<B CMOTEST>
<Q M3 XX OLDT WYCOLD>
<N OLD TEST WYCL>
<A X>
<C M3>
<O 1350-1420>
<M 1350-1420>
<K CONTEMP>
<D EML>
<V PROSE>
<T BIBLE>
<G TRANSL>
<F LATIN>
<W WRITTEN>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z X>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^TEXT:  THE OLD TESTAMENT.
THE HOLY BIBLE, CONTAINING THE OLD AND NEW
TESTAMENTS, WITH THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS,
IN THE EARLIEST ENGLISH VERSIONS
MADE FROM THE LATIN VULGATE BY JOHN
WYCLIFFE AND HIS FOLLOWERS, VOL. I.
ED. J. FORSHALL AND F. MADDEN. 
OXFORD: UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1850. 
GENESIS I.1    - III.24  (SAMPLE 1)
GENESIS VI.1   - IX.29   (SAMPLE 2)
GENESIS XII.1  - XIV.20  (SAMPLE 3)
GENESIS XXII.1 - XXII.19 (SAMPLE 4)
NUMBERS XIII.1 - XIV.45  (SAMPLE 5)
NUMBERS XVI.1  - XVII.13 (SAMPLE 6)^]

[^THE VERSE NUMBER REFERENCES FOLLOW
THOSE OF THE AUTHORIZED VERSION.

IN PAGE CODES THE LETTER G STANDS FOR GENESIS, 
AND N FOR NUMBERS:    I,1G - GENESIS, I, 1; 
                   XIII,1N - NUMBERS, XIII, 1^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P I,1G>
[}HERE BIGYNNETH GENESIS.}]
[}CAP. I.}]

   In the bigynnyng God made of nou+gt
heuene and erthe. Forsothe the erthe was
idel and voide, and derknessis weren on
the face of depthe; and the Spiryt of the
Lord was borun on the watris. And God
seide, Li+gt be maad, and li+gt was maad.
And God sei+g the li+gt, that it was good,
and he departide the li+gt fro derknessis;
and he clepide the li+gt, dai, and the derknessis, 
ny+gt. And the euentid and morwetid 
was maad, o daie. And God seide,
The firmament be maad in the myddis of
watris, and departe watris fro watris. And
God made the firmament, and departide
the watris that weren vndur the firmament
fro these watris that weren on the firmament; 
and it was don so. And God
clepide the firmament, heuene. And the
euentid and morwetid was maad, the secounde 
dai. Forsothe God seide, The watris, 
that ben vndur heuene, be gaderid in
to o place, and a drie place appere; and
it was doon so. And God clepide the drie
place, erthe; and he clepide the gadryngis
togidere of watris, the sees. And God
sei+g that it was good; and seide, The erthe
brynge forth greene eerbe and makynge
seed, and appil tre makynge fruyt bi his
kynde, whos seed be in it silf on erthe;
and it was doon so. And the erthe brou+gte
forth greene erbe and makynge seed bi his
kynde, and a tre makynge fruyt, and ech
hauynge seed by his kynde. And God
sei+g that it was good. And the euentid
and morwetid was maad, the thridde dai.
Forsothe God seide, Li+gtis be maad in the
firmament of heuene, and departe tho the
dai and ni+gt; and be tho in to signes, and
tymes, and daies, and +geeris; and shyne
tho in the firmament of heuene, and li+gtne
tho the erthe; and it was doon so. And
God made twei grete li+gtis, the gretter li+gt
that it schulde be bifore to the dai, and
the lesse li+gt that it schulde be bifore to
the ni+gt; and (^God made^) sterris; and settide 
tho in the firmament of heuene, that
tho schulden schyne on erthe, and that
tho schulden be bifore to the dai and
ny+gt, and schulden departe li+gt and derknesse. 
And God sei+g that it was good.
And the euentid and the morwetid was
maad, the fourthe dai. 
<P I,20G>
Also God seide, The
watris brynge forth a crepynge beeste of
lyuynge soule, and a brid fleynge aboue
erthe vndur the firmament of heuene.
And God made of nou+gt grete whallis, and
ech lyuynge soule and mouable, whiche
the watris han brou+gt forth in to her
kyndis; and God made of nou+gt ech volatile 
bi his kynde. And God sei+g that it
was good; and blesside hem, and seide,
Wexe +ge, and be +ge multiplied, and fille +ge
the watris of the see, and briddis be multiplied 
on erthe. And the euentid and
the morwetid was maad, the fyuethe dai.
And God seide, The erthe brynge forth a
lyuynge soul in his kynde, werk beestis,
and crepynge beestis, and vnresonable
beestis of erthe, bi her kyndis; and it was
don so. And God made vnresonable beestis
of erthe bi her kyndes, and werk beestis,
and ech crepynge beeste of erthe in his
kynde. And God sei+g that it was good;
and seide, Make we man to oure ymage
and liknesse, and be he souereyn to the
fischis of the see, and to the volatilis of
heuene, and to vnresonable beestis of erthe,
and to ech creature, and to ech crepynge
beest, which is moued in erthe. And
God made of nou+gt a man to his ymage
and liknesse; God made of nou+gt a man,
to the ymage of God; God made of nou+gt
hem, male and female. And God blesside
hem, and seide, Encreesse +ge, and be +ge
multiplied, and fille +ge the erthe, and
make +ge it suget, and be +ge lordis to fischis
of the see, and to volatilis of heuene, and
to alle lyuynge beestis that ben moued
on erthe. And God seide, Lo! Y haue
+goue to +gou ech eerbe berynge seed on 
erthe, and alle trees that han in hem silf
the seed of her kynde, that tho be in to
mete to +gou; and to alle lyuynge beestis
of erthe, and to ech brid of heuene, and
to alle thingis that ben moued in erthe,
and in whiche is a lyuynge soule, that
tho haue to ete; and it was doon so.
And God sei+g alle thingis whiche he
made, and tho weren ful goode. And
the euentid and morwetid was maad, the
sixte day.

<P II,1G>
[}CAP. II.}]

   Therfor heuenes and erthe ben maad
perfit, and al the ournement of tho. And
God fillide in the seuenthe dai his werk
which he made; and he restide in the
seuenthe dai fro al his werk which he
hadde maad; and he blesside the seuenthe
dai, and halewide it; for in that dai God
ceesside of al his werk which he made of
nou+gt, that he schulde make. These
ben the generaciouns of heuene and of
erthe, in the day wherynne the Lord God
made heuene and erthe, and ech litil tre
of erthe bifore that it sprong out in erthe;
and he made ech erbe of the feeld bifore
that it buriownede. For the Lord God
had not reyned on erthe, and no man
was that wrou+gte erthe; but a welle
stiede out of the erthe, and moistide al
the hi+gere part of erthe. Therfor the
Lord God formede man of the sliym of
erthe, and brethide in to his face the
brething of lijf; and man was maad in to
a lyuynge soule. Forsothe the Lord God
plauntide at the bigynnyng paradis of
likyng, wherynne he settide man whom
he hadde formed. And the Lord God
brou+gte forth of the erthe ech tre fair in
si+gt, and swete to ete; also he brou+gte forth
the tre of lijf in the middis of paradis,
and the tre of kunnyng of good and of
yuel. And a ryuer +gede out fro the place
of likyng to moyste paradis, which ryuer
is departid fro thennus in to foure heedis.
The name of the o ryuer is Fyson, thilke
it is that cumpassith al the lond of Euilath, 
where gold cometh forth, and the
gold of that lond is the beste, and there is
foundun (\delium\) , (^that is, a tree of spicerie^) ,
and the stoon onychyn; and the name
to the secounde ryuer is Gyon, thilke it
is that cumpassith al the loond of Ethiopie; 
forsothe the name of the thridde
ryuer is Tigris, thilke goith a+gens Assiriens; 
sotheli the fourthe ryuer is thilke
Eufrates. Therfor the Lord God took
man, and settide hym in paradis of likyng, 
that he schulde worche and kepe it.
And God comaundide to hym and seide,
Ete thou of ech tre of paradis; forsothe
ete thou not of the tre of kunnyng of good
and of yuel; for in what euere dai thou
schalt ete thereof, thou schalt die bi deeth.
And the Lord God seide, It is not good
that a man be aloone, make we to hym
an help lijk to hym silf. Therfor
whanne alle lyuynge beestis of erthe, and
alle the volatils of heuene weren formed
of erthe, the Lord God brou+gte tho to
Adam, that he schulde se what he schulde
clepe tho; for al thing that Adam clepide
of lyuynge soule, thilke is the name therof.
<P II,20G>
And Adam clepide bi her names alle lyuynge 
thingis, and alle volatils, and alle
vnresonable beestis of erthe. Forsothe to
Adam was not foundun an helpere lijk
hym. Therfore the Lord God sente sleep
in to Adam, and whanne he slepte, God
took oon of hise ribbis, and fillide fleisch
for it. And the Lord God bildide the rib
which he hadde take fro Adam in to a
womman, and brou+gte hir to Adam. And
Adam seide, This is now a boon of my
boonys, and fleisch of my fleisch; this
schal be clepid virago, for she is takun
of man. Wherfor a man schal forsake
fadir and modir, and schal cleue to his
wijf, and thei schulen be tweyne in o
fleisch. Forsothe euer eithir was nakid,
that is, Adam and his wijf, and thei
weren not aschamed.

<P III,1G>
[}CAP III.}]

   But and the serpent was feller than alle
lyuynge beestis of erthe, whiche the Lord
God hadde maad. Which serpent seide
to the womman, Why comaundide God to
+gou, that +ge schulden not ete of ech tre of
paradis? To whom the womman answerde,
We eten of the fruyt of trees that ben in
paradis; sothely God comaundide to vs,
that we schulden not ete of the fruyt of
the tre, which is in the myddis of paradijs, 
and that we schulden not touche it,
lest perauenture we dien. Forsothe the
serpent seide to the womman, +Ge schulen
not die bi deeth; for whi God woot that
in what euere dai +ge schulen ete therof,
+goure i+gen schulen be opened, and +ge schulen
be as Goddis, knowynge good and yuel.
Therfor the womman sei+g that the tre was
good, and swete to ete, and fair to the
i+gen, and delitable in biholdyng; and sche
took of the fruyt therof, and eet, and +gaf
to hir hosebonde, and he eet. And the
i+gen of bothe weren openid; and whanne
thei knewen that thei weren nakid, thei
sewiden the leeues of a fige tre, and maden
brechis to hem silf. And whanne thei
herden the vois of the Lord God goynge
in paradijs at the wynd after myddai,
Adam and his wijf hidden hem fro the
face of the Lord God in the middis of the
tre of paradijs. And the Lord God
clepide Adam, and seide to hym, Where
art thou? And Adam seide, Y herde thi
vois in paradijs, and Y drede, for Y was
nakid, and Y hidde me. To whom the
Lord seide, Who forsothe schewide to
thee that thou were nakid, no but for
thou hast ete of the tre of which Y comaundide 
to thee that thou schuldist not
ete? And Adam seide, The womman
which thou +gauest felowe to me, +gaf me of
the tre, and Y eet. And the Lord seide to
the womman, Whi didist thou this thing?
Which answerde, The serpent disseyued
me, and Y eet. And the Lord God seide
to the serpent, For thou didist this, thou
schalt be cursid among alle lyuynge thingis
and vnresonable beestis of erthe; thou
schalt go on thi brest, and thou schalt ete
erthe in alle daies of thi liif; Y schal
sette enemytees bitwixe thee and the womman, 
and bitwixe thi seed and hir seed;
sche schal breke thin heed, and thou schalt
sette aspies to hir heele. Also God seide
to the womman, Y schal multiplie thi
wretchidnessis and thi conseyuyngis; in
sorewe thou schalt bere thi children; and
thou schalt be vndur power of the hosebonde, 
and he schal be lord of thee. Sothely
God seyde to Adam, For thou herdist the
voys of thi wijf, and hast ete of the tree,
of which Y comaundide to thee that thou
schuldist not ete, the erthe schal be cursid
in thi werk; in traueylis thou schalt ete
therof in alle daies of thi lijf; it schal
brynge forth thornes and breris to thee,
and thou schalt ete eerbis of the erthe; in
swoot of thi cheer thou schalt ete thi
breed, til thou turne a+gen in to the erthe
of which thou art takun; for thou art
dust, and thou schalt turne a+gen in to dust.
<P III,20G>
And Adam clepide the name of his wijf
Eue, for sche was the moder of alle men
lyuynge. And the Lord God made cootis
of skynnys to Adam and Eue his wijf,
and clothide hem; and seide, Lo! Adam
is maad as oon of vs, and knowith good
and yuel; now therfore (^se +ge^) , lest perauenture 
he putte his hond, and take of
the tre of lijf, and ete, and lyue with
outen ende. And the Lord God sente
hym out of paradijs of likyng, that he
schulde worche the erthe, of which he was
takun. And God castide out Adam, and
settide bifore paradis of lykyng cherubyn, 
and a swerd of flawme and turnynge 
aboute to kepe the weie of the tre
of lijf.

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P VI,1G>
[}CAP. VI.}]

   Forsothe Noe whanne he was of fyue
hundrid +geer gendride Sem, Cham, and Jafeth.
And whanne men bigunnen to be
multiplied on erthe, and hadden gendrid
dou+gtris, the sones of God sei+gen the dou+gtris 
of men that thei weren faire, and
token wyues to hem of alle whiche thei
hadden chose. And God seide, My spirit
schal not dwelle in man with outen ende,
for he is fleisch; and the daies of hym
schulen be an hundrid and twenti +geer.
Sotheli giauntis weren on erthe in tho
daies, forsothe aftir that the sones of God
entriden to the dou+gtris of men, and tho
dou+gtris gendriden; these weren my+gti of
the world and famouse men. Sotheli God
sei+g that myche malice of men was in
erthe, and that al the thou+gt of herte was
ententif to yuel in al tyme, and repentide
him that he hadde maad man in erthe;
and God was war bifore a+gens tyme to
comyng, and was touchid with sorewe of
herte with ynne; and seide, Y schal do
awei man, whom Y made of nou+gt, fro the
face of the erthe, fro man til to lyuynge
thingis, fro crepynge beeste til to the
briddis of heuene; for it repentith me
that Y made hem. Forsothe Noe foond
grace bifore the Lord. These ben the generaciouns 
of Noe. Noe was a iust man
and perfit in hise generaciouns; Noe +gede
with God, and gendride thre sones, Sem,
Cam, and Jafeth. Forsothe the erthe was
corrupt bifore God, and was fillid with
wickidnes. And whanne God sei+g, that
the erthe was corrupt, for ech fleisch
(^ether man^) hadde corrupt his weie on
erthe, he seide to Noe, The ende of al
fleisch is comen bifore me; the erthe is
fillid with wickidnesse of the face of hem,
and Y schal distrye hem with the erthe.
Make thou to thee a schip of trees hewun
and planed; thou schalt make dwellynge
placis in the schip, and thou schalt anoynte
it with pitche with ynne and with outforth. 
And so thou schalt make it. The
lengthe of the schip schal be of thre hundrid 
cubitis, the brede schal be of fifti
cubitis, and the hi+gnesse therof schal be
of thretti cubitis. Thou schalt make a
wyndow in the schip, and thou schalt
ende the hi+gnesse therof in a cubite; sotheli 
thou schalt sette the dore of the
schip in the side binethe; thou shalt make
soleris and placis of thre chaumbris in the
schip. Lo! Y schal brynge watris of diluuye 
(^ether greet flood^) on erthe, and
Y schal sle ech fleisch in which is the spirit 
of lijf vndir heuene, and alle thingis
that ben in erthe, schulen be wastid. And
Y schal sette my couenaunt of pees with
thee; and thou schalt entre in to the
schip, and thy sones, and thi wijf, and the
wiues of thi sones schulen entre with thee.
And of alle lyuynge beestis of al fleisch
thou schalt brynge in to the schip tweyne
and tweyne, of male kynde and female,
that thei lyue with thee; 
<P VI,20G>
of briddis bi her
kynde, and of werk beestis in her kynde,
and of ech crepynge beeste of erthe, by
her kynde; tweyne and tweyne of alle
schulen entre with thee, that thei moun
lyue. Therfore thou schalt take with thee
of alle metis that moun be etun, and thou
schalt bere to gidre at thee, and tho schulen
be as well to thee as to the beestis in to
mete. Therfor Noe dide alle thingis whiche
God comaundide to hym.

<P VII,1G>
[}CAP. VII.}]

   Also the Lord seide to Noe, Entre thou
and al thin hous in to the schip, for Y
sei+g thee iust bifore me in this generacioun.
Of alle clene lyuynge beestis thou
schalt take bi seuene and bi seuene, male
and female; forsothe of vnclene lyuynge
beestis thou schalt take bi tweyne and bi
tweyne, male and female; but also of volatils
of heuene thou schalt take, be seuene
and bi seuene, male and female, that her
seed be saued on the face of al erthe. For
+git and aftir seuene daies Y schal reyne on
erthe fourti daies and fourti ny+gtis, and Y
schal do awey al substaunce which Y made,
fro the face of erthe. Therfor Noe dide
alle thingis whiche the Lord comaundide
to hym. And he was of sixe hundrid
+geer, whanne the watris of the greet flood
flowiden on erthe. And Noe entride in
to the schip, and hise sones, and hise wijf,
and the wyues of his sones, entriden with
him for the watris of the greet flood. And
of lyuynge beestis clene and vnclene, and
of briddis of heuene, and of ech beeste
which is moued on erthe, bi tweyne and
bi tweyne, male and female entriden to
Noe in to the schip, as the Lord comaundide 
to Noe. And whanne seuene
daies hadden passid, the watris of the
greet flood flowiden on erthe. In the sixe
hundrid +geer of the lijf of Noe, in the
secunde moneth, in the seuententhe dai of
the moneth, alle the wellis of the greet see
weren brokun, and the wyndowis of heuene 
weren opened, and reyn was maad
on erthe fourti daies and fourti ny+gtis. In
the ende of that dai Noe entride, and Sem,
Cham, and Japheth, hise sones, his wijf,
and the wyues of hise sones, entriden with
hem into the schip. Thei entriden, and
ech beeste bi his kynde, and alle werk
beestis in her kynde, and ech beeste which
is moued on erthe in his kynde, and ech
volatil bi his kynde; alle briddis and alle
volatils entriden to Noe in to the schip,
bi tweyne and bi tweyne of ech fleisch in
whiche the spirit of lijf was. And tho
that entriden, entriden male and female of
ech fleisch, as God comaundide to hym.
And the Lord encloside hym fro with outforth. 
And the greet flood was maad
fourti daies and fourti ni+gtis on erthe, and
the watris weren multiplied, and reiseden
the schip on hi+g fro erthe. The watris
flowiden greetli, and filliden alle thingis in
the face of erthe.  Forsothe the schip was
borun on the watris. And the watris
hadden maistrie greetli on erthe, and alle
hi+ge hillis vndur alle heuene weren hilid;
<P VII,20G>
the watyr was hi+gere bi fiftene cubitis ouer
the hilis whiche it hilide. And ech fleisch
was wastid that was moued on erthe, of
briddis, of lyuynge beestis, of vnresonable
beestis, and of alle reptilis that crepen on
erthe. Alle men, and alle thingis in whiche
the brething of lijf was in erthe, weren
deed. And God dide awei al substaunce
that was on erthe, fro man til to beeste,
as wel a crepynge beeste as the briddis of
heuene; and tho weren doon awei fro
erthe. Forsothe Noe dwellide aloone, and
thei that weren with hym in the schip.
And the watris of the greet flood ouere+geden 
the erthe an hundrid and fifti daies.

<P VIII,1G>
[}CAP. VIII.}]

   Forsothe the Lord hadde mynde of Noe,
and of alle lyuynge beestis, and of alle
werk beestis, that weren with hym in the
schip; and brou+gte a wynd on the erthe.
And watris weren decreessid, and the
wellis of the see weren closid, and the
wyndowis of heuene weren closid, and
reynes of heuene weren ceessid. And watrys 
turneden a+gen fro erthe, and +geden
a+gen, and bigunnen to be decreessid aftir
an hundrid and fifti daies. And the schip
restide in the seuenthe monthe, in the seuene 
and twentithe dai of the monthe, on
the hillis of Armenye. And sotheli the
watrys +geden and decresiden til to the
tenthe monethe, for in the tenthe monethe,
in the firste dai of the monethe, the coppis
of hillis apperiden. And whanne fourti
daies weren passid, Noe openyde the wyndow 
of the schip which he hadde maad,
and sente out a crowe, which +gede out,
and turnede not a+gen til the watris weren
dried on erthe. Also Noe sente out a culuer
aftir hym, to se if the watris hadden
ceessid thanne on the face of erthe; and
whanne the culuer foond not where hir
foot schulde reste, sche turnede a+gen to
hym in to the schip, for the watris weren
on al erthe; and Noe helde forth his
hoond, and brou+gte the culuer takun in to
the schip. Sotheli whanne othere seuene
daies weren abedun aftirward, eft he leet
out a culuer fro the schip; and sche cam
to  hym at euentid, and bare in hir mouth
a braunche of olyue tre with greene leeuys.
Therfor Noe vndirstood that the watris
hadden ceessid on erthe; and neuerthelesse
he abood seuene othere daies, and
sente out a culuer, which turnede no more
a+gen to hym. Therfor in the sixe hundrid
and o +geer of the lijf of Noe, in the firste
monethe, in the firste day of the monethe,
watris weren decreessid on erthe; and Noe
openede the roof of the schip, and bihelde
and sei+g that the face of the erthe was
dried. In the secunde monethe, in the
seuene and twentithe dai of the monethe,
the erthe was maad drie. Sotheli the
Lord spak to Noe; and seide, Go out of
the schip, thou, and thi wijf, thi sones,
and the wyues of thi sones with thee; and
lede out with thee alle lyuynge beestis
that ben at thee of ech fleisch, as wel in
volatilis as in vnresonable beestis, and alle
reptils that crepen on erthe; and entre
+ge on the erthe, encreesse +ge, and be +ge
multiplied on erthe. Therfor Noe +gede
out, and hise sones, and his wijf, and the
wyues of hise sones with hym; but also
alle lyuynge beestis, and werk beestis, and
reptils that crepen on erthe, bi her kynde,
+geden out of the schip. 
<P VIII,20G>
Forsothe Noe
bildide an auter to the Lord, and he took
of alle clene beestis and briddis, and offride
brent sacrifices on the auter. And the
Lord sauerede the odour of swetnesse, and
seide to hym, Y schal no more curse the
erthe for men, for the wit and thou+gt of
mannus herte ben redi in to yuel fro +gong
wexynge age; therfor Y schal no more
smyte ech lyuynge soule as Y dide; in
alle the daies of erthe, seed and ripe
corn, coold and heete, somer and wyntir,
ny+gt and dai, shulen not reste.

<P IX,1G>
[}CAP. IX.}]

   And God blisside Noe and hise sones,
and seide to hem, Encreesse +ge, and be +ge
multiplied, and fille +ge the erthe; and
+goure drede and tremblyng be on alle vnresonable 
beestis of erthe, and on alle
briddis on heuene, with alle thingis that
ben moued in erthe; alle fischis of the
see ben +gouun to +goure hond. And al
thing which is moued and lyueth schal be
to +gou in to mete; Y have +goue to +gou
alle thingis as greene wortis, outakun that
+ge schulen not ete fleisch with blood, for
Y schal seke the blood of +goure lyues of
the hoond of alle vnresonable beestis and
of the hoond of man, of the hoond of man
and of hys brother Y schal seke the lijf
of man. Who euere schedith out mannus
blood, his blood schal be sched; for man 
is maad to the ymage of God. Forsothe 
encreesse +ge, and be +ge multiplied,
and entre +ge on erthe, and fille +ge it,
Also the Lord seide thes thingis to Noe,
and to his sones with him, Lo! Y schal
make my couenaunt with +gou, and with
+gour seed after +gou, and to ech lyuynge
soule which is with +gou, as wel in
briddis as in werk beestis and smale
beestis of erthe, and to alle thingis that
+geden out of the schip, and to alle vnresonable 
beestis of erthe. Y schal make
my couenaunt with +gou, and ech fleisch
schal no more be slayn of the watris of
the greet flood, nethir the greet flood distriynge 
al erthe schal be more. And God
seide, This is the signe of boond of pees,
which Y +gyue bitwixe me and you, and to
ech lyuynge soule which is with you, in
to euerlastynge generaciouns. Y schal
sette my bowe in the cloudis, and it schal
be a signe of boond of pees bitwixe me
and erthe; and whanne Y schal hile
heuene with cloudis, my bowe schal appere
in the cloudis, and Y schal haue
mynde of my boond of pees which Y made
with +gou, and with ech soule lyuynge, that
nurschith fleisch; and the watris of the
greet flood schulen no more be to do awey
al fleish. And my bowe schal be in the
cloudis, and Y schal se it, and Y schal haue
mynde of euerlastynge boond of pees,
which is maad bitwixe God and man,
and ech soul lyuynge of al fleisch which
is on erthe. And God seide to Noe, This
schal be a signe of boond of pees, which
Y made bitwixe me and ech fleisch on
erthe. Therfore thei that +geden out of
the schip weren Noe, Sem, Cham, and
Japheth; forsothe Cham, thilke is the fadir
of Chanaan. These thre weren the sones
of Noe, and al the kynde of men was
sowun of hem on al erthe. 
<P IX,20G>
And Noe, an
erthe tiliere, bigan to tile the erthe, and
he plauntide a viner, and he drank wyn,
and was drunkun; and he was nakid,
and lay in his tabernacle. And whanne
Cham, the fadir of Chanaan, hadde seien
this thing, that is, that the schameful
membris of his fadir weren maad nakid,
he telde to hise tweye britheren with out
forth. And sotheli Sem and Jafeth puttiden 
a mentil on her schuldris, and thei
+geden bacward, and hileden the schameful
membris of her fadir, and her faces weren
turned awei, and thei sien not the priuy
membris of her fadir. And forsothe Noe
wakide of the wyn, and whanne he hadde
lerned what thingis his lesse sone hadde
do to hym, he seide, Cursid be the child
Canaan, he schal be seruaunt of seruauntis
to hise britheren. And Noe seide, Blessid
be the Lord God of Sem, and Chanaan be
the seruaunt to Sem; God alarge Jafeth,
and dwelle in the tabernaclis of Sem, and
Chanaan be seruaunt of hym. Forsothe
Noe lyuede aftir the greet flood thre hundrid
and fifti +geer; and alle the daies of
hym weren fillid nyn hundrid and fifty
+geer, and he was deed.

<S SAMPLE 3> 
<P XII,1G>
[}CAP. XII.}]

   Forsothe the Lord seide to Abram, Go
thou out of thi lond, and of thi kynrede,
and of the hous of thi fadir, and come
thou in to the lond which Y schal schewe
to thee; and Y schal make thee in to a
greet folk, and Y schal blisse thee, and Y
schal magnyfie thi name, and thou schalt
be blessid; Y schal blesse hem that blessen
thee, and Y schal curse hem that cursen
thee; and alle kynredis of erthe schulen
be blessid in thee. And so Abram +gede
out, as the Lord comaundide hym, and
Loth +gede with hym. Abram was of
thre scoor +geer and fiftene whanne he
+gede out of Aran. And he took Saray,
his wijf, and Loth, the sone of his brother,
and al the substaunce which thei hadden
in possessioun, and the men whiche thei
hadden bigete in Aran; and thei +geden
out that thei schulen go in to the loond of
Chanaan. And whanne they camen in to
it, Abram passide thorou the lond til to
the place of Sichem, and til to the noble
valey. Forsothe Chananei was thanne in
the lond. Sotheli the Lord apperide to
Abram, and seide to hym, Y schal +gyue
this lond to thi seed. And Abram bildide
there an auter to the Lord, that apperide
to hym. And fro thennus he passide forth
to the hil Bethel, that was a+gens the eest,
and settide there his tabernacle, hauynge
Bethel fro the west, and Hay fro the eest.
And he bildide also there an auter to
the Lord, and inwardli clepide his name.
And Abram +gede goynge and goynge forth
ouer to the south. Sotheli hungur was
maad in the lond; and Abram +gede doun
in to Egipt, to be a pilgrime ther, for hungur 
hadde maistrie in the lond. And
whanne he was ny+g to entre in to Egipt,
he seide to Saray, his wijf, Y knowe that
thou art a fair womman, and that whanne
Egipcians schulen se thee, thei schulen
seie, it is his wijf, and thei schulen sle me,
and schulen reserue thee. Therfor, Y biseche 
thee, seie thou, that thou art my
sistir, that it be wel to me for thee, and
that my lijf lyue for loue of thee. And
so whanne Abram hadde entrid in to Egipt,
Egipcians sien the womman that sche was
ful fair; and the prynces telden to Farao,
and preiseden hir anentis him; and the
womman was takun vp in to the hous of
Farao. Forsothe thei vsiden wel Abram
for hir; and scheep, and oxun, and assis,
and seruauntis, and seruauntessis, and sche
assis, and camels weren to hym. Forsothe
the Lord beet Farao and his hous with
moste veniaunces, for Saray, the wijf of
Abram. And Farao clepide Abram, and
seide to hym, What is it that thou hast
do to me? whi schewidist thou not to me,
that sche was thi wijf? for what cause
seidist thou, that sche was thi sister, that
Y schulde take hir in to wife to me? Now
therfor lo! thi wiif; take thou hir, and
go. 
<P XII,20G>
And Farao comaundide to men on
Abram, and thei ledden forth hym, and
his wijf, and alle thingis that he hadde.

<P XIII,1G>
[}CAP. XIII.}]

   Therfore Abram stiede fro Egipt, he,
and his wijf, and alle thingis that he hadde;
and Loth stiede with hym, to the south
coost. Forsothe he was ful riche in possessyoun 
of siluer and of gold. And he
turnede a+gen bi the weye in which he cam
fro the south in to Bethel, til to the
place, in which bifore he hadde sett tabernacle,
bitwixe Bethel and Hay, in the
place of the auter which he made bifore,
and inwardli clepide there the name of
the Lord. But also flockis of scheep, and
droues of oxun, and tabernaclis weren to
Loth, that was with Abram; and the lond
mi+gte not take hem, that thei schulden
dwelle to gidre, for the catel of hem was
myche, and thei mi+gten not dwelle in
comyn. Wherfor also strijf was maad bitwixe 
the keperis of flockis of Abram and
of Loth. Forsothe Chananei and Feresei
dwelliden in that lond in that tyme. Therfor 
Abram seide to Loth, Y biseche, that
no strijf be bitwixe me and thee, and bitwixe 
my scheepherdis and thi scheepherdis; 
for we ben britheren. Lo! al the
lond is bifore thee, Y biseche, departe thou
fro me; if thou go to the left side, Y schal
holde the ri+gt side; if thou chese the
ri+gt side, Y schal go to the left side. And
so Loth reiside hise i+gen, and sei+g aboute
al the cuntrei of Jordan, which was al
moistid, bifor that the Lord distriede Sodom
and Gomorre, as paradis of the Lord,
and as Egipt, as men comen in to Segor.
And Loth chees to him the cuntre aboute
Jordan, and departide fro the eest; and
thei weren departid ech fro his brother.
Abram dwellide in the lond of Chanaan;
sotheli Loth dwellide in townes aboute
Jordan, and wonide in Sodom. Forsothe
men of Sodom weren ful wickid, and synneris 
greetly bifore the Lord. And the
Lord seide to Abram, aftir that Loth was
departid fro him, Reise thin i+gen forth
ri+gt, and se fro the place in which thou
art now, to the north and south, to the
eest and west; Y schal +gyue al the lond
which thou seest to thee and to thi seed,
til in to with outen ende. And Y schal
make thi seed as the dust of erthe; if
ony man may noumbre the dust of erthe,
also he schal mowe noumbre thi seed.
Therfor rise thou, and passe thorou the
lond in his lengthe and breede, for Y schal
+gyue it to thee. Therfor Abram, mouynge
his tabernacle, cam and dwellide bisidis
the valei of Mambre, which is in Ebron;
and he bildide there an auter to the
Lord.

<P XIV,1G>
[}CAP. XIV.}]

   Forsothe it was don in that tyme, that
Amrafel, kyng of Sennaar, and Ariok,
kyng of Ponte, and Chodorlaomor, kyng of
Elemytis, and Tadal, kyng of folkis, bigunnen 
batel a+gens Bara, kyng of Sodom, and
a+gens Bersa, kyng of Gomorre, and a+gens
Sennaar, kyng of Adama, and a+gens Semeber,
kyng of Seboym, and a+gens the
kyng of Bale; thilke Bale is Segor. Alle
these camen togidre in to the valey of
wode, which is now the see of salt. For
in twelue +geer thei seruyden Chodorlaomor,
and in the threttenthe +geer thei departiden
fro hym. Therfor Chodorlaomor cam in
the fourtenthe +geer, and kyngis that weren
with him, and thei han smyte Rafaym in
Astaroth Carnaym, and Susym with hem,
and Emym in Sabe Cariathaym, and Choreis
in the hillis of Seir, til to the feldi
placis of Faran, which is in wildirnesse.
And thei turneden a+gen, and camen til to
the welle Mesphath; thilke is Cades. And
thei han smyte al the cuntre of men of
Amalec, and Amorrei, that dwellide in Asason
Thamar. And the kyng of Sodom,
and the king of Gomorre, and the kyng of
Adama, and the kyng of Seboym, also and
the kyng of Bale, which is Segor, +geden
out, and dressiden scheltrun a+gens hem in
the valei of wode, that is, a+gens Chodorlaomor,
kyng of Elamytis, and Thadal, kyng
of folkis, and Amrafel, kyng of Sennaar,
and Ariok, kyng of Ponte; foure kyngis
a+gens fyue. Forsothe the valey of the
wode hadde many pittis of pitche; and
so the kyng of Sodom and the kyng of
Gomorre turneden the backis, and felden
doun there; and thei that leften fledden
to the hil. Sotheli thei token awei al the
catel of Sodom and Gomorre, and alle
thingis that perteynen to mete, and +geden
awei; also and thei token awey Loth and
his catel, the sone of the brother of Abram,
which Loth dwellide in Sodom. And,
lo! oon that ascapide, telde to Abram
Ebrew, that dwellide in the valei of
Mambre of Amorrei, brother of Escol, and
brother of Aner; for these maden couenaunt
of pees with Abram. And whanne
Abram hadde herd this thing, that is, Loth
his brothir takun, he noumbride his borun
seruauntis maad redy thre hundrid and
ei+gtene, and pursuede hem til to Dan.
And whanne his felowis weren departid,
he felde on hem in the ni+gt, and he smoot
hem, and pursuede hem til to Hoba, and
Fenyce, which is at the left side of Damask.
And he brou+gte a+gen al the catel,
and Loth his brother with his catel, also
wymmen and the puple. Sotheli the kyng
of Sodom +gede out in to the metyng of
him, after that he turnede a+gen fro sleyng
Of Chodorlaomor, and of kyngis that weren
with him, in the valei of Sabe, which is
the valey of the kyng. And sotheli Melchisedech, 
kyng of Salem, brou+gte forth
breed and wyn, for he was the preest of
hi+geste God; 
<P XIV,20G>
and he blesside Abram, and
seide, Blessid be Abram of hi+g God, that
made heuene and erthe of nou+gt, and blessid
be hi+g God, bi whom defendynge, enemyes
ben bitakun in thin hondis. And Abram
+gaf tithis of alle thingis to hym. 

<S SAMPLE 4>
<P XXII,1G>
[}CAP. XXII.}]

   And aftir that these thingis weren don,
God assaiede Abraham, and seide to hym,
Abraham! Abraham! He answerde, Y am
present. God seide to him, Take thi sone
oon gendrid, whom thou louest, Ysaac;
and go into the lond of visioun, and offre
thou hym there in to brent sacrifice, on
oon of the hillis whiche Y schal schewe to
thee. Therfor Abraham roos bi ni+gt, and
sadlide his asse, and ledde with hym twey
+gonge men, and Ysaac his sone; and whanne
he hadde hewe trees in to brent sacrifice,
he +gede to the place which God hadde comaundid
to him. Forsothe in the thridde
dai he reiside hise i+gen, and sei+g a place
afer; and he seide to hise children, Abide
+ge here with the asse, Y and the child
schulen go thidur; and aftir that we han
worschipid, we schulen turne a+gen to +gou.
And he took the trees of brent sacrifice,
and puttide on Ysaac his sone; forsothe
he bar fier, and a swerd in hise hondis.
And whanne thei tweyne +geden togidere,
Isaac seide to his fadir, My fadir! And
he answerde, What wolt thou, sone? He
seide, Lo! fier and trees, where is the
beeste of brent sacrifice? Abraham seide,
My sone, God schal puruey to hym the
beeste of brent sacrifice. Therfor thei
+geden togidere, and camen to the place
whiche God hadde schewid to hym, in
which place Abraham bildide an auter,
and dresside trees aboue; and whanne he
hadde bounde togidere Ysaac, his sone, he
puttide Ysaac in the auter, on the heep
of trees. And he helde forth his hond, and
took the swerd to sacrifice his sone. And
lo! an aungel of the Lord criede fro
heuene, and seide, Abraham! Abraham!
Which answerde, I am present. And the
aungel seide to hym, Holde thou not forth
thin honde on the child, nether do thou
ony thing to him; now Y haue knowe
that thou dredist God, and sparidist not
thin oon gendrid sone for me. Abraham
reiside hise i+gen, and he sei+g bihynde his
bak a ram cleuynge bi hornes among
breris, which he took, and offride brent
sacrifice for the sone. And he clepide
the name of that place, The Lord seeth;
wherfore it is seyd, til to dai, The Lord
schal see in the hil. Forsothe the aungel
of the Lord clepide Abraham the secounde
tyme fro heuene, and seide, The Lord
seith, Y haue swore bi my silf, for thou
hast do this thing, and hast not sparid
thin oon gendrid for me, Y schal blesse
thee, and Y schal multiplie thi seed as the
sterris of heuene, and as grauel which is
in the brynk of the see; thi seed schal
gete the +gatis of hise enemyes; and alle
the folkis of erthe schulen be blessid in thi
seed, for thou obeiedist to my vois. Abraham
turnede a+gen to hise children, and
thei +geden to Bersabee togidere, and he
dwellide there. 

<S SAMPLE 5>
<P XIII,1N>
[}CAP. XIII.}]

   And the puple +gede forth fro Asseroth,
whanne the tentis weren set in the deseert
of Pharan. And there the Lord
spak to Moises, and seide, Sende thou men
that schulen biholde the lond of Canaan,
which Y schal +gyue to the sones of Israel,
of ech lynage o man of the princes.
Moises dide that that the Lord comaundide,
and sente fro the deseert of Pharan
princes, men of whiche these ben the
names. Of the lynage of Ruben, Semmya,
the sone of Zectur. Of the lynage of Symeon,
Saphat, the sone of Hury. Of the
lynage of Juda, Caleph, the sone of Jephone.
Of the lynage of Isachar, Igal,
the sone of Joseph. Of the lynage of Effraym,
Osee, the sone of Nun. Of the
lynage of Beniamyn, Phalti, the sone of
Raphu. Of the lynage of Zabulon, Gediel,
the sone of Sodi. Of the lynage of
Joseph, of the gouernaunce of Manasses,
Gaddi, the sone of Susy. Of the lynage
of Dan, Amyel, the sone of Gemalli. Of
the lynage of Aser, Sur, the sone of Mychael.
Of the lynage of Neptalym, Nabdi,
the sone of Napsi. Of the lynage of Gad,
Guel, the sone of Machi. These ben the
names of men, which Moises sente to biholde
the lond of Canaan; and he clepide
Osee, the sone of Nun, Josue. Therfor
Moises sente hem to biholde the lond of
Canaan, and seide to hem, Stie +ge bi the
south coost; and whanne +ge comen to the
hillis, biholde +ge the lond, what manner lond
it is; and biholde +ge the puple which is
the dwellere therof, whether it is strong,
ethir feble, whether thei ben fewe in
noumbre, ether manye; (^whether^) that lond
is good, ethir yuel; what maner citees ben,
wallid, ether without wallis; 
<P XIII,20N>
(^whether^) the
lond is fat, ether bareyn, (^whether it is^)
ful of woodis, ethir without trees. Be +ge
coumfortid, and brynge +ge to vs of the
fruytis of that lond. Sotheli the tyme
was, whanne grapis first ripe my+gten be
etun thanne. And whanne thei hadden
stied, thei aspieden the lond, fro the deseert
of Syn til to Rohob, as men entryth 
to Emath. And thei stieden to
the south, and camen in to Ebron,
where Achyman, and Sisai, and Tholmai,
the sones of Enach, weren; for Hebron
was maad bi seuen +geer bifor Thamnys,
the citee of Egipt. And thei +geden til to
the stronde of clustre, and kittiden doun
a sioun with his grape, which twei men
baren in a barre; also thei token of
pumgarnadis, and of the figis of that place
which is clepid Nehelescol, that is, the
stronde of grape, for the sones of Israel
baren a clustre fro thennus. And the
aspieris of the lond, whanne thei hadden
cumpassid al the cuntrey, after fourti daies
camen to Moises and Aaron, and to al the
cumpany of the sones of Israel, in to the
deseert of Pharan which is in Cades. And
(^the aspieris^) spaken to hem, and schewiden
the fruytis of the lond to al the multitude,
and telden, and seiden, We camen
to the lond, to which thou sentest vs,
which lond treuli flowith with mylk and
hony, as it may be knowun bi these
fruytis; but it hath strongeste inhabiteris,
and grete cytees, and wallid; we
sien there the kynrede of Anachym;
Amalech dwellith in the south; Ethei, and
Jebusei, and Amorey (^dwellen^) in the hilli
placis; forsothe Cananey dwellith bisidis
the see, and bisidis the floodis of Jordan.
Among thes thingis Caleph peeside the
grutchyng of the puple, that was maad
a+gens Moises, and seide, Stie we, and
welde we the lond, for we moun gete it.
Forsothe other (^aspieris^) , that weren with
hym, seiden, We moun not stie to this
puple, for it is strongere than we. And
thei deprauyden the lond which thei hadden
biholde, anentis the sones of Israel,
and seiden, The lond which we cumpassiden
deuourith hise dwelleris; the puple
which we bihelden is of large stature;
there we syen summe wondris a+gens kynde,
of the sones of Enach, of the kynde of geauntis,
to whiche we weren comparisound,
and weren seien as locustis.

<P XIV,1N>
[}CAP. XIV.}]

   Therfor al the cumpeny criede, and
wepte in that ny+gt, and alle the sones of
Israel grutchiden a+gens Moises and Aaron,
and seiden, We wolden that we hadden
be deed in Egipt, and not in this waast
wildirnesse; we wolden that we perischen,
and that the Lord lede vs not
in to this lond, lest we fallen bi swerd,
and oure wyues and fre children ben led
prisoneris; whether it is not betere to
turne a+gen in to Egipt? And thei seiden
oon to another, Ordeyne we a duyk to vs,
and turne we a+gen in to Egipt. And
whanne this was herd, Moises and Aaron
felden lowe to erthe, bifor al the
multitude of the sones of Israel. And
sotheli Josue, the sone of Nun, and Caleph,
the sone of Jephone, whiche also cumpassiden
the lond, torenten her clothis,
and spaken to al the multitude of the
sones of Israel, The lond which we cumpassiden
is ful good; if the Lord is merciful
to vs, he schal lede vs in to it, and
schal +gyue (^to vs^) the lond flowynge with
mylk and hony. Nyle +ge be rebel a+gens
the Lord, nether drede +ge the puple of this
lond, for we moun deuoure hem so as
breed; al her help passide awei fro hem,
the Lord is with vs, nyle +ge drede. And
whanne al the multitude criede, and wolde
oppresse hem with stonys, the glorie of
the Lord apperide on the roof of the
boond of pees, while alle the sones of Israel
sien. And the Lord seide to Moises, Hou
long schal this puple bacbite me? Hou
longe schulen thei not bileue to me in alle
signes, whiche Y haue do bifor hem?
Therfor Y schal smyte hem with pestilence,
and Y schal waste (^hem^) ; forsothe
Y schal make thee prince on a greet
folk, and strongere than is this. And
Moises seide to the Lord, Egipcians here
not, fro whos myddil thou leddist out this
puple, and the dwelleris of this loond,
whiche herden that thou, Lord, art in
this puple, and art seyn face to face, and
that thi cloude defendith hem, and that
thou goist bifore hem in a pilere of cloude
bi dai, and in a piler of fier bi ny+gt, that
thou hast slayn so greet a multitude as o
man, and seie thei, He my+gte not brynge
this puple in to the lond for whiche he
swoor, therfor he killide hem in wildirnesse;
therfor the strengthe of the Lord
be magnified, as thou hast swore. And
Moises seide, Lord pacient, and of myche
mercy, doynge awei wickidnesse and trespassis,
and leeuynge no man vngilti,
which visitist the synnes of fadris in to
sones in to the thridde and fourthe generacioun,
Y biseche, for+gyue thou the synne
of this thi puple, aftir the greetnesse of thi
merci, as thou were merciful to men goynge
out of Egipt til to this place. And
<P XIV,20N>
the Lord seide, Y haue for+gouun to hem,
bi thi word. Y lyue; and the glorie of
the Lord schal be fillid in al erthe; netheles
alle men that sien my mageste,
and my signes, whiche Y dide in Egipt
and in the wildirnesse, and temptiden me
now bi ten sithis, and obeieden not to my
vois, schulen not se the lond for which Y
swore to her fadris, nethir ony of hem
that bacbitide me, schal se it. Y schal
lede my seruaunt Caleph, that was ful of
anothir spirit, and suede me, in to this
lond, which he cumpasside, and his seed
schal welde it. For Amalech and Cananei
dwellen in the valeis, to morewe moue
+ge tentis, and turne +ge a+gen in to wildirnesse
bi the weie of the reed see. And
the Lord spak to Moises and to Aaron,
and seide, Hou long grutchith this werste
multitude a+gens me? Y haue herd the
pleyntis of the sones of Israel. Therfor
seie thou to hem, Y lyue, seith the Lord;
as +ge spaken while Y herde, so Y schal do
to +gou; +goure careyns schulen ligge in
this wildirnesse. Alle +ge that ben noumbrid,
fro twenti +geer and aboue, and grutchiden
a+gens me, schulen not entre in to the
lond, on which Y reiside myn hond, that
Y schulde make +gou to dwelle outakun
Caleph, the sone of Jephone, and Josue,
the sone of Nun. Forsothe Y schal lede
in +goure litle children, of whiche +ge seiden
that thei schulden be preyes (^ethir raueyns^)
to enemyes, that thei se the lond
which displeside +gou. Forsothe +goure
careyns schulen ligge in the wildirnesse;
+goure sones schulen be walkeris aboute in
the deseert bi fourti +geer, and thei schulen
bere +goure fornycacioun, til the careyns of
the fadris ben wastid in the deseert, by
the noumbre of fourti daies, in whiche +ge
bihelden the loond; a +geer schal be arettid
for a dai, and bi fourti +geer +ge schulen
resseyue +goure wickidnesse, and +ge schulen
knowe my veniaunce. For as Y spak, so
Y schal do to al this werste multitude,
that roos togidere a+gens me; it schal faile,
and schal die in this wildirnesse. Therfor
alle the men whyche Moises hadde sent to
see the lond, and whiche turniden a+gen,
and maden al the multitude to grutche
a+gens hym, and depraueden the lond, that
it was yuel, weren deed, and smytun in
the si+gt of the Lord. Sotheli Josue, the
sone of Nun, and Caleph, the sone of Jephone,
lyueden, of alle men that +geden to
se the lond. And Moises spak alle these
wordis to alle the sones of Israel, and the
puple mourenyde gretli. 
<P XIV,40N>
And, lo! thei
riseden in the morewtid first, and stieden
in to the cop of the hil, and seiden, We
ben redi to stie to the place, of which the
Lord spak, for we synneden. To whiche
Moises seide, Whi passen +ge the word of
the Lord, that schal not bifalle to +gou in
to prosperite? Nyle +ge stie, for the Lord
is not with +gou, lest +ge fallen bifor +goure
enemyes. Amalech and Cananei ben bifor
+gou, bi the swerd of whiche +ge schulen
falle, for +ge nolden assente to the Lord,
nether the Lord schal be with +gou. And
thei weren maad derk, and stieden in to
the cop of the hil; forsothe the ark of the
testament of the Lord and Moises +geden
not awey fro the tentis. And Amalech
cam doun, and Chananei, that dwelliden in
the hil, and he smoot hem, and kittide
doun, and pursuede hem til Horma.

<S SAMPLE 6>
<P XVI,1N>
[}CAP. XVI.}]

   Lo! forsothe Chore, the sone of Isuar,
sone of Caath, sone of Leuy, and Dathan
and Abiron, the sones of Heliab, and Hon,
the sone of Pheleph, of the sones of Ruben,
rysen a+gens Moises, and othere of
the sones of Israel, two hundryd men and
fifti, prynces of the synagoge, and whiche
weren clepid bi names in the tyme of
counsel. And whanne thei hadden stonde
a+gens Moises and Aaron, thei seiden, Suffice
it to +gou, for al the multitude is of
hooly men, and the Lord is in hem; whi
ben +ge reisid on the puple of the Lord?
And whanne Moises hadde herd this, he
felde lowe on the face. And he spak
to Chore, and to al the multitude; he
seide, Eerli the Lord schal make knowun
whiche perteynen to hym, and he schal
applie to hym hooli men; and thei whiche
he hath chose, schulen nei+ge to hym.
Therfor do +ge this thing; ech man take
his cencere, thou Chore, and al thi counsel;
and to morewe whanne fier is takun
vp, putte +ge encense aboue bifor the Lord,
and whom euer the Lord chesith, he schal
be hooli. +Ge sones of Leuy ben myche
reisid. And eft Moises seide to Chore,
+Ge sones of Leuy, here. Whether it is
litil to +gou, that God of Israel departide
+gou fro al the puple, and ioynede (^+gou^) to
hym silf, that +ge schulden serue hym in
the seruyce of tabernacle, and that +ge
schulden stonde bifor the multitude of puple,
and schulden serue hym? Made he
therfor thee and alle thi bretheren the
sones of Leuy to nei+g to hym silf, that +ge
chalenge to +gou also preesthod, and al thi
gaderyng togidere stonde a+gens the Lord?
For whi what is Aaron, that +ge grutchen
a+gens hym? Therfor Moises sente to clepe
Dathan and Abiron, the sones of Heliab;
whiche answeriden, We comen not. Whethir
is it litil to thee, that thou leddist vs
out of the lond that flowide with mylk
and hony, to sle vs in the deseert, no but
also thou be lord of vs? Verili thou
hast brou+gt vs in to the lond that flowith
with streemys of mylk and hony, and
hast +goue to vs possessioun of feeldis, and
of vyneris; whethir also thou wolt putte
out oure i+gen? We comen not. And
Moises was wrooth greetli, and seide to
the Lord, Biholde thou not the sacrifices
of hem; thou wost that Y took neuere of
hem, +ghe, a litil asse, nethir Y turmentide
ony of hem. And Moises seide to Chore,
Thou and al thi congregacioun stonde
asidis half bifor the Lord, and Aaron to
morewe bi hym silf. Take +ge alle bi +gou
silf +goure censeris, and putte +ge encense
in tho, and offre +ge to the Lord, tweyn
hundrid and fifti censeris; and Aaron
holde his censer. And whanne thei hadden
do this, while Moises and Aaron
stoden, and thei hadden gaderid al the
multitude to the dore of the tabernacle 
a+gens hem, the glorie of the Lord apperide
to alle. 
<P XVI,20N>
And the Lord spak to
Moises and Aaron, and seide, Be +ge departid
fro the myddis of this congregacioun, 
that Y leese hem sodeynli. Whiche
felden lowe on the face, and seiden,
Strongeste God of the spiritis of al fleisch,
whethir thin yre schal be fers a+gens alle
men, for o man synneth? And the Lord
seide to Moises, Comaunde thou to al the
puple, that it be departid fro the tabernaclis
of Chore, and of Dathan, and of
Abiron. And Moises roos, and +gede to
Dathan and Abiron; and while the eldre
men of Israel sueden hym, he seide to the
cumpeny, Go +ge awey fro the tabernaclis of
wickid men, and nyle +ge touche tho thingis
that parteynen to hem, lest +ge ben wlappid
in the synnes of hem. And whanne thei
hadden gon awei fro the tentis of hem
bi the cumpas, Dathan and Abiron +geden
out, and stoden in the entryng of her
tentis, with wyues, and fre children, and
al the multitude. And Moises seide, In
this +ge schulen wite that the Lord sente
me, that Y schulde do alle thingis whiche
+ge seen, and Y brou+gte not forth tho of
myn owne herte. If thei perischen bi customable
deeth of men, and wounde visite
hem, bi which also othere men ben wont
to be visitid, the Lord sente not me; but
if the Lord doith a newe thing, that the
erthe opene his mouth, and swolewe hem,
and alle thingis that perteynen to hem, and
thei goen doun quyke in to helle, +ge schulen
wite that thei blasfemeden the Lord.
Therfor anoon as he cesside to speke, the
erthe was brokun vndur her feet, and the
erthe openyde his mouth, and deuowride
hem, with her tabernaclis, and al the
catel of hem; and thei +geden doun quike
in to helle, and (^weren^) hilid with erthe,
and perischiden fro the myddis of the
multitude. And sotheli al Israel that stood
bi the cumpas, fledde fro the cry of men
perischinge, and seide. Lest perauenture
the erthe swolewe also vs. But also fier
+gede out fro the Lord, and killide tweyn
hundrid and fifti men that offriden encense.
And the Lord spak to Moises,
and seide, Comaunde thou to Eleasar, sone
of Aaron, preest, that he take the censeris
that liggen in the brennyng, and that
he schatere the fier hidur and thidur; for
tho ben halewid in the dethis of synneris;
and that he bringe forth tho in
to platis, and naile to the auter, for encense
is offrid in tho to the Lord, and tho
ben halewid, that the sonis of Israel se
tho for a signe and memorial. Therfor
Eleazar, preest, took the brasun senseris,
in whiche (^censeris^) thei whiche the brennyng
deuouride hadden offrid, and he
brou+gt forth tho in to platis, and nailide
to the auter; 
<P XVI,40N>
that the sones of Israel
schulden haue (^thingis^) aftirward, bi whiche
thei schulden remembre, lest ony alien,
and which is not of the seed of Aaron,
nei+g to offre encense to the Lord, lest he
suffre, as Chore sufferide, and al his multitude,
while the Lord spak to Moises. Forsothe
al the multitude of the sones of Israel
grutchide in the dai suynge a+gens
Moises and Aaron, and seide, +Ge han slayn
the puple of the Lord. And whanne discensioun
roos, and noise encresside, Moises
and Aaron fledden to the tabernacle of
the boond of pees; and aftir that thei entriden
in to it, a cloude hilide the tabernacle,
and the glorie of the Lord apperide.
And the Lord seide to Moises and to
Aaron, Go +ge awey fro the myddis of this
multitude, also now Y schal do awey hem.
And whanne thei laien in the erthe,
Moises seide to Aaron, Take the censer,
and whanne fyer is takun vp of the auter,
caste encense aboue, and go soone to
the puple, that thou preye for hem; for
now ire is gon out fro the Lord, and the
wounde is feers. And whanne Aaron
hadde do this, and hadde runne to the
myddis of the multitude, which the brennynge
wastid thanne, he offeride encense;
and he stood bytwixe the deed men and
lyuynge, and bisou+gte for the puple, and
the wounde ceesside. Sotheli thei that
weren smytun weren fourtene thousynde
of men and seuene hundrid, withouten
hem that perischiden in the discencioun
of Chore. And Aaron turnyde a+gen to
Moyses, to the dore of the tabernacle of
boond of pees, aftir that the perischyng
restide.

<P XVII,1N>
[}CAP. XVII.}]

   And the Lord spak to Moises, and seide,
Speke thou to the sones of Israel, and take
thou +gerdis, bi her kynredis, bi ech kynrede
o +geerde, (^take thou^) of alle the princes
of the lynagis twelue +gerdis; and thou
schalt write the name of each (^lynage^)
aboue his +gerde; forsothe the name of
Aaron schal be in the lynage of Leuy,
and o +gerde schal conteyne alle the meynees
of hem. And thou schalt putte tho +gerdis
in the tabernacle of boond of pees, bifor
the witnessyng, where Y schal speke to
thee; the +gerde of hym schal buriowne,
whom Y schal chese of hem; and Y schal
refreyne fro me the playnyngis of the
sones of Israel, bi whiche thei grutchen
a+gens +gou. And Moyses spak to the sones
of Israel; and alle princes +gauen to hym
+gerdis, bi alle lynagis; and the +gerdis weren
twelue, without the +gerde of Aaron. And
whanne Moises hadde put tho +gerdis bifor
the Lord, in the tabernacle of witnessyng,
he +gede a+gen in the day suynge, and
founde that the +gerde of Aaron, in the
hows of Leuy, buriounnede; and whanne
knoppis weren greet, the blossoms hadden
broke out, whiche weren alargid in
leeuys, and weren fourmed in to alemaundis.
Therfor Moyses brou+gte forth
alle the +gerdis fro the si+gt of the Lord to al
the sones of Israel; and thei sien, and resseyueden
ech his +gerde. And the Lord
seide to Moises, Bere a+gen the +gerde of
Aaron in to the tabernacle of witnessyng,
that it be kept there in to the signe of
the rebel sones of Israel, and that her
playntis reste fro me, lest thei dien. And
Moises dide, as the Lord comaundide. Forsothe
the sones of Israel seiden to Moises,
Lo! we ben wastid, alle we perischiden;
who euer nei+geth to the tabernacle of the
Lord, he dieth; whethir we schulen be
doon awei alle til to deeth?



