1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Apocalipsis, or reuelacioun, of Jhesu Crist, the whiche God ȝaf to him for to make opyn to his seruauntis, whiche thingis it bihoueth to be maad soone. And he signyfiede, sending bi his aungel to his seruaunt Joon, the whiche bar witnessing to the word of God, and witnessing of Jhesu Crist, in thes thingis, what euere thinges he siȝe. Blessid he that redith, and he that herith the wordis of this prophecie, and kepith tho thingis that ben writen in it; forsothe the tyme is nyȝ. Joon to seuen chirchis, that ben in Asye, grace to ȝou, and pees, of him that is, and that was, and that is to comynge; and of the seuen spiritis, that ben in the siȝt of his trone; and of Jhesu Crist, that is a feithful witnesse, the firste bigeten of deede men, and prince of kingis of erthe; the which louede vs, and waischide vs fro oure synnes in his blood, and made vs a kingdom, and prestes to God and to his fadir; to him glory and empire in to worldlis of worldlis. Amen. Lo! he cometh with clowdis, and ech iȝe shal see him, and thei that pungeden, or prickeden, him; and alle the kynredes, or lynages, of erthe shulen weile hem silf on him. Ȝhe, Amen! I am alpha and oo, the bigynnyng and endyng, seith the Lord God, that is, and that was, and that is to comynge, almiȝty. I, Joon, ȝoure brother, and parcener in tribulacioun, and kingdom, and pacience in Crist Jhesu, was in an yle, that is clepid Pathmos, for the word of God, and witnessyng of Jhesu. I was in spirit in the Sunday, and I herde aftir me a greet voys, as of a trumpe, seiynge, That thing that thou seest, wrijte in a book, and sende to the seuene chirchis that ben in Asye; to Epheso, to Smyrma, and Pergamo, and to Tyatira, and Sardo, and Philadelfia, and Loadicia. And I turnede, that I shulde see the voys that spake with me; and I turned siȝe seuene candilstickes of gold, and in the mydle of the seuene goldun candelstickis a liche to the sone of man, clothid with a long prestly clooth, and bifore gyrd at the teetis with a golden gyrdel. Sotheli the heed of him and heeres weren white, as whijt wulle, and as snow; and the iȝen of him as flaume of fijr; and hise feet lijke to drosse of gold, or latoun, as in a brennynge chymeney; and the voys of him as the voys of many watris. And he hadde in his riȝthond seuen sterres, and a swerd sharp on bothe sijdis wente out of his mouth; and his face shijneth as the sunne in his vertu. And whan I hadde seyn hym, I fel doun at his feet, as deed. And he puttide his riȝthond on me, seiynge, Nyle thou drede; I am the first and the last; and I am alyue, and I was deed; and lo! I am lyuynge in to worldlis of worldlis, and I haue the keyes of deeth and helle. Therfore wrijte thou whiche thinges thou hast seyn, and whiche ben, and whiche it bihoueth for to be don aftir thes thinges. The mysterie,or priuytee, of seuene sterris, whom thou siȝe in my riȝthalf, and the seuen golden candelstickes; the seuen sterres ben aungels of seuene chirchis, and the seuene candelstickes ben seuene chirches.
And to the aungel of the chirche of Efesus wrijte thou, Thes thinges seith he, that holdith seuen sterres in his riȝthalf, the which walkith in the mydle of seuen golden candelstickis. Y woot thi werkes, and trauel, and thi pacyence, and for thou mayst not suffre yuele men; and thou hast temptid, or asayed, hem that seien hem silf for to be apostles, and ben not, and thou hast founden hem liȝers; and thou hast pacience, and thou hast sustenyd for my name, and fayledist not. But Y haue aȝen thee a fewe thinges, that thou hast left thi first charite. And so be thou myndeful of whennus thou hast falle, and do penaunce, and do the firste werkes; if not, I come soone to thee, and shal moue thi candelsticke of his place, no but thou shalt do penaunce. But thou hast this good thing, for thou hatedist the dedes of Nycholaytis, or folewers of Nychol, the whiche and I hatede. He that hath eres, here, what the spirit shal seie to the chirchis. To the ouercomynge I shal ȝiue for to ete of the tree of lijf, that is in paradise of my God. And to the aungel of the chirche of Smyrma wrijte thou, Thes thinges seith the first and the last, that was deed, and lyueth. I woot thi tribulacioun, and thi pouert, but thou art riche; and thou art blasfemyd of hem, that seien hem silf for to be Jewes, and ben not, but thei ben the synagoge of Sathanas. Drede thou no thing of thes, whiche thou art to suffringe. Lo! the deuel is to sendinge summe of ȝou in to prisoun, that ȝe be temptid; and ȝe shulen haue tribulacioun ten dayes. Be thou feithful unto the deeth, and I shal ȝiue to thee a coroun of lijf. He that hath eres, here, what the spirit shal seie to the chirchis. He that shal ouercome, shal not be hirt of the secounde deeth. And to the aungel of the chirche of Pergame wrijte thou, Thes thinges seith he, that hath the swerd sharp on either sijde. I woot where thou dwellist, where the seete of Sathanas is; and thou holdist my name, and denyest not my feith. And in tho dayes was Antiphas, my feithful witnesse, that was slayn at ȝou, where Sathanas dwellith. But I haue aȝens thee fewe thinges; for thou hast there men holdinge the teching of Balaam, the which tauȝte Balac for to sende sclaundre bifor the sones of Yrael, that is to seie, for to ete of sacrificis of ydolis, and for to do fornycacioun; so and thou hast men holdinge the teching of Nycholaytis. Also do thou penaunce; if not, I shal soone come to thee, and I shal fiȝte with hem in swerd of my mouth. He that hath eres, here, what the spirit shal seie to the chirches. To the ouercomynge I shal ȝiue manna hid; or aungel mete, and I schal ȝiue to him a whijt stoon, and in the stoon a newe name writun, the which no man woot, no but he that takith. And to the aungel of the chirche of Tyatira wrijte thou, Thes thinges seith the sone of God, that hath iȝen as flaume of fijr, and his feet lijk to drosse of gold. I haue knowe thi werkes, and feith, and charite, and mynisterie, or seruice, and thi pacience, and thi laste werkes mo than the formere. But I haue aȝens thee a fewe thinges; for thou suffrist the womman Jezabel, the which seith hir for to be a prophetesse, for to teche and deceyue my seruauntes, for to do leccherie, and for to ete of thingis offrid to ydolis. And Y ȝaf to hir time, that she shulde do penaunce, and she wole not do penaunce of hir fornicacioun. Lo! I sende hir in to a bed, and thei that don leccherie with hir shulen be in moost tribulacioun, no but if thei do penaunce of her werkis. And I schal slee hir sones in deeth, and alle chirches shulen wite, for I am sekinge reynes and hertes; and I shal ȝiue to ech man aftir his werkes. Forsothe I seie to ȝou, and othere that ben at Tyatire, who euere han not this teching, and that knewen not the hiȝnesse of Sathanas, hou thei seien, I shal not sende on ȝou an other charge; netheles that that ȝe han, holdith til I come. And to him that shal ouercome, and shal kepe til in to the ende my werkes, I shal ȝiue power on folkes, and he shal gouerne hem in an yren ȝerd; and thei shulen be broke to gydere, as vessel of a potter, as and I receyuede of my fadir; and I shal ȝiue to him a morewe sterre. He that hath eres, here, what the spirit shal seie to the chirchis.
And to the aungel of the chirche of Sardis write thou, Thes thinges seith he, that hath the seuen spirites of God, and seuen sterres. I woot thi werkes, for thou hast name, that thou lyuest, and thou art deed. Be thou wakinge, and confirme othere thinges, that weren to diynge; forsothe I fynde not thi werkes ful bifore my God. Therfore haue thou in mynde, hou thou receyuedist, and herdist; and kepe, and do penaunce. Therfore if thou shalt not wake, I shal come to thee as a nyȝt theef, and thou shalt not wite in what our I shal come to thee. But thou hast a fewe names in Sardis, the whiche defouleden not her clothes; and thei shulen walke with me in whijte thingis, for thei ben worthi. He that shal ouercome, shal be clothid thus with whijte clothis; and I shal not do awey his name of the boke of lijf, and I shal knowleche his name bifore my fadir, and bifore his aungels. He that hath eres, here, what the spirit shal seie to chirchis. And to the aungel of the chirche of Philadelphe wrijte thou, Thes thinges seith the holy and trewe, that hath the keye of Dauid; the which openith, and no man closith, he closith, and no man openith. I woot thi werkis, and lo! I ȝaf bifore thee a dore openid, the which no man mai close; for thou hast a litel vertu, and hast kept my word, and denyest not my name. Lo! I shal ȝyue to thee of the synagoge of Sathanas, the whiche seien hem for to be Jewis, and ben not, but liȝen. Lo! I shal make hem, that thei come, and worschipe bifore thi feet; and thei shulen wite, for I louede thee, for thou keptist the word of my pacience. And I shal kepe thee fro the hour of temptacioun, that is to comynge in to al the world, for to tempte men dwellinge in erthe. Lo! I come soone; holde that that thou hast, that no man take thi coroun. And him that shal ouercome, I shal make a piler in the temple of my God, and he shal no more go out; and I shal write on him the name of my God, and the name of the citee of my God, of newe Jerusalem, that cometh doun fro heuene of my God, and my newe name. He that hath eres, here, what the spirit shal seie to chirchis. And to the aungel of the chirche of Laodice wrijte thou, Thes thinges seith Amen, that is verreyli, the feithful witnesse and trewe, the which is the bigynnyng of Goddis creature. I woot thi werkes, for nether thou art coold, nether hoot; I wolde that thou were coold, or hoot; but for thou art lew, and nether coold, nether hoot, I shal bigynne for to caste thee out of my mouth. For thou seist, That I am riche, and ful of goodis, and I haue nede of no man; and thou woost not, for thou art a wrecche, and wrechful, and pore, and blynd, and nakid. I counseile thee, for to bye of me gold fijrid, and proued, that thou be maad riche, and be clothid with whijt clothis, that the confusioun of thi nakidnesse appere not; and anoynte thin iȝen with a colirie, that is, medicynal for iȝen, maad of diuerse erbis, that thou se. I whom I loue, reproue, and chastise; therfore sue, or loue, and do penaunce. Lo! I stonde at the dore, and knocke; if ony man shal here my voys, and opene the ȝat, I shal entre to hym, and soupe with hym, and he with me. I shal ȝiue to hym that shal ouercome, for to sitte with me in my troone, as and I ouercam, and sat with my fadir in his troone. He that hath eres, here, what the spirit shal seie to chirchis.
Aftir these thingis I siȝe, and lo! a dore openyd in heuene. And the firste voys that I herde, as of a trumpe spekinge with me, seiynge, Stiȝe vp hidir, and I shal shewe to thee whiche thinges it bihoueth for to be don soone aftir thes thinges. Anoon I was in spirit, and lo! a seete was put in heuen, and on the seete oon sittinge. And he that sat, was lijk the siȝt of a stoon iaspis, and to sardyn; and the reynbowe was in cumpas of the seete, lijk to the siȝt of smaragdyn. And in the cumpas of the seete foure and twenty smale seetes; and vpon the troones foure and twenty eldre sittynge, gyrd aboute with white clothis, and in the heedis of hem golden crownes. And leytinges, and voyces, and thundringes camen out of the troone; and seuen laumpes brennynge bifore the troone, the whiche ben seuen spirites of God. And in the siȝt of the seete, as a se of glas, lijk to cristal; and in the mydle of the seete, and in cumpas of the seete, foure beestes ful of iȝen bifore and bihynde. And the first beeste lijk to a lyon; and the secounde beest lijk to a calf; and the thridde beest hauynge a face as of a man; and the fourthe beest lijk to an egle fleynge. And the foure beestes hadden ech of hem sixe wynges; and in cumpas and with inne thei ben ful of iȝen; and thei hadden not reste dai and nyȝt, seiynge, Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God almyȝti, that was, and that is, and that is to comynge. And whanne tho foure beestis ȝauen glorie, and honour, and blessing to the sittinge on the troone, to the lyuynge in to worldlis of worldlis, the foure and twenty eldre fellen doun bifore the sittyng in troone, and worschipeden the lyuynge in to worldlis of worldlis. And thei senten her crownes bifore the trone, seiynge, Thou, Lord oure God, art worthi for to take glory, and honour, and vertu; for thou madist of nouȝt alle thinges, and for thi wille thei weren, and ben maad of nouȝt.
And I siȝe in the riȝthalf of the sittinge vpon the troone, a book writun with inne and with out, and seelid with seuen seelis. And I siȝe a strong aungel, preching with a greet voys, Who is worthi for to opene the boke, and for to vnbynde the signetes of it? And no man miȝte in heuene, nether in erthe, nether vndir erthe opene the book, ne biholde it. And I wepte miche, for no man is founden worthi for to opene the book, nether for to see it. And oon of the eldre seide to me, Wepe thou not; lo! a lyoun of the lynage of Juda, the rote of Dauid, hath ouercomen for to opene the book, and for to vnbynde the seuene signetes of it. And I siȝe, and lo! in the mydle of the troone, and in the mydle of the foure beestes, and in the mydle of eldre, a lomb stondinge as sleyn, hauynge seuene hornes, and seuen iȝen, the whiche ben seuen spirites of God, sent into ech lond. And he cam, and toke of the riȝthond of the sittinge in troone the book. And whan he hadde openyd the book, foure beestes and foure and twenty eldre fellen doun bifore the lomb; hauynge ech of hem harpis, and golden fiolis ful of saueringis, whiche ben the preyers of seyntis. And thei sungen a newe song, seiynge, Lord, thou art worthi for to take the boke, and for to opene the signetes of it; for thou were slayn, and aȝen bouȝtist vs to God in thi blood, of al lynage, and tunge, and puple, and nacioun; and madist vs to oure God kingdom, and prestis; and we shulen regne vpon erthe. And I siȝe, and herde the voys of many aungels in cumpas of the trone, and of beestes, and of eldre. And the nombre of hem was a thousynd of thousyndis, seiynge with greet voys, The lomb that is slayn, is worthi for to take vertu, and diuynte, or godhed, and wisdom, and strengthe, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And ech creature that is in heuene, and that on erthe, and vnder erthe, and the se, and whiche thinges ben in it, I herde alle seiynge, To the sittynge in troone, and to the lomb, blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, in to worldlis of worldlis. And the foure beestes seiden, Amen. And foure and twenty eldre men felden doun in to her facis, and worschipeden the lyuynge in to worldlis of worldlis.
And I siȝe, that the lomb hadde openid oon of the seuen signetes. And Y herde oon of the foure beestis seiynge, as a voys of thundre, Come, and see. And I siȝe, and lo! a whijt hors; and he that sat on him hadde a bowe, and a coroun was ȝouun to hym. And he wente out ouercomynge, that he shulde ouercome. And whan he hadde openyd the secounde seel, I herde the secounde beest seiynge, Come thou, and see. And an other reed hors wente out; and it is ȝouun to him that sat on him, that he shulde take pees fro erthe, and that thei slee to gydere hem silf; and a greet swerd is ȝouun to him. And whan he hadde openyd the thridde seel, I herde the thridde beest seiynge, Come thou, and see. And loo! a blak hors; and he that sat vpon him hadde a balaunce in his hond. And I herde as a voys in the mydle of foure beestis, seiynge, A bilibre of whete, that is, a weyȝt of two pound, for oo peny, and thre bilibris of barly for oo peny; and hirte thou not wijn, and oyle. And whan he hadde openyd the fourthe seel, I herde a voys of the fourthe beest, seiynge, Come thou, and see. And loo! a paal hors; and the name Deeth to him that sat on him, and helle suede him. And power is ȝouun to him on foure partis of the erthe, for to sle with swerd, and hungre, and deeth, and with beestis of erthe. And whan he hadde openyd the fyuethe seel, I siȝe vndir an auter the soules of men sleyn for the word of God, and for witnessing that thei hadden. And thei crieden with greet voys, seiynge, Hou longe, Lord, holy and trewe, demyst thou not, and vengist oure blood of thes that dwellen in erthe? And white stoolis, for ech soule a stoole, ben ȝouun to hem; and it is seid to hem, that thei shulden reste ȝit a litel tyme, til the euen seruauntes of hem be fulfillid, and the britheren of hem, that ben to be slayn, as and thei. And I siȝe, whan he hadde openyd the sixte seel, and lo! a greet erthe mouyng is maad; and the sunne is maad blak, as a sak of heyre, and al the moone is maad as blood. And sterres of heuene fellen doun vpon the erthe, as a fijge tree sendith his vnripe fyges, whan it is mouyd of a greet wijnd. And heuen wente awei, as a book infoldid; and all mounteyns and ijles ben mouyd fro her places. And kinges of erthe, and princes, and tribunes, and riche, and stronge, and ech seruaunt, and fre man, hidden hem in dennes and stoones of hillis. And thei seien to hillis and to stoonys, Falle ȝe on vs, and hijde ȝe vs fro the face of the sittynge on troone, and fro wrath of the lomb; for the greet dai of her wrath cometh, and who shal mowe stonde?
Aftir thes thinges I siȝe foure aungels stondinge vpon the foure corners of the erthe, holdinge foure wijndis of the erthe, that thei blewen not on erthe, nethir on the se, nethir in to ony tre. And Y siȝe an other aungel stiȝinge fro the risyng of the sunne, hauynge a signe of the quike God. And he criede with a greet voys to the foure aungels, to whiche it was ȝouun to noiȝe to the erthe, and se, seiynge, Nyle ȝe noiȝe the erthe, and se, nether to trees, til we signe, or marke, the seruauntes of oure God in the forhedis of hem. And I herde the noumbre of markid, an hundrid and foure and fourty thousynd markid, of euery lynage of the sones of Yrael; of the lynage of Juda, twelue thousynd signed; of the lynage of Ruben, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Gad, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Aser, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Neptalym, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Manasse, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Symeon, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Leuy, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Ysacar, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Zabulon, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Joseph, twelue thousynd markid; of the lynage of Beniamyn, twelue thousynd markid. Aftir thes thinges I siȝe a greet company, whom no man miȝte noumbre, of alle folkis, and lynagis, and puplis, and tungis, stondinge bifore the trone, in the siȝt of the lomb; couerid, or clothid, with whijte stoolis, and palmes in the hondis of hem. And thei crieden with greet voys, seiynge, Helthe to oure God, that sittith on trone, and to the lombe. And alle aungels stoden in cumpas of the trone, and of senyouris, or eldre, and foure beestis. And thei fellen in the siȝt of the trone, in to her facis, and worschipiden God, seiynge, Amen! blessyng, and cleernes, and wisdom, and doynge of thankingis, and honour, and vertu, and strengthe to oure God, in to worldlis of worldlis. Amen. And oon of the eldre men answeride, and seide to me, Who ben thes, that ben couerid, or clothid, with whijte stoolis? and fro whennus camen thei? And I seide to him, My lord, thou woost. And he seide to me, Thes ben thei, that camen fro greet tribulacioun, and waschiden her stooles, and maden hem whijte in blood of the lomb. Therfore thei ben bifore the trone of God, and seruen to him day and niȝt, in his temple. And he that sittith in trone, dwellith on hem. Thei shulen no more hungre, and thirste, nether sunne shal falle on hem, nether ony heete. For the lomb, that is in the mydle of the trone, shal gouerne hem, and shal leede hem forth to the wellis of watris of lijf; and God shal wipe awey ech teer fro the iȝen of hem.
And whan he hadde openid the seuenthe seel, silence is maad in heuene, as half an hour. And I siȝe seuen aungels stondinge in the siȝt of God, and seuen trumpes be ȝouun to hem. And another aungel cam, and stode bifore the auter, hauynge a golden censer; and many encences ben ȝouen to him, that he shulde ȝiue of the preyers of alle seyntis vpon the golden auter, that is bifore the trone. And the smoke of encensis of the preyers of halewis stiȝede vp of the aungelis hond bifore God. And the aungel toke the censer, and fillide it of the fijr of the auter, and sente it in to erthe. And thundres, and voyces, and leytinges ben maad, and greet erthe mouyng. And the seuene aungelis, that hadden seuen trumpes, maden hem redy, that thei shulden synge in trumpe. And the first aungel song in trumpe; and hayl is maad, and fijr mengid to gydere in blood; and it is sent in to erthe. And the thridde paart of erthe is brent, and the thridde paart of trees is brent, and al green hay, or gras, is brent. And the secunde aungel song in trumpe; and as a greet hil brennyng with fijr is sent in to the se; and the thridde part of the se is maad blood, and the thridde part of creatures is deed, that hadden soules, or lijfes, in the se, and the thridde paart of shippis perschide. And the thridde aungel song in trumpe; and a great sterre brennynge as a litel brond, fel fro heuen; and it fel in to the thridde part of floodis, and in to wellis of watris. And the name of the sterre is seid Wermod. And the thridde part of watris is maad in to wermod; and many men ben deed of the watris, for thei ben made bitter. And the fourthe aungel song in trumpe; and the thridde paart of sunne is smytun, and the thridde paart of the moone, and the thridde part of sterris, so that the thridde paart of hem was derkid, and the thridde paart of dai shoone not, and also of niȝt. And I siȝe, and herde the voys of an egle fleynge bi mydle heuen, seiynge with greet voys, Wo! wo! wo! to the dwellinge men in erthe, of othere voycis of thre aungels, that weren to syngynge in trumpe.
And the fyuethe aungel song in trumpe; and I siȝe a sterre for to haue fallen doun fro heuen in to erthe; and the keye of the pitt of depnesse is ȝouun to him. And he openyde the pitt of depnesse, and smoke of the pitt stiȝede vp, as the smoke of a greet fourneys; and the sunne is derkid, and the eyr, of the smoke of the pitt. And of the smoke of the pitt locustes wenten out in to the erthe; and power is ȝouun to hem, as scorpiouns of erthe han power. And it is comaundid to hem, that thei shulden not hirte hay of erthe, nether al grene thing, nether ech tree, but onely men, that han not the mark of God in her forhedis. And it is ȝouun to hem, that thei shulden not sle hem, but that thei shulden be tourmentid fyue monethes; and the tourmenting of hem, as the tourmentyng of a scorpioun, whan he smytith a man. And in tho daies men shulen seke deeth, and thei shulen not fynde it; and thei shulen desijre for to die, and deeth shal flee fro hem. And the lijknesses of locustis lijk to horsis made redy in to bateyle; and on the heedis of hem as crownes lijk to gold, and the faces of hem as faces of men. And thei hadden heeres, as heeres of wymmen; and the teeth of hem were as the teeth of lyouns. And thei hadden haberiouns, as yren haberiouns, and the voys of the ilke wyngis as the voys of chaaris of many horsis rennynge in to bateyl. And thei hadden tayles lijk of scorpiouns, and prickes weren in the tayles of hem; and the miȝt of hem for to noye men bi fyue monethis. And thei hadden vpon hem a kyng, the aungel of depnesse, to whom the name bi Ebru, Labadon, forsothe bi Greke, Appolion, and bi Latyn hauynge the name Destrier. Oo woo passid, and lo! ȝit comen two wos. Aftir thes thingis and the sixt aungel song in trumpe; and I herde oo voys of foure corners of the golden auter, that is bifore the iȝen of God, seiynge to the sixte aungel that hadde a trumpe, Vnbynde foure aungels, that ben bounde in the greet flood Eufrates. And the foure aungels ben vnbounde, the whiche weren redy into hour, and day, and monethe, and ȝeer, that thei shulden slee the thridde paart of men. And the noumbre of the hoost of horsmen twenty thousynd sithis ten thousyndis. I herde the noumbre of hem. And so I siȝe horses in visioun; and thei that saten on hem hadden fijry haberiouns, and iacynctines, and of brunstony. And the heedis of the horsis weren as heedis of lyouns; and of the mouth of hem fijr cometh forth, and smoke, and brunston. Of these thre plagis, or woundis, the thridde paart of men is slayn, of fijr, and of smoke, and of brunston, that camen out of the mouth of hem. Sotheli the power of horsis is in the mouth of hem, and in the taylis of hem; forwhi the tailis of hem lijk to serpentes, hauynge heedes, and in hem thei noyen. And the tothir men, that ben not slayn in thes plagis, nether diden penaunce of the werkis of her hondis, that thei worschipiden not deuels, and simulacres golden, silueren, and brasen, and stoonen, and treenen, the whiche nether mowen see, nether heere, nether wandre; and diden not penaunce of her mansleyngis, nether of her venemyngis, nether of her fornycacioun, nethir of her theftis.
And I siȝe an other strong aungel comynge doun fro heuen, couerid, or clothid, with a cloude, and the raynbowe in his heed; and the face of him was as sunne, and the feet of him as a pyler of fijr. And he hadde in his hond a litel book openyd; and he putte his riȝt foot on the se, forsothe his lift on the erthe. And he criede with greet voys, as a lyoun whan he rorith; and whan he hadde cried, seuene thundres spaken her voices. And whan the seuen thundres hadden spoke her voyces, I was to writynge. And I herde a voys fro heuen, seiynge, Signe thou, or marke, what thinges the seuen thundres spaken, and nyle thou write hem. And the aungel whom I siȝe stondinge aboue the se, and aboue the erthe, liftide vp his hond to heuen, and swoor bi the lyuynge in to worldlis of worldlis, that maad of nouȝt heuen, and tho thinges that ben in it, and the erthe, and tho thinges that ben in it, and the se, and tho thinges that ben in it, for time shal no more be. But in the dayes of the voyce of the seuenthe aungel, whan he shal bigynne for to synge in trumpe, the mysterie of God shal be endid, as he euangelizide bi his seruauntis prophetis. And I herde a voys fro heuen eftsoone spekinge with me, and seiynge, Go thou, and take the book openyd, of the hond of the aungel stondinge aboue the se, and on the lond. And I wente to the aungel, seiynge to him, that he shulde ȝiue to me the book. And he seide to me, Take the book, and deuoure it; and it shal make thi wombe for to be bittir, but in thi mouth it shal be swete as hony. And I toke the book of the aungels hond, and deuouride it, and it was in my mouth as swete honey; and whan I hadde deuourid it, my wombe was bittir. And he seide to me, It bihoueth thee eftsoone for to prophecie to hethen men, and to puplis, and langagis, and to many kingis.
And a mesure lijk to a ȝerde is ȝouun to me, and it is seid to me, Rise thou, and mete the temple of God, and the auter, and men worschipinge in it. Forsothe caste out the porche, that is with out forthe the temple, and mete it not; for it is ȝouun to hethen men, and thei shulen defoule the holy citee bi fourty monethis and two. And I shal ȝiue to my two witnesses, and thei shulen prophecie a thousynd dayes two hundrid and sixty, thei clothid with sackis. Thes ben two olyues, and two candelstickes, ȝeuynge liȝt, thei stondinge in the siȝt of the Lord of erthe. And if ony man shal wolen for to anoiȝe hem, fijr shal go out of the mouth of hem, and shal deuoure her enemyes. And if ony shal wolen for to hirte hem, thus it bihoueth him for to be slayn. Thes han power of shittinge heuen, that it rayne not in the dayes of her prophecie; and thei han power on watris, of turnynge hem in to blood; and for to smyte the erthe with al plage, and hou ofte euer thei shulen wole. And whan thei shulen ende her witnessing, the beest that stiȝeth vp the of depnesse, shal make bateyl aȝens hem, and shal ouercome hem, and shal slee hem. And the bodies of hem shulen ligge in the streetis of the grete citee, that is clepid goostly Sodom, and Egipt, where the Lord of hem was crucified. And thei shulen see of lynagis, and of puplis, and of tungis, and hethen men, the bodies of hem bi thre dayes and an half; and the bodies of hem shulen not be suffrid for to be put in biriels. And men enhabitinge the erthe shulen haue ioye vpon hem; and thei shulen make myry, and sende ȝiftis to gydere, for thes two prophets tourmentiden hem that dwellen on erthe. And aftir thre daies and an half, the spirit of lijf of God entride in to hem; and thei stoden on her feet, and greet drede fel on hem that siȝen hem. And thei herden a greet voys fro heuen, seiynge to hem, Stiȝe vp hidir. And thei stiȝeden in to heuen in a cloude, and the enemyes of hem siȝen hem. And in that hour a greet erthe mouyng is maad, and the tenthe paart of the citee fel; and ther ben slayn in the erthe mouyng the names of men seuen thousynd; and the tother ben sent in drede, and ȝauen glorie to God of heuen. The secounde wente, and lo! the thridde woo shal come soone. And the seuenthe aungel song in trumpe, and greete voices ben maad in heuen, and seiynge, The reume of this world is maad oure Lordis, and of Cristis, his sone; and thei shulen regne in to worldlis of worldlis. Amen. And the foure and twenty senyoures, or elder men, that sitten in her seetes in the siȝt of the Lord, fellen in to her facis, and worschipiden God, seiynge, We don thankynges to thee, Lord God almyȝty, which art, and which was, and which art to comynge; which hast takun thi greet vertu, and hast regned. And folkes ben wrothe, and thi wrathe cam, and tyme of deede men for to be demyd, and for to ȝelde hijre to thi seruauntis, and prophetis, and halewis, and dredinge thi name, to smale and litle, and of destriynge hem that corrumpeden the erthe. And the temple of God in heuene is openyd, and the ark of his testament is seyn in his temple; and leytingis ben maad, and voyces, and erthe mouyng, and greet hayl.
And a greet token apperide in heuene; a womman couerid, or clothid, with the sunne, and the moone vndir hir feet, and in the heed of hir a coroun of twelue sterris. And she hauynge in wombe, and she criede, beringe chijld, and is tourmentid, that she bere chijld. And an other tokene is seyn in heuen; and lo! a greet reed dragoun, hauynge seuen heedes, and ten hornes, and in the heedis of him seuen diademes. And the tayl of him drewȝ the thridde paart of sterres of heuene, and sente hem in to erthe. And the dragoun stood bifore the womman, that was to beringe chijld, that whan she hadde born chijld, he shulde deuoure hir sone. And she chijldide a sone male, that was to reulinge alle folkes in an yren ȝerd; and hir sone is rauyschid to God, and to his trone. And the womman fleiȝ in to wildirnesse, where sche hath a place redy of God, that she feede hir there a thousynd dayes two hundrid and sixty. And a greet bateyl is maad in heuen, and Mychael and his aungels fauȝten with the dragoun. And the dragoun fauȝt, and his aungels; and thei hadden not miȝt, nether the place of hem is founden more in heuen. And the thilke dragoun is cast doun, the greet olde serpent, that is clepid the Deuel, and Sathanas, that deceyueth al the world; is cast out in to erthe, and his aungels ben sent with him. And I herde a greet voys in heuen, seiynge, Now is maad helthe, and vertu, and kingdom of oure God, and the power of his Crist; for the accuser of oure britheren is cast doun, which accusede hem bifore the siȝt of oure God day and niȝt. And thei ouercamen him for the blood of the lomb, and for the word of his witnessinge; and thei loueden not her soules, or lijfes, vnto deeth. Therfore glad ȝe heuens, and ȝe that dwellen in hem. Wo to the erthe, and se; for the fend cam doun to ȝou, hauynge greet wraththe, witinge for he hath litel tyme. And aftir that the dragoun siȝe, for he was cast doun in to erthe, he pursuede the womman, that chijdide a male sone. And two wynges of a greet egle ben ȝouun to the womman, that she shulde flee in to desert, in to hir place, where she is fed bi tyme, and tymes, and the half of tyme, fro the face of the serpent. And the serpent sente out of his mouth aftir the womman watir as flood, that he shulde make hir for to be drawen of the flood. And the erthe helpide the womman, and the erthe openyde his mouth, and soupide the flood, that the dragoun sente of his mouth. And the dragoun is wroth to the womman, and he wente for to make bateyl with othere of hir seed, that kepen the maundementes of God, and han the witnessing of Jhesu Crist.
And he stood on the grauel of the see. And I siȝe a beest stiȝinge vp of the se, hauynge seuen heedes, and ten hornes; and on his hornes ten dyademes, and on his heedes the names of blasfemye. And the beest, whom I siȝe, was lijk to a parde, or a lipard, and his feet as the feet of a bere, and his mouth as the mouth of a lyoun; and the dragoun ȝaf to the ilke his vertu, and greet power. And I siȝe oon of his heedis, as slayn in to deeth; and the wounde of his deeth is curid. And al erthe wondride aftir the beest. And thei worschipiden the dragoun, that ȝaf power to the beest; and thei worschipiden the beest, seiynge, Who lijk to the beest, and who shal mowe fiȝte with it? And a mouth spekinge greet thinges, and blasfemyes, is ȝouun to it; and power is ȝouun to it, for to do in two and fourty monethis. And it openyde his mouth in to blasfemyes to God, for to blasfeme his name, and his tabernacle, and hem that dwellen in heuen. And it is ȝouun to hym for to make bateyl with seyntis, and for to ouercome hem; and power is ȝouun to him, in to al lynage, and puple, and tunge, and folk. And alle men worschipiden it, that dwellen in erthe, whois names ben not writen in the book of lijf of the lomb, that is slayn fro the bigynnynge of the world. If ony man hath eres, of heringe, here he. He that shal lede in to caytifte, shal go in to caytifte; he that shal sleeth in swerd, it bihoueth him for to be slayn in swerd. This is the pacience and feith of seyntis. And I siȝe an other beest stiȝing vp fro the erthe, and hadde two hornes, lijk the lomb; and it spak as the dragoun, and dide al the power of the former beest, in his siȝt. And it made the erthe, and men dwellinge in it, for to worschipe the first beest, whois plage of deeth is curid. And it dide grete signes, that also it made fijr for to come doun fro heuen in to erthe, in the siȝt of alle men; and deceyueth men, dwellinge in erthe, for signes the whiche ben ȝouun to it for to do in the siȝt of the beest; seiynge to men dwellinge in erthe, that thei make an ymage of the beest, that hath the wounde of swerd, and lyuede. And it is ȝouun to him, that he shulde ȝiue a spirit to the ymage of the beest, and the ymage of the beest speke. And he shal make, that who euer shal not honoure the ymage of the beest, be slayn. And he shal make alle, smale and greete, and riche and pore, and fre men and seruauntes, for to haue a caracter in the riȝt hond, or in her forhedis; that no man may bye, or sille, no but thei that han the caracter, or lettre, or the name, or the noumbre of his name. Heere is wisdom; he that hath vndirstonding, acounte the noumbre of the beest; sotheli the noumbre of man is, and his noumbre is sixe hundrid sixty and sixe.
And I siȝe, and lo! the lomb stood on the mount Syon, and with hym an hundrid and foure and fourty thousynd, hauynge his name, and the name of his fadir writun in her forhedis. And I herde a voys fro heuen, as the voys of many watris, and as the voys of greet thundre; and the voys which I herde, as of harpers harpinge in her harpis. And thei sungen as a newe song bifore the seete of God, and bifore the foure beestes, and the eldre men. And no man miȝte seie the song, no but thei an hundrid and foure and fourty thousynd, that ben bouȝt of the erthe. Thes it ben, that ben not defoulid with wymmen; sotheli thei ben virgyns. Thes suen the lomb, whidir euer he shal go; thes ben bouȝt of alle, primycies, or firste fruytis, to God, and to the lomb; and in the mouth of hem lesyng is not found; sotheli thei ben with outen wem bifore the troone of God. And I siȝe an other aungel, fleynge bi mydle heuen, hauynge the euerlasting gospel, that he shulde euangelize to men sittynge on erthe, and on al folk, and lynage, and langage, and puple; seiynge with greet voys, Drede ȝe the Lord, and ȝiue ȝe to him honour, for the hour of his doom cometh; and worschipe ȝe him, that made heuen and erthe, the se, and alle thinges that ben in hem, and the welles of watris. And an other aungel suede, seiynge, The ilke greet citee Babilon felde, felde, the which ȝaf drinke to alle folkis of the wijn of wraththe of hir fornicacioun. And the thridde aungel suede hem, seiynge with greet voys, If ony man shal worschipe the beeste, and the ymage of it, and take the tokne in his forhed, or in his hond, and this shal drinke of the wijn of Goddis wrath, that is meynd with cleer wijn in the cuppe of his wraththe, and shal be tourmentid with fijr and brunston, in the siȝt of holy aungelis, and bifore the siȝt of the lomb. And the smoke of her tourmentis shal stiȝe vp in to worldlis of worldlis; nether thei han reste day and niȝt, the whiche worschipiden the beest, and his ymage, and if ony man toke the carecte of his name. This is the pacience of seyntis, and whiche kepen the maundementis of him, and the feith of Jhesu. And I herde a voys fro heuen, seiynge to me, Wrijte thou, Blessid the deede men, that dien in the Lord; fro hennus forth now the spirit seith, that thei reste of her traueilis; forsothe the werkes of hem suen hem. And I siȝe, and lo! a whijt cloude, and aboue the cloude a sittinge, lijk to the sone of man, hauynge in his heed a golden coroun, and in his hond a sharp sikel. And an other aungel wente out of the temple, criynge with greet voys to the sittynge vpon the cloude, Sende thi sikel, and repe, for hour cometh, that it be ropen; for the rijpe corn of erthe driede. And he that sat vpon the cloude, sente his sikel in to erthe, and repide in to erthe. And an other aungel wente out of the temple, that is in heuen, hauynge and he a sharp sikel. And an other aungel wente out of the auter, that hadde power on fijr; and he criede with greet voys to him that hadde a sharp sikel, seiynge, Sende thi sharp sikel, and kutte of the clustres of the vijnȝerd of erthe, for the grapes of it ben rijpe. And the aungel sente his sikel in to the erthe, and kutte of the vijnȝerd of erthe, and sente in to the greet lake of Goddis wraththe. And the lake is defoulid with oute the citee, and the blood wente out of the lake vn to the brijdels of horsis, bi furlonges a thousynd and two hundrid.
And I siȝe an other tokne in heuen, greet and wondirful; seuen aungels hauynge seuen the laste plages, for the wrath of God is endid in hem. And I siȝe as a glasen se mengid with fijr, and hem that ouercamen the beest, and his ymage, and the noumbre of his name, stondinge aboue the glasen se, hauynge the harpes of God; and syngynge the song of Moyses, seruaunt of God, and the song of the lomb, seiynge, Greet and wondirful ben thi werkes, Lord God almiȝty; thi weies ben iust and trewe, Lord, kyng of worldlis. Lord, who shal not drede thee, and magnifie thi name? for thou aloone art piteous, or merciful; for alle folkes shulen come, and shulen worschipe in thi siȝt, for thi domes ben opun. And aftir thes thingis I siȝe, and lo! the temple of the tabernacle of witnessinge in heuen is openyd; and seuene aungels hauynge the seuene plages, wenten out of the temple, clothid with a stoon cleene and whijt, and bifore gyrd with golden gyrdlis aboute the brestis. And oon of the foure beestis ȝaf to the seuene aungels seuen golden violes, ful of the wraththe of God, lyuynge in to worldlis of worldlis. And the temple is fulfillid with smoke of the mageste of God, and of the vertu of him; and no man miȝte entre in to the temple, til the seuene plages of the seuene aungels weren endid.
And I herde a greet voys fro heuen, seiynge to the seuen aungelis, Go ȝe, and schede ȝe out the seuen violes of Goddis wrath in to erthe. And the first aungel wente, and shedde out his viole in to erthe; and a wounde feers and worst is maad in alle that hadden the carecte, or marke, of the beest, and in to hem that worschipiden the beest, and his ymage. And the secounde aungel shedde out his viole in to the se, and blood is maad, as of deed thing; and ech soule, or lijf, lyuynge is deed in the se. And the thridde shedde out his viole on the floodes, and on welles of watris, blood is maad. And I herde the aungel of watirs seiynge, Just art thou, Lord, that art, and that was holy, that demyst thes thingis; for thei shedden out the blood of halewis and prophetis, and thou hast ȝouun hem blood for to drinke; forsothe thei ben worthi. And I herde an other aungel seiynge, Ȝhe! Lord God almiȝty, trewe and iust thi domes. And the fourthe aungel shedde out his viol in to the sunne, and it is ȝouun to him for to tourmente men with heete and fijr. And men swayleden with greet heete, and blasfemeden the name of God hauynge power on thes plages, nether thei diden penaunce, that thei shulden ȝiue glory to him. And the fyuethe aungel shedde out his viole on the seete of the beest, and his kyngdom is maad derk; and thei eeten to gydere her tunges for sorowe, and thei blasfemeden God of heuen, for sorowis and her woundis; and thei diden not penaunce of her werkis. And the sixte aungel shedde out his viole in the ilke greet flood Eufrates, and driede the watir of it, that weie were rediede to kyngis fro the sunne risyng. And I siȝe thre vnclene spirites in to manere of froggis for to go out of the mouth of the dragoun, and of the mouth of the beest, and of the mouth of the false prophet. Sotheli thei ben spirites of deuelis, makinge signes, and thei gon forth to kyngis of al erthe, for to gedere hem in to bateyle, to the greet dai of almiȝti God. Lo! I come, as a niȝt theef. Blessid he that wakith, and kepith his clothes, that he wandre not nakid, and thei seen his filthhed. And he gederide hem in to a place, that is clepid in Ebru Hermagedon. And the seuenthe aungel shedde out his viole in to the eyr, and a greet voys wente out of heuen fro the trone, seiynge, It is don. And leytinges ben maad, and voyces, and thundres; and greet erthe mouyng is maad, which manere neuere was, sith men weren vpon erthe, sich erthe mouyng so greet. And the greet citee is brokun in to thre parties, and the citees of hethene men fellen doun; and greet Babilon cam in to mynde bifore God, for to ȝiue to it the cuppe of wijn of indignacioun of his wrath. And ech ijle fley awey, and hilles ben not founde. And greet hayl as a talent cam doun fro heuen in to men; and men blasfemeden God, for the plage of hayl, for it is maad wondirly greet.
And oon of the seuen aungels cam, that hadden seuen violes, and spake with me, seiynge, Come thou, I shal shewe to thee the dampnacioun of the greet hoore, that sittith on many watris, with which kynges of erthe diden fornycacioun; and thei that dwellen in erthe ben ful drunkun of the wijn of hir leccherie. And he toke me awey in to desert in spirit. And I siȝe a womman sittynge on a reed beest, ful of namys of blasfemye, hauynge seuen heedes, and ten hornes. And the womman was enuyround with purpur, and coccyn, that is, reed, and engoldid with gold, and with precious stoon, and peerlis, hauynge a golden cuppe in hir hond, ful of abhomynaciouns and vnclennesse of hir fornycacioun. And in the forhed of hir a name writun, Mysterie, Babilon the greet, modir of fornycaciouns, and of abhomynaciouns of erthe. And I siȝe a womman drunken of the blood of seyntis, and of the blood of martris of Jhesu. And whan I siȝe hir, I wondride with greet wondringe. And the aungel seide to me, Whi wondrist thou? I shal seie to thee the sacrament of the womman, and of the beest that berith hir, that hath seuen heedes and ten hornes. The beeste whom thou siȝe, was, and is not; and she is to stiȝing vp fro depnesse, and she shal go in to perisching. And men dwellinge in erthe shulen wondre, whois names ben not write in the book of lijf fro makynge of the world, seeynge the beest, that was, and is not. And this is witt, that hath wisdom. The seuen heedes ben seuen hilles, on whom the womman sittith, and ben seuen kingis. Fyue han fallen doun, oon is, and an other cometh not ȝit. And whan he shal come, it bihoueth him for to dwelle a short tyme. And the beest that was, and is not, and she is the eiȝtthe, and is of the seuen, and shal go in to perisching. And the ten hornes whom thou hast seyn, ben ten kynges, that ȝit han not takun kingdom; but thei shulen take power as kinges, oon hour aftir the beest. Thes han oo counseyl, and shulen bitake her vertu and power to the beest. Thes shulen fiȝte with the lomb, and the lomb shal ouercome hem; for he is Lord of lordis, and kyng of kyngis; and thei that ben with hym clepid, chosen, and feithful. And he seyde to me, The watris that thou hast seyn, where the hoore sittith, ben puplis, folkes, and tunges. And the ten hornes that thou hast seyn in the beest, thes shulen make hir desolat, or discoumfortid, and nakid, and shulen ete the flesch of hir, and shulen brenne hir to gydere with fijr. Sotheli God ȝaf in to the hertis of hem, that thei do that that is plesaunt to hym, that thei ȝiue hir kyngdom to the beest, til the wordis of God be endid. And the womman whom thou hast seyn, is the greet citee, that hath kyngdom vpon kynges of erthe.
And aftir these thingis I siȝe an other aungel comyng doun fro heuen, hauynge greet power; and the erthe is liȝtned of his glorie; and he criynge with strong vois, seiynge, Greet Babilon fel doun, fel doun, and is maad the habitacioun of deuelis, and the keping of ech vnclene spirit, and the keping of ech vnclene foul, and haatful. For alle folkis drunken of the wraththe of the fornicacioun of hir, and kinges of erthe, and marchauntes of erthe, diden fornycacioun with hir; and thei ben maad riche of the vertu of the delicis of hir. And Y herde an other voys of heuen, seiyng, My puple, go ȝe out of it, and be ȝe not parceners of the trespassis of it, and ȝe shulen not receyue of the plagis of it. For the synnes of it camen vn to heuen, and the Lord hadde mynde of the wickidnessis of it. Ȝelde ȝe to it, as and she ȝeldide to ȝou; and double ȝe double thinges, aftir hir werkis; in the drinke that she medlide to ȝou, menge ȝe double to hir. Hou miche she glorifiede hir silf, and was in delijcis, so miche tourment ȝiue ȝe to hir, and wepyng; for in hir herte she seith, I sitte a queen, and I am not a widewe, and I shal not see wepyng. And therfore in oo day hir plages shulen come, deeth, and moornyng, and hunger; and she shal be brent in fijr, for God is strong, that shal deme hir. And the kinges of erthe shulen wepe, and weyle hem on hir, the whiche diden fornycacioun with hir, and lyueden in delicis, whan thei shulen se the smoke of brennyng of hir; stondinge fer, for drede of tourmentis of hir, seiynge, Wo! wo! wo! the thilke greet citee Babilon, and the ilke stronge citee; for in oon hour thi doom cometh. And marchauntes of erthe shulen wepe vpon hir, and moorne, for no man shal bye more the marchaundises of hem; the marchaundises of gold, and siluer, and precious stoon, and of margarite, or peerl, and bijce, and purpur, and silk, and coccyn, and ech tre thyme, and alle vessels of yuer, and alle vessels of precious stoon, and of bras, and yren, and marble, and canel, and amome, that is, a swete saueringe tree, and of odoramentis, and oynementis, and encense, and of wijn, and oyle, and floure, and wheete, and of iumentis, or werk beestes, and sheep, and of horses, and cartes, and of seruauntis, and of soulis, or lijfis, of men. And thin apples, the desijres of thi lijf, wenten awey fro thee, and alle fatte thinges, and ful cleere perischiden fro thee. And marchauntes of thes men shulen no more fynde tho thinges. Thei that ben maad riche of hir, shulen stonde fer, for drede of tourmentis of hir, wepinge, and moornynge, and seiynge, Wo! wo! the ilke greet citee, that was clothid with bijce, and purpur, and cocke, and was goldid with gold, and precious stoon, and margaritis, for in oon hour so many richessis ben destitute. And ech gouernour, and alle that shippen in to place, and mariners, and that werchen in the se, stoden fer, and crieden, seeynge the place of the brennynge of hir, seiynge, What lijk to this greet citee? And thei senten poudir vpon her heedes, and crieden, wepinge, and moornynge, and seiynge, Wo! wo! the ilke grete citee, in whom alle that han shippes in the see ben maad riche of prisis of it; for in oon our it is desolate. Heuen, and holy apostles, and prophetes, glade ȝe on it, for God hath demyd ȝoure doom of it. And oo stronge aungel toke vp a stoon, as a greet mylne stoon, and sente in to the se, seiynge, In this bire the ilke greet citee Babilon shal be sent, and now ouer shal not be founde. And the voys of harpers, and of men of musike, and syngynge with pijpe and trumpe, shal no more be herd in it. And ech crafty man, and ech craft, shal not be foundun in it. And the voys of mylne stoon shal no more be herd in thee, and the liȝt of lanterne shal no more shijne to thee, and the voys of the husbonde and of wijf shal not ȝit more be herd in thee; for thi marchauntes weren princes of erthe. For in thi venemous dedis alle folkes erreden. And the blood of prophetis and seyntis is founden in it, and of alle men that ben slayn in erthe.
Aftir thes thinges I herde as a greet voys of many trumpis in heuen, seiynge, Alleluya; heriynge, and glory, and vertu is to oure God; for trewe and iust ben the domes of him, the whiche demeden of the greet hoore, that corrumpide the erthe in hir leccherie, and demyde, or vengide, the blood of his seruauntis, of the hondis of hir. And eft thei seiden, Alleluya, that is, Herie ȝe the Lord. And the smoke of it stiȝith vp, in to worldlis of worldlis. And the foure and twenty elder men and the foure beestis fellen doun, and worschipiden God sittynge vpon trone, seiynge, Amen, Alleluya. And a voys wente out of the trone, seiynge, To oure God, seie ȝe, alle the seruauntis of him, heriyng, and ȝe that dreden God, smale and grete. And Y herde a voys of a greet trumpe, and as the voys of grete thundris, seiynge, Alleluya; for oure God almiȝty hath regnyd. Enioye we, and glade we with out forthe, and ȝiue we glory to him; for the weddinges of the lombe camen, and the wijf of him made redy hir silf. And it is ȝouun to hir, that she couere hir with whijte bijce shijnynge; forsothe bijcen ben the iustifiynges of seyntis. And he seide to me, Wrijte thou, Blessid thei, that ben clepid to the soper of weddingis of the lomb. And he seide to me, Thes wordis of God ben trewe. And I fel doun bifore his feet, that I shulde worschipe him. And he seide to me, See, that thou do not; I am thin euen seruaunt, and of thi britheren, hauynge the witnessyng of Jhesu; worschipe thou God. Forsothe the witnessing of Jhesu is spirit of profecie. And I siȝe heuen openyd, and lo! a whijt hors, and he that sat vpon hym was clepid Feithful and sothefast; and with riȝtwisnesse he demith, and fiȝtith. Forsothe the iȝen of him as flaume of fijr, and in his heed many diademes; hauynge a name writun, which no man knew, no but he. And he was clothid in a clooth spreynd with blood; and the name of hym was clepid The word of God. And the hoostes, or companyes, that ben in heuen, sueden him in whijte horsis, clothid with bissyn, whijte and cleene. And a swerd sharp on ech sijde cam forth of his mouth, that in it he smyte folkes; and he shal reule hem in an yren ȝerde. And he tredith, or defoulith, the pressour of wijn of woodnesse of wraththe of almiȝty God. And he hath writen in his cloth, and hemme, Kyng of kyngis and Lord of lordis. And I siȝe an aungel, stondinge in the sunne; and he criede with greet voys, seiynge to alle briddis, that flewen bi the mydle of heuen, Come ȝe, and be ȝe gederid to gydere to the greet soper of God, that ȝe ete the flesches of kingis, and the flesches of tribunys, and the flesches of stronge, and flesches of horsis, and of the sittinge on hem, and the flesches of alle fre men and seruauntis, and of smale and of greete. And I siȝe the beest, and kingis of erthe, and the hoostes of hem gederid, to make bateyle with him, that sat in the hors, and with his hoost. And the beest is cauȝt, and with hir the fals prophet, that made signes bifor hir; in whiche he deceyuede hem that token the carect of the beest, and that worshipeden the ymage of it. Thes two ben sent quyke in to the pool of fijr, brennynge in brunston. And the othere ben slayn in swerd of the sittynge on the hors, that cometh forth of the mouth of him; and alle briddis ben fulfillid with the fleschis of hem.
And I siȝe an aungel comynge doun fro heuene, hauynge the keye of depnesse, and a greet cheyne in his hond. And he cauȝte the dragoun, the olde serpent, that is the deuel and Sathanas; and he boonde him bi a thousynd ȝeeris. And he sente him in to depnesse, and closide, and signede, or selide, on him, that he deceyue no more folkes, til a thousynd ȝeeris be fulfillid. After thes thinges it bihoueth him for to be vnbounde a litel tyme. And I siȝe seetes, and thei saten on hem, and doom is ȝouun to hem. And the soules of bihedid men for the witnessing of Jhesu, and for the word of God, and hem that worschepiden not the beest, nether the ymage of it, nether token the carect of it in her forhedis, or in her hondis. And thei lyueden, and regneden with Crist a thousynd ȝeer. The othere of deede men lyueden not, til a thousynd ȝeeres be endid. This is the first aȝen risyng. Blessid and holy he, that hath paart in the first aȝen risyng. In thes men the secounde deeth hath not power; but thei shulen be prestis of God, and of Crist, and thei shulen regne with him a thousynd ȝeeris. And whan a thousynd ȝeeres shulen be endid, Sathanas shal be vnbounde of his prisoun; and he shal go out, and he shal deceyue folkes, that ben on foure corners of the erthe, Gog and Magog. And he shal gedere hem in to bateyl, whois noumbre is as the grauel of the se. And thei stiȝeden vp, on the broodnesse of erthe, and enuyrounden the castels of seyntis, and the loued citee. And fijr cam doun of God fro heuen, and deuourede hem. And the deuel, that deceyuede hem, is sent in to the pool of fijr and brunston, where and the beest and false prophetes shulen be tourmentid day and niȝt, in to worldlis of worldlis. Amen. And I siȝe a greet white trone, and the sittynge on it, fro whois siȝt erthe fleiȝ and heuen; and place is not founden of hem. And I siȝe deede men, greete and smale, stondinge in the siȝt of the trone; and bookes ben openyd; and an othir book is openyd, that is the book of lijf; and deede men ben demyd of thes thingis that weren write in the bookis, aftir the werkis of hem. And the se ȝaf his deede men, that weren in it; and deeth and helle ȝauen her deede men, that weren in hem. And it is demyd of alle, vp the werkes of hem. And helle and deeth ben sent in to the pool of fijr. This is the secounde deeth. And he that is not founde writun in the book of lijf, is sent in to the pool of fijr.
And I siȝe newe heuen and newe erthe; forsothe the firste heuen and the firste erthe wenten awey, and now is not the se. And I Joon siȝe the holy citee Jerusalem, newe, comynge doun fro heuen, of God, maad redy as a wijf ourned to hir husbonde. And I herde a greet voys of the trone, seiynge, Lo! the tabernacle of God with men, and he shal dwelle with hem; and thei shulen be his puple, and he God with hem shal be her God. And God shal wijpe awey ech teer fro iȝen of seyntis; and deeth shal no more be, nether moornyng, nether criyng, nether sorowe shal be ouer; the whiche firste thinges wenten awey. And he seide, that sat in the trone, Lo! I make alle thinges newe. And he seide to me, Wrijte thou, for thes wordes ben moost feithful and trewe. And he seide to me, It is don; I am alpha and oo, the bigynnyng and ende. I shal ȝiue frely to the thirstinge of the welle of quyk watir. He that shal ouercome, shal weelde thes thinges; and I shal be God to him, and he shal be sone to me. Forsothe to proude men, and vnbileueful, and cursid, and manquellers, and fornicatours, and to men doynge venym, or sleynge men by venym, and worschipers of ydolis, and to alle liȝeris, the paart of hem shal be in the pool brennynge with fijr and brunston, that is the secounde deeth. And one cam of the seuen aungels, hauynge violes ful of seuen the laste plagis. And he spake with me, seiynge, Come thou, I shal schewe to thee the spouse, wijf of the lomb. And he toke me vp in spirit in to a greet hil and hiȝ; and he shewide to me the holy citee Jerusalem, comynge doun fro heuene of God, hauynge the cleerte of God; and the liȝt of it lijk to a precious stoon, as to the stoon iaspis, as cristal. And it hadde a wal greet and hiȝ, hauynge twelue ȝates, and in the ȝatis of it twelue aungels, and names writun in, that ben the names of the twelue lynagis of the sones of Yrael; fro the eest thre ȝates, and fro the north thre ȝates, and fro the south thre ȝates, and fro the west thre ȝates. And the wal of the citee hauynge twelue foundementes, and in hem the names of the twelue apostlis, and of the lomb. And he that spake with me, hadde a golden mesure of a reed, that he shulde mete the citee, and the ȝates of it, and the wal. And the citee is put in square; and the lengthe of it is so miche, hou miche and the breede. And he mat the citee of the reed, bi furlongis twelue thousyndes. And the hiȝthe, and lengthe and breede of it, ben euen. And he mat the walles of it, of an hundrid and foure and fourty cubytis, bi mesure of man, that is, of aungel. And the bildyng of the wal was of stoon iaspis. Sotheli the citee it silf was of cleene gold, lijk to cleene glas. And the foundementes of the wal of the citee ourned with al precious stoon. The first foundement, iaspis; the secounde, safirus; the thridde, calcedonyus; the fourthe, smaragdus; the fyuethe, sardonix; the sixte, sardius; the seuenthe, crisolitus; the eiȝtthe, berillus; the nynthe, topasius; the tenthe, crisopassus; the eleuenthe, iacinctus; the tweluthe, ametistus. And twelue ȝates twelue margarites ben, by ech; and eche ȝates weren of eche margaritis. And the stretes of the citee clene gold, as glas ful shijnynge. And I siȝe no temple in it, forsothe Lord God almiȝty is temple of it, and the lomb. And the citee hath no nede of sunne, nether moone, that thei shijne in it; forwhi the cleerte of God shal liȝtne it; and the lomb is the lantern of it. And folkes shulen walke in liȝt of it; and the kinges of the erthe shulen bringe to her glory and honour in to it. And the ȝates of it shulen not be closid bi daye; sotheli niȝt shal not be there. And thei shulen bringe to the glory and honour of folkis in to it. Nethir ony thing defoulid shal entre in to it, and doynge abhomynacioun and lesyng; no but thei that ben writun in the book of lijf of the lomb.
And he shewide to me a flood of quyk watir, shinynge as cristal, comynge forth of the seete of God, and of the lomb. In the myddil of the street of it, and on ech sijde of the flood, the tree of lijf, bringyng to twelue fruytes, bi eche monethes ȝeldinge his fruyt; and the leefes of the tree to helthe of folkis. And ech cursid thing shal no more be; but the seetes of God and of the lomb shulen be in it. And the seruauntis of him shulen serue to hym. And thei shulen see his face, and his name in her forhedis. And niȝt shal no more be, and thei shulen not haue nede to the liȝt of lantern, nethir to liȝt of the sunne; for the Lord God shal liȝtne hem, and thei shulen regne in to worldlis of worldlis. And he seide to me, Thes wordis ben moost feithful and truewe. And the Lord God of spiritis prophetis sente his aungel, for to shewe his seruauntis, what thinges it bihoueth for to be don soone. And lo! I come swiftli. Blessid is he, that kepith the wordis of prophecie of this book. And I Joon, that herde and siȝe thes thinges. And aftir that I hadde herd and seyn, I fel doun, that I shulde worschipe bifor the feet of the aungel, that schewide to me thes thinges. And he seide to me, See that thou do not; forsothe I am thin euen seruaunt, and of thi britheren, prophetis, and of hem that kepen the wordes of prophecie of this book; worschipe thou God. And he seide to me, Signe, or seele, thou not the wordes of prophecie of this book; forsothe the tyme is niȝ. He that noyeth, noye ȝit; and he that is in filthis, wexe foul ȝit; and he that is iust, be he ȝit iustified; and the holy, be he halewid ȝit. Lo! I come soone, and my mede with me, for to ȝelde to ech man aftir his werkes. I am alpha and oo, the firste and the laste, bigynnyng and ende. Blessid thei, that waschen her stooles in the blood of the lomb, that the power of hem be in the book of lijf, bi ȝatis entre in to the citee. Forsothe with oute forth, houndes, and venym doers, or poyseners, and unchaast men, and manquellers, and seruynge to ydoles, and ech that loueth and doith lesyng. I Jhesus sente myn aungel, for to witnesse to ȝou thes thinges in chirchis. I am the roote and kynde of Dauid, a shynynge moru sterre. And the husbonde and the spouse, or wijf, seyn, Come thou. And he that herith, seieth, Come thou; and he that thirstith, come; and he that wole, take freely the watir of lijf. Forsothe I witnesse to ech man heringe the wordes of prophecie of this book, if ony man schal put to thes, God schal putte on him the plages writun in this book. And if ony man shal do awey of the wordis of the book of this prophecie, God shal take awey the paart of him fro the book of lijf, and fro the holy citee, and fro thes thinges that ben writun in this book. He seith, that berith witnessyng of these thingis, Ȝhe, amen. I come soone. Amen. Come thou, Lord Jhesu. The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist be with ȝou alle. Amen.
Copyright © 2013–2026 Jeremy J. Johnson. All rights reserved.