israel,
895of ech lynage o man of the princes.
896Moises dide that that the Lord comaundide,
897and sente fro the deseert of Pharan
898princes, men of whiche these ben the
899names. Of the lynage of Ruben, Semmya,
900the sone of Zectur. Of the lynage of Symeon,
901Saphat, the sone of Hury. Of the
902lynage of Juda, Caleph, the sone of Jephone.
903Of the lynage of Isachar, Igal,
904the sone of Joseph. Of the lynage of Effraym,
905Osee, the sone of Nun. Of the
906lynage of Beniamyn, Phalti, the sone of
907Raphu. Of the lynage of Zabulon, Gediel,
908the sone of Sodi. Of the lynage of
909Joseph, of the gouernaunce of Manasses,
910Gaddi, the sone of Susy. Of the lynage
911of Dan, Amyel, the sone of Gemalli. Of
912the lynage of Aser, Sur, the sone of Mychael.
913Of the lynage of Neptalym, Nabdi,
914the sone of Napsi. Of the lynage of Gad,
915Guel, the sone of Machi. These ben the
916names of men, which Moises sente to biholde
917the lond of Canaan; and he clepide
918Osee, the sone of Nun, Josue. Therfor
919Moises sente hem to biholde the lond of
920Canaan, and seide to hem, Stie ȝe bi the
921south coost; and whanne ȝe comen to the
922hillis, biholde ȝe the lond, what mannermaner lond
923it is; and biholde ȝe the puple which is
924the dwellere therof, whether it is strong,
925ethir feble, whether thei ben fewe in
926noumbre, ether manye; whether that lond
927is good, ethir yuel; what maner citees ben,
928wallid, ether without wallis;

page XIII,20N

929whether the
930lond is fat, ether bareyn, whether it is
931ful of woodis, ethir without trees. Be ȝe
932coumfortid, and brynge ȝe to vs of the
933fruytis of that lond. Sotheli the tyme
934was, whanne grapis first ripe myȝten be
935etun thanne. And whanne thei hadden
936stied, thei aspieden the lond, fro the deseert
937of Syn til to Rohob, as men entryth
938to Emath. And thei stieden to
939the south, and camen in to Ebron,
940where Achyman, and Sisai, and Tholmai,
941the sones of Enach, weren; for Hebron
942was maad bi seuen ȝeer bifor Thamnys,
943the citee of Egipt. And thei ȝeden til to
944the stronde of clustre, and kittiden doun
945a sioun with his grape, which twei men
946baren in a barre; also thei token of
947pumgarnadis, and of the figis of that place
948which is clepid Nehelescol, that is, the
949stronde of grape, for the sones of Israel
950baren a clustre fro thennus. And the
951aspieris of the lond, whanne thei hadden
952cumpassid al the cuntrey, after fourti daies
953camen to Moises and Aaron, and to al the
954cumpany of the sones of Israel, in to the
955deseert of Pharan which is in Cades. And
956the aspieris spaken to hem, and schewiden
957the fruytis of the lond to al the multitude,
958and telden, and seiden, We camen
959to the lond, to which thou sentest vs,
960which lond treuli flowith with mylk and
961hony, as it may be knowun bi these
962fruytis; but it hath strongeste inhabiteris,
963and grete cytees, and wallid; we
964sien there the kynrede of Anachym;
965Amalech dwellith in the south; Ethei, and
966Jebusei, and Amorey dwellen in the hilli
967placis; forsothe Cananey dwellith bisidis
968the see, and bisidis the floodis of Jordan.
969Among thes thingis Caleph peeside the
970grutchyng of the puple, that was maad
971aȝens Moises, and seide, Stie we, and
972welde we the lond, for we moun gete it.
973Forsothe other aspieris , that weren with
974hym, seiden, We moun not stie to this
975puple, for it is strongere than we. And
976thei deprauyden the lond which thei hadden
977biholde, anentis the sones of Israel,
978and seiden, The lond which we cumpassiden
979deuourith hise dwelleris; the puple
980which we bihelden is of large stature;
981there we syen summe wondris aȝens kynde,
982of the sones of Enach, of the kynde of geauntis,
983to whiche we weren comparisound,
984and weren seien as locustis.
985

page XIV,1N

986

CAP. XIV.

987
988    Therfor al the cumpeny criede, and
989wepte in that nyȝt, and alle the sones of
990Israel grutchiden aȝens Moises and Aaron,
991and seiden, We wolden that we hadden
992be deed in Egipt, and not in this waast
993wildirnesse; we wolden that we perischen,
994and that the Lord lede vs not
995in to this lond, lest we fallen bi swerd,
996and oure wyues and fre children ben led
997prisoneris; whether it is not betere to
998turne aȝen in to Egipt? And thei seiden
999oon to another, Ordeyne we a duyk to vs,
1000and turne we aȝen in to Egipt. And
1001whanne this was herd, Moises and Aaron
1002felden lowe to erthe, bifor al the
1003multitude of the sones of Israel. And
1004sotheli Josue, the sone of Nun, and Caleph,
1005the sone of Jephone, whiche also cumpassiden
1006the lond, torenten her clothis,
1007and spaken to al the multitude of the
1008sones of Israel, The lond which we cumpassiden
1009is ful good; if the Lord is merciful
1010to vs, he schal lede vs in to it, and
1011schal ȝyue to vs the lond flowynge with
1012mylk and hony. Nyle ȝe be rebel aȝens
1013the Lord, nether drede ȝe the puple of this
1014lond, for we moun deuoure hem so as
1015breed; al her help passide awei fro hem,
1016the Lord is with vs, nyle ȝe drede. And
1017whanne al the multitude criede, and wolde
1018oppresse hem with stonys, the glorie of
1019the Lord apperide on the roof of the
1020boond of pees, while alle the sones of Israel
1021sien. And the Lord seide to Moises, Hou
1022long schal this puple bacbite me? Hou
1023longe schulen thei not bileue to me in alle
1024signes, whiche Y haue do bifor hem?
1025Therfor Y schal smyte hem with pestilence,
1026and Y schal waste hem ; forsothe
1027Y schal make thee prince on a greet
1028folk, and strongere than is this. And
1029Moises seide to the Lord, Egipcians here
1030not, fro whos myddil thou leddist out this
1031puple, and the dwelleris of this loond,
1032whiche herden that thou, Lord, art in
1033this puple, and art seyn face to face, and
1034that thi cloude defendith hem, and that
1035thou goist bifore hem in a pilere of cloude
1036bi dai, and in a piler of fier bi nyȝt, that
1037thou hast slayn so greet a multitude as o
1038man, and seie thei, He myȝte not brynge
1039this puple in to the lond for whiche he
1040swoor, therfor he killide hem in wildirnesse;
1041therfor the strengthe of the Lord
1042be magnified, as thou hast swore. And
1043Moises seide, Lord pacient, and of myche
1044mercy, doynge awei wickidnesse and trespassis,
1045and leeuynge no man vngilti,
1046which visitist the synnes of fadris in to
1047sones in to the thridde and fourthe generacioun,
1048Y biseche, forȝyue thou the synne
1049of this thi puple, aftir the greetnesse of thi
1050merci, as thou were merciful to men goynge
1051out of Egipt til to this place. And

page XIV,20N

1052the Lord seide, Y haue forȝouun to hem,
1053bi thi word. Y lyue; and the glorie of
1054the Lord schal be fillid in al erthe; netheles
1055alle men that sien my mageste,
1056and my signes, whiche Y dide in Egipt
1057and in the wildirnesse, and temptiden me
1058now bi ten sithis, and obeieden not to my
1059vois, schulen not se the lond for which Y
1060swore to her fadris, nethir ony of hem
1061that bacbitide me, schal se it. Y schal
1062lede my seruaunt Caleph, that was ful of
1063anothir spirit, and suede me, in to this
1064lond, which he cumpasside, and his seed
1065schal welde it. For Amalech and Cananei
1066dwellen in the valeis, to morewe moue
1067ȝe tentis, and turne ȝe aȝen in to wildirnesse
1068bi the weie of the reed see. And
1069the Lord spak to Moises and to Aaron,
1070and seide, Hou long grutchith this werste
1071multitude aȝens me? Y haue herd the
1072pleyntis of the sones of Israel. Therfor
1073seie thou to hem, Y lyue, seith the Lord;
1074as ȝe spaken while Y herde, so Y schal do
1075to ȝou; ȝoure careyns schulen ligge in
1076this wildirnesse. Alle ȝe that ben noumbrid,
1077fro twenti ȝeer and aboue, and grutchiden
1078aȝens me, schulen not entre in to the
1079lond, on which Y reiside myn hond, that
1080Y schulde make ȝou to dwelle outakun
1081Caleph, the sone of Jephone, and Josue,
1082the sone of Nun. Forsothe Y schal lede
1083in ȝoure litle children, of whiche ȝe seiden
1084that thei schulden be preyes ethir raueyns
1085to enemyes, that thei se the lond
1086which displeside ȝou. Forsothe ȝoure
1087careyns schulen ligge in the wildirnesse;
1088ȝoure sones schulen be walkeris aboute in
1089the deseert bi fourti ȝeer, and thei schulen
1090bere ȝoure fornycacioun, til the careyns of
1091the fadris ben wastid in the deseert, by
1092the noumbre of fourti daies, in whiche ȝe
1093bihelden the loond; a ȝeer schal be arettid
1094for a dai, and bi fourti ȝeer ȝe schulen
1095resseyue ȝoure wickidnesse, and ȝe schulen
1096knowe my veniaunce. For as Y spak, so
1097Y schal do to al this werste multitude,
1098that roos togidere aȝens me; it schal faile,
1099and schal die in this wildirnesse. Therfor
1100alle the men whyche Moises hadde sent to
1101see the lond, and whiche turniden aȝen,
1102and maden al the multitude to grutche
1103aȝens hym, and depraueden the lond, that
1104it was yuel, weren deed, and smytun in
1105the siȝt of the Lord. Sotheli Josue, the
1106sone of Nun, and Caleph, the sone of Jephone,
1107lyueden, of alle men that ȝeden to
1108se the lond. And Moises spak alle these
1109wordis to alle the sones of Israel, and the
1110puple mourenyde gretli.

page XIV,40N

1111And, lo! thei
1112riseden in the morewtid first, and stieden
1113in to the cop of the hil, and seiden, We
1114ben redi to stie to the place, of which the
1115Lord spak, for we synneden. To whiche
1116Moises seide, Whi passen ȝe the word of
1117the Lord, that schal not bifalle to ȝou in
1118to prosperite? Nyle ȝe stie, for the Lord
1119is not with ȝou, lest ȝe fallen bifor ȝoure
1120enemyes. Amalech and Cananei ben bifor
1121ȝou, bi the swerd of whiche ȝe schulen
1122falle, for ȝe nolden assente to the Lord,
1123nether the Lord schal be with ȝou. And
1124thei weren maad derk, and stieden in to
1125the cop of the hil; forsothe the ark of the
1126testament of the Lord and Moises ȝeden
1127not awey fro the tentis. And Amalech
1128cam doun, and Chananei, that dwelliden in
1129the hil, and he smoot hem, and kittide
1130doun, and pursuede hem til Horma.

page XVI,1N

1131

CAP. XVI.

1132
1133    Lo! forsothe Chore, the sone of Isuar,
1134sone of Caath, sone of Leuy, and Dathan
1135and Abiron, the sones of Heliab, and Hon,
1136the sone of Pheleph, of the sones of Ruben,
1137rysen aȝens Moises, and othere of
1138the sones of Israel, two hundryd men and
1139fifti, prynces of the synagoge, and whiche
1140weren clepid bi names in the tyme of
1141counsel. And whanne thei hadden stonde
1142aȝens Moises and Aaron, thei seiden, Suffice
1143it to ȝou, for al the multitude is of
1144hooly men, and the Lord is in hem; whi
1145ben ȝe reisid on the puple of the Lord?
1146And whanne Moises hadde herd this, he
1147felde lowe on the face. And he spak
1148to Chore, and to al the multitude; he
1149seide, Eerli the Lord schal make knowun
1150whiche perteynen to hym, and he schal
1151applie to hym hooli men; and thei whiche
1152he hath chose, schulen neiȝe to hym.
1153Therfor do ȝe this thing; ech man take
1154his cencere, thou Chore, and al thi counsel;
1155and to morewe whanne fier is takun
1156vp, putte ȝe encense aboue bifor the Lord,
1157and whom euer the Lord chesith, he schal
1158be hooli. Ȝe sones of Leuy ben myche
1159reisid. And eft Moises seide to Chore,
1160Ȝe sones of Leuy, here. Whether it is
1161litil to ȝou, that God of Israel departide
1162ȝou fro al the puple, and ioynede ȝou to
1163hym silf, that ȝe schulden serue hym in
1164the seruyce of tabernacle, and that ȝe
1165schulden stonde bifor the multitude of puple,
1166and schulden serue hym? Made he
1167therfor thee and alle thi bretheren the
1168sones of Leuy to neiȝ to hym silf, that ȝe
1169chalenge to ȝou also preesthod, and al thi
1170gaderyng togidere stonde aȝens the Lord?
1171For whi what is Aaron, that ȝe grutchen
1172aȝens hym? Therfor Moises sente to clepe
1173Dathan and Abiron, the sones of Heliab;
1174whiche answeriden, We comen not. Whethir
1175is it litil to thee, that thou leddist vs
1176out of the lond that flowide with mylk
1177and hony, to sle vs in the deseert, no but
1178also thou be lord of vs? Verili thou
1179hast brouȝt vs in to the lond that flowith
1180with streemys of mylk and hony, and
1181hast ȝoue to vs possessioun of feeldis, and
1182of vyneris; whethir also thou wolt putte
1183out oure iȝen? We comen not. And
1184Moises was wrooth greetli, and seide to
1185the Lord, Biholde thou not the sacrifices
1186of hem; thou wost that Y took neuere of
1187hem, ȝhe, a litil asse, nethir Y turmentide
1188ony of hem. And Moises seide to Chore,
1189Thou and al thi congregacioun stonde
1190asidis half bifor the Lord, and Aaron to
1191morewe bi hym silf. Take ȝe alle bi ȝou
1192silf ȝoure censeris, and putte ȝe encense
1193in tho, and offre ȝe to the Lord, tweyn
1194hundrid and fifti censeris; and Aaron
1195holde his censer. And whanne thei hadden
1196do this, while Moises and Aaron
1197stoden, and thei hadden gaderid al the
1198multitude to the dore of the tabernacle
1199aȝens hem, the glorie of the Lord apperide
1200to alle.

page XVI,20N

1201And the Lord spak to
1202Moises and Aaron, and seide, Be ȝe departid
1203fro the myddis of this congregacioun,
1204that Y leese hem sodeynli. Whiche
1205felden lowe on the face, and seiden,
1206Strongeste God of the spiritis of al fleisch,
1207whethir thin yre schal be fers aȝens alle
1208men, for o man synneth? And the Lord
1209seide to Moises, Comaunde thou to al the
1210puple, that it be departid fro the tabernaclis
1211of Chore, and of Dathan, and of
1212Abiron. And Moises roos, and ȝede to
1213Dathan and Abiron; and while the eldre
1214men of Israel sueden hym, he seide to the
1215cumpeny, Go ȝe awey fro the tabernaclis of
1216wickid men, and nyle ȝe touche tho thingis
1217that parteynen to hem, lest ȝe ben wlappid
1218in the synnes of hem. And whanne thei
1219hadden gon awei fro the tentis of hem
1220bi the cumpas, Dathan and Abiron ȝeden
1221out, and stoden in the entryng of her
1222tentis, with wyues, and fre children, and
1223al the multitude. And Moises seide, In
1224this ȝe schulen wite that the Lord sente
1225me, that Y schulde do alle thingis whiche
1226ȝe seen, and Y brouȝte not forth tho of
1227myn owne herte. If thei perischen bi customable
1228deeth of men, and wounde visite
1229hem, bi which also othere men ben wont
1230to be visitid, the Lord sente not me; but
1231if the Lord doith a newe thing, that the
1232erthe opene his mouth, and swolewe hem,
1233and alle thingis that perteynen to hem, and
1234thei goen doun quyke in to helle, ȝe schulen
1235wite that thei blasfemeden the Lord.
1236Therfor anoon as he cesside to speke, the
1237erthe was brokun vndur her feet, and the
1238erthe openyde his mouth, and deuowride
1239hem, with her tabernaclis, and al the
1240catel of hem; and thei ȝeden doun quike
1241in to helle, and weren hilid with erthe,
1242and perischiden fro the myddis of the
1243multitude. And sotheli al Israel that stood
1244bi the cumpas, fledde fro the cry of men
1245perischinge, and seide. Lest perauenture
1246the erthe swolewe also vs. But also fier
1247ȝede out fro the Lord, and killide tweyn
1248hundrid and fifti men that offriden encense.
1249And the Lord spak to Moises,
1250and seide, Comaunde thou to Eleasar, sone
1251of Aaron, preest, that he take the censeris
1252that liggen in the brennyng, and that
1253he schatere the fier hidur and thidur; for
1254tho ben halewid in the dethis of synneris;
1255and that he bringe forth tho in
1256to platis, and naile to the auter, for encense
1257is offrid in tho to the Lord, and tho
1258ben halewid, that the sonis of Israel se
1259tho for a signe and memorial. Therfor
1260Eleazar, preest, took the brasun senseris,
1261in whiche censeris thei whiche the brennyng
1262deuouride hadden offrid, and he
1263brouȝt forth tho in to platis, and nailide
1264to the auter;

page XVI,40N

1265that the sones of Israel
1266schulden haue thingis aftirward, bi whiche
1267thei schulden remembre, lest ony alien,
1268and which is not of the seed of Aaron,
1269neiȝ to offre encense to the Lord, lest he
1270suffre, as Chore sufferide, and al his multitude,
1271while the Lord spak to Moises. Forsothe
1272al the multitude of the sones of Israel
1273grutchide in the dai suynge aȝens
1274Moises and Aaron, and seide, Ȝe han slayn
1275the puple of the Lord. And whanne discensioun
1276roos, and noise encresside, Moises
1277and Aaron fledden to the tabernacle of
1278the boond of pees; and aftir that thei entriden
1279in to it, a cloude hilide the tabernacle,
1280and the glorie of the Lord apperide.
1281And the Lord seide to Moises and to
1282Aaron, Go ȝe awey fro the myddis of this
1283multitude, also now Y schal do awey hem.
1284And whanne thei laien in the erthe,
1285Moises seide to Aaron, Take the censer,
1286and whanne fyer is takun vp of the auter,
1287caste encense aboue, and go soone to
1288the puple, that thou preye for hem; for
1289now ire is gon out fro the Lord, and the
1290wounde is feers. And whanne Aaron
1291hadde do this, and hadde runne to the
1292myddis of the multitude, which the brennynge
1293wastid thanne, he offeride encense;
1294and he stood bytwixe the deed men and
1295lyuynge, and bisouȝte for the puple, and
1296the wounde ceesside. Sotheli thei that
1297weren smytun weren fourtene thousynde
1298of men and seuene hundrid, withouten
1299hem that perischiden in the discencioun
1300of Chore. And Aaron turnyde aȝen to
1301Moyses, to the dore of the tabernacle of
1302boond of pees, aftir that the perischyng
1303restide.
1304

page XVII,1N

1305

CAP. XVII.

1306
1307    And the Lord spak to Moises, and seide,
1308Speke thou to the sones of Israel, and take
1309thou ȝerdis, bi her kynredis, bi ech kynrede
1310o ȝeerde, take thou of alle the princes
1311of the lynagis twelue ȝerdis; and thou
1312schalt write the name of each lynage
1313aboue his ȝerde; forsothe the name of
1314Aaron schal be in the lynage of Leuy,
1315and o ȝerde schal conteyne alle the meynees
1316of hem. And thou schalt putte tho ȝerdis
1317in the tabernacle of boond of pees, bifor
1318the witnessyng, where Y schal speke to
1319thee; the ȝerde of hym schal buriowne,
1320whom Y schal chese of hem; and Y schal
1321refreyne fro me the playnyngis of the
1322sones of Israel, bi whiche thei grutchen
1323aȝens ȝou. And Moyses spak to the sones
1324of Israel; and alle princes ȝauen to hym
1325ȝerdis, bi alle lynagis; and the ȝerdis weren
1326twelue, without the ȝerde of Aaron. And
1327whanne Moises hadde put tho ȝerdis bifor
1328the Lord, in the tabernacle of witnessyng,
1329he ȝede aȝen in the day suynge, and
1330founde that the ȝerde of Aaron, in the
1331hows of Leuy, buriounnede; and whanne
1332knoppis weren greet, the blossoms hadden
1333broke out, whiche weren alargid in
1334leeuys, and weren fourmed in to alemaundis.
1335Therfor Moyses brouȝte forth
1336alle the ȝerdis fro the siȝt of the Lord to al
1337the sones of Israel; and thei sien, and resseyueden
1338ech his ȝerde. And the Lord
1339seide to Moises, Bere aȝen the ȝerde of
1340Aaron in to the tabernacle of witnessyng,
1341that it be kept there in to the signe of
1342the rebel sones of Israel, and that her
1343playntis reste fro me, lest thei dien. And
1344Moises dide, as the Lord comaundide. Forsothe
1345the sones of Israel seiden to Moises,
1346Lo! we ben wastid, alle we perischiden;
1347who euer neiȝeth to the tabernacle of the
1348Lord, he dieth; whethir we schulen be
1349doon awei alle til to deeth?