LIBER TERTIUS REGUM.
[SOLOMON CONSOLIDATES HIS THRONE (2:13–46)]
9625 9630 9635 9640 9645 9650 9655 9660 9665 9670 9675 9680 9685 9690 9695 9700 9705 9710 9715 9720	803. In the Secund Boke before is told    how David, sun of Jesse, In barnhed he began to be bold    whyls that he keped his fader fee, And sythyn how he had welth in wold    and honerd God in gud degree, And afturward how he was old    and went whor God wold hym to be. This Thryd Boke is begun    when Kyng David was dede, How Salamon, his sun,    was sett in that same stede. 804. In this same boke before is rede    how Adhony toyght full gret hethyng That Salamon suld so be sted    of Ebrews folke forto be kyng. With all his forse fast he hym sped    and sett hymselfe to that same thyng. Bot sythyn he and his felows fled    becawse thei fayled of ther fowlyng. For he was elder brother,    well knawn in ylke cuntré, Hym toyght ther suld non other    be kyng bot only he. 805. Therfor to seke sum sutell gyn    he besys hym erly and late. Abysag was comyn of gentyll kyn,    that maydyn that held his fader hate. He toyght myght he hyre to wyfe win,    so suld he governd grett astate. And then he toyght forto begyn    agayns his brother sum grett debate. To make this bargan be    he pursewed fast ther on Unto the qwene Barsabé,    the moyder of Salamon. 806. When he come thor, on knese he kneled    full softly os a sympyll knave. “I pray your sun to be my beld,    my dame,” he sayd, “and ye vouchsave. I am his brother elder of eld,    all thof he all this kyngdom have. Bot Abysag to wyfe at weld    I kepe not ellys at hym to crave. And ye wyll aske this bone,    full mekyll yt mend me may.” Scho sayd, “This sal be done.”    And sone scho went hyr way. 807. Unto the kyng scho come in hy    and haylssed hym be stevyn full styll. He welcumd hyr full curtasly    and sayd, “Moyder, what is your wyll?” Scho sayd, “Sun, grett erand have I,    qwylke I wyll pray thee to fulfyll, Towchand thi brother Adony,    and to helpe hym I hald yt skyll. That woman wold he wed    to wyf yf that thou wold, That warmed thi fader bed    and hym when he was cold. 808. “For this, sun, hath he me besogh,    and I beseke thee for the same.” The kyng wyst full well his toyght    that all was forto schape hym schame. “Moyder,” he sayd, “meynys yow noyght,    when we ware with my fader at hame, How Joab and he wunders wroyght    to make hym kyng and call be name? And the same se I now    he purpase more and more. To God I make my vowe:    he sal be dede therfore.” 809. He cald a knyght heyght Banay,    and bad he suld tyte vengance take Of Duke Joab and Adony    for fals maystry that thei con make, And sythyn also of Symey    that with stonys at his fader strake. Tho thre so had ther hyre in hy,    aftur ther werkes ware worthy wrake. Abyathar was demed    as byschop aght to be. For falshed was he flemed    and degrade of his degré. 810. And Sadoke was made soveran hed    als byschope stably forto stand. And when Duke Joab thus was dede,    Duke Banay was thore ordand Forto be stewerd in his sted,    and all the folke heldyd to his hand, And he them forto rewle and rede    agayn ther enmys in ylka land. Then to Kyng Salamon    was all folke fayn to plese. And in the werld was non    that durst do hym dysesse.	(t-note) childhood father’s inheritance (estate) then; prosperity on earth desired place Adonijah considered [it a]; contempt placed (t-note) then evil plan thought; (t-note) subtle trick busies Abishag; family kept his father warm (t-note) Bathsheba protection elder in age although haste hailed; voice (see note) (t-note) besought do you not remember Benaiah quickly (t-note) Shimei struck their payment at once; (t-note) Abiathar (t-note) exiled removed from his office (t-note) inclined; (see note) (t-note) dared; distress
[SOLOMON MARRIES; GOD GRANTS HIM WISDOM (3:1–15)]
9725 9730 9735 9740 9745 9750 9755 9760 9765	811. Kyng Salamon governd hym so    that ylk land had of hym aw. He toke a wyfe wonder fayr hym to    and that lyfed by another law. Scho was the doyghtur of Pharo,    of Egyp kyng, cumly to knaw. Bot evyn als Salamon wold do,    assented scho in dede and saw. He lyfed withoutyn lese    aftur the Law lely That God gaf unto Moyses    on the Mownt of Synay. 812. Kyng Salamon then and his men    unto Ebron ther gattes hath grayd With sacrafyce ther God to ken,    and of ther purpase was God payd. Thei offerd mo then hunderthes ten    of calves and lambs on auters layd. And on the nyght nex foloand then    God spake to Salamon and sayd, “Aske of Me what thou wyll,    and wheder thou wynke or wake, I graunt yt to fulfyll    for thi gud faders sake.” 813. Then Salamon aspyse gud sped    what hym ware best of God to crave: “To aske ryches, that is no ned,    I have enogh on all sydes to save. And power nedes me non for dred,    all dowtes me boyth knyght and knave. Bot wytt Thi folke by law to led    and wyll to werke wele wold I have.” God answerd then and sayd,    “Thou askys all skylfull thyng. This purpas mas Me payd.    I graunt thee thin askyng. 814. “More wyse and wytty sall thou be    then Jew or panym that ever er past. And ose thou trewly trestes in Me,    fro thi kyngdom sall non thee kast, Ne thin ayres that cumys aftur thee    as lang os thei in Law wyll last.” Of this forward full fayn was he    and thanked God fully and fast. Then wentt thei fro Ebron    to Jerusalem agayn. So was Kyng Salamon    sett in his power playn.	wondrously beautiful law (faith) deed and word without lie loyally (t-note) their paths have taken; (see note) worship pleased more than 1,000; (t-note) altars; (t-note) next following that (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) fears; (t-note) wisdom makes; happy; (t-note) pagan; before lived Nor your heirs (t-note) glad
[SOLOMON’S WISDOM: CUTTING THE CHILD IN TWO (3:16–28)]
9770 9775 9780 9785 9790 9795 9800 9805 9810 9815 9820 9825 9830 9835 9840	815. In this meyn tyme that I of tell    a torfer in the town betyde: Two wemen in a hows con dwell,    and both thei ware for comyn kyd. A myschef was mevyd them omell    that myght noght then be hyld ne hyd. Befor the kyng on knese thei fell    forto gyf dome, and so he dyd. Unto hym told the on    the cause of ther comyng ydder: “My lord, we two alon    dwelled in a hows togeyddyr. 816. “And we ware both be seson ryght    as grett with chyld os we myght go. I was delyver thrugh Goddes myght    of a fayr son; so ware we two. And this woman of the thryd nyght    was delyver of a sun also. Scho overlay yt withowtyn lyght,    and when scho wakyd, then was scho wo. Bot a fals wyle scho wroyght,    lord, os I slepand lay: Hyr ded barn scho me broyght    and toke myn qwyk away. 817. “And when I wakynd of my slepe    and fand a ded chyld me beforne, No wunder was yf I wold wepe,    for that I lufed I had forlorn. By clere lyght then toke I kepe    that yt was never of my body born. My sun I saw bysyd hyr crepe;    thus has scho turment me this morn.” That other answerd agayn,    “My lord, scho beyrs the wrang. Hyr awn sun has scho slayn;    myn lyfes and may lyfe lang.” 818. The fyrst unto the kyng then cryse,    hyr hert was hevy os lether or lede, “Ser, I say yow the sothe assyse    as ever I styre owt of this stede.” That other cryd full lowde, “Thou leys,    bot my sun lyfes, and thin ys dede.” What was to werke now in this wyse,    the kyng asked all his consell rede. Thei sayd thei had not lered    swylke case forto declare. Then bad he bryng a sword    belyve befor hym thare. 819. “And the qwyke chyld that thei fore chyd    depart sonder here in this place And gyf to ayder of them a syd!”    The pepyll then grett murmur mase. Thei say, “Yt wele is sene this tyd    of a new kyng a new comyn case.” Bot the moyder kneled and lowd scho cryde,    “A mercy, lord, graunt me this grace: Gyfe my chyld leve to lyfe,    I make no more debate. All hole to hyr yt gyfe    and lett me go my gate!” 820. That other sayd, “So sall noyght be,    bot to be departed evyn yt aw. And take that on half unto thee;    that other is myn, now well I knaw.” And when the kyng this syght con se,    syttand in dowm, he sayd this saw, “The moyder of the chyld hath peté.    Delyver yt hyr; this lore ys law.” Then wex the folke full fayn    for joye of this jugment. And that he was wyse certan,    the word full wyd whore went.	trouble; town (i.e., Jerusalem); (t-note) known to be common (i.e., prostitutes) among healed nor hid; (t-note) judgment; (t-note) one coming there (see note) smothered trick sleeping child my living [one] notice beside bears the guilt (t-note) mine lives (t-note) lead truth test place lie; (t-note) (t-note) council’s advice learned quickly living; before quarreled about cut in two either make (see note); (t-note) (t-note) permission whole way ought one (t-note) judgment word is binding grew; glad
[SOLOMON’S WISDOM AND ORGANIZATION (4:1–34)]
9845 9850 9855 9860	821. Kyng Salamon then con assay    to sett Goddes servyce ever in syght And sythyn his reme forto aray    and rewle his men by reson ryght. In certan placeys he con purvay    princes to purge the pepyll plyght, And dukes full dere be dyverse day    dewly ther dome to dele and dyght. Of folke that to hym fell    myght no man tell the teynd. Of all wytt was he well    in werld, wher he suld wende. 822. And by his wytt and his wysdom    us menes that he made bokes thre. Ane Cantica Canticorum,    that is a boke of grett bonité. Ecclesiastecen kennes sum    the secund boke named sal be. Proverbes and Psalmes then, as thei com    forto be sayd in sere degree. Who lykes of wytt to lere    or of counsell to crave, In his bokes may thei here    what so ther hert wold have.	endeavor realm duly their judgments; make (see note) trouble we believe Canticle of Canticles (Song of Songs) bounty (goodness); (t-note) Ecclesiastes some acknowledge (t-note) various wisdom to learn hear; (t-note)
[SOLOMON COMPLETES THE TEMPLE OF GOD (5:1–6:38)]
9865 9870 9875 9880 9885 9890 9895 9900 9905 9910	823. Then nyght and day was his desyre    the Tempyll of God to dyght and drese, Als Kyng David, his soverayn syre,    had laft ther to enogh ryches. Iram, that was kyng of Tyre,    sent word by letturs, more and lesse, That he suld have withoutyn hyre    tymber of syder and of cypresse. So had he all that nedes    enogh, and wanted none. And to do dyverse dedes    werke men had he gud woyne. 824. Kyng David, whyls he was on lyve,    full gradly all that ground began. Agayns his strykes wold no man stryve,    bot held his mesurs ylka man. Than ware past to make rekenyng ryve,    as cunnand clerkes declare yt can, Fawr thowssand yeres fyfty and fyve    fro this werld was begun to than. In sevyn yeres was yt sett,   the substance, tre and stone; Bot afturward was yett    ymages of gold gud woyne. 825. Ther was never beste that man myght nevyn,    ne fulle that was formed to flygh, That ne yt was ther ordand full evyn    of fyne gold and besandes bryght. The suteltes of science sevyn    thor ware to red on raw full ryght. Yt myght be lykynd unto Hevyn,    for yt was ever lemand and lyght. Then was wunder to tell,    or to declare by skyll Of gold what grett vessell    that ware ordand ther tyll. 826. All ryches sere ther was to sett    may no man say ne syng in sang. Of sylver myght thei go and gete    als men may now for marber gang. And gold was no more to be mett    then other metall ys us amang. To tell the lele withoutyn lett    sum suld suppose my wordes ware wrang; Wher for who lykes to loke    how all that werke was wroyght, Go to the Bybyll boke!    Thore sall thei se unsoght.	make; arrange; (t-note) Hiram payment cedar lacked nothing in abundance alive precisely; prepared lines; (t-note) maintained his measurements a complete reckoning 4,055 years; (see note) (t-note) in abundance; (t-note) beast; mention fowl; (t-note) wrought bezants (see note) there were to be read in order shining various; (t-note) marble go more difficult to find truth without lie
[SOLOMON DEDICATES THE TEMPLE OF GOD (7:40–8:66)]
9915 9920 9925 9930 9935 9940 9945 9950 9955 9960	827. When all was done thus daynthyly    that to that Tempyll suld pertene, To halo yt thei hasted in hy    that Goddes servyce myght thore be sene. Thar congregacion of clergy    cald thei fro all cuntré clene. Thor was all maner of melody    that men be museke myght of mene. Sothyn Salamon the wyse    of bestes, wyld and tame, Made solempne sacrafyce;    all other dyd the same. 828. To Hevyn held he up then his hend    and prayd to God thus with gud wyll, “Gud Lord that ylk myse may mend,    I love Thi love both lowd and styll That unto me this grace hath send    my faders forward forto fulfyll And of this hows forto make end,    als Thou that tym told hym untyll. And als my fader prayd,    I pray with wyll and toyght That Thou be plessed and payde    of this werke that is wroyght. 829. “And all that enturs in this place    aftur Thi helpe to cry and call, Lord, of Thi gudnese graunt them grace    of all ther grevance, grett or small!” And als he spake so in that space,    God sent a sygne amang them all: A flawm of fyre before ther face    evyn on ther sacrafyce con fall And hent yt up to Hevyn    with mynstralsy and sang. The myrth myght no man nevyn    that was made them amang. 830. Then held thei with solempnité    a fest full fyftene days be dene. The fest was named Synophogy,    whylke Jews maynteyns yett them betwen. The Arke of God in grett degree    thor sett thei up forto be sene. Thei went ylkon to ther cuntré    to abyd before whore thei had bene. Kyng Salamon con byd    in his city at hame. In all the werldes wyde    of his wytt went the fame.	properly; (t-note) hallow sin publicly and privately heart and head (t-note) flame carried account forthwith; (t-note) Feast of Tabernacles; (see note); (t-note) dwell live (t-note)
[SOLOMON COMPLETES HIS PALACE AND OTHER BUILDINGS (7:1–39)]
9965 9970 9975 9980	831. Another hows then ordand he    all only for his awn wonyng. And that was mad in yeres thre,    all of ryches and ryall thyng. And then the thryd in forto be    when he suld deme of old and yyng. Swylke a hows was never sett forto se    in erth to emperour, ne kyng. The fawrt then for his qwene    qwer scho with blyse myght byde, And for lades be dene    serely on ylka syde. 832. That hows was paynted with peramour,    with resons ryall forto rede, And fowls full fayre of favour,    with sang and spekyng full gud spede, And flours in ther kyndly colour,    os thei in feld ar folke to fede, And ylkon in the same savour    as yt suld in the burgeon bred. All myrth that men may tell    was mad withoutyn myse. Who in that hows myght dwell    thurt abyd no bettur blyse.	(see note); (t-note) living (see note); (t-note) royal things third [building]; (t-note) (t-note) fourth; (t-note) blissfully might dwell straightway many courteousness royal pronouncements to be read; (see note) (t-note) song flowers bud flaw needs await no better bliss
[SOLOMON’S WIVES LEAD HIM INTO IDOLATRY (11:1–8)]
9985 9990 9995 10000 10005 10010 10015 10020 10025 10030	833. Kyng Salamon ys now certan    that all the werld with hym wyll held, For all the Phylysteyns ar full fayn    to forther hym in fyrth and feld. Ther was never man so mekyll of main,    ne that so grett wyt had to weld. Yett at the last yt is not to layn:    with lust was all lost in his eld. Wemen that he con take    with lust to lyg them by, Gart hym his God forsake    and turnd to mawmentry. 834. Fyrst of his state to understand    how he began on mys to go, He wed a wyf of paynyms land,    was kynges doyghthur Pharo. For hyr this hows was new ordand    and for other of hyr meneye mo. Thei mad hym fond, and that he fand,    for his best frend becom his foo. Whyls he his God cowd knaw,    all welthes he had gud woyne. And when he left His Law,    God leved hym then allon. 835. Of qwennes then had he hunderthes sevyn    to weld at wyll ay when he wold, And thre hunderth of other evyn,    doyghturs of dukes and barons bold, Ay forto stand unto his stevyn,    and all thei used crowns of gold. Swylke howshald was noyght under Hevyn,    bot for this myse yt myght not hold. Of Ebrews had he qwennes    that full wyse wemen wore, Bot most part was paynyms    that plessed hym mekyll more. 836. Thei fed hym fere in foly    that all his forse fouly he fyled. He made tempyls to mawmentry    and to fals goddes that hym begyld. So he forgate God Allmighty    that ever had bene his bote or beld, And lyfed in lust and lechery    aftur the wylles of wemen wyld. So Adam and Sampson,    our forfaders, ware flayd, David and Salamon    with wemen ware betrayde.	incline; (see note); (t-note) glad assist; (see note) of so much strength wield lie age lie Caused idolatry in sin; (t-note) pagan’s [who] was the daughter of the king, Pharaoh company became his foe queens (concubines); 700 use at will whenever he wanted; (t-note) others as well Always; command wore [a] household sin [for the] most part [they] were pagans pleased him much together strength foully he defiled idolatry that beguiled him (t-note) help and protection; (t-note) Just as flayed
[SOLOMON REBUKED BY AHIJAH (11:9–13, 29–39)]
10035 10040 10045 10050 10055 10060 10065 10070 10075 10080	837. He that so wyse and wytty was    that under Hevyn he had no make, That he for lust suld be lorn, alas,    and wast his wytt for wemens sake! God was greved with his grett trespase,    for he to fals goddes con hym take, And sent the prophet Achyas    to warn hym how he wold take wrake. The prophett sone was grayd,    and to that courte come he. “Kyng Salamon,” he sayd,    “take tent what I tell thee! 838. “Thou wott wele how God gafe the Law    to Moyses in the hyll on heyght, Qwylke wele thou wott all Ebrews aw    to maynteyn ever with all ther myght. And now thou wenes He con not knaw    how thou refusys yt all unryght. He hath me sent to say this saw:    thi synes ar fowle before His syght. Hard vengance wold He take    so that thou suld be lorne, Bot for thi faders sake    sum dele sal be forborne. 839. “Hee honerd God erly and late.    therfor God heyght, qwen he was past, That thou suld stand with his astate    in lordschep whyls thi lyf myght last. All yf here thou wyll Hym hate,    that forward sal be full and fast. Bot thou sall have bale and debate    and with thin enmys oft be umcast. And whore thou and no mo    ys kyng of kynred twelfe, Thi sun sall have bot two    assygned to hymselfe. 840. “And so mony suld he noyght have    bot for David, thi fader dere, And als the heritage forto save    that all sall noyght be sunderd sere. Jeroboam to thee is bot a knave,    sal be kyng of ten kynredes clere. And so for thou wold rudly rave,    thi sun sall part fro his power, qwylke he suld have haly    had noyght thi boldnese bene.” Then Salamon was sory,    no wunder was to wene.	match lost; (t-note) waste (see note) Ahijah [the Shilonite] take vengeance soon was prepared take heed [of] what know well ought power believe pronouncement; (t-note) some part shall promised; dead Even (t-note) sorrow; (t-note) afflicted; (t-note) though you twelve tribes completely sundered [but he] shall (t-note)
[SOLOMON BESET WITH TROUBLES (11:14–40)]
10085 10090 10095 10100 10105 10110 10115 10120 10125 10130 10135 10140	841. Then gretand unto God he prayd,    bot for all that note was never the nerre. All behoved be os the prophett sayd.    Ylk day wex with hym werre and werre. So owt of Egyp land was grayd    A cumly knyght, was cald Ader. A ryall ost sone he arayd    Kyng Salamon of his myght to marre. Duke Joab slow his syre;    then myght he yt not aqwyte, Bot now he had desyre    to do Ebrews dyspytte. 842. When Ader herd David was ded    and Joab, that his fader had slayn, And Salamon als soveran hed    sett in all his power playn, Then wold he byd no bettur bed    bot went to werre Ebrews agayn. He brent and stroyd in mony a styd,    and therfor ware Phylysteyns fayn. And on that other syde    Jeroboam of Joseph kyn, He redyd hym to ryde    the reaume to weld and wyn. 843. Wele-hernest men with hym he has.    Jerusalem he hasted hym untyll. Thore come the prophett Achias    and warned hym what was Goddes wyll. The pepyll lete he playnly pase,    and in a sted he stud hym styll. A new mantyll abowt hym was;    that sped he hym fast forto spyll. On the ground ther he yt spredes,    and his sword owt he brayd And schare yt in twelf shredes,    and on this wyse he sayd, 844. “Jeroboam, thou sall understand,    os thou seys me this mantyll twyn, So sall the lordschep of this land    be departed in sonder all for syne. Ten kynredes sall held to thi hand,    and thou sall were them wele with wyn. And two are to the hayre ordand,    that ar of Juda and of Bynjamyn. And Jerusalem cyté    sall he have in his wald, And thiselfe sall kyng be    of ten. Thus hath God told. 845. “And als lang os thou lufes His Law    sall grett lordschep to thee be lent. And yf thou kest not Hym to knaw,    thi welth wyll sone fro thee be went.” Jeroboam, sone aftur this saw,    gret heghnes in his hert he hent. The lordes he con fast to hym draw    and made them sone of his assent, So that full sone had he    mo lordes at his ledyng And wele mo commynté    then had Salamon the kyng.	weeping; (t-note) sorrow [God]; nearer grew more and more wars sent Hadad army quickly had slain his father at that time; avenge (t-note) war against the Hebrews burned; place (t-note) readied himself realm; (t-note) Well-harnessed Ahijah allowed him (i.e., Ahijah) to pass easily place cloak; (t-note) drop he took out sheared you see; cut; (t-note) wear heir taken pronouncement took (t-note) commonalty; (t-note)
[SOLOMON’S DEATH (11:41–43)]
10145 10150 10155 10160	846. Kyng Salamon then fand and feld    that God was not fully his frend. Qwat for grett dewle, qwat for eld,    in lyf he myght no langer lend. Then myght no boldnes be his beld,    bot fro his welth behoved hym wende. All wysdom that he had to weld    was turned to foly befor his end. Ryches rewled unryght    is nothyng forto nevyn; Ne wytt may have no myght    withowtyn helpe from Hevyn. 847. Ne prowyse ys nothyng in prise    withoutyn grace of God Allmighty, Bot He that ys the Hegh Justyce    may mend all myse thrught His mercy. So endyd Salamon the wyse;    I wott not what he was worthy. Thei layd hym whore his fader lyse    in that same cyté solemply. Faur score yeres ware past our    whyls he had kynges power. And nyne score yere and faur    was all his wonnyng here.	discovered and felt Whether for great grief, [or]; age (t-note) mention (t-note) (t-note) whether eighty; (see note); (t-note) 184 years living
[REHOBOAM CROWNED; ISRAEL DIVIDED (11:43–12:24)]
10165 10170 10175 10180 10185 10190 10195 10200 10205 10210 10215 10220 10225 10230 10235 10240 10245 10250 10255 10260 10265 10270 10275 10280 10285 10290 10295 10300 10305	848. When Salamon thus had mad end    and gyfyn his gast to Goddes grace, The lordes that in that land con lend;    thei toke ther counsell in that case Who suld have force them to dyffend    agayns the Phylysteyns, ther fase. And Roboam, his sun, thei kend    for myghty man and most ryght has. Thei sembled in Sychem,    a cyté of grett renown, Nere to Jerusalem,    a kyng ther forto crown. 849. When thei ware geydderd grett and small,    unto ther werke sone thei went. An alderman spake for them all    and told to Roboam ther entent And sayd, “Ser Roboam, thou sall    be our sufferan, so have we ment. And we sall com unto thi call    so that thou tyll our sawes assent. We ware fayne forto plese    thi fader, ose for our kyng. And he dyd us dysesse    and wrang in sum werkyng. 850. “Thou wot full wele Ebrews ar we    to lyf be the maners of Moyses. Thi fader greved us in degré;    of our assyse he made us sesse And to be thrall, whore we ware free,    agayns the Law; this ys no lese. Of all swylke poyntes aske we thee    all holy forto have releyse. And yf thou graunt this thyng,    then wyll we graunt agayne That thou be crowned kyng    and we thi pepyll playn.” 851. When Roboam herd how he says,    he thynkes the pepyll rudly rave. That purpase nothyng to hym pays    forto graunt them so that thei crave. He sayd, “Ser, respeytt of thre days,    and then your answer sall ye have.” Them toyght he suld make no delays,    bot neverthelese thei vouchsave. And in thies thre days then,    whyls thei this convent held, He asked red at old men    that with his fader dweld. 852. Thei sayd, “Ser, we assent ther tyll    that thei be als there elders wore And have ther fredoms to fulfyll,    als ther faders had before. Yf thou wyll graunt them with gud wyll,    then wyll thei lely luf thi lore. And yf thou part from them with yll,    of counsell then can we no more. Syr, yt is wysdom,    and wys men hath bene lefe To suffer a lese yll com    and lett a more myschefe.” 853. When Roboam thies wordes hers,    this purpase was not to his pay. He cald to hym yyng bachelers    that he was wonnt with forto play. He says, “Omys this men me lerys    to make my lordschep les for ay. Wyll ye assent to swylke maners?”    Thei answerd and sayd schortly, “Nay! Bot os thei boun have bene    to thi fader before, The same sall thou maynteyn    and make them sugettes more. 854. “And tell them this to understand:    thou hath more strenght maystrys to make In the lest fynger of thi hand    then was in all thi fader bake. And whore he bett them with a wand    to hold them law withoutyn lake, Bett thou with scorpions, we warand.”    All thus dyspytfully thei spake. Then Roboam was well payd;    hym lyked to frayn no ferre, Bot to the pepyll he sayd    he suld do so or warre. 855. Thies wys men red refused he has,    and aftur yong men ways he went. Therfor the pepyll fast fro hym pas;    Non bot two lyneg with hym lent. So was the wordes of Achyas    fullfylled that told thus his entent: Ryght ose his mantyll revyn was,    so suld the reme be raysed and rent. The same was sen that day;    God wold that yt ware so. Ten kynredes turned away    and with hym left bot two. 856. A redlese man was Roboam    when the pepyll went ther ways. He sent a prince heyght Adoram,    and to the pepyll full fayr he prays. And lordes ylkon he nevynd by name.    “Comys agayn, gud sers!” he says. “My lord says ye sall have the same    that ye had in your fader days Or bettur, yf that he myght;    I undertake to yow.” That spekyng was for noyght;    his tayles thei wold noyght trow. 857. Them lyst not bow, ose he them bade,    bot with dyspytt hym to dyspyse. His messynger thei stoned to ded    and send hym word on this kyn wyse: Thei wold never hald hym for ther hede    that made them fayle of ther fraunchese. Then Roboam was full wyll of rede;    he went whore no relevyng lyse. So folke may frenschepe fayle    and oft sythys harmes hent Because of yll counsell,    yf thei sone wyll assent. 858. He saw the pepyll ware past hym fro    And Adoram his cosyn slayn. Fro Sychem then fast con he go    unto Jerusalem evyn agayn. And with hym went the kynredes two    that ware ever to his bedyng bayn. Of all the twelfe he had no moo;    so ware thei sonderd for certayn. Tho kynredes mad hym kyng    of them and ther cuntré And oblyst, old and yyng,    at his bedyng to be. 859. Then is yt tym furth forto tell    what betyd of the other ten. Jeroboam was ferse and fell    and the most cumly that thei ken. Thei mad hym kyng of Israel,    and holy thei become his men. Thore was no more ther kynges omell    bot Roboam and Jeroboam then. Both byschopes, prestes, and clerkes    with all ther barn teme That gaf them to Goddes werkes    wuned all in Jerusalem.	soul; (t-note) gather foes Rehoboam (t-note) Shechem; (t-note) sovereign words glad; (t-note) But; caused us anxiety (dis-ease) (t-note) cease lie (t-note) (t-note) counsel to that loyally love your wisdom (t-note) spared lesser ill stop a greater; (t-note) hears; (t-note) satisfaction; (t-note) young I’ve learned these men aim; (t-note) less for ever (t-note) were sworn [to] (t-note) subjects masteries smallest back in line without fault (t-note) pleased inquire no further (t-note) The counsel of these wise men tribes; remain; (t-note) Ahijah cut realm; (t-note) seen; (t-note) An unwise called Adoram invoked stories; trust desired not [to] (i.e., Adoram) in just this way king often times receive harm command obedient promised occurred with fierce and hard; (t-note) fair; knew (t-note) among [them] (t-note) their children; (t-note)
[REHOBOAM’S REIGN (14:21–24)]
10310 10315 10320 10325 10330 10335 10340 10345 10350 10355 10360 10365	860. Now ware ther two kynges in a cuntré,    and so the folke ware sunderd sere. Jeroboam now lett we be    that hath to hym ten kynredes clere. Of Roboam furth speke wyll we    more of his lyfyng forto lere. He sojorns in his awn cyté    and full fayr folke with hym in fere. Aght milia knyghtes kene    had he of his assent And other folke full clene    that to hym wold take tent. 861. He made in the cuntré of Juda    a dossan cytes stif of stone. To Bynjamyns he made wele ma,    for gold ne werkmen want he none. And wele he ordand in all tha    of whett and oyle and wyn gud woyne And armours both to frend and fa    to have new when old ware gone. Aghtene qwenes with hym ware    and of other thryty and one; Bot the chefe yett was Thamar,    the doyghtur of Absolon. 862. He spake with hyr most specially,    for scho was of his kyn most nere. His ayre was born of hyr body,    heyght Abyam, ose men may here. He had of qwenes and other by    twenty and aght sons all sere, And sexty doyghturs, I dar not ly.    The feleschep was fayr in fere. No man on mold myght knaw    of his tresour the tend. Ay whyls he lufed Goddes law,    all folke ware fulli his frend. 863. Bot oft sythyes have we sene the same:    grett ryches makes men myse to spede. So ferd yt with Kyng Roboam,    als wyttenes boyth his word and dede. He was so ryche in hows at ham    that unto Hevyn toke he no hede. He loved noyght nevyn God by His name,    for of His helpe he had no nede. He forgatte God Allmighty    that all his sele had sent. In prid and lychery    was all his lykyng lent. 864. So lyfed lordes of his land be dene,    and aftur all the pepyll playn. By yll exempyls oft tyms is sene    full mony sawlys with syns slayn. Also we se sum men wyll wene    thei be noyght sure with ther sufferayn Bot yf thei of his maners mene    and maynten them with all ther mayn. Foule syn of sodomyte    used thei ever ylk man. God was noyght worthy to wyte    yf he toke vengance then.	(t-note) apart learn together 8,000; (see note) (t-note) take heed dozen; (t-note) Benjaminites lacked in abundance friend and foe (i.e., to everyone) Eighteen queens others (concubines); (see note) Tamar; (see note) Absalom; (t-note) heir Abijam twenty-eight sons all together altogether (t-note) amount (t-note) often times; seen sin So it was witnessed in home invoke; (t-note) happiness forthwith souls with sin [are] (t-note) (t-note) strength sodomy
[EGYPT SACKS JUDAH AND JERUSALEM (14:25–28)]
10370 10375 10380 10385 10390 10395 10400 10405 10410 10415 10420 10425 10430 10435 10440	865. Kyng Sysoc come to that cuntré;    fro Egyp broyght he his baytell. A mille charyottes had he,    all full of armours and vytall, And knyghtes full semly forto se    sexty milia trew to trayvall, And folke on fote full fayre plenté    faurty milia that wyll noyght fayle. Thei wasted all that was wroyght    in burghes abowt Sychem. And so sadly thei soyght    ryght to Jerusalem. 866. The cyté thynke thei sun to wen    and conquere yt be clene maystry. Kyng Roboam that was within    to see that syght was full sary. Then forto grete he con begyn    and unto God fast call and cry. He sayd, “This sorow is for my syn,    and all this wo am I worthy.” To the Tempyll went thei all    that in that cyté ware, And thore on knese thei fall,    gretand to God full sore. 867. God sent word with his prophett playn    when thei so ther defawtes feld, And sayd that thei suld noght be slayn,    bot that thei suld that cyté yeld To Sysoc als ther soyverayn,    and that he suld ther wrschep weld And that thei suld serve hym for certayn.    Of God thei gate no bettur beld. He sayd, “So sall ye see    wheder yt be more honoure Sisoc servandes to be    or Goddes, your Cryature.” 868. Then had Kyng Roboam mekyll kare,    for this forward bus hym fulfyll. The cyté he delyverd thare,    bot this connand he toke ther tyll So that thei suld the pepyll spare    and do no greve to gud ne yll. Kyng Sysoc and all that with hym ware    enterd then at ther awn wyll. Thore fand thei grett ryches    that Salamon sett to save. How so ther connand is,    that thynke thei forto have. 869. Thor thurt no man ther traveyll tyne,    for thresour thei fand full gud woyne All vesels mad for mete and wyn    ware pyght with mony a prescius stone, And all of gold full fayr and fyne    and well enamyld ylkone. Potes, pans, and caldrons in kechyn,    wars then of sylver was ther none. Within the kynges palyse,    of all that thei ther fand, Thei left noyght forto prays    to valow of a besand. 870. Then to the Tempyll past thei playn    and spoled yt full dyspytfully. Ther gate thei gold that wele myght gayne    grett cytes forto byg and by. The folke was of that fare full fayn,    als thei had grett encheson why. Kyng Sysoc went so home agayn,    grete mirth mad all that cumpany. For was never folke befor,    als ferre os men may thynke, That wan so grete tresour    and with so litle swink.	Shishak (t-note) 1,000 chariots; (see note) provisions 60,000 40,000; (t-note) towns win sorry weep; (t-note) (t-note) better cure Creator; (t-note) much woe covenant; (t-note) (t-note) keep [the city] There needs; their work lose; (t-note) found in abundance adorned (t-note) kitchen; (t-note) were made of silver or not at all (t-note) praise value; bezant despoiled build and buy reason (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) as far as; remember (t-note) toil
[DEATH OF REHOBOAM (14:29–31)]
10445 10450	871. Kyng Roboam then in kare was cast;    no comforth in this case he kend. In aghtene yeres his lordschep last,    God lyst no langer to lett hym lend. When fyfty yeres ware fully past    fro his begynnyng untyll his ende, Then seknes fell on hym so fast    that no fysyke myght hym dyffend. Bot sone enturd he was    wher his elders lay, And his sun Abias    was kyng aftur his day.	sorrow eighteen years; (see note) desire (t-note) doctor (t-note) Abijah
[JEROBOAM’S IDOLATRY (12:25–13:34)]
10455 10460 10465 10470 10475 10480 10485 10490 10495 10500 10505 10510 10515 10520 10525 10530 10535 10540 10545 10550 10555 10560 10565 10570 10575 10580 10585 10590 10595 10600 10605 10610 10615 10620 10625 10630 10635 10640 10645 10650 10655	872. Now of Abyas lett we be    forto be yemyd whyls he be yyng, And of Jeroboam speke we    that of ten kynredes then was kyng. He had slyke prid for his pausté    that he sett by none erthly thyng; Ne unto God no hede toke he    that gaf hym all that governyng. The Law that God had lent,    that lykes hym noyght to lere, Bot brake His Commawndment,    and how sone sall we here. 873. The Jews used forto make a fest    at the Tempyll ylke yere onys or twyse. And ydder suld come both most and lest    and make thore solempne sacrafyce, Sum with fowle and sum with best    to offer ylkon on ther wyse. Jeroboam was so with prid encrest    he wold not seke to that assyse. Sone in his hert he cast    a wylle with wekyd wyll, And hasted hym full fast    that falshed to fulfyll. 874. “To Jerusalem yf I suld ga    and all my frendes with me in fere, The Bynjamyns and of Juda    suld make my men so mery chere, And thei suld there be charest swa    with servyce and with solace sere That full fell folke suld turne me fra.    Therfor a new law wyll I lere.” In Bethel so he spake,    a cyté of grett pryse, A calf of gold to make    evyn at his awn devyse. 875. He cyted to that same cyté    all that come of kynredes ten, And unto them than thus sayd he,    “Sers, our costom wele ye ken: How our hye fest sall halowd be    ever ylk yer, ye wot wele when. And als ye wott, we are as fre    as Bynjamyns or Judeys men. And Jerusalem is farre    als febyll folke suld fele. I have ordand uus nerre    to hald our fest full wele. 876. “For wele we wott, els wene we wrang,    God hath power in ylka place. Ye sall have here a god full strang    to governe you and graunt yow grace. We sall ordand our self amang    prestes and dekyns in dyverse space. And I myself befor sall gang    forto gyf sense befor your face.” This poynt the pepyll plese.    Thei say, “Assent wyll we; So sall we have more ese    then kayre to farre cuntré.” 877. Then with all craftes he cowth controve    a tempyll sone he hath ordand And made an auter noyght to move    bot stably in that sted to stand. The calf of gold he sett above,    and all the folke then he commawnd Ryght os ther Lord yt forto love    that led them owt of Egyp land. He says, “This same is He    that our formfaders led Safe throwghowt the se    when thei fro Pharo flede.” 878. Fals prophettes wund in that toun    that of this fare was ferly fayn And sayd thei suld be ryght resoun    maynteyn all that purpase playn. Thei went and dyd devocion    to that mawment with myght and mayn. The kyng arayd thei redy boun    forto gyfe sense als ther soyverayn. Als thei with werke and wyll    thor mad ther mawmentry, A prophett com them tyll,    was sent from God Allmighty. 879. To greve them thus he can begyn    that all the folke myght here on hyght, “Thou auter that is sollyed with syn,    I warne thee here and ylka wyght: Ther sall spryng owt of David kyn    a kyng, Joas his name full ryght. He sall dystroye both more and myn    that mayntenys thee with any myght. Both prophettes, prestes, and clerkes    that now are mad on new: He sall wast all ther werkes.    And that this tale be trew 880. “A sygne here sal be redy grayd:    all this fals fare sall fall as fast. Thou and all that on thee is layd    sodanly sall doun be cast.” And als sone as this word was sayd,    all syd fro syd in sunder brast. Then ware tho folke full yll affrayd    and Jeroboam gretly agast. He turned hym in grett tene,    for the prophett harme suld have. Bot vengance sone was sene;    God wold His servand save. 881. Evyn os he ryched owt his ryght hand    and presed the prophett forto sloo, Starke ase a stafe his arme con stand    and wold not bow his body to. So all his falshed sone he fand,    and fayn he was to flee ther fro. He cryd mercy to God Weldand    and prayd the prophett he suld do so. The prophett for hym prayd,    als all the pepyll hym prays. And sone by he had sayd,    his arme was all at eys. 882. Then had the kyng comforth full grett    and prayd to the prophett specially That he wold dwell with them to mete.    Therto the prophett sayd in hy, “God bad I suld noyght drynke ne ette    with none of all this cumpany. His bedyng wyll I not forfeytt;    therfor my way fast wend wyll I.” He left that folke in fere,    and furth he wentt them fro. Then was the kyng in were    what hym was best to do. 883. A fals prophett thor wonnand was    that had rewled all that yll aray. When he wyst how the prophett pas,    he thynkes to marre hym and he may. Fast aftur hym hasted he has    and overtoke hym by tym of day. And hertly cause of hym he as    why that he went so sone away, And sayd, “Ser, certes, I wend    that thou wold dyne with me.” He sayd, “God me dyffend    to dyne in this cuntré.” 884. The fals prophett sayd, “Ser, certayn    I am in message sent Hym fro. He bydes that thou sall turn agayn    and dyne with me, now or thou go.” So sayd that traytour for this trayn    to gare hym breke Goddes bedyng so That thei myght have ther purpase playn.    To Bethell then turned thei two. That fals prophett hym plese    and mad grett myrth omell, Bot sone amang ther meses    he had messag more fell. 885. God sayd hym in that same sesoun,    “For thou so sone was of assent Att turn agayn unto this toun    and dyne agayns My commawndment, Thou sal be slayn with a lyon,    and to thi cors he sall take tent.” All this he fand full redy boun    or he ferre fro that cyté went. A lyon hym devored,    and other bestes to lett Styll be the cors he cowred    tyll folke com yt to fett. 886. By men that kayred thore in cuntré    sone ware ther tydynges told that tyd. The fals prophett then hasted he    aftur that cors to ryn and ryd. And be lyve in that same cyté    to byre yt he wold not abyd, And bad his barns that he suld be    beryd that same body besyd. For wele he wyst that noe    suld fall aftur therfor, When Joas suld dystroy    that lynag, lese and more. 887. Bott yett his lyes he wold not layn;    full wyghtly with the kyng he mette And sayd, “Ser, a lyon hath slayn    that lurdan that our servyce lett. All that he told was bot a trayn;    therfor he hath his dome by dett. Be lyve gete up our geyre agayn    and lett us hald that we have hett. Our auter was full strang;    over grett charge gart yt fall. And ser, thou sensed over lang    and noyed thin arme with all. 888. “Ser, thou suld leve thi frendes of old    bettur then a boy for swylke a brayd.” The kyng then trowd all that he told    and sone assent evyn ase he sayd. The auter up fast con thei fold;    gayly agayn sone was yt grayd And honerd thore the calf of gold.    Thus ware thos folke foly betrayd. The kyng ay more and more    kest hym Goddes men to mare. Yf he dyd yll before,    then wold he werke wele werre.	looked after; young (t-note) power (t-note) fowl; beast in their ways wile; will (t-note) together entertained; (t-note) many solaces know (t-note) nearer (t-note) (t-note) incense (t-note) (t-note) permanent altar lived extremely glad idol; power (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) Your altar; (t-note) David’s line Josiah (t-note) be seen as truthful made broke anger approached; slay Withered glad All-ruling cured at once together dwelling wicked people passed; (t-note) if he might asks; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) before you leave treachery to cause him [to] among [them] meals terrible take possession prepared before he far fetch; (t-note) traveled; (t-note) quickly bury; wait children; (t-note) (t-note) trouble (i.e., entirely) (see note) villain; ceased betrayal judgment Quickly altar; heavy weight incensed troubled [no] better; trick believed altar foully (t-note) harm worse
[AHIJAH’S WORDS AGAINST JEROBOAM (14:1–18)]
10660 10665	889. A holy prophett that heght Achy    sent hym word with his awn qwene That his falshed and his foly    with sorows suld on themself be sene, And that his ayrs suld have forthi    aftur his tyme full mekyll tene. Jeroboam sett noyght ther by    bot wex wers then he ayr had bene. The folke full fast can fayle    als thei ther soyverayn saw. Thei made goddes of metall    and left all Moyses Law.	Ahijah heirs; therefore sorrow grows worse; before
[JEROBOAM DEFEATED BY ABIJAH (13:19; 2 CHRONICLES 13:1–20)]
10670 10675 10680 10685 10690 10695 10700 10705 10710 10715 10720 10725	890. He had no mynd of Goddes myght;    so fell he fowly in dyspare. And by Goddes Law he sett full lyght;    therfor he fell fowle and noyght fayre. He sembled men full wyld and wyght;    to Jerusalem he cast to kayre Abiam forto fell with fyght    that of that reme was ryghest ayre. Bot sone when the yyng kyng    herd tell of that tythand, He had at his ledyng    fayr folke fawrty thowssand. 891. To Jeroboam sone he remewes,    and both thei mett apon a playn. He carped to hym and told in trewes,    “Ser, thou wott thiself certayn We are one men and all Ebrews;    therfor yf auder syd be slayn, That other syde full sore yt rewes.    Therfor is gud to turn agayn. And als thou hath no ryght    by no cause thou con fynd Agayns me forto fyght,    for I am ayre of kynd. 892. “Kyng Roboam by yll counsell    he forfett yt; bot noyght forthi He was my fader, this is no fayle,    and thou his servand sothly. And my God may me mekyll avayle    and make me have the vyctory. And thi goddes ar made of metayle;    thou may not be beld them by. All yf thi folke be fell,    our God ther forse may fele. Forto hald all in hele    I rede no more we mell.” 893. Jeroboam soyght a sutell gyn    in his carpyng with kynredes ten. Prevely he parted his pepyll in twyn    so that non suld ther cowntenance ken, And bad them warly thei suld wyn    behynd Abyam and his men. Bot God that all his treyst was in    wold noyght suffer hym be dyssayved then. Thar falshed he aspyed    how thei hym umbecast. “As armes!” be lyve he cryde    and fowled them doun full fast. 894. Thor was talkyng of no trews,    full styfly strake thei in that stoure. Jeroboam had mony Jews,    bot God was noyght ther governoure. Therfor that semble sone he rews,    and sadly sekes he to socoure. Kyng Abiam prestly persewes    and wan ther gold with grett honoure. Jeroboam folke thei fynd    in feld fyve thowssand sloyn. Tho leved he hym behynd,    and Abiam noyght on.	(see note); (t-note) (t-note) strong realm was the true heir young (see note) good men engages (t-note) either (t-note) heir by birth (t-note) protected many; (t-note) health fight trick (t-note) in two quietly Abijah (t-note) surrounded quickly; (t-note) truce hard they struck; place; (t-note) gathering; rues he seeks to [find a] refuge rapidly slain; (see note); (t-note) Those he (Jeroboam) left behind while Abijah [left] not one; (t-note)
[ABIJAH’S DEATH; ASA CROWNED IN JUDAH (15:8)]
10730 10735 10740	895. When Kyng Abiam had his wyll,    to Jerusalem he turned agayn. In that cyté he sojornes styll    with mekyll solace for certayn Thre yeres his tym forto fulfyll    and honerd God with all his mayn. And then he dyed with angers yll,    als ylka man bus pase with payn. And sone when he was dede,    his eldest sone Asa Was crowned in his sted    and cald kyng of Juda.	(t-note) strength (t-note) must (t-note)
[JEROBOAM’S DEATH; NADAB CROWNED IN ISRAEL (15:25–26)]
10745 10750	896. This yyng kyng Asa lett we dwell    styll in strengh, os he is stad. Jeroboam, kyng of Israel,    dyed aftur sone with sorows sade. And then was crowned in Bethell    his eldest sun, that heght Nabad. Thre yere was all his tym to tell;    in lyfe no langer hele he had. On Baasa hym betrayd    that he was done to dede, And hymself he arayd    to stand kyng in his stede.	Nabad (see note) Basha death
[NADAB KILLED BY BAASHA; JEROBOAM’S FAMILY ERADICATED (15:27–31)]
10755 10760	897. Baasa began to styre swylke stryve,    for he wold gofern grett degré. And for Jeroboam sede suld noyght thryve,    Nabad his sun dyssayved he. Sythyn stroyd he up man, chyld, and wyve    of his kynred in that cuntré. Of that lyne leved he none o lyve.    The prophett said yt suld so be. Thas that in towns war dede    howndes laped ther blode. That dyed in other sted    ware leved to foyles fode.	family (t-note) Then; every he left not one alive (i.e., Ahijah) Those; were; (see note) lapped their blood carrion good
[BAASHA’S IDOLATRY (15:32–16:4)]
10765 10770 10775 10780 10785 10790 10795 10800	898. Thei ware dystroyd both yyng and old,    and all that sorow was for syne. Kyng Baasa then was brym and bold;    bale forto brew wold he not blyne. He was rych of gud and gold.    To mak hym goddes he con begyn And sayd thei suld werke ase he wold,    and so he suld all wrschep wyne. He forgatt God of Hevyn,    that hath all hele in hand, And his condicions evyn    held the lordes of his land. 899. He lyfed in lust and lechery,    in hatred and in hertly pryde. To gud men had he grett envy    that served God on any syde. And for he wroyght so wekydly,    God wold not lett hym lang abyd. A prophett Jew he sent in hy    to tell hym all what suld betyd. He sayd bycause he dyd    like to Jeroboam, Evyn als him betyd,    so suld he have the same, 900. He and his kynred ever ay whore    be dystroyd, in what eld so thei ere. Then wex his malyce mekyll more;    that mater meynys he forto mere. The prophett gart he slay ryght thore,    for this tale suld be told no fere. And yf he had done yll before,    then kest he forto werke mekyll werre. He honerd goddes of metall,    that mystrewth hym betrayd, for all behoved befall    als Goddes prophett had sayd.	due to sin; (t-note) sorrow; stop (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) happen (t-note) kindred everywhere; (t-note) regardless of age; (t-note) grew stop did further much worse (t-note)
[BAASHA AT RAMAH; ASA TURNS TO BEN-HADAD (15:16–22)]
10805 10810 10815 10820 10825 10830 10835 10840 10845	901. Bot fyrst he wroyght full mekyll wa    be were and be wyked wyle And most unto the kyng Asa,    that honerd God in all that whyle. He had a cyté heyght Ramatha,    from Jerusalem full fawrty myle And langed to the lynage of Juda.    That cyté gatt he sone with a gyle. Thore thynkes he forto dwell    and do Kyng Asa skathe. The land of Israel    so myght he were fra wathe. 902. He meneys to make that cyté strang    for hym and for his frendes ylkone. Wyght men on ylka syd gart he gang    and broyght ydder both tre and stone. Kyng Asa toyght that layke full lang,    and power to hym had he none. Therfor to wreke hym of that wrang    a purpase playnly hath he tone. He sentt sone for socours    wher the hethyn holdyn ther hame, To the kyng of Matenours,    Benedab by name. 903. Bycause he was his fader frend,    in hym full fast he con affy. That Kyng Baasa suld not hym shend,    of helpe he prayd hym specially. Kyng Benedab with wordes hend    sayd he suld have helpe in hy And wyghtly ordand hym to wend    to Israel with grett cumpany. Cytes and burghes thei bryntt    and slow men lese and more. Cornys and wynys thei shent,    all that thei fand before. 904. When tythynges com to Kyng Baasa    of the Phylesteyns ferse and fell, Then bud hym refuse Ramatha    and wend to rescow Israel. Els wold the enmys byrn and sla    and dystroye the burgh of Bethell. Lo, how God comforth Kyng Asa,    and he meved hym nothyng omell. To Rama he con repayre    and toke yt into his hand. He byged yt wele and fayre    with store that he thore fand.	woes by war; wicked deceits Ramah belonged obtained; guile; (t-note) harm danger intends; (t-note) (t-note) avenge taken (t-note) pagans held their home Damascus; (see note) Ben-hadad; (t-note) trust overcome; (t-note) courteous; (t-note) at once burned Crops and vineyards; destroyed found before [them] fierce and cruel (t-note) Otherwise (t-note) among [them] (t-note) fortified; (see note) [the] stores; found there
[BAASHA’S DEATH; REIGN AND DEATH OF ELAH (16:5–10)]
10850 10855 10860	905. Kyng Benedab grett welth had wun,    and home he wentt warly and wele. Kyng Baasa sone in bale was bun    and dyed with dole and dred sum dele. And aftur regnyd Helam, his sun,    and mad maystryce and mekyll unsele; For yf the fader fell was fun,    the sun was feller be fere to fele. Therfor he last not lang:    within two yeres sesoun An Agary heyght hym wrang,    slogh hym and toke the crown.	(t-note) sorrow was bound Elah was found cruel more cruel by far A [man] named Agariah (i.e., Zimri); (see note); (t-note) (t-note)
[REIGNS OF ZIMRI, OMRI (16:11–28)]
10865 10870 10875 10880	906. This new kyng then, Agary,    wuned in a town was named Tharsa. He stroyd all the progeny    that ware comyn of the kyng Baasa. Then had the folke to hym envy    that ware wonnand in Gabatha. Thei mad them a kyng heyght Ambry;    then had Israels kynges twa. Kyng Ambry mad hym boun    that other new kyng to noye. He beseged Tharsa toun    Kyng Agary to dystroy. 907. Kyng Agary knew them full of yre,    and he had no forse hym to fend. His awn palyse he sett on fyre,    for bettur comforth none he kend. He brent hymself both bone and lyre;    on this wyse was his wreched ende. Then had Kyng Ambry his desyre,    and furth in lordschep con he lend. Twelfe yeres furth and no ferre    lasted his lordschep thore, Als yll of werkes or warre    as any was hym before.	Tirzah (t-note) dwelling in Gibbethon Omri; (t-note) Israelites two kings; (t-note) trouble to defend himself burned; flesh more; (t-note) wicked
[AHAB MADE KING OF ISRAEL (16:29–34)]
10885 10890 10895	908. When twelfe yeres ware done be dene,    he dyed with wo, that I warrand. Acab, his sun, was sythyn sene    kyng and lord of Israel land. And yf his elders yll had bene,    he was the warst of hert and hand. That aftur turned hymselfe to tene,    bot fele folk fyrst his fawtes fand. Thus ferd yt of fyve kynges    in schort tyme forto tell. For thei brake Goddes bydynges,    thei have ther hame in Hell.	forthwith promise Ahab; (t-note) worst grief Because
[ASA’S REIGN (15:23; 2 CHRONICLES 16:7–12)]
10900 10905 10910 10915 10920	909. Bot Kyng Aasa of Juda land,    he lyfed in luf and chareté. Full fawrty yeres was he renand    and rewled his reme in gud degré. He honerd God with hert and hand    so that no man myght say ne see Wherfor God suld be oght grochand,    bot yf yt ware for thynges thre. And on was for he send    unto a paynym kyng Fro his fase hym to fend,    and asked not Goddes helpyng. 910. Another was when a trew prophet    fro God of Hevyn to hym was grayd And told hym how he had forfett    and owt of reson myse arayd. In stokkes full sore he gartt hym sett,    for he the sothe unto hym sayd Of evill lyvyng hym forto let,    and of that warke God was not payde. The thryd: of seknes sore    forto have help in hy In lechys he trest more    then in God Allmighty.	realm grumbling in any way unless one; (t-note) pagan; (t-note) foes; defend (t-note) sent (t-note) stocks; caused him to be set truth cease; (t-note) pleased doctors
[JEHOSHAPHAT MADE KING OF JUDAH (15:24; 2 CHRONICLES 16:13–17:5)]
10925 10930 10935 10940 10945 10950 10955	911. Kyng Asa dyed in gud degré,    for in all his werkes was he trew. He had a sun semly to see,    heyght Josaphat, a gentyll Jew. Aftur his fader regned he    in Jerusalem os gud Ebrew. He was the best of all bounté    aftur Kyng David that men knew. Unto Goddes Law he tentes    both by nyght and day And kepes His Commawndmentes    in all that ever he may. 912. He was full buxum and full bayn    to beld all that in bales ware bend, And forto put the pure fro payn    wold he hym hast with hert and hend. The fals Phylysteyns ware full fayn    ther servyce both to say and send, So that all folke of hym ware fayn    with all ther myght his mys to mend. The prophettes, prestes, and clerkes    that mayntened Goddes servyce Both with wordes and werkes    he wrschept in all wyse. 913. The Tempyll of God he can restore    with reverence and with rych aray, Qwylk fals Phylesteyns lang before    had brokyn doun and born away. Ever ylk thyng he ordand thore    that he hoped myght plese God to pay, And so increyst ay more and more    in gud maters all that he may. Now Josaphatt lett we dwell    lyfand to Goddes lovyng, And of yll Acab tell    that was of Israel kyng.	fair to look upon Jehoshaphat (t-note) attends humble; ready protect; troubles keep haste glad (t-note) (t-note) worship (t-note)
[AHAB MARRIES JEZEBEL AND PROVOKES GOD (16:29–34)]
10960 10965 10970 10975 10980	914. We told how fyve before had bene    that yll began and als yll end. This was the werst withoutyn wene,    for of more malyce ever he mend. He toyght no myrth was more to mene    then Goddes folke scham and shend. And lyke to hym he toke a qwene    of Phylysteyns, full of the Fend. Hyr name was Jesabell,    the kynges doyghtur of Tyre. Malyce to meve and mell    that was hyr most desyre. 915. Kyng Acab mad goddes of metall    and gaf to them wele gud woyne. Bot scho mad hym more fouly fall    then forto wrschepe tre or stone. He made a tempyll to Beall,    was god of Tyre and Sydone. On knese to hym thei cry and call    and says he ys ther lord alon. Scho ordand for tho werkes,    als woman wardly wyse, Fals prophettes, prestes, and clerkes    evyn at hyr awn devyse.	five [kings in Israel] before him ended Devil Jezabel; (t-note) (see note) interfere wealth in abundance she (i.e., Jezebel) Baal; (t-note) Sidon; (t-note) worldly
[ELIJAH REBUKES AHAB (16:35–17:1)]
10985 10990 10995 11000	916. And trew prophettes of God Allmighty,    prestes and clerkes and byschopes bathe, Them gart scho spyll dyspytfully;    ther none myz skape withowtyn skathe. Kyng Acab faverd hyr forthi    in all hyr werke, yf yt ware wath. Therfor God send his sand in hy    to make hym wytt how He was wrath. Ely the prophet trew    fro God to hym was grayd. He told hym tythyng new,    and on this wyse he sayd: 917. “God sendes thee word by me certayn,    for thou mayntenys on yll maner Thi wyf that has His servandes slayn    and makes the goddes of fendes unfere. Within thi reme sall fall no rayn,    ne dew sall now fro hevyn apeyre To tyme that I com here agayn,    and that bees noyght of all this yere.” The kyng then toke gud tent    and hopes he be begyld. And the prophett so went    his ways unto the woddes wyld.	she caused to be killed harm escape; harm dangerous message at once Elijah sent (t-note) weak devils (t-note) the heavens; (t-note) Until the time careful care is beguiled; (t-note) wild forests
[ELIJAH IN THE WILDERNESS AND ZAREPHATH (17:2–24)]
11005 11010 11015 11020 11025 11030 11035 11040 11045 11050 11055 11060 11065 11070 11075 11080 11085 11090 11095 11100	918. He logeed hym in a forest fayr    whore erbs ware grouand full grene, And thor he fand low in a layre    a spryng with watur fresch and clene. God sent hym breyd owt of the ayre    thore whore none before had bene With rayvyns that cowd to hym kayre.    So selcoth syght was seldome sene. Alon so lyfed he thore,    to none his nedes to nevyn, Well sevyn monthes and more    with helpe of God of Hevyn. 919. In the meyn tyme betyd yt swa    that all the erth was dry be dett. And his fresch watur fayled hym fro;    then was his lyst of lyfyng lett. Then bad God hym that he suld ga    for that defawt his fode to gete Into a cyté heyght Sarepta,    in the syd of Sydone was sett: “To a wedow ther I spake,    qwylk to My bedyng is bayne To fede thee for My sake.    Thus sall thou fynd certayn.” 920. Then was Ely in stallworth state    when he the bote of God con here. To Sarepta he toke the gate,    als his Lord con unto hym lere. The wedow was withoutyn the gate    and geydderd wod with sympyll chere. He prayd hyr hys threyst to abate    to helpe hym with sum watur clere. Scho sayd, “Styll here abyd!    I sall sone do thi rede.” Bot aftur hyr sone he cryde    and bad hyr bryng hym bred. 921. The wedow was then more affrayd    and scho had mervell how he wold mene. “Syr, God of Hevyn He wott,” scho sayd,    “I am bredles and lang hath bene. Slyke drynes over this land is layd    for hungur dye the folke be dene. And for that poynt I have purvayd,    the same sall on myself be sene. I have within my bowre,    I wyll thou wytt all wele, Bot a handfull of floure    and a lytyll oyle in a skele. 922. “I geydder wod, os thou may see,    for aftur Goddes wyll wold I yt wore. I sall make to my sun and me    a lytyll cake of all our stoure. That sall we ete, and it sall be    our last fode; so wyll fall therfore. Then bus us dye both I and he,    for to our mete have we no more.” He sayd, “I pray thee, dame,    sen that the soth is so, make me fyrst of that same    and sythyn make to yow two. 923. “And thou wyll tent to my consell    and traw yt to the utterest end, I say thi flour it sall not fayle,    bot fro defawt yt sall thee fend. And als thin oyle sall thee avayle    to tym that God sum socour send.” Scho wold noyght fyne then forto trayvell    bot kyndly dyd os he hyr kend. Hyr flour then fayled noyght,    ne hyr oyle wex not to wast Tyll God, ose Hym gud toyght,    heyght them His helpe in hast. 924. Aftur this tyme betyd yt so:    the wedow sun was ded with payn. Then was that wedow wonder wo    and mad grett sorow for certayn. To Ely gretand con scho go    and sayd, “Yf thou be prophet playn, Schew now thi myght to me and mo    and gayre me have my sun agayn! Then wyll I trewly trow    that thou be the prophett strang. And els I say that thou    hath slayn my sun with wrang.” 925. When Hely saw hyr sorow sere,    he sayd, “Dame, sese! All sal be wele.” He raysed hym that was bun to bere    fayr in forse fully to fele. Then made the mother mery chere    and sayd, “Thi God may send all sele. Now wot I wele withowtyn were:    thou ert His prophett trew as stele.” Full holy then scho hym held,    as thor was schewed to syght. And ay whyls he thor dweld,    scho esed hym at hyr myght.	lodged himself; (t-note) herbs were growing bread; air ravens; travel; (t-note) amazing a sight mention months; (t-note) it happened such duty bound to be dry (t-note) Zarephath (t-note) obedient command; hear road instruct gate (t-note) await bidding (t-note) forthwith (t-note) must; (t-note) food since; truth; (t-note) If you will listen believe starvation; defend also finish; (t-note) it happened thus weeping; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) cause many sorrows; (t-note) resurrected
[ELIJAH RETURNS TO ISRAEL AND MEETS OBADIAH (18:1–16)]
11105 11110 11115 11120 11125 11130 11135 11140 11145 11150 11155 11160 11165 11170	926. God began then to have peté,    for pepyll peryscht in mony a place. To the prophet Ely commawnd He    them forto comforth in this case And say they shal have rayne plenté    and be releeved in litle space. Ely was glad yt suld so be.    to betell ward be lyve he gase. He had bene thore before;    full well knew he the strette. Bot fyrst, or he com thore,    sum mervels con he mete. 927. With Kyng Acab then wonnand was    a prowd prince with armys clene, That named was Obedyas.    he served God and that was sene When prophettes and prestes to payn con pase    through Jesabell, that fellows qwene. Sum of them helped he has    that the same day ded suld have bene. In hid place he them sett    and sayved them fro the chaunce And broyght hymself in dett    to fynd them sustinance. 928. Kyng Acab bad hym wend in hy    to seke yf he myght fynd herbe or grese That ther bestes myght lyfe ther by    that dyes for defawt, more and lese; Or yf he myght awr spyre or spy    whore that warlow wonnand es That proved them by his prophecy    that thei suld dwell in swylke drynes To tyme he come agayn.    “And yf thou may hym bryng, Als sone he sal be slayn,    for he told swylk tokynyng.” 929. Obedyas wold no langer lett;    he was full boun all bale to bete, For herbys or gryse, yf he myght gete,    bot he fand nawder sawre ne swete. Bot in the way, as he was sett,    with the prophett Ely con he mete. When he hym saw, for joy he grette    and fell doun flatt before his fete. He fraynd als man afrayd,    “Es this my lord Ely?” He answerd sone and sayd,    “Goddes servand here am I.” 930. “Ser,” he sayd, “thus I am sent    thee forto seke, os thou may see. Kyng Acab hath gyfyn his jugment    that for this dry ded sall thou be, And bot I bryng thee, I be shent.    Therfor sum consell ken thou me.” He says to hym, “I wold thou went    and tell hym os I tell thee: Styll here I sall abyd    and no fote ferther flee. And say for all his pryd    God sall my belder be. 931. “And I sall warrand thee full wele    and fro his felnes thee dyffend.” Obedias went and told ylk dele    unto Acab as Ely hym kend. He sayd, “Ser, seke we for our sele    and pray hym sum socur to send!” And for the folke swylke fawtes fele,    unto hym both wyghly thei wend. Then sayd the kyng for scorn,    “Ys thou not he, that same That gayrs my land be lorn    and wastes both wyld and tame?”	(t-note) (t-note) (t-note) towards Bethel quickly he goes before; (t-note) dwelling; (t-note) Obadiah; (t-note) did succumb; (t-note) evil dead; (t-note) a hiding place; (t-note) into debt ordered him to go at once; (t-note) grass their beasts starvation either find or spy where that powerful sorcerer is dwelling such a drought Until the time Immediately foretold such signs delay very ready all misery to relieve sour nor sweet (i.e., none at all) greeted [him] acted (t-note) drought unless; killed teach (t-note) await protector assure wickedness each part instructed we [should] seek [Elijah]; safety such starvation feel quickly they go causes (i.e., everything)
[THE CONTEST AT MT. CARMEL (18:17–46)]
11175 11180 11185 11190 11195 11200 11205 11210 11215 11220 11225 11230 11235 11240 11245 11250 11255 11260 11265 11270 11275 11280 11285 11290	932. Then sayd Ely, “Ser, I thee tell:    this sorow is sent all for thi syne. Bryng same the best of Israel,    yf that thou wyll this baret blyne, And the fals prophettes of Jezabell    and prestes and dekyns, more and myn, And comys all to the Mownt Carmell!    Ther sall I tell them, or I twyne, The cause of all this kare    and what may most amend.” Forto fulfyll this fare    the kyng full sone hath send. 933. Unto the lordes of his land    and most clene of the comonalité, Prophettes that Jezabell ordand,    prestes and dekyns in ther degré, Unto them all he thus commawnd,    “Comys to the Mount of Carmell with me! Thore sall ye se the prophett stand    that mad us in this bale to be.” Sone on a hyll on heyght    this pepyll was purvayde. Then Ely stud up ryght    amang them all and sayd, 934. “Lordynges, your lyfes thus worthys to lake    that levys the Law that Moyses lent. Grett God that to your faders spake,    Hym suld ye trow with trew entent. God of Abraham and of Ysac,    unto His saws ye suld assent, And leve Beall that ever is blake,    or els in bale ye mon be brent. Yf ye may prove by skyll    that he may helpe yow oght, Tell yt this pepyll untyll!”    To this thei answer noght. 935. “Now sers,” he says, “asay we sall    whedder of our goddes hath more power. Rayse up an auter amang yow all,    and I sall rayse another nere. Takes then an ox owt of a stall    and part yt in sunder in peysese sere. And on your auter lettes yt fall,    and I sall do the same ryght here. To God then sall we pray,    and qwylk so fyrst is brent, Hald hym for God verray.”    To this thei all assent. 936. Fals prestes, clerkes of Jezabell,    and prophettes, faur hunderth and mo, Raysed up an auter them omell,    for so thei wene to wast ther wo. Thei leide theron full fayr fuell,    and then a gret ox con thei slo And layde furth both flesch and fell;    and Ely dyd another also. Then prestes and prophettes kneled,    ylkon aftur ther state, And prayd Beall forto beld,    bot his comforth com late. 937. Full rudly then thei rope and rare    on ther mawment to mend ther mode. Bot ther offerand moved never the mare,    bot in a state full styll it stod. Thei rent ther face and rave ther hare    and weped for wo, ose thei ware wode. Ely stud styll on them to stare,    hym toyght that game was wounder gud. He says, “Your god is on slepe    or els went ferre fro hame: To yow he takes no kepe.    Crys on hym fast for schame!” 938. So dyd thei holly half a day,    to cry and rare thei wold not rest. Ther offerand on the auter lay,    and no kyns fyre wold in yt fest. Then Ely bad them wend away,    God was not to ther prayer prest, And sayd, “For soth, I shall assay    yf my God wyll be bettur gest.” His auter and ylk dele    in Goddes name was agrayd. His flesch was weschen wele    and on the auter layd. 939. On both his knese then knelse he doun    and prayd to God with stabyll stevyn To send sum segn in that seson    that His name myght be new to nevyn. Or he had endyd his oryson,    a fyre dyscended doun fro Hevyn. Yt brent all up that he mad boun    and went up into the ayre full evyn. Then ware tho folke full fayn,    and lowd thei cast a crye: “Ther is no god may gayn    bot the God of Ely! 940. “We wot Beall ys bot a fend,    and fals prophettes, foull mot them fall!” Ely bad that thei suld shend    prophettes and prestes that on hym call. Of all the meneye mad thei end    that governd hym, both gret and small. Then Ely heygh with wordes hende,    “Sum socur yow God send sall.” The Ebrews went at wyll    and toyght ther werkyng wele. And Ely loged hym styll    apon the Mount of Carmele. 941. To God fast con he call and crye    of His pepyll forto have pyté And bad his servand spyre and spye    yf any clowd com fro the see. At last he sayd, “Ser, certanly    the ayre begynys all brown to bee.” God send helpe then sone in hy:    rayn fell over all that cuntré. Then love thei God allways    with wyll, word, and dede. And the prophett thei prays    that so spake for ther sped.	(t-note) together trouble cease before I depart sorrow (t-note) (t-note) changed to waste who leaves; gave believe [in] words sorrow; tormented any unto test which altar many pieces burned verily more; (t-note) altar among them hope to end their woe a great deal of fuel slay (t-note) protect [them] Very violently; cry out; roar idol more their faces and tore their hair crazy far from (t-note) Call upon wholly roar offering; altar no kind of fire; alight altar (t-note) washed well steady voice invoke prayer fiend must (t-note) company; (t-note) called (t-note) look and see; (t-note) haste
[JEZEBEL SWEARS VENGEANCE; ELIJAH FLEES TO BEERSHEBA (19:1–3)]
11295 11300	942. Bot Jezabell, that cursed qwene,    when scho herd tell of this tythyng, How all that had with Beall bene    ware ded and thrugh Ely demyng, Then in hert scho had grett tene    and sayd ther suld non erthly thyng Save hym, and he myght be sene,    that he ne suld have the same endyng. Ely herd hyr swere swa;    therfor fast con he flee Tyll a cyté of Juda,    that named was Barsabé.	news deeming anger swear this Beersheba
[ELIJAH’S REVELATIONS IN THE WILDERNESS AND HOREB (19:4–21)]
11305 11310 11315 11320 11325 11330 11335 11340 11345 11350 11355 11360 11365 11370 11375	943. Lang sojornyng ther saw he none,    for he was ferre from ylka frend. To wyldernese he went alone,    and in a loge ther con he lend. To myghty God he mad his mone    and prayd Hym that he myght make end, “Als myn elders ar ded ylkon,    Lord, suffer me that way to wend! Sene them no lyffe ys lent    that wore more of wrschepe, Lett me wend os thei went!”    With thys he fell on slepe. 944. He was wery and myght not wake,    for he had wentt be ways sere. An angell come and to hym spake    and sayd he was Goddes messyngere. Mete and drynke he bad hym take    so forto hold hym hoyle and fere. Then at his hed he fand a cake    and a vessell with watur clere. And for hym fayled fode,    of that fayre was he fayn. He ete and dyd hym gud,    and sone he sleped agayn. 945. The secund tyme the angell sayd,    “Wake, wake, Ely, and no more thou wynke! Swylke ose ys in this place purvayd    God byddes that thou sall ete and drynke. A grett way is before thee grayd    that thee behoves both swett and swynke.” He rayse and rathly hym arayd.    his lymys ware then full lyght, hym thynke. By the myght of that same mete    he trayveld fawrty days The hyll of God to gett,    heyght Oreb the story says. 946. God spake to hym in that space    and sayd, “What sterd thee into this stede?” He sayd, “Lord, for ferd of my fase.    For and I byd, I ete never bred. Thi prophettes in evere ylk place    by Jezabell ar putt to ded, And the same to me heyght scho has.    That dose me flee fro hyr hatred.” God sayd, “Go ydder agayn    and do message of Myne! I sall thee sayve certayn    fro hyr and all hyr hyne. 947. “Take tent to tales that I thee tell    and trewly trest that thei are trew! Ordan for kyng of Israel    aftur Acab on that named ys Jew! And kyng of Syre make Azaell    that ever has bene a gud Ebrew! And when thou may no langer dwell,    for thiself then set Elysew! He sall be prophett playn,    wysest when thou ert wentt And man full mekyll of mayn    to mustur Myn entent. 948. “Thei sall Me venge with hert and hand    of them that hath forsakyn Me.” So went he furth and sone he fand    Elysew in feld kepand his fee. He told unto hym new tythand,    all how God bad that he suld bee. Then Elysew left lord and land    and went with Ely os menyhe. So same we lett them dwell,    two gud servandes to God, And of Kyng Acab tell    and of his neghtbour, Nabod.	far; (t-note) (t-note) go Since in; life honor (t-note) many roads (t-note) Food healthy and strong (t-note) sleep Such [stores] prepared; (t-note) sweat and toil arose; (t-note) (t-note) food (t-note) Mt. Horeb brought; place; (t-note) fear; foes (t-note) promised servants Take heed truly trust; true Ordain (i.e., is a Jew) Syria; Hazael Elisha power (see note) (i.e., Elijah) field; flock follower; (t-note) (t-note) Naboth; (t-note)
[NABOTH’S VINEYARD (21:1–29)]
11380 13385 11390 11395 11400 11405 11410 11415 11420 11425 11430 11435 11440 11445 11450 11455 11460	949. Kyng Acab wuned in Jezerael,    a cyté that was long and wyd. And also his qwenne Jezabell    was wonnand thore with mekyll pryd. And this Nabod that I of tell    sojornd als a neghtbour nere besyd. He had a feld that to hym fell    whore wynes full mekyll multyplyd. The kyng oft yt beheld,    for yt was large and lang. He thynkes to have that feld    awder by ryght or wrang. 950. And to fullfyll this purpase playn    to Nabod sent he message thore. To by hys feld he wold be bayn    and to gyf gud fully therfore. Bot Nabod sent hym word agayn    that yt fell to his ayrys ever more. He wold noyght sell yt for certayn.    Then was the kyng greved full sore. So grett dyspytt hym thynke,    his hert he myght not meke. He myght nawder ete ne drynke    bot layd hym doun sore seke. 951. No sang, ne solace myght hym save,    ne no helpyng to hym avayld. Qwene Jezabell the cause con crave    and asked hym hertly what hym ayled. He sayd, “For Nabod feld I crave,    and therof have I fowly fayled.” Scho says, “That hette I thee to have,    all be yt never so trewly tayled.” Scho gart hyr rebels ryse    that tyll hyr bode was bayn, And charged them on all wyse    that Nabod sone ware slayn. 952. Scho bad that thei suld bere hym on hand    that he had sclaunderd God of Hevyn, And lett hym so no langer stand.    And at hyr wyll thei went full evyn. Thei wold noyght fyne or thei hym fand,    and then thei wold not here his stevyn, Bot slow that lele man for his land.    This was a cursed note to nevyn. When this yll ded was done,    the kyng was hole, hym toyght. Bot God sent message sone    that sayd yt suld sore be boyght. 953. Gud Ely to the kyng con tell,    “For thou hath wroyght thies werkes wode, In that same feld that Nabod fell    sall thou be slayn for all thi gud. Wyld bestes sall with thi body mell,    and thi flesch sal be fowles fud. And say to thi wyfe, Jezabell,    in this cyté sall houndes lape hyr blud. Als Kyng Jeroboam kyn    dyed all withoutt bereyng, So thi frendes for thi syn    sall fall to fole endyng.” 954. Kyng Acab then was cast in care.    to God fast con he call and crye And heyght that he suld never mare    werke to wrath hym wylfully, So that he wold of vengance spare    and of his synys then have mercy. And when God saw his sorows sare,    agayn to hym he sent Ely. He says his kynred sall    be saved whyls he has myght, Bot all ellys suld befall    as he before had heyght. 955. The prophett then his way is went    whore God wold governe hym to gang. The kyng then toke full gud tent    what tales ware thore them amang. And Jezabell, that lady gent,    was ever in wyll to werke wrang. In grett lykyng now ar thei lent;    we sall leve that yt lastes not lang. The kyng of Syre, Benedab,    with kynges thryty and two Soyght unto Kyng Acab    with were to werke hym wo.	lived in Jezreel; (t-note) dwelling either (t-note) buy; (t-note) heirs; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) promise Naboth’s sons (t-note) stop before hear his speech law-abiding mention (t-note) insane deeds meddle lap her blood bearing [further generations] foul promised; more sore Elijah; (t-note) reflected very carefully [upon] were said there among them well-born; (t-note) wanting to do evil things happiness Syria, Ben-hadad (t-note) war
[BEN-HADAD AND THE SIEGE OF SAMARIA (20:1–22)]
11465 11470 11475 11480 11485 11490 11495 11500 11505 11510 11515 11520	956. When Kyng Acab persaved in hy    how enmys enturd intyll his land, And wyst with swylke a cumpany    to fyght in feld no folke he fand, He clossed hymself in Samary;    was full wele walled hym to warrand. Bot Benedab sett not therby;    ther myght no strengh agayns hym stand. That cyté large and wyd,    that semly was to see, Seged he on ylka syd    with paynyms grett plenté. 957. Unto Kyng Acab word he send,    “Yf that thou wyll take me untyll Both wyves and chylder into myn hend,    at my lyst forto spare or spyll, And all that is for thresour kend    within the cyté, lowd and styll, To have with me, then wyll I wend.”    Kyng Acab answerd to that skyll, “Of myn all that men kens    wyll I lefe forto lyfe. Bot gudes of other mens    have I no ryght to gyfe.” 958. Kyng Benedab then was not payd;    therfor he answerd wordes fell. “I have here sembled men,” he sayd.    “So mony that yf I them omell Ylkon a handfull had purvayd    of erthe to lay here whore we dwell, Of that same erthe suld be grayd    a hyll os hegh os a castell. And fare thei sall not fare    or all this burgh be brent.” Then Kyng Acab had care,    bot socour sone was sent. 959. God to his helpyng has tane hede    and send His prophett hastely. He sayd, “Kyng Acab, have no dred!    God says thou sall have vyctory.” The kyng askys, “Who sall do that ded?”    He says, “Chylder and no chyvalry.” Then gart the kyng geydder full gud sped    of chylder a full fayre cumpany, Swylke os myght wepyns weld    faur hunderth furth he fand. Thei wentt before to the feld.    He sued with sevyn thowssand. 960. Thei musterd them with myght and mayn;    God mayntend all that meneye. The paynyms sone ware put to payn,    all ware thei never so grett plenté. Fyve thowsand sone of them ware slayn,    and all the remnand fayn to flee. Bot sone thei sembled mo agayn    and sayd that thei suld venged bee. Kyng Benedab asked consell    what thyng that most myght noye, And what myght most avayle    the Ebrews forto dystroye.	at once enemies entered into knew [that] with such field; folk [could] he find closed himself [up] in Samaria very well fortified thought nothing of this He besieged on every side a great many pagans Unless; give unto me desire publicly and privately cause [to happen] (t-note) leave [you] pleased; (t-note) terrible among created (t-note) as burned sorrow taken heed Servants; (see note); (t-note) caused; to gather; (t-note) (see note) in front; battlefield came forth; (t-note) company pagans; (t-note) (t-note) (see note) remainder glad avenged [his] council
[BEN-HADAD DEFEATED ON THE PLAIN (20:23–34)]
11525 11530 11535 11540 11545 11550 15555 11560 11565 11570 11575 11580	961. Thei answerd sone unto his saw    and sayd, “For this fare that thou frayns Condicion of ther God we knaw.    His helpe is all in hegh mountayns. Therfor to dales I red we draw,    for ther our god most to us gayns. And ther God wyll not lyght so low,    so sall thei sone be put to payns.” This consell toke he tyll    and held yt gud and hale. Evyn under Japhet hyll    he loged hym in a dale. 962. Kyng Acab herd tell how ther hales    was sett to sojornd in certayn space. Bot for he suld noyght trow ther tales,    fro God full gud warnyng he has. A prophett bad go bede them bales,    for God wold schew of His gud grace That he myght ese als wele in dales    as in hylles or in hy places. Kyng Acab assayld them sone,    as God gaf hym to red, And als God demed, was done:    paynyms ware done to ded. 963. A hunderth thowssand and wele mo    of hethyn folke ware feld in feld That come with thrytty kynges and two.    ther scaped non that suld wepyns weld. Kyng Benedab he wan with wo    to a cyté hymself to beld. He wyst not what was best to do:    to byd or his body to yeld, For wele he wyst certayn    Kyng Acab wold not fayle Or he ware soght and slayn.    Bot thus spake his counsell: 964. “Ser,” thei say, “suffer sall we    a lese harme forto lett a more. Ebrews ar men of mercy free;    wend we unto them fast therfore And pray ther kyng to have pyté    for his goddes sake with syghyng sore, And profer us his bond men to be    and also that we sall restore All that our elders wan    fro his elders and fro hym. So sall he graunt uus than    forto have lyf and lym.” 965. Unto this counsayle have thei tone,    and sone ther gatte thei have begun. Barfote, in ther serkes alon,    with cordes abowt ther halse bun, To Kyng Acab thei kneled ylkon    and fell doun flatt when he was fun. When he saw them wyll of woyne,    grett rewth to his hert is run. He forgaf all his grefe    and graunt them pardon playn. He mad hymself myschefe    and the hethyn folke full fayn.	words you ask about low places (the plains) I advise we withdraw there their Aphek tents (t-note) believe; (t-note) help as well (t-note) (t-note) be ready [to do] (t-note) (see note) were killed in the field; (t-note) escaped went protect remain stop a greater [one] go taken [heed]; (t-note) journey Barefoot; shirts necks bound; (t-note) reached; (t-note) without hope glad
[AHAB’S MERCY ON BEN-HADAD; THE PROPHET’S REBUKE (20:35–43)]
11585 11590 11595 11600 11605 11610 11615 11620 11625 11630 11635 11640 11645 11650	966. Kyng Benadab by the hand he hent    and kyssed hym and become his frend, So thai that hoped to be shent    now in this tyme no more were tend. Kyng Acab with his Ebrews went    to Samary fayr forto lend, Bot message sone to hym was sent    that God was yll payd of ther end. A prophett, Machias,    thor lendyd in that land. To Samary con he pase    with his staf in his hand. 967. To that cyté so as he yode,    Ebrews mett hym in the way. To on of them he spake gud sped,    “Have here my stafe, I thee pray, and breke my hed and gare yt bled!”    The Ebrew answerd and sayd, “Nay! Why suld I do to thee that dede    that greved me never be nyght ne day?” The prophett sayd, “Forthi    that thou dose noyght my wyll, Thou sall dye sodanly,    and bestes thi sped sall spyll.” 968. A lyon come with byttur brayd    and wowred hym amang them thore. The prophett to another sayd,    “Have here my staf and smyt me sore!” That other saw his felow flayd,    that made hym buxum mekyll more. His awn stafe on his hed he layd    that blud fell over the face before. A cloght abowt he band    to be owt of knawyng. His stafe he toke in hand    and come so to the kyng. 969. “A, lord,” he says, “this herm I hent    in the batell, for I wold not fle. The stewerd toke me forto tent    a man that had mysdone to thee. To kepe hym safly I assent.    He ys away; full wo is me, For I be tane to grett turment    bot yf thou my beldyng be.” The kyng sayd, “Sine he was    worthy forto be ded That thou has lettyn pase    and standes in that same sted, 970. “For bettur beld thee thar not byde    bot ded for ded, this is the law.” The prophett sone his hed unhyd,    bycause the kyng then suld hym knaw. “Ser kyng,” he says, “this same thou dyd    and this same dowm to have thou aw. For Benadab that ever is kyd    enmy to God in dede and saw, God gaf hym in thi hend    forto venge ylk dele. And thou has lettyn hym wend;    therfor I warn thee wele: 971. “For thou wold not putt hym to pyne    when he was putt in thi pawsté, And wyst yt was Goddes wyll and myn    of hym and his venged to be, For his lyfe thou sall lose thin    and all thi kyn in this cuntré, For socur of God now sall thou tyne.    Thus sall yt wurth, thus warne Y thee.” Then was Kyng Acab kene.    In preson he dyd hym cast And sayd he suld be sene    a lyer at the last.	took troubled; (t-note) Micaiah; (see note) dwelled; (t-note) strike; cause it [to] bleed; (t-note) who; (t-note) Because success (life) devoured (t-note) (t-note) much more humble (t-note) cloth (i.e., disguised) take care of (t-note) (t-note) taken; (t-note) unless; protector Since; (t-note) comfort death; (t-note) judgment; ought; (t-note) known deed and word Because power; (t-note) lose bitter (see note) liar
[JEHOSHAPHAT AND AHAB AT PEACE (22:1–4)]
11655 11660 11665 11670 11675 11680 11685 11690 11695 11700	972. In preson now lett we hym dwell    and Acab in his yll lyfyng. Of Josaphat furth wyll we tell    that of Jerusalem was kyng. He musterd mercy ever omell    and honerd God over all thyng. Therfor all frendschepe to hym fell    and beldyng both of old and yyng. Both by est and west    he mayntened Moyses Law, And paynyms ware full prest    to wrschepe hym all way. 973. Kyng Josaphat had with his quene    mony suns, semly to syght. The eldyst of them all be dene    heyght Joran, a full gentyll knyght: He toke a wyfe withoutyn wene,    Kyng Acab doyghtur, Godely scho hyght. Scho had of kynd forto be kene    by Jezabell, hyr moyder, ryght. To wayte be est and west    so worthy was no moo. That marage mad grett rest    betwyx the kynges two. 974. Befell aftur the thre yeres end:    Kyng Josaphat went to Samary To Kyng Acab, his fader and frend,    to conferm cours of cumpany. Thei welcumd hym with wordes hend    and wrschep, os he was worthy, And als lang os hym lyked to lend,    for hym was mad grett mangery. Kyng Acab towched hym tyll    what hast he had on hend, And sayd, “Ser, and thou wyll,    thou may me mekyll amend. 975. “Benedab, the kyng of Syre,    hath angerd me and all my kyn. My cetys hath he sett on fyre    and bene full boun in burghes to bryn. And Ramatha, price of my empyre,    that has he wun and dwels ther in. Therfor is now my most desyre    to wast hym and that cyté to wyn. With both our power playn    sone sall we dyng hym doun.” Josaphat says, “Certayn,    I sal be redy boun.	Jehoshaphat among [them] comfort honor straightway Jehoram; (t-note) doubt Athaliah; (see note) nature; angry through look peace; (t-note) father[-in-law]; (t-note) (t-note) courteous honor remain (t-note) burn; (t-note) Ramoth-Gilead, crown jewel (t-note) defeat
[THE KINGS ASK MICAIAH ABOUT ATTACKING RAMOTH-GILEAD (22:5–28)]
11705 11710 11715 11720 11725 11730 11735 11740 11745 11750 11755 11760	976. “Bot fyrst I wold now or we went    we pray sum prophett us to tell Whedder we in werys sall harm hent    or els our foyse in feld to fell.” Faur hunderth sone ware aftur sent,    and all cord thei them omell And says ther enmys sall be shent    and vyctory with them sall dwell. Kyng Josaphat trowd all tho    fageed the kyng for dowte. He asked yf any moo    ware wonnand ther abowt. 977. Kyng Acab says, “Ya, ther is one    in my preson, a prophett strang. Gud word of me spake he never none;    he noyght sall, lyf he never so lang.” Machyas was fro preson tone,    and thus he sayd them all amang, “Acab hymself he sal be sloyn.    All other sall savely come and gang.” Then sayd Kyng Acab, “Loe,    this told I yow beforn, He sall never say ne do    bot yll both evyn and morn.” 978. Kyng Josaphatt says, “Forsoth us aw    to trow all that he says sall be. Swylke case before may he not knaw    bot only of Goddes privaté.” Up stert a lordan of ther law,    heyght Sedechy, and this sayd hee: “Sers, sett not by this segger saw;    he says noyght sothe, that sall ye see. I sall hym stryke in the face    to gare hym staker and stand. And yf I pase the place    withoutyn harme of my hand, 979. “Then sall ye trest that I am trew,    and that his tales es bot a trayn. And yf my hand fayle hyd or hew    or stand noyght in yt power playn, Supose ye then that all sall sew    as he has sayd yow for certayn!” The kynges assented, no soth thei knew,    and he stroke hym with all his mayn. His hand was never the warre,    and that was for this skyll: For no mirakle suld marre    the prophett spech to spyll. 980. Ware hurtyng on his hand to schew,    then wold the kyng not pase that sted, And so suld not the prophett saw    be soth that sayd he suld be ded. Then says the kyng, “Now may we knaw    not for trew this rybald red. Gose putt hym in my preson low    and gyf hym noyght bot watur and bred!” So for trew entent,    through the sawys of Sedechy, To were so ar thei went    with full clene cumpany.	before; (t-note) war shall suffer harm foes [prophets] were soon agreed; together destroyed believed all those flattered; fear dwelling (t-note) Micaiah; taken safely (t-note) Truly we ought (t-note) villain; (t-note) Zedekiah; (t-note) soothsayer’s words (see note); (t-note) cause him [to] stagger (t-note) are; trick take place (t-note) strength worse; (see note) reason (t-note) (t-note) ensue prophet’s speech; (t-note) dead advice Go (t-note) words war
[THE KINGS ATTACK RAMOTH-GILEAD; AHAB KILLED (22:29–40)]
11765 11770 11775 11780 11785 11790 11795 11800 11805	981. When thei come whore ther enmys ere,    Kyng Acab then this poynt purvayde, For he hymselfe fro wa wold were.    “Josaphat, my sun, take hed,” he sayd, “Myn armys in batell sall thou bere    and all my ryches ryght arayd. Thin armes and thi wede sall I were;    so sall our enmys be betrayd.” On that other syde Kyng Benedab    warned his men, lese and mare, To kyll the kyng Acab    and all other forto spare. 982. Thei rewled them trewly in that tyd    fro erly at morn tyll evynsang. Kyng Josaphat con boldly byd,    he presed full fast paynyms amang. Thei knew hym wele by hew and hyd;    therfor at lyst thei lete hym gang. Kyng Acab soght thei on ylka syde    and full throly to hym thei thrang. A paynym spened a spere    and stert to hym that stownd. Thurght the body he con hym bere    and gaf hym dedes wound. 983. When Kyng Acab doun was cast,    his men ware bayn hym forto beld And hamward hyed them with hym full fast    whyls he myght any wyttes weld. With mekyll payn so are the past    to thei come evyn in Nabod feld. Then myght his lyf no langer last,    bot ther the gast behoved hym yeld. Als Mychias prophesyd,    in the batell he was turgh born And in Nabod feld he dyed,    os Ely sayd beforn. 984. In that same feld doun he fell    that he before had wun falsly Be counsayle of Quene Jezabell,    that mad Nabod therfor to dy. Hondes laped his blud, whor thei dwell,    als yt was sayd be prophecy. Thei bered the body them omell    in his awn cyté of Samary. Because he was a kyng,    his body honerd ys, Bot for his yll lyfyng    men mened hym mekyll the lese.	enemies are; (t-note) (t-note) evensong; (t-note) each violently clasped a spear a mortal wound (t-note) protect hastened; (t-note) Naboth’s vineyard spirit struck through (t-note) Elijah Dogs lapped his blood (t-note) buried; together own; (t-note)
[JEHOSHAPHAT, REBUKED, RULES WISELY (22:40; 2 CHRONICLES 19:1–20:30)]
11810 11815 11820 11825 11830 11835 11840 11845 11850 11855 11860 11865 11870 11875 11880 11885 11890 11895 11900	985. When that Kyng Acab thus was slayn,    as prophettes sayd that yt suld be, And Occozi, his sun certayn,    was crowned kyng of that cuntré, Kyng Benedab went home agayn    with his paynyms full grett plenté. Kyng Josaphat, he passed playn    to Jerusalem, his awn cyté, And all his folke in fere    ware scaped withoutyn scathe. God sent His messyngere    to warn hym from all wathe. 986. A prophett com and to hym sayd,    “Ser, for thou went in cumpany Of Kyng Acab that ys owtrayd,    and wyst that he was Goddes enmy, I warn thee wele God was not payd,    and vengance suld be sent forthi Bot that thi dedes ware gudly grayd.    Bot yett He bydes: beware therby That thou trespase no more    in swylke maner of thyng, For dred yt happyn to sore    to thee or thin ofspryng.” 987. Then loved he God with hert and hand    and honerd Hym in all kyn wyse. And sone was told to hym new tythand    of grevance that began to ryse: How thei enturd into his land,    mystrowand men that heyght Moabyse; And full grett ost thei had ordand    with mony other of Amonyse. Thei say non sall them tene    ne wrath owt of ther wyll To stroye Jerusalem    and all that langes ther tyll. 988. Kyng Josaphat full sone hath he sent    for prophettes, prestes, and dekyns dere, For dukes and erles; all thei went    to the Tempyll to make ther prayer. Thei prayd to God with gud entent    that He wold helpe that stoure to stere So that His men no harmes hent    with hethyn folke that fowled nere. And as the pepyll prayd    with word, wyll, and toyght, A prophett come and sayd,    “Kyng Josaphat, dred thee noyght!” 989. Then was Kyng Josaphat full fayn    when he had swylke hertyng fro Hevyn. He sembled men with all his mayn    and comforth them wele with his stevyn. Out of the cyté past thei playn    and busked unto the enmys evyn. Bot the paynyms com prowdly them agayn    with nowmmer mo then men can nevyn. Bot God swylk socour sent    os none of them other knew, Bot ylk paynym wend    his felow had bene an Ebrew. 990. And so ylkon over other dang    as thei had with ther enmys bene. Thei wold not sese bot thryst and thrang    tyll thei ware dongyn to ded be dene. Ther had non hele home forto gang    to say what syght he thore had sene. So con God ordan murth amang    to men that on His myght wyll mene. Kyng Josaphat come then    with his men to that place. Grett wardly welth thei wan    with spolyng in that space. 991. Thore was ryches and ryalté,    wyn and oyle and all kin store. The Ebrews gatt thor gold and fee    to mend ther myrth forevermore. Then went thei to ther awn cuntré.    Kyng Josaphat, when thei come thore, Bad that all men suld buxum be    to wrschep God as worthy wore That ever in ded and saw    to His pepyll tentes That lelly lufes His Law    and kepes His Commawndmentes. 992. Kyng Josaphat now lett we ly    in Jerusalem with joy to dwell. So the Thryd Boke of this story    is broyght to end, evyn os yt fell. The Fawrt begynys of Occozi,    that then was kyng of Israel, How he sojornd in Samary    with his moyder, Qwene Jesabell. God graunt us to begyn    our dedes in gud degré And end them owt of syn!    Amen, so mott it be!	Ahaziah together injury (t-note) danger because; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) pleased therefore; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) kinds of ways; (t-note) (t-note) misbelieving; Moabites army Ammonites (t-note) (t-note) battle to guide received (t-note) glad such encouragement voice (t-note) hurried numbers; express (t-note) (t-note) cease but thrust and struck beaten to death forthwith health worldly despoiling (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) obedient listens loyally loves (t-note) Ahaziah (t-note) (t-note) (t-note)