And these ben the wrdus of the boc, that wrot Baruch, the sone of Neri, sone of Masy, sone of Sedechie, sone of Sedei, sone of Elchie, in Babilon; in the fifte ȝer, in the seuenthe dai of the moneth, in the tyme that Caldeis token Jerusalem, and brenden it vp with fyr. And Baruch radde the wrdus of this boc at the eres of Jeconye, sone of Joachym, king of Juda, and at the eres of al the puple comende to the boc; and at the eres of the myȝti men of the sonus of kingus, and at the eres of prestus, and at the eres of the puple, fro the leste vnto the meste of hem, alle dwellende in Babyloyne, and at the flod of Sodi. The whiche herende wepten, and fasteden, and preȝeden in the siȝt of the Lord. And thei gedereden monee, after that myȝte of eche the hond. And thei senten in to Jerusalem to Joachym, sone of Elchie, sone of Salen, the prest, and to the prestus, and to al the puple that ben founde with hym in Jerusalem; whan thei shulde take the vesseles of the temple, that weren take awei fro the temple, to aȝeen clepe in to the lond of Juda, the tenthe dai of the moneth Cybam; the siluer vesselis, that Sedechie, sone of Josie, king of Juda, made, after that Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloyne, hadde take Jeconye, and his princes, and alle the myȝti, and the puple of the lond fro Jerusalem, and broȝte them gyued in to Babiloyne. And thei seiden, Lo! wee han sent to ȝou mones, of whiche bieth brent sacrifise, and cens, and maketh manaa, and offreth for synne at the auter of the Lord oure God. And preȝeth for the lif of Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloyne, and for the lif of Balthasar, his sone, that the daȝes of them be as the daȝes of heuene vp on erthe; that the Lord ȝyue vertue to vs, and liȝtne oure eȝen, that wee lyue vnder the shadewe of Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloyne, and vnder the shadewe of Balthasar, his sone; and serue wee to hem manye daȝes, and fynde wee grace in the syȝte of hem. And for vs self preȝeth to the Lord oure God, for wee han synned to the Lord oure God, and turned awei is not his wodnesse fro vs, vn to this dai. And redeth this boc, that wee han sent to ȝou, to be reherced in the temple of the Lord, in a solempne dai, and in a couenable day. And ȝee shul sey, To the Lord oure God riȝtwisnesse, to vs forsothe confusioun of oure face, as is this dai to al Juda, and to the dwelleris in Jerusalem, to oure kingus, and to oure princes, to oure prestus, and to oure profetus, and to oure faders. We han synned bifor the Lord oure God, and wee han not leeued, mystrostende in to hym. And we wer not soietable to hym, and wee wel herden not the vois of the Lord oure God, that wee shulde go in his maundemens that he ȝaf to vs; fro the dai that he ladde out oure faders fro the lond of Egipt, vn to this dai, we weren mystrowable to the Lord oure God; and scatered we wenten awey, lest wee shulde heren the vois of hym. And ther cleueden to vs many euelis, and cursingus, the whiche the Lord sette to his seruaunt Moises; that ladde out oure faders fro the lond of Egipt, to ȝyue to vs the lond flowende mylc and hony, as in this day. And wee herden not the vois of the Lord oure God, after alle the wrdus of profetus, that he sente to vs, and to oure iugis; and we wenten awey, eche in to the wit of oure shreude herte, to werche to alien godus, doende euelus bifor the eȝen of the Lord owre God.
For whiche thing ordeynede the Lord oure God his wrd, that he spac to vs, and to oure iuges that demeden Jerusalem, and to oure kingus, and to oure princes, and to al Irael and Juda; that the Lord shulde bringe to vp on vs grete euelis, that ben not do vnder heuene, as ben do in Jerusalem; after that ben write in the lawe of Moises, that a man shulde ete the flesh of his sone, and the flesh of his doȝter. And he ȝaf hem in the hond of alle kingus, that ben in oure cumpas, in to repref, and in to desolacioun in alle puplis, in whiche scaterede vs the Lord. And wee ben mad vndernethe, and not aboue; for we han synned to the Lord oure God, not wel herende the vois of hym. To the Lord oure God riȝtwisnesse, to vs forsothe and to oure faders shenshipe of the face, as is this dai. For the Lord spac vp on vs alle these euelis, that camen vp on vs. And wee louli preȝeden not the face of the Lord oure God, that wee shulden turne aȝeen, eche of vs fro oure werst weies. And the Lord woc in euelis, and broȝte them vp on vs; for riȝtwis is the Lord in alle his werkus that he sente to vs. And wee herden not the vois of hym, that we shulde go in the hestes of the Lord, that he ȝaf bifor oure face. And now, Lord God of Irael, that broȝtist out thi puple fro the lond of Egipt in a strong hond, and in signes, and wndris, and in thi grete vertue, and in an hyȝ arm, and madist to thee a name, as is this day; wee han synned, vnpitously wee han born vs, wickeli wee han do, Lord oure God, in alle thi riȝtwisnesses. Be turned awey thy wrathe fro vs; for wee ben laft a fewe among Jentilis, wher thou hast scatered vs. Heere, Lord, oure preieeres, and oure orisounus, and bring vs out for thee; and ȝif to vs to finde grace bifor the face of hem, that ladden vs awey; that al erthe wite, for thou art Lord oure God, and for thi name is inwardli clepid vp on Irael, and vp on the kinde of hym. Bihold, Lord, fro thin hoeli hous in to vs, and bowe in thin ere, and ful out here vs. Opene thin eȝen, and see; for not the deade that ben in helle, whos spirit is taken fro ther bowelis, shul ȝyue wrshipe and iustefiyng to the Lord; but the soule that is sori vp on the mykilnesse of euel, and goth bowid, and meekid, and the eȝen failende, and the soule hungrende, ȝyueth to thee glorie and riȝtwisnesse, Lord. Whiche not after the riȝtwisnesse of oure faders heelden out mercy bifor thi siȝt, Lord oure God; but for thou sentist thi wrathe and thi wodnesse vp on vs, as thou speeke in the hondus of thi childer profetus, seiende, Thus seith the Lord, Bowith doun ȝoure shuldris, and ȝoure nol, and doth trauaile to the king of Babiloyne; and ȝee shul sitte in the lond, that Y ȝaf to ȝoure faders. That if ȝee shul not don, ne here the vois of the Lord oure God, to werche to the king of Babiloyne, ȝoure failing Y shal make fro the cites of Juda, and fro the ȝatus of Jerusalem; and Y shal take awei fro ȝou the vois of merthe, and the vois of ioȝe, and vois of the man spouse, and vois of the womman spouse; and ben shal al the lond with oute step from the dwelleres in to it. And thei herden not thy vois, that thei shulde wrche to the king of Babiloyne; and thou settedest thi wrdus, that thou speeke in the eres of thi childer profetus, that translatid shulde be the bonus of oure kingus, and the bonus of oure faders fro this place. And lo! thei ben cast forth in the hete of the sunne, and in the frost of the nyȝt; and thei ben dead in werst sorwes, in hunger, and in swerd, and in sending out. And thou settedist thi temple, in whiche is inwardli clepid thi name in it, as this dai, for the wickenes of the hous of Irael, and of the hous of Juda. And thou hast don in vs, Lord oure God, after thi goodnesse, and after al that thi grete mercy doing, as thou speeke in the hond of thi child Moises, in the dai that thou comaundedist to hym to write thi lawe bifor the sonus of Irael, seiende, If ȝee shul not here my vois, this grete multetude shal be turned in to the leste folc of kinde, for them Y shal scatere; for Y wot, that mee shal not here the puple. The puple is forsothe with an hard nol, and shal be turned to his herte, in the lond of his caitifte; and thei schul wite, for Y am the Lord God of hem. And Y shal ȝyue to them an herte, and thei shul vndirstonde, and eres, and thei shul here. And thei shuln preise me in the lond of ther caitifte, and myndeful thei shul be of my name. And thei shul turnen awei themself fro ther harde rig, and fro ther cursidhedus; for thei shul remembre the weie of ther fadris, that synneden in me. And Y shal aȝeen clepe hem in to the lond, that Y swor to the fadris of hem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and thei shul lordshipen of it. And Y shal multeplie them, and thei shul not be lassid. And Y shal sette to them an other testament euere durende, that Y be to them in to a Lord, and thei shul be to me in to a puple. And Y shal no more moue my puple, the sonus of Irael, fro the lond that Y ȝaf to them.
And now, Lord God of Irael, the soule in anguysshes, and the spirit tormentid crieth to thee. Heere, Lord, and haue mercy; for God thou art merciful. And haue mercy of vs, for wee han synned bifor thee, that sittist in to euermor, and wee shul not pershe in to the spirituel during. Lord God al myȝti, God of Irael, here now the orisoun of the deade men of Irael, and of the sonus of hem, for thei han synned bifor thee, and thei herden not the vois of the Lord ther God, and ioyned ben to vs euelis. Wile thou not han mynde of the wickenesse of oure fadris, but haue mynde of thin hond and of thi name in this tyme; for thou art Lord oure God, and wee shul preise thee, Lord. For that thou hast ȝoue thi drede in oure hertes, that wee inwardli clepe thi name, and preise thee in oure caitifte; for wee shul be turned fro the wickenesse of oure fadris, that synneden in thee. And lo! wee in oure caitifte ben to dai, that vs thou hast scatered, in to repref, and in to cursing, and in to synne, after alle the wickidnessis of oure fadris, that wenten awei fro thee, Lord oure God. Here thou, Irael, the maundemens of lif; with eres parceyue, that thou wite prudence. What is, Irael, that in the lond of the enemys thou art? Thou hast eldid in an alien lond, thou art defoulid with deade men, thou art set with men goende doun in to helle? Thou hast forsake the welle of wisdam; for if in the weies of God thou haddest go, thou shuldist han dwellid forsothe in pes vp on erthe. Lerne, wher be prudence, wher be vertue, wher be vnderstonding, that thou wite togidere, wher be long abiding of lyf and of liflode, wher be liȝt of eȝen, and pes. Who fond his place? who entride in to his tresores? Wher ben the princes of Jentilys, and that lordshipen of bestes, that ben vpon erthe? That in the briddis of heuene pleien; that siluer tresoren and gold, in whiche trosten men, and ther is noon ende of the purchasing of hem? That siluer forgen, and ben besy, ne ther is finding of the werkus of hem? Thei ben outlawid, and to helle thei wente doun; and othyr men in the place of hem risen. The ȝunge men of hem sawen liȝt, and dwelten on erth. Sothely thei knewen not the wei of disciplyne, nether vndirstoden the pathis of it; nether the sones of hem resceyueden it. Fro the face of hem it is maad fer; it is not herd in the lond of Canaan, nether it is seen in Theman. And the sones of Agar, that souȝten out prudence that is of erth, the marchauntis of erth, and Theman, and the fablers, or ianglers, and seekers out of prudence, and of vnderstondinge; sothely thei knewen not the weie of wysdam, nether hadden mynde of the paathis therof. O! Yrael, hou grete is the hous of God, and hou grete the place of his possessiounn; gret and not hauynge eende, heeȝ and with outen mesure grete. Ther weren named gyauntis; tho that fro the bigynnynge weren in grete stature, witynge bataile. The Lord chese not these, nether thei founden the weie of discipline; therfor thei pershiden. And for thei hadde not wijsdam, thei pershiden for her vnwijsdam. Who steiȝede in to heuen, and toke it, and ledde it doun fro cloudis? Who passide ouer the se, and foonde it, and brouȝt it to, vpon chosen gold? Ther is not, that may wite the waies therof, nether that sekith out the pathes therof; bot he that wote alle thingis, knewȝ it, and foond it by his prudence. The whiche maade redy the erth in euerlastynge tyme, and fulfilled it with feeld bestes, and four footid bestis. The whiche sendith out liȝt, and it goth; and he clepid it, and it obeischide to hym in tremblynge. Forsoth sterris ȝauen liȝt in her keepyngus, and gladiden; thei ben clepid, and thei seiden, We cummen to; and thei shyneden to hym with mirth, that maad hem. This is our God, and other shal not ben gessid aȝenis hym. He this foonde al weie of disciplyne, and bitoke it to Jacob, his child, and to Yrael, his derworth. After these thingus he was seen in erthis, and lyued with men.
This boke of the maundementis of God, and the lawe that is in to with outen eend. Alle men that holden it, shuln perfitly cummen to lijf. Forsoth thei that shuln forsake it, in to deth. Jacob, be thou conuertid, and cacche it; walke by the waye to the shynynge of it, aȝeinus the liȝt of it. Bitake thou not thi glorie to an other, and thi dignitee to alien folk. Yrael, we ben blessid; for what thingus ben plesaunt to God, ben knowen to vs. Thou peple of God, be of euener inwitt, or more stable, thou Yrael, worthi of mynde. Ȝe ben sold to heithen men, not in to perdicioun; bot for that in wrath ȝee terriden God to wrathfulnesse, ȝee ben bitaken to aduersaries. Forsoth ȝee steriden to bitternesse the euerlastyng God, that made ȝou; offrynge to deuyls, and not to God. Sothli ȝee han forȝeeten hym that nurishide ȝou, and ȝee han maad sorewful Jerusalem, ȝour nurshe. Sotheli it sawe wrathfulnesse of God cummynge to ȝou; and saide, Ȝee niȝ coostis of Syon, heere; forsothe God brouȝt to me grete mournynge. Forsoth I seeȝ the caitifte of my peple, of my sones and douȝtris, whiche the euerlastynge aboue brouȝte to hem. Sotheli I nurishide hem with mirthe; forsothe I left hem with weepynge and mournynge. No man haue ioye vp on me, widue and desolate. I am left, or forsaken, of manye, for the synnes of my sones; for thei bowiden awei fro the lawe of God. Forsoth thei wisten not the riȝtwisnesse of hym; nether walkiden bi weies of the heestis of God, ne bi the paathis of treuthe of hym thei entreden with riȝtwisnesse. Cum the niȝ coostis of Syon, and bithenke thei the caitiftee of my sones and douȝtris, the whiche the euerlastynge aboue brouȝte to hem. Forsoth he brouȝte vpon hem a folc fro fer, a folc vnsaciable, or vnrestful, and of an other tunge; whiche dredden not with reuerence an olde man, nether hadden mercy of children; and ledden aweie the sones of widue, and maaden desolat the aloon womman fro sonys. Forsoth what may I help ȝou? Forsothe he that broȝte euyl thingus vpon ȝou, shal delyuere ȝou fro the hondis of ȝour enmyes. Wandre ȝee, sones, wandre; I sothli am forsaken aloon. I haue vnclothide me the stole of pese; forsothe I clothide me with sak of bisechynge, and I shal crie to the bihest in my days. Sones, be ȝee of betir herte, or stabler; crie ȝee to the Lord, and he shal delyuere ȝou fro the hond of princes, enmyes. Sotheli I hopide in to with outen eend ȝour helth, and ioye came to me of the holy vpon mercye, that shal cum to ȝou of ȝour saueour euerlastynge. Forsoth I sent ȝou out with mournyng and weepynge; forsoth God shal aȝein lede ȝou to me with ioye and mirthe in to with outen eende. Sotheli as the neiȝbores of Syon sawen ȝour caitifte of God, so thei shuln see and in hast ȝour helth of God, that shal aboue cum to ȝou with grete honour in euerlastyng shynynge. Sones, suffre ȝe pacientli the wrath, that aboue commith to ȝou; forsoth thin enmye pursuede thee, bot sone thou shalt see perdicioun of hym, and vpon the nollis of hym thou shalt steiȝ vp. My delicatis, or nurshid in delicis, walkiden sharp weies; sotheli thei weren led as a floc rauyshide with enmyes. Sones, be ȝee of euener herte, or stabler, and afer crie ȝee to the Lord; sotheli ȝour mynde shal be of hym that ledith ȝou. Forsoth as ȝour witt was for to erre fro God, eft sone tenn so myche ȝee conuertyng shuln aȝen seeken hym. Forsothe he that ledde in to ȝou euyl thingus, shal brynge eft sone to ȝou myrthe euerlastynge with ȝour helth. Jerusalem, be thou more stable, or of better herte; sotheli he that namede thee, monestith thee. Thei that traueiliden thee, shuln apeere noyinge, or gilty; and thei that thankiden in thi fallyng, shuln be punyshide. The citees to whom thi sones seruyden, shuln be punishid, and it that toke thi sones. Sotheli as it ioyide in thi fallyng, and gladdide in thi caas, or tribulacioun, so it shal be sorewful in his desolacion. And the mirth with outen forth of multitude therof shal be kitt aweye, and the ioye of it shal be in to mournyng. Forsoth fijr shal aboue cum to it of the euerlastyng, and longe duyrynge days; and it shal be enhabitid of deuylis, in to mychilnesse of tyme. Jerusalem, beholde aboute to the eest, and see the myrthe cummynge to thee of God. Loo! forsoth thi sones cummen, whom thou leftist scaterid; thei gadrid cummen to thee fro the eest vn to the west in the word of the holy, ioying in to honour of God.
Jerusalem, vnclothe thee the stoole of mournynge, and of thi traueile; and clothe thee with fairnesse, and honour of it, that is to thee of God in euerlastynge glorie. Forsoth God shal enuyroun thee with double clothe of riȝtwisnesse, and shal putte to thin heued a mytre of euerlastynge honoure. Forsoth God shal shewe in thee his shynynge, that is vndir heuen. Sotheli thi name shal be named to thee of God in to with outen eend, Peese of riȝtwisnesse, and honour of pitee. Jerusalem, rijse vp, and stoonde in heeȝ, and biholde aboute to the eest; and see thi sones gaderid fro the sune, rijsinge vn to the west in the word of the holy, ioyinge in the mynde of God. Forsoth thei wenten out fro thee, led in feet of enmyes; forsoth the Lord shal brenge to thee hem born in to honour, as the sonnys of kyngdam. Forsoth God ordeynyde for to meek eche heeȝ hill, and euerlastynge rooches, and for to fulfille the euen valeys in to the euenesse of erthe; that Yrael walke diligentli in to honour of God. Sothely woddis and eche tree of swetnesse of Israel shadewiden, or obeiden, to the maundement of God. Forsoth God shal leede to Yrael with myrthe in the liȝt of his maiestee, with mercy and riȝtwisnesse, that is in hym.
Heer begynneth ensaumple of the same pistle, whiche Jeremye sente to the caitifs led aweie in to Babiloyne, of the Kyng of men of Babiloyne, that he shulde shewe to hem, after that it is comaundid to him of God. For the synnes that ȝee synnyden befor God, ȝe shuln be led caitifs in to Babiloyne, of Nabugodonosor, kyng of men of Babiloyne. And so ȝe gon in to Babiloyne shuln be there ful many ȝeris, and in to longe tyme, vnto seuen generacions; forsoth after this I shal lede out ȝou thennis with peese. Now forsoth ȝe shuln see in Babiloyne golden goddis, and silueren, and stonen, and treen, for to be born in shuldris, shewinge drede to folkis. Therfor see ȝee, lest and ȝee be maad liche to alien dedis, and ȝee dreede, and that drede take ȝou in hem. And so the cumpanye of peple seen fro bihynde and fro bifore wirshipynge, saye in ȝour hertis, Lord God, it byhouith thee for to be worshipid. Forsoth myn aungel is with ȝou, forsoth I my self shal seeke out ȝour soules. For whi the trees of hem polishid of a carpenter; thei also engoldid and ensiluered ben false, and mown not speke. And as to a mayden louynge ournementis, so gold takyn, thei ben forgid. Certeynli the goddis of hem han golden crownes vpon her hedis; wherof prestis drawen aweie fro hem gold and syluer, and ȝeuen, or spenden, it in hem self. Forsoth and of it thei ȝeuen to pute in bordel house, and ournen hooris; and eft sone when thei han resceyued it of hooris, thei ournen her goddis. Sothely these ben not delyuerd fro rust and mouȝthe. Forsoth hem couered with clothe of purpre, thei shuln wijpe the face of hem, for dust of the hous, that is ful myche amonge hem. Forsothe thei han a ceptre, or kyngis ȝerd, as a man; as a iuge of a cuntree, that sleath not the synnynge in to hym. Forsoth thei han also in the hond swerd and axe; forsoth thei deliueren not hem self fro bataile and day theues. Wher of be it knowen to ȝou, for thei ben not goddis; therfor worshipe ȝe not hem. Sotheli as a vessel of a man broken is maad vnprofitable, siche ben the goddis of hem. Hem sett to gidir in an hous, the eeȝen of hem ben ful of dust of the feet of men entrynge in. And as to sum man that offendith the kyng, the ȝatis ben sette aboute, and as dead man led to sepulcre, so prestes oft kepen the dores with closingis and lockis, lest thei be robbed of day theues. Thei teenden launterns to hem, and sotheli manye, of whom thei mown noon see; forsoth thei ben as bemes in the hous. Sotheli serpentis that ben of the erthe, ben sayd to licke out the hertis of hem; the while thei eeten hem, and the clothing of hem, and thei feelen not. The faces of hem ben blac of smoke, that is maad in the hous. Aboue the bodi of hem, and aboue the hed of hem backis, or reremijse, and swalewis fleeȝen, and briddis also, and also cattis. Wher of wite ȝee, for thei ben not goddis; therfor ȝee shuln not drede hem. Also the gold that thei han, is to fairnesse; no bot eny man shal wijpe awei the rust, thei shuln not shyne. Forsothe nether the whijle thei weren ȝooten to gidir, thei feeliden. Thei ben bouȝt of al pris, in whiche thingus spirit is not in hem. With outen feet thei ben born in shuldris, shewynge her vnnobley to men; also be thei confoundid that wurshipen hem. Therfor ȝif thei shuln falle in to erthe, of hem self thei shuln not rijse to gyder; nether ȝif eny man shal sette hym riȝt, by hym self he shal stonde, bot as to dead men shuldris shuln be putte to hem. The prestes of hem sellen the hoostis, or sacrifices, of hem, and mysusen; also and the wymmen of hem takynge aweie, nether parten to seeke man, nether to beggynge. Of the sacrifices of hem wymmen with chijlde, and menstruat, or in vncleene blode, touchen togyder. And so witynge of these thingis, for thei ben not goddis, dreed ȝee hem not. Forsoth wherof ben thei clepid goddis? For wymmen putten to golden goddis, sylueren, and treenen; and in the housis of hem sitten prestis hauyng torne, or kutt, cootis, and hedis and berd shauen, whos hedis ben nakid. Forsoth thei roren cryinge aȝeins her goddis, as in the super of a dead man. Prestis taken awei the clothingus of hem, and clothen her wijues, and her sones. Nether ȝif thei suffren eny thing of euyl of eny man, nether ȝif eny thinge of good, thei shuln mowe ȝeelde. Nether thei mown make a kyng, nether do aweie. Also nether thei mown ȝeue ricchessis, nether ȝeeld euyll thing. Ȝif eny man shal avowe to hem, and shal not ȝeelde, nether thei requyren, or axen, this thing. Thei delyueren not a man fro deth, nether delyueren a seeke man fro a more miȝti. Thei restoren not a blynde man to siȝt; thei shuln not delyuere a man fro neede. Thei shuln not haue mercye of the wydue, nether thei shuln do weel to the fadrelesse and modrelesse. The treenen goddis of hem, and stoonen, and golden, and sylueren, ben lijc to stoonys of the mounteyn; forsoth thei that worshipen hem, shuln be confoundid. Hou therfore is it to be gessid, or to be saide, hem for to be goddis; ȝit the ylk Caldeis not honourynge hem? Whiche whan thei shuln heere the doumbe not to mowe speke, offren hym to Bel, axinge of hym for to speke; as thei mown feele, whiche han not mouynge. And thei whanne thei shuln vndirstonde, shuln forsake hem; sothely the ilke goddis of hem han not witt. Forsoth wymmen ȝouen aboute, or bounden, with coordis sitten in weyes, brennynge boonys of olyues. Forsoth whann eny of hem drawen aweye of eny man passinge hath slept, she dispisith hir neiȝbore, for she is not had worthi as sche, nether hir coord is broken. Forsoth alle thingis that ben don to hem, ben fals. Hou is it to be gessid, or to be said, hem for to be goddis? Forsoth of carpenteres and goldsmithis thei ben maad. Thei shuln noon other thing be, no bot the ylk that prestis wolen for to be. Also thilk goldsmyththis that maken hem, ben not of myche tyme; therfor whether the thingus that ben maad of hem mown be goddis? Forsoth thei leften fals thingus, and shenshipe to men to cummynge after. For whi whenne bataile shal aboue cum to hem, and euyl thingis, prestis thenken, where thei shuln hijde hem self with hem. Therfore how own thei for to be feelid, or demyd, for thei ben goddis, whiche nether delyueren hem fro batail, nether delyueren hem fro euyl thingis? For whi whenne thei ben treenen, and stoonen, and engoldid, and ensyluered, it shal ben wist afterward, for thei ben fals, to alle folkis and kyngis; whiche ben open, or knowen, for thei ben not goddis, bot werkis of mennus hondis, and no werc of God with hem. Wher of therfor it is knowen, for thei ben not goddis, bot werkis of mennus hondis, and no werk of God is in hem. Thei reisen not a kyng to a cuntree, nether thei shuln ȝeue reyn to men. Also thei shul not discryue, or iuge, a dome, nether thei shuln delyuere a cuntree fro wronge. For thei mown no thing, as litil crowis bitwix the mydil of heuen and erthe. And sotheli whenne fijre shal fal in to the house of treenen goddis, and golden, and silueren, sotheli the prestis of hem shuln flee, and shuln be delyuered; bot thei as bemys in the mydil shuln be brent. Forsoth thei shuln not aȝeinstonde a kyng and batail. Hou therfore is it to be gessid, or to be resceyued, for thei ben goddis? Thei shul not delyuere hem self fro niȝt theeues, nether day theeues, treenen goddis, and stoonen, and engoldid, and ensiluered, than whiche wickid men ben strenger. Thei shuln take awei fro hem gold, and syluer, and clothing, in whiche thei ben couered, and thei shuln go aweie; nether thei beren help to hem self. And so it is beter a kyng for to be shewynge his vertue, or a profitable vesselle in the house, in whom he shal glorie that weeldith it, than fals goddis; or a dore in the house, whiche kepith the thingis that ben in it, than fals goddis. Sothely the sunne, and mone, and sterris, whenne thei ben shynynge, and sent out to profitis, obeyen. Also and leyt, whanne it shal apeere, is cleer. Forsoth the same thinge and spirit, or wynd, brethith in eche cuntre. And cloudis, to whiche when it shal be comaundid of God for to walke thorou al the world, don what thing is comaundid to hem. Also fijr sente fro aboue, that it waast hillis and woddis, doth what thing is comaundid to it; forsoth these nether in lickenesse nether vertues ben liche to oon of hem. Wher of nether it is to be gessid, nether to be said, hem for to be goddis, whenne thei mown nether deeme dome, nether do to men. And so witynge for thei ben not goddis, therfor ȝee shuln not dreden hem. Sotheli nether thei shuln curse kyngis, nether thei shuln blesse. Forsoth thei shewen not to folkis tokenis in heuen, nether thei shuln shyne as sunne, nether liȝtene as the mone. Bestis ben better than thei, whiche mown flee vndir a roof, and profit to hem self. And so by no manere it is knowen to ȝow, for thei ben goddis. For whiche thing drede ȝee not hem. For whi as dreed in place where cucumeris, that ben bitter herbis, waxen, kepith no thing, so ben the treenen goddis, and sylueren, and goldid of hem. In the same manere and in a ȝerd a whijt thorn, vpon whiche eche bridde sittith, also and to a dead thing cast in derckenesses, the treenen godus of hem, and ensiluered, and engoldid, ben lijc. And of the purpre and marble, that thei holden aboue hem, ȝee shuln wite also, for thei ben no goddis. Also at the last thei hem self ben eten, and it shal be in to repreue in the cuntre. Betir is an iust man, that hath not symylacris, for whi he shal be fer fro shenshipes.
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