# Bible (Early Wycliffe)/III. Kyngis

Here bigynneþ þe þridde book of Kyngis.

## Capitulum I.

And kyng Dauid hadde eeldid, and he hadde of age manye dais; and whanne he was couerd wiþ cloþis, he was not maad hoot. Þanne his ſeruauntis ſeiden to hym, Seche we to oure lord kyng a ȝong wexen mayden; and ſtonde ſhe before þe kyng, and fede ſhe hym, and ſleep in his boſum, and make ſhe hoot oure lord kyng. Þanne þei ſouȝten a fayre ȝong womman in alle þe cooſtis of Irael; and þei founden Abiſaag Sunamytem, and brouȝten hir to þe kyng. Forſoþe ſhe was a child womman fayr ful mych, and ſhe ſlepte wiþ þe kyng, and ſeruede to hym; forſoþe þe kyng knewe hyre not. Forſoþe Adonyas, þe ſone of Agiþ, was reryd vp, ſeiynge, I ſhal regne. And he made to hym a chaar, and horſmen, and fifti men, þat before him ſhulden renne. And his fadir vndurnam not hym eny tyme, ſeiynge, Whi þus diddiſt þou? Forſoþe and he was ful fayr, þe ſecound born after Abſolon; and þe word of hym wiþ Joab, þe ſone of Saruye, and wiþ Abiaþar, preeſt, þat helpiden þe parties of Adonye. Forſoþe Sadoch, þe preeſt, and Banayas, þe ſone of Joiade, and Naþan, þe prophete, and Semei, and Cereþi, and Phereþi, and al þe ſtrengþ of þe ooſt of Dauid, was not wiþ Adonye. Þanne weþers, and calues, and alle þe fat offrid biſide þe ſtoon of Zoelech, þat was nyȝ to þe welle of Rogel, Adonyas clepede alle his briþeren, þe ſones of þe kyng, and alle þe men of Juda, ſeruauntis of þe kyng. Forſoþe Naþan, þe prophet, and Banaye, and alle þe ſtronge men, and Salomon, his broþer, he clepide not. And ſo Naþan ſeide to Berſabe, þe modir of Salomon, Wheþer haſt þou herd, þat Adonyas, þe ſone of Agiþ, haþ regnyd, and oure lord Dauid þes þingis vnknowiþ? Now þanne come, and tak counſeil of me, and ſaue þi lijf, and of þi ſone Salomon. Go, and weend in to kyng Dauid, and ſey to him, Wheþer not þou, lord, my kyng, ſwore to me þin hoond womman, ſeiynge, þat Salomon þi ſone ſhal regne aftir me, and he ſhal ſitte in my ſee? Whi þanne regneþ Adonyas? And ȝit þere þee ſpekynge wiþ þe kyng, I ſhal come after þee, and fulfil þi wordis. And ſo Berſabe is goon yn to þe kyng in þe bedplace; forſoþe þe kyng hadde eeldid ful myche, and Abiſaag Sunamyte ſeruede to him. Berſabe bowid hir, and honourede þe king; to whom þe king, he ſeiþ, What wolt þou to þee? Þe which anſwerynge ſeiþ, My lord kyng, þou ſwore bi þe Lord þi God to þin hoond womman, Salomon þi ſone ſhal regne after me, and ſhal ſitte in my ſee; and loo! now Adonye haþ regned, þee, my lord kyng, vnknowynge; he haþ ſlayn oxen, and alle þe fatte, and manye weþers; and clepide alle þe ſones of þe kyng, and Abiaþar, þe preeſt, and Joab, þe prince of þe chyualrie; forſoþe Salomon, þi ſeruaunt, he clepide not. Neuerþelater, my lord kyng, in þee þe eyen of al Yrael beholden, þat þou deme to hem, who owiþ to ſit in þi ſee, my lord kyng, aftir þee; and it ſhal be, whanne my lord kyng ſhal ſleep wiþ his faders, I and my ſone Salomon ſhulen be ſynful. Ȝit ſhe ſpekynge wiþ þe kyng, Naþan, þe prophete, cam. And men toolden to þe kyng, ſeiynge, Naþan, þe prophete, is nyȝ. And whanne he was comen in þe ſiȝt of þe kyng, and hadde honourde hym redi into þe erþe, Naþan ſeide, My lord kyng, haſt þow ſeide, Adonye regne after me, and he ſitte vpon my trone? For he cam doun to day, and offride oxen, and fatte þingis, and manye weþers; and clepide alle þe ſonys of þe kyng, and þe prince of þe ooſt, and Abiaþar, þe preeſt; and hem etynge, and drynkynge before hym, and ſeiynge, Lyue þe kyng Adonye, me, þi ſeruaunt, and Sadoch, þe preeſt, and Benanye, þe ſone of Joiade, and Salomon, þi ſone, he clepide not. Wheþer of my lord þe kyng wente out þis word, and to me, þi ſeruaunt, þou ſhewediſt not, who ſhulde be to ſitte vpon þe trone of my lord kyng after hym? And kyng Dauid anſwerde, ſeiynge, Clepiþ to me Berſabe. Þe which whanne was goon in before þe kyng, and hadde ſtoonden before hym, þe king ſwore, and ſeiþ, Þe Lord lyueþ, þat haþ delyuerd my ſoule fro al angwiſh; for as I ſwore to þee bi þe Lord God of Irael, ſeiynge, Salomon, þi ſone, ſhal regne after me, and he ſhal ſitte vpon my ſee after me, ſo I ſhal do to day. And Berſabe, þe cheere put doun into þe erþe, honourde þe kyng, ſeiynge, Lyue my lord kyng Dauid wiþ outen eende. And kyng Dauid ſeide, Clepiþ to me Sadoch, þe preeſt, and Naþan, þe prophete, and Banayam, þe ſone of Joiade. Þe whiche whanne þei weren comyn yn before þe kyng, þe king ſeide to hem, Takiþ wiþ ȝou þe ſeruauntis of ȝoure lord, and puttiþ my ſone Salomon vpon my mule, and lediþ hym into Gion. And anoynte hym þere Sadoch, þe preeſt, and Naþan, þe prophete, into kyng vpon Yrael and Juda; and ȝe ſhulen ſynge wiþ trompe, and ſeye, Lyue þe king Salomon! And ȝe ſhulen ſtye vp after hym, and come to Jeruſalem; and he ſhal ſitte vpon my ſee, and he ſhal regne for me; and to hym I ſhal comaunde, þat he be duyk vpon Irael and upon Juda. And Banayas, þe ſone of Joiade, anſwerde to þe kyng, ſeiynge, Amen; þus ſpeke þe Lord God of my lord þe kyng. What maner wiſe þe Lord was wiþ my lord þe kyng, ſo be he wiþ Salomon, and heiȝer make he þe ſee of hym fro þe ſee of my lord kyng Dauid. Þanne Sadoch, þe preeſt, wente doun, and Naþan, þe prophete, and Banayas, þe ſone of Joyade, and Cereþi, and Phereþi; and putten Salomon vpon þe mule of Dauid, þe kyng, and brouȝten hym into Gion. And Sadoch, þe preeſt, took an horn of oyle fro þe tabernacle, and anoyntide Salomon; and þei ſungen wiþ þe trompe; and al þe puple ſeide, Lyue þe kyng Salomon! And al þe multitude ſteyede vp after hym, and þe puple of men ſyngynge wiþ trompis, and of gladynge wiþ greet ioye; and þe erþe wiþ ynne ſownede of þe crye of hem. Forſoþe Adonyas herde, and alle þat weren beden to mete of hym; and now þe feeſt was eendid. But and Joab, þe voys herd of þe trompe, ſeiþ, What to hym wole þe crye of þe citee makynge noys? Ȝit hym ſpekynge, Jonaþan, þe ſone of Abiaþar, þe preeſt, cam; to whom ſeide Adonyas, Go yn, for a ſtrong man þou ert, and good þingis tellynge. And Jonaþan anſwerde to Adonye, Nay; forſoþe þe lord oure kyng Dauid haþ ordeyned Salomon kyng; and ſente wiþ hym Sadoch, þe preeſt, and Naþan, þe prophete, and Banayam, þe ſone of Joyade, and Cereþi, and Phereþi; and putten hym vpon þe mule of þe kyng. And Sadoch, þe preeſt, and Naþan, þe prophet, anoyntiden hym kyng in Gion; and gladynge þei ſtieden þens, and þe cite wiþ ynne ſownede; þis is þe voys þat ȝe herden. But and Salomon ſitte vpon þe ſee of þe rewme; and þe ſeruauntis of þe kyng goon yn, bleſſiden to oure lord kyng Dauid, ſeiynge, God more large þe name of Salomon vpon þi name, and magnifie þe trone of hym vpon þi trone. And kyng Dauid honourde in his bed; and ferþermore þes þingis ſpak, Bleſſid þe Lord God of Yrael, þat ȝaf to day a ſitter in my ſee, ſeynge myn eyen. Þanne þei ben agaiſt, and alle riſen, þat weren bodyn to meete of Adonye, and echon ȝeede into his weie. Forſoþe Adonyas, dredynge Salomon, roos, and ȝeed into þe tabernacle of þe Lord, and heelde þe horn of þe auter. And þei toolden to Salomon ſeyynge, Loo! Adonyas dredynge kyng Salomon, holdiþ þe horn of þe auter, ſeiynge, Swere to me to dai kyng Salomon, þat he ſhal not ſle his ſeruaunt bi ſwerd. And Salomon ſeide, If he were a good man, þere ſhal not falle forſoþe an heere of hym in to þe erþe; forſoþe if yuel were foundun in hym, he ſhal die. Þanne kyng Salomon ſente, and brouȝte hym out fro þe auter; and goon yn, he honourde king Salomon; and Salomon ſeide to hym, Go into þin hows.

## Capitulum II.

Forſoþe þe days of Dauid neiȝiden þat he ſhulde die; and he comaundide to Salomon, his ſone, ſeiynge, Loo! I weende into þe weye of al erþe; tak coumfort, and be a ſtrong man. And keep wel þe waardis and þe heeſtis of þe Lord þi God, þat þou goo in þe weyes of hym, and kepe þe cerymonyes of hym, and þe heeſtis of hym, and domys, and witneſſyngis, as it is writyn in þe lawe of Moyſes; þat þou vndurſtonde al þat þou doſt, and whidir euer þou turne þee. Þat þe Lord conferme his wordis, þe whiche þe Lord ſpak of me, ſeiynge, If þi ſonys kepen my weyes, and goon before me in treuþ, and in al her hert, and in al her ſoule, þere ſhal not be doon awey to þee a man fro þe kyngis ſeete of Iſrael. Forſoþe þou haſt knowun what þingis Joab, þe ſone of Saruye, dide to me; what he dide to þe two princis of þe ooſt of Irael, to Abner, þe ſone of Ner, and to Amaſi, þe ſone of Geþer, whom he ſlewȝ, and ſhadde þe blood of þe batayl in pees; and putte þe blood of þe batail in his girdyl, þat was about his leendis, and in his ſhoo, þat was in his feet. Þanne þou ſhalt do after þi wiſdam, and þou ſhalt not brynge doun þe hoornes of hym peſibli to hellis. But and to þe ſones of Berzellay Galadite þou ſhalt ȝeelde grace, and þei ſhulen be etynge in þi bord; forſoþe þei camen aȝen to me, whanne I fleiȝ fro þe face of Abſolon, þi broþer. And þou haſt anentis þee Semei, þe ſone of Gera, þe ſone of Gemyny, of Bahurym, þat curſide to me bi þe werſt curſynge, whanne I wente to þe defenſable placys; but for he cam doun to me into aȝen comynge, whanne I ſhulde paſſe Jordan, and I ſwore to hym bi þe Lord, ſeiynge, I ſhal not ſle þee bi ſwerd, þou wole not ſuffre hym to be harmles; forſoþe a wiſe man þou art, and þou ſhalt knowe what þou ſhalt doo to hym, and þou ſhalt lede doun his hoor heeris wiþ blood to helle. Forſoþe Dauyd ſlepte wiþ his faders, and is biried in þe citee of Dauid. Forſoþe þe days, in þe whiche Dauid regnede vpon Yrael, ben fourti ȝeer; in Ebron he regnede ſeuen ȝeer, and in Jeruſalem þree and þretti. Salomon forſoþe ſat vpon þe troone of Dauid, his fader, and þe rewme of hym is faſtned ful mych. And Adonyas, þe ſone of Agiþ, ȝeede into Berſabe, þe moder of Salomon; þe which ſeide to hym, Wheþer peſible þin yncomynge? Þe which anſwerde, Peſible. And he addide, A word to me is to þee. To whom ſhe ſeiþ, Spek. And he, Þou, he ſeiþ, knewe for þe rewme was wiþ me, and al Irael purpoſide to make me into a kyng to hym; but þe rewme is tranſlatid, and is maad of my broþer; of þe Lord forſoþe it is ordeynd to hym. Now þanne oon aſkyng Y preye of þee; ne confounde þou my face. Þe which ſeide to hym, Spek. And he ſeiþ, Y preye þat þou ſeye to Salomon þe kyng; forſoþe ne to þee he may eny þing denye; þat he ȝyue to me Abiſaag Sunamyte wijf. And Berſabe ſeiþ, Wel, Y ſhal ſpeke for þee to þe kyng. Þanne Berſabe cam to kyng Salomon, þat ſhe ſpeke to hym for Adonye; and þe kyng roos into þe aȝencomynge of hire, and he honourde hire, and he ſatte vpon his troone; and þere is ſett a troone to þe moder of þe kyng, þe which ſat at þe riȝt ſide of hym. And ſche ſeide to hym, Oon litil aſkynge I preye of þee; ne confounde þou my face. And þe kyng ſeide to hire, Aſk, moder myn; forſoþe ne leeueful it is þat I turne awey þi face. Þe which ſeiþ, Abiſaag Sunamyte be ȝouen to Adonye, þi broþer, a wijf. And kyng Salomon anſwerde, and ſeide to his moder, Whi aſkiſt þou Abiſaag Sunamyte to Adonye? Aſk to hym and þe kyngdam; forſoþe he is my broþer more þan I, and haþ Abiaþar, þe preeſt, and Joab, þe ſone of Saruye. And ſo kyng Salomon ſwore bi þe Lord, ſeiynge, Þeſe þingis do to me God, and þes þingis adde, for aȝens his lijf Adonye haþ ſpoken þis word. And now lyueþ þe Lord, þat confermyde me, and ſette me vpon þe ſee of Dauid, my fader, and þat made to me an hows, as he ſpak, for to day Adonye ſhal be ſlayn. And kyng Salomon ſente bi þe hoond of Banaye, þe ſone of Joiade; þe which ſlewȝ hym, and is deed. Forſoþe þe kyng ſeide to Abiaþar, þe preeſt, Go into Anaþot, to þi feelde; and forſoþe a man of deeþ þou art; but to day I ſhal not ſle þee, for þou bere þe arke of þe Lord God before Dauid, my fader, and þou ſuſteynediſt traueyle in alle þingis, in þe whiche traueilde my fader. Þanne Salomon made Abiaþar, þat he was not þe preeſt of þe Lord, þat þe word of þe Lord were fulfillid, þe which he ſpak vpon þe hows of Hely, in Silo. Forſoþe þere cam a meſſager to Salomon, þat Joab was bowid doun after Adonye, and after Salomon hadde not bowid. Þanne Joab fleiȝ into þe tabernacle of þe Lord, and cauȝte þe horn of þe auter. And it is toold to kyng Salomon, þat Joab hadde flowen into þe tabernacle of þe Lord, and was biſide þe auter; and Salomon ſente Banaye, þe ſone of Joiade, ſeiynge, Go, and ſle hym. And Banaye cam to þe tabernacle of þe Lord, and ſeide to hym, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe kyng, Go out. Þe which ſeiþ, I ſhal not goo out, but here I ſhal die. Banayas toolde aȝen to þe kyng þe word, ſeiynge, Þes þingis ſpak Joab, and þes þingis anſwerde he to me. And þe kyng ſeide to hym, Do as he ſpak, and ſle hym, and birye; and þou ſhalt doo awey þe innocent blood, þat is ſhad of Joab, fro me, and fro þe hows of my fader. And þe Lord ȝeelde vpon his heed þe blood of hym, for he ſlewȝ two riȝtwiſe men betere þan hym ſelf, and he killide hem bi ſwerd, Dauid, my fader, vnknowynge, Abner, þe ſone of Ner, þe prince of þe chyualrie of Irael, and Amaſam, þe ſone of Geþer, prince of þe ooſt of Juda. And þe blood of hem ſhal turne aȝen into þe heed of Joab, and into þe heed of þe ſeed of him in to euermore; forſoþe to Dauid, and to his ſeed, and to þe hows of hym, and to þe troone of hym be pees of þe Lord into wiþouten eende. And ſo Banaye, þe ſone of Joiade, ſteied vp, and wente to, and ſlewȝ hym; and he is biryed in his hows in deſert. And þe kyng ordeynede for hym Banaye, þe ſone of Joiade, vpon þe ooſt; and Sadoch he ſette preeſt for Abiaþar. Forſoþe þe kyng ſente, and clepide Semei, and ſeide to hym, Bild vp to þee howſis in Jeruſalem, and dwel þere, and þou ſhalt not goo out þens hidir and þider; forſoþe whateuere day þou were goon out, and paſſiſt ouer þe ſtreem of Cedron, wite þou þee to be ſlayn; þi blood ſhal be vpon þin heed. And Semei ſeide to þe king, Good is þe word of þe kyng; as my lord kyng haþ ſpokyn, ſo þi ſeruaunt ſhal doo. And ſo Semei dwellide in Jeruſalem manye dais. It is doon forſoþe after þree ȝeer, þat þe ſeruauntis of Semei flowen to Achis, þe ſone of Macha, þe kyng of Geþ; and it is toold to Semei, þat his ſeruauntis weren goon in to Geþ. And Semei roos, and greiþide his aſſe, and wente to Achis, into Geþ, to his ſeruauntis to be ſouȝt; and he brouȝte hem aȝen fro Geþ. It is toold forſoþe to kyng Salomon, þat Semei was goon to Geþ fro Jeruſalem, and was turned aȝen. And ſendynge he clepide hym, and ſeide to hym, Wheþer Y witneſſide not to þee bi þe Lord, and before ſeide to þee, What euer dai þou were goon out hidir and þidir, wite þou þee to be to die; and þou anſwerdiſt to me, Good is þe word þat I herde? Whi þanne kepiſt þou not þe ooþ of þe Lord, and þe heeſt þat I comaundide to þee? And þe kyng ſeide to Semei, Þou haſt knowun al þe yuel, of þe which þin herte is gilti to þee, þe which þou diddiſt to Dauid, my fader; þe Lord haþ ȝolden þi malice into þin heed. And kyng Salomon bliſſide; and þe troone of Dauid ſhal be ſtable before þe Lord vnto euermore. And ſo þe kyng comaundide to Banaye, þe ſone of Joiade; þe which ſtert to, ſmoot hym, and he is deed.

## Capitulum III.

Thanne þe rewme is confermyd into þe hoondis of Salomon; and bi affynyte he is ioyned to Pharao, þe kyng of Egipt; forſoþe he took his douȝter, and brouȝte into þe cite of Dauid, to þe tyme þat he hadde fulfillid beeldynge his hows, and þe hows of þe Lord, and þe wal of Jeruſalem bi enuyroun. Neuerþelater þe puple offride in heiȝ placis; forſoþe þe temple was not beildid to þe name of þe Lord vnto þat dai. Forſoþe Salomon louede þe Lord, goynge in þe heeſtis of Dauid, his fader, out taak þat in heiȝ placis he offrede, and tende vp þe maad encenſe. And ſo Salomon wente into Gabaon, þat he offre þere; forſoþe þat was þe mooſt heiȝ place. Salomon offride a þouſand ooſtis into brent ſacrifice vpon þat auter in Gabaon. Forſoþe þe Lord aperide to Salomon bi ſleepe þe nyȝt, ſeiynge, Aſk þat þou wolt, þat I ȝyue to þee. And Salomon ſeiþ, Þou didiſt wiþ þi ſeruaunt, my fader Dauid, greet mercy, as he wente in þi ſiȝt, in treuþ and in riȝtwiſnes, and in riȝt herte wiþ þee; þou haſt kept to hym þi greet merci, and haſt ȝeuen to hym a ſone, ſittynge vpon his troone, as it is to dai. And now, Lord God, þou haſt maad þi ſeruaunt to regne for Dauid, my fader; forſoþe I am a litil child, and vnknowynge þe goynge out and myn yncomynge. And þi ſeruaunt is in þe mydil of þe puple, whom þou haſt choſun, of a puple wiþ out eende, þat may not be noumbred and geſſid, for multitude. Þanne þou ſhalt ȝyue to þi ſeruaunt an able herte to lore, þat he may deme þi puple, and knowe betwix good and yuel; forſoþe who may deme þis puple, þi puple þus myche? Þanne þe word pleſide before þe Lord, þat Salomon hadde aſkid ſiche a maner þing. And þe Lord ſeide to Salomon, For þou aſkediſt þis word, and aſkidiſt not to þee manye dais, ne ritcheſſis, oþere þe lyues of þin enemyes, but þou aſkediſt to þee wiſdam to knowe doom, loo! I haue doon to þee after þi wordis, and ȝeuen to þee a wiſe herte and an vndurſtondynge, in ſo myche þat noon before þee were lijk þee, ne aftir þee ben to ryſe. But and þes þingis, þe whiche þou aſkydiſt not, I haue ȝeuen to þee, þat is, ritcheſſis, and glorie, þat noon were lijk to þee in kyngis alle dais after. Forſoþe if þou goſt in my weies, and kepiſt myn heeſtis, and my comaundementis, as wente þi fader, long I ſhal make þi dais. Þanne Salomon wook vp, and vndurſtood þat it was a ſweuen. And whanne he was comen to Jeruſalem, he ſtood before þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord, and offride brent ſacrifices, and made ſlayn peſible ſacrifices, and a greet feſte to alle his ſeruauntis. Þanne camen two wymmen ſtrompettis to þe kyng, and ſtoden before hym; of þe whiche oon ſeiþ, I biſeche, my lord, I and þis womman dwelliden in oon hows, and I bare child anentis hire in þe bed. Þe þridde forſoþe day after þat I bare, bare and þis; and we weren togidir, and noon oþere in þe hows wiþ vs, out takun vs two. Forſoþe þe ſone of þis womman is deed to nyȝt, for ſlepynge ſhe ouerlaye hym; and riſynge wiþ ſilence of þe vnkouenable niȝt, ſhe took my ſone fro myn ſyde, of þin hond womman ſlepinge, and leide it in hir boſum; hir ſone forſoþe, þat was deed, ſhe put in to my boſum. And whan I was riſyn eerli, for to ȝyue milk to my ſone, he ſemyde deed; whom biſier lokinge bi þe cleer liȝt, I perſeyuede not be myn, whom Y gat. Þe toþer womman anſwerde, It is not ſo as þou ſeiſt, but þi ſone is deed; forſoþe myn lyueþ. And aȝenward ſhe ſeide, Þou lieȝſt; forſoþe my ſone lyueþ, and þi ſone is deed. And ſo in þis maner þei ſtryuen before þe kyng. Þanne þe kyng ſeiþ, þis ſeiþ, My ſone lyueþ, and þi ſone is deed; and ſhe anſwerde, Nay, but þi ſone is deed; myn forſoþe lyueþ. Þanne þe kyng ſeide, Bryngiþ to me a ſwerd. And whanne þei hadden brouȝt a ſwerd before þe kyng, Deuydiþ, he ſeiþ, þe quyk child in two parties, and ȝyueþ þe half part to þe toon, and þe half part to þe toþir. Forſoþe þe womman, whos was þe quyk child, ſeiþ to þe kyng; for þe bowels of her ben ſtiryd vpon hire ſone; Lord, I biſeche, ȝife to hir þe quyk child, and woliþ not ſle hym. Aȝenward ſhe ſeide, Ne to me, ne to þee be he, but be he deuydide. Þe kyng anſwerde, and ſeiþ, Ȝyueþ to þis womman þe quik child, and be he not ſlayn; forſoþe þis is his modir. And ſo al Yrael herde þe dome, þat he hadde demyde; and þei dradden þe kyng, ſeynge þe wiſdam of God to ben in hym, to do doom.

## Capitulum IIII.

Forſoþe kyng Salomon was regnynge vpon al Yrael. And þes ben þe princis þat he hadde; Azarias, þe ſone of Sadoch, þe preeſt; Elyoreb, and Ahia, ſones of Sila, ſcribe; Joſaphat, þe ſone of Achilud, chaunſelere; Banayas, þe ſone of Joiade, vpon þe ooſt; forſoþe Sadoch and Abiaþar, preeſtis; Azarias, þe ſone of Naþan, vpon hem þat ſtoden nyȝ to þe kyng; Zabul, þe ſone of Naþan, a preeſt, freend of þe kyng; Ahiazar, prouoſt of þe hows; and Adonyram, þe ſone of Adda, vpon þe tributis. Forſoþe Salomon hadde twelue ouerſeers vpon al Yrael, þat ȝeuen corn to þe kyng, and to his hows; forſoþe bi þe moneþis arowe in þe ȝeer, þei a rowe mynyſtreden neceſſarijs. And þes þe names of hem; Benhur, in þe mount of Effraym; Bendekar, in Mactes, and in Salebbym, and in Beþſames, and in Helon, and in Beþanan; Beneſech, and in Araboþ; of hym forſoþe was Socco, and al þe loond of Eefer; Benabidanab, of whom al Neptad; Dorþafaed, þe douȝter of Salomon, he hadde to wijf. Bena, þe ſone of Achilud, gouernede Thaneþ, Amageddo, and al Beþſan, þat is beſide Sarþana, vndur Jezmel, fro Beþſan vnto Abelmeula, forn aȝens Selmaan. Bengaber in Ramoþ Galaad hadde Anoþiair, of þe ſone of Manaſſe, in Galaad; he gouernede in al þe regioun of Argob, þat is in Baſan, to ſexti greet citees and wallid, þat hadden braſen lockis. Achymadab, þe ſone of Addo, rewlide in Manahym; Achymaas, in Neptalym, but and he hadde Bachſemaþ, þe douȝter of Salomon, in mariage; Bena, þe ſone of Huſi, in Aſer, and in Balod; Joſaphat, þe ſone of Pharue, in Yſachar; Semei, þe ſone of Hela, in Beniamyn; Gaber, þe ſone of Sury, in þe loond of Galaad, and in þe loond of Seon, kyng of Amorrey, and of Og, þe kyng of Baſan, vpon alle þingis þat weren in þat loond. Juda and Yrael ben vnnoumbrable, as þe grauel of þe ſee in multitude, etynge, and drynkynge, and gladynge. Forſoþe Salomon was in his power, hauynge alle þe rewmes, as fro þe flood of þe loond of Philiſteis vnto þe eende of Egipt, of men offryng to hym ȝiftis, and of ſeruynge to hym alle þe days of his lijf. Forſoþe þe meet of Salomon was bi eche day, þretti choris of tried floure, and ſexti choris of meele, ten fatte oxen, twenti leſewed oxen, and an hundrid weþeris, out taak huntynge of hertis, and of goot, and of buglis, and of fed foulis. Forſoþe he helde al þe regioun þat was beȝonde þe flood, as fro Capſa vnto Gaſan, and alle þe kingis of þat regioun; and he hadde pees on al ſide in enuyroun. And Juda dwellide and Yrael wiþ outen eny drede, echon vndur his vyn, and vndur his fiyg tree, fro Dan vnto Berſabee, alle þe dais of Salomon. And Salomon hadde fourti þouſand cratchis of chaare hors, and twelue þouſand of ridynge hors; and þe forſeid ouerſeers of þe kyng noriſheden hem. But and þe neceſſarijs of kyng Salomon bord þei ȝauen wiþ greet biſynes in her tyme; forſoþe barli, and chaf of hors, and of beeſtis þei brouȝten into þe place, where þe kyng was, aftir þe ſettynge to hem. Forſoþe God ȝaf wiſdam to Salomon, and myche prudence ful greetli, and laargeneſſe of herte, as grauel þat is in þe brenk of þe ſee. And þe wiſdam of Salomon wente before þe wiſdam of alle þe eeſt men, and of Egipciens; and he was wiſer þan alle men; wiſer þan Eþan Eſrayte, and þan Eman, and þan Cacal, and þan Dorda, þe ſones of Maol; and he was nemned in alle þe gentylis bi enuyroun. And Salomon ſpak þre þouſand parablis, and þe ditees of hym weren fyue þouſand; and he diſputide vpon þe trees, fro þe cedar þat is in Liban, vnto þe yſoop þat goþ out of þe wal; and he tretyde of þe beeſtis, and foulis, and of crepynge beeſtis, and of fiſſhis. And þere camen of alle puplis to þe wyſdam of Salomon to be herde, and of alle kyngis of erþe, þe whiche herden þe wiſdam of hym.

## Capitulum V.

Forſoþe Iram, þe kyng of Tiry, ſente his ſeruauntis to Salomon; forſoþe he herde þat men hadden anoyntid hym kyng for his fader; for Yram was freend of Dauid al tyme. Forſoþe and Salomon ſente to Yram, ſeiynge, Þou woſt þe wil of my fader Dauid, and for he myȝte not bilde vp an hows to þe name of his God, for þe batailis oncomynge bi enuyroun, to þe tyme þat þe Lord ȝaf hem vndur þe ſtep of his feet. Forſoþe now þe Lord my God haþ ȝouen reſt to me bi enuyroun, and þere is not Saþan, ne yuel aȝencomynge; for what þing I þenke to beeld a temple to þe name of þe Lord my God, as God ſpak to my fader, ſeiynge, Þi ſone, whom I ſhal ȝyue to þee for þee vpon þi ſeete, he ſhal beelde to my name an hows. Þanne comaund, þat þei hewen to me cedrys of Liban; and my ſeruauntis ben wiþ þi ſeruauntis; forſoþe þe mede of þi ſeruauntis I ſhal ȝyue to þee, what euer þou aſkiſt; forſoþe þou woſt þat þere is not in my puple a man, þat kan hewe trees, as Sidonys. Whanne þanne Iram hadde herd þe wordis of Salomon, he gladide greetli, and ſeiþ, Bleſſid be þe Lord God to day, þat ȝaf to Dauid a mooſt wiſe ſone vpon þis myche puple. And Yram ſente to Salomon, ſeiynge, I haue herd alle þingis þat þou ſentiſt to me; I ſhal doo al þi wil, in cedre trees, and in firris. My ſeruauntis ſhulen doo hem down fro þe wode to þe ſee, and I ſhal make hem togidre in ſhippis in þe ſee, vnto þe place þe which þou ſhalt ſignyfye to me; and I ſhal leye hem to þee, þat þou take hem; and þou ſhalt ȝyue neceſſaryes to me, þat meete be ȝouen to myn hows. And ſo Yram ȝaf to Salomon cedre trees and firre trees, after al þe wil of hym; forſoþe Salomon ȝaf to Yram twenti þouſand choris of whete into mete to his hows, and twenti choris of mooſt pure oyle; þes þingis Salomon ȝaf to Yram bi ech ȝeer. And þe Lord ȝaf wiſdam to Salomon, as he ſpak to hym; and þere was betwix Iram and Salomon pees, and boþe ſmyten couenant of pees. And king Salomon chees werkmen of al Iſrael; and þe mouſtre was þretti þouſandis of men. And he ſente hem into þe wode, ten þouſand bi eche moneþ whilmele, ſo þat two moneþis whilmele þei weren in her howſis; and Adonyram was vpon ſiche a maner gedrynge of men. And ſo to Salomon weren ſeuenti þouſandis of hem, þat beren birþens, and eiȝti þouſandis of maſouns in þe hyl, wiþ outen þe prouoſtis, þat reuliden to alle þe werkis, in noumbre of þre þouſand and þre hundrid, comaundinge to þe puple, and to hem þat dyden werke. And þe kyng comaundide, þat þei ſhulden take þe greet ſtoonus, and þe precious ſtoonus, in to þe foundement of þe temple, and þei ſhulden ſquare hem; þe whiche þe maſouns of Salomon, and þe maſouns of Yram, han ouerſcorchide. Forſoþe þe cyteſeynys of Biblis maden redi þe trees and ſtonus, to þe hows to be beeldid.

## Capitulum VI.

It is doo forſoþe þe foure hundrid and eiȝti ȝeer of þe goynge out of þe ſones of Irael fro þe loond of Egipt, in þe ferþ ȝeer, þe moneþ Zio; he is þe ſecounde moneþ of þe regne of Salomon vpon Irael; he began to beelde an hows to þe Lord. Forſoþe þe hows þat kyng Salomon beeldide to þe Lord, hadde ſexti cubitis in lengþ, and twenti in brede, and þretti cubitis in heiȝt. And a ȝaat hows was before þe temple of twenti cubitys in lengþ, aftir þe meſure of þe brede of þe temple; and hadde ten cubitis of brede before þe face of þe temple. And he made in þe temple ſide wyndows. And he bildide vpon þe wal of þe temple table beeldyngis bi enuyroun, in þe wallis of þe hows, bi enuyroun of þe temple, and of Goddis anſwerynge place; and he made þe ſidis in enuyroun. Þe table beeldynge, þat was aboue, hadde fyue cubitis of brede; and þe mydil table beeldynge of ſexe cubitis of brede; and þe þridde table beeldynge hauing ſeuen cubitis of brede. Forſoþe beemys he putte in þe hows bi enuyroun wiþ outforþ, þat þei ſhulden not cleue to þe wallis of þe temple. Forſoþe þe hows, whanne it ſhulde be beeldid vp, is beeldid of ſtonus ouer ſcorchid and parfite; and hamer, and axe, and al yren, ben not herd in þe hows, whanne it was beeldid. Þe door of þe mydil ſide in þe wal was of þe hows of þe riȝt ſide; and bi a vyce þei ſtieden vp into þe mydil ſowpynge place, and fro þe mydil into þe þridde. And he beeldide vp þe hows, and endide it. And he made þe hows wiþ cedre couplis, and bildide a table beeldynge vpon al þe hows bi fyue cubitis of heiȝt, and couerde þe hows wiþ cedre trees. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to Salomon, ſeyynge, þis hows þat þou beeldiſt; if þou goſt in myn heſtis, and doſt my domys, and kepiſt alle my comaundementis, goynge bi hem, I ſhal faſtne my word to þee, þat I haue ſpoken to Dauid, þi fader; and I ſhal dwelle in þe mydil of þe ſonys of Yrael, and I ſhal not forſaak my puple Yrael. Þanne Salomon beeldide vp þe hows, and eendide it; and beeldide vp þe wallis of þe hows wiþ ynforþ wiþ cedre table beeldyngis, fro þe pawment of þe hows vnto þe heiȝeſt of þe wal, and vnto þe cowplis; and he couerde wiþ cedre trees wiþ inforþ; and he couerde þe pawment of þe hows wiþ firre bordis. And he beeldide vp cedre table beeldingis of twenti cubitis at þe hynder more parti of þe temple, fro þe pawment vnto þe ouer parties; and he made an innermore hows of þe heuenli anſwerynge place, into þe holy of halewis. Forſoþe of fourti cubitis was þat temple before þe ȝatis of Goddis anſwerynge place. And wiþ cedre al þe hows wiþ ynforþ was cloþid, hauynge his turnours, and his iuncturis forgid, and grauyngis ouerbeynge; alle wiþ cedre tablis þei weren cloþid, ne algatis a ſtoone myȝte apere in þe wal. Goddis anſwerynge place forſoþe he made in þe mydil of þe hows, in þe inner more partie, þat he putte þere þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord. Forſoþe Goddis anſwerynge place hadde twenti cubitis of lengþ, and twenti cubitis of brede, and twenti cubitis of heiȝt; and he couerde it, and cloþide wiþ mooſt pure gold; but and þe auter he cloþide wiþ cedre. Forſoþe þe hows before Goddis anſwerynge place he couerde wiþ mooſt pure gold, and naylide platis to wiþ golden nailis. No þing was in þe temple þat was not couerde wiþ gold; but and al þe auter of Goddis anſwerynge place he couerde wiþ gold; and made in Goddis anſwerynge place two cherubyn of þe trees of olyues, of ten cubitis of heiȝt; þe too weenge of cherub of fyue cubitis, and þe toþer weenge of cherub of fyue cubitis, þat is, hauyng ten cubitis, fro þe cop of þe wenge vnto þe cop of þe toþer weenge. Forſoþe of ten cubitis was þe ſecounde cherub in þe ſame meſure; and o werk was in þe two cherubyn, þat is, o cherub hadde heiȝt of ten cubitis, and lijk maner þe ſecounde cherub. And he putte þe cherubyn in þe mydil of þe inner temple; forſoþe þe cherubyn ſtrauȝten out her weengis, and þe too weenge towchide þe wal, and þe weenge of þe ſecounde cherub touchyde þe toþere wal; forſoþe þe toþere weenges in þe mydyl part of þe temple towcheden hem ſelf to gidre. And he couerde cherubyn wiþ gold, and alle þe wallis of þe temple bi enuyroun; and grauyde wiþ dyuerſe grauyngis and turnynge; and made in hem cherubyn, and palmes, and dyuerſe peynturis, as ferre ſtondynge fro þe wal in goynge out. But and þe pawment of þe hows he couerde wiþ gold, wiþ inforþ and wiþ outforþ. And in þe goynge yn of Goddis anſwerynge place he made two litil dorys of þe trees of olyues; and fyue poſtis of þe corners, and þe two dorys of þe trees of olyues; and he grauede in hem peynture of cherubyn, and þe lickenes of palmes, and þe ouermore grauyngis ful fer ſtoondynge out; and couerde hem wiþ gold; and boþ he couerde cherubyn, and þe palmes, and oþer wiþ gold. And he made in þe entre of þe temple poſtis of þe trees of olyues foure cornerd; and þe two doris of firre trees, eiþer to oþer; and eiþer dore was dowble, and holdynge hem ſelf togidre was opnyde. And he grauyde cherubyn, and þe palmys, and grauyngis myche ſemynge out; and alle he couerde wiþ goldyn platis, wiþ ſquaryd werk at rewle. And he bildide þe porch wiþ ynforþ, wiþ þree ordres of polſhid ſtonus, and wiþ oon ordre of þe trees of cedre. Þe firþe ȝeer þe hows of þe Lord is foundid, in þe moneþ of Zio; and in þe enleueþ ȝeer, þe moneþ of Ebul; he is þe eiȝt moneþ; þe hows is perfourmed in al his werk, and in alle his neceſſaries; and he bildide it vp in ſeuen ȝeer.

## Capitulum VII.

Forſoþe Salomon beeldide his hows in þretene ȝeer, and vnto parfite brouȝte forþ. And he bildide þe hows of þe wijld wode of Liban, of an hundrid cubitis of lengþ, and of fifti cubitis of brede, and of þretti cubitis of heiȝt; and foure aluris betwixe þe cedre pilers; forſoþe þe cedre trees he hewȝ into pilers. And he cloþide al þe chaumbre wiþ cedre table beeldyngis; þe which chaumbre was born vp wiþ fyue and fourti pilers. Þe too ordre forſoþe hadde fifteen pilers, ſette togidre aȝens hem ſelf, and for aȝen hem ſelf beholdynge, wiþ euen ſpace betwixe þe pilerys; and vpon þe pilers foure cornerd trees, in alle þingis euen. And þe chaumbre of pilers he made of fifti cubitis of lengþ, and of þretti cubitis of brede; and anoþer chaumbre into þe face of þe more chaumbre; and pilers, and þe heedis vpon þe pilers he made. Forſoþe þe chaumbre of þe ſee, in þe which is þe chayer of dom, he made; and couerde wiþ cedre trees, fro þe pawment vnto þe cop. And þe litil hows, in þe which he ſat to deme, was in þe mydil chaumbre, lijk maner werk. Forſoþe he made an hows to þe douȝter of Pharao, whom Salomon weddide, ſiche maner werk as þis chaumbre. Alle þingis wiþ precious ſtoonus, þe whiche at a maner rewle and meſure, boþ wiþ ynforþ and wiþ outforþ, weren loken, fro þe foundement vnto þe cop of þe wallis, and wiþ ynforþ and vnto þe more halle. Þe foundementis forſoþe of precious ſtoonus, þe greet ſtoonus of ten, or of eiȝt cubitis; and þere aboue precious ſtoonus of euen meſure weren hewen; and lijk maner of cedre. And þe more halle rownd, of þre ordres of hewen ſtonus, and of oon ordre of planed cedre; alſo and in þe innermore porche of þe hows of þe Lord, and in þe ȝaat hows of þe hows of þe Lord. And kyng Salomon ſente, and took Yram, þe ſone of þe widowe womman, fro Tyro, of þe lynage of Neptalym, fader of þe cuntre of Tyre, a crafti man of metal, and ful of wiſdom, and vndurſtondynge, and of lore, to doo al werk of metal. Which whanne he was comen to kyng Salomon, he made al þe werk of hym; and made two braſen pilers, of eiȝteen cubitis of heiȝt o piler; and a liyn of twelue cubitis wente about eiþer piler. And two heed coueryngys he made, þat ſhulden be putte vpon þe heedis of þe pilers, ȝoten of bras; of fyue cubitis of heiȝt oon heed couerynge, and of fyue cubitis of heiȝt anoþer heed couerynge; and as in maner of a nette, and of cheynys wouyn togidre to hem ſelf, in o werk. And eiþer heed couerynge of þe pilers was ȝoten; ſeuen litil nettis of verſe in þe toon heed couerynge, and ſeuen lytil nettis in þe toþir heed couerynge. And he fulfillide þe pilers, and þe two ordris bi enuyroun of alle þe litil nettis, þat þei coueren þe heed coueryngis, þat weren vpon þe cop of þe powmgarnettis; and þe ſame wiſe he made to þe ſecounde heed couerynge. Forſoþe þe heed coueryngis, þat weren vpon þe heedis of þe pilers, as in werk of a lilye weren forgid, in þe ȝaaþows, of foure cubitis; and eft oþer heed coueryngis in þe cop of þe pilers aboue, aftir þe meſure of þe piler aȝens þe litil nettis; forſoþe two hundryd ordres of powmgarnettis weren in enuyroun of þe ſecounde heed couerynge. And he ſette two pilers in þe ȝaat hows of þe temple; and whanne he hadde ſette þe riȝt piler, he clepide it bi name Jachym; lijk maner he reride þe ſecounde piler, and clepide þe name of it Booz. And vpon þe heedis of þe pilers he ſette a werk in maner of a lilye; and fulfillid is þe werke of þe pilers. He made forſoþe þe ȝoten ſee, of ten cubitis fro lippe vnto lippe, rounde in enuyroun; þe heiȝt of hym of fyue cubitis; and þe littil nette of þretti cubitis girdide it by enuyroun. And þe grauynge vndur þe lippe wente about it bi ten cubitis, goynge about þe ſee; two ordris of ſtorye grauyngis weren ȝoten, and ſtoden vpon twelue oxen; of þe whiche þree beheelden to þe norþ, and þree to þe weſte, and þree to þe ſouþ, and þre to þe eſte; and þe ſee was þere aboue vpon hem, whos alle þe hyndirmore parties lurkiden wiþ ynforþ. Þe greetnes forſoþe of þe watyr veſſel was of þree ouncis, and þe lippe of it as þe lippe of a chalice, and as a leef of a lilye to be aȝen bowid; it conteynede two þouſand meſuris of þre quartis, þre þouſand meſuris neeȝ of a potel. And he made ten braſen feet, eche foot of foure cubitis of lengþ, and of foure cubitis of brede, and of foure cubitis of heiȝt. And þat werk of þe feet was betwix grauyngis playn; and grauyngis betwix þe ioynturis. And betwix þe litil crownes and wyndyngis, liouns, and oxen, and cherubin; and in þe ioynturis lijk maner aboue; and vndur þe lyouns and oxen as bridils of braſſe hongynge. And foure whelis bi eche feet, and braſen axtrees; and bi foure partyes as litil ſhuldres vndur þe water veſſel ȝoten, aȝens hem ſelf beholdynge. And þe mouþ of þe watir veſſel wiþ ynforþ was in þe cop of þe heed, and þat, þat wiþ outforþ aperide, was of o cubite, and alle round, and togidre hadde o cubite and an half; in þe corners forſoþe of þe pilers weren dyuers grauyngis, and þe mene pilers betwix ſquaar, and not round. Forſoþe þe foure whelis, þat weren bi þe foure corners of þe foot, cleueden togidre to hem ſelf vndir þe foot; o whele hadde of heiȝt a cubite and an half. Forſoþe þe whelis weren ſiche, as ben wont to be maad in a chaar; and þe axtre of hem, and þe ſpokys, and þe felijs, and þe naue, alle ȝoten. For þoo ilke foure litil ſhuldres, bi alle þe corners of o foot, fro þat foot weren ȝoten, and ioyned. In þe cop forſoþe of þe foot was a maner roundnes, of a cubite and a half, ſo forgid, þat þe watir veſſel myȝte be ſette þere aboue, hauynge his dyuerſe endentyngis, and grauyngis of hym ſelf. Forſoþe he grauede in þe table beeldyngis, þat weren of braſſe, and in þe corners, cherubyn, and liouns, and palmys, as into þe lickeneſſe of a man ſtondynge, þat þei ſhulen be ſeen not grauen, but leid to bi enuyroun. And in þis maner he made ten feet, bi o ȝetynge and meſure, and wiþ lijk maner grauynge. Forſoþe he made ten braſen water veſſels; o water veſſel heelde fourti meſuris of þre quaartis, and was of foure cubitis; and alle þe water veſſels he putte vpon alle þe feet, þat is, vpon ten feet. And he ordeynde þe ten feet, fyue at þe ryȝt partie of þe temple, and fyue at þe left; forſoþe þe ſee he putte at þe riȝt parti of þe temple, aȝens þe eſte at þe ſouþ. And Iram made cawdrones, and fier pannys, and wyn violis; and he parformede al þe werk of kyng Salomon in þe temple of þe Lord. Two pilers, and two lytil cordis of þe heed coueryngis vpon þe heedis of þe pilers, and two litil nettis, þat þei coueren þe two litil coordis, þat weren vpon þe heedis of þe pilers. And foure hundrid powmgarnettis in þe two litil nettis; two vers of powmgarnettis in eche litil nettis, to þe litil coordis to be couerd of þe heed coueryngis, þat weren vpon þe heedis of þe pilers. And þe ten feet, and þe ten water veſſels vpon þe feet; and oon ſee, and twelue oxen vndir þe ſee; and cawdrones, and fijr pannys, and wyn vyolis. Alle þe veſſels, þat Iram made to kyng Salomon in þe hows of þe Lord, weren of latoun. And in þe wijld feeldy regioun of Jordan þe kyng ȝetide hem, in þe cleyye erþe, betwix Socoht and Sarcham. And Salomon putte alle þe veſſels in þe hows; for þe mych multitude forſoþe þere was no weiȝt of þe braſſe. And Salomon made alle þe veſſels in þe hows of þe Lord; forſoþe a golden auter, and a golden bord, on þe which ſhulden be leyd þe looues of propoſicioun; and fyue golden candelſtickis at þe riȝt ſide, and fyue at þe left, aȝens Goddis anſwerynge place, of mooſt pure gold; and as flouris of lilie, and golden lanterns þere aboue, and golden ſnytters; and ſtenys, and fleſh hookis, and vyolis, and morters, and cenſerys, of mooſt pure gold; and þe heengis of doris of þe ynnermore hows of þe holy of halowis, and of þe dorys of þe hows of þe temple, weren of gold. And he parfourmede al þe werk, þat Salomon made in þe hows of þe Lord; and he brouȝte in þe þingis þat Dauid, his fader, hadde halowid; ſiluer, and gold, and veſſels; and he leide vp in þe treſours of þe hows of þe Lord.

## Capitulum VIII.

Thanne alle þe more þurȝ birþ of Yrael ben gadryd, wiþ þe princis of lynagis, and þe duykis of þe meynees of þe ſones of Yrael, to king Salomon, in to Jeruſalem, þat þei bryngen þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord fro þe cite of Dauid, þat is, fro Syon. And al Irael cam togidre to kyng Salomon, in þe moneþ of Beþanym, in a ſolempne day; he is þe ſeuenþ moneþ. And alle þe eldris of Irael camen; and preeſtis token þe arke, and beren þe arke of þe Lord, and þe tabernacle of þe couenaunt of pees, and alle þe veſſels of þe ſeyntuarie, þat weren in þe tabernacle; and preeſtis and Leuytis beren hem. Forſoþe kyng Salomon, and al þe multitude of Yrael, þat was comen to hym, wenten wiþ hym before þe arke, and offreden ſheep and oxen, wiþ out eymynge and noumbre. And þe preeſtis brouȝten yn þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord into his place, into Goddis anſwerynge place of þe temple, into þe holi of halowis, vnder þe weengis of cherubyn. Forſoþe cherubyn ſpradden out þe weengis vpon þe place of þe arke; and þei couerden þe ark, and his cloþis þer aboue. And whanne þe berynge ſtauys ſemeden out, and þe heiȝeſt of hem apereden wiþ out þe ſeyntuarie, before Goddis anſwerynge place, þei apereden no more wiþ out forþ; and þe whiche weren þere vnto þe day þat is now. Forſoþe in þe arke was noon oþere þing but þe two ſtonen tablis, þe whiche Moyſes hadde ſette in it in Oreb, whanne þe Lord couenauntide couenaunt of pees wiþ þe ſones of Irael, whanne þei ſhulden goo out of þe loond of Egipt. It is doon forſoþe whanne þe preeſtis weren goon out of þe ſeyntuarie, a litil clowde fulfillide þe hous of þe Lord; and þe preeſtis myȝten not ſtoond and mynyſtre, for þe litil clowde; forſoþe þe glorie of þe Lord hadde fulfillid þe hous of þe Lord. Þanne ſeiþ Salomon, Þe Lord ſeide, þat he ſhulde dwelle in a litil clowde. Beeldynge I haue beeldid an hows in to þi dwellynge place, þi mooſt faſt ſee into euermore. And þe kyng turnede his face, and bliſſide to al þe chirch in Irael; forſoþe al þe chirch of Irael ſtood. And Salomon ſeiþ, Bleſſid is þe Lord God of Irael, þat ſpak in his mouþ to Dauid, my fader, and in þe hondis of hym perfourmyde, ſeiynge, Fro þe day þat I ladde out my puple Irael fro Egipt, I chees not a citee of alle þe lynagis of Irael, þat an hows ſhulde be beeldid vp, and my name were þere; but Dauid I chees, þat he were vpon my puple Irael. And Dauid, my fader, wolde beeld vp an hows to þe name of þe Lord God of Yrael. And þe Lord ſeiþ to Dauid, my fader, Þat þou þouȝtiſt in þin herte to beelde vp an hows to my name, þou didiſt wel, þat ſame þing tretynge in mynde; neuerþelater þou ſhalt not beelde to me an hows, but þi ſone, þat ſhal goon out of þi reynes, he ſhal beelde an hows to my name. Þe Lord haþ confermyd his word, þat he ſpak; and I ſtood for Dauid, my fader, and ſatte upon þe trone of Irael, as þe Lord ſpak; and I haue beeld an hows to þe name of þe Lord God of Yrael. And I haue ſette þere a place of þe arke, in þe which is þe couenaunt of pees of þe Lord, þe whiche he ſmoot wiþ oure faders, whanne þei wenten out of þe loond of Egipt. Forſoþe Salomon ſtood before þe auter of þe Lord, in þe ſiȝt of þe chyrch of Yrael; and he ſpradde out his hoondis into heuene, and ſeiþ, Lord God of Yrael, þere is not lijk of þee, God in heuene aboue, and upon erþe beneeþ, þe which kepiſt couenaunt and mercy to þi ſeruauntis, þat goon before þee in al her herte; þe which keptiſt to Dauid, my fader, þi ſeruaunt, þat þou ſpeke to hym; wiþ mouþ þou ſpeke, and wiþ hoondis þou haſt fulfillid, as þis dai proueþ. Now þanne, Lord God of Irael, kepe to þi ſeruaunt Dauid, my fader, þat þou ſpeke to hym, ſeiynge, Þere ſhal not be doon awey a man before me of þee, þat ſitte vpon þe trone of Irael, ſo neuerþelater if þi ſonis kepen þi weye, þat þei goon before me, as þou wentiſt in my ſiȝt. And now, Lord God of Irael, þi wordis ben þei faſtned, þat þou ſpeke to þi ſeruaunt Dauid, my fader. Þanne wheþir it is to trowe, þat vereli God dwelle vpon erþe; forſoþe if heuene, and heuenes of heuens mowen not take þee, myche more þis hows, þat I haue beeldid to þee. But behold to þe oriſoun of þi ſeruaunt, and to þe preiers of hym, Lord my God; here þe ympne, and þe oryſoun, þat þi ſeruaunt preieþ before þee to day; þat þin eyen ben openyd vpon þis hows niȝt and day, vpon þe hows, of þe which þou ſeydyſt, My name ſhal be þere; þat þou here þe oriſoun, þat þi ſeruaunt preieþ to þee in þis place; þat þou here þe preier of þi ſeruaunt, and of þi puple Irael, what euere þing he ſhal preye in þis place, and þou here in þe ſtede of þi dwellynge place in heuene; and whanne þou heriſt, þou ſhalt be merciful. If a man ſynneþ into his neiȝbour, and haue eny ooþ, bi þe which ſtreyned he be holdyn, and come for þe ooþ before þi auter, into þin hows, þou ſhalt here in heuen, and doon, and þou ſhalt deme þi ſeruauntis; condempnynge þe wickid, and ȝeeldynge his weye vpon his heed, iuſtifiynge þe riȝtwiſe, and ȝeeldynge to hym after his riȝtwiſnes. If þi puple Irael ſhul flee his enemyes, for he is to ſynne to þee, and doynge penaunce, and knowlechynge to þi greet name, comen, and honouren, and preyen þee in þis hows, here þou in heuene, and forȝif þe ſynne of þi puple Irael; and þou ſhalt lede hem aȝen into þe loond, þat þou ȝaf to þe fadres of hem. If heuene were cloſid, and ſhal not reyne for þe ſynnes of hem, and preiynge in þis place, penaunce doon to þi name, and fro her ſynnes weren conuertid for her affliccioun, here þou hem in heuene, and forȝif þe ſynnes of þi ſeruauntis, and of þi puple Irael, and ſhew to hem a good weye, bi þe which þei goon, and ȝif reyne vpon þe loond, þat þou haſt ȝouun to þi puple in to poſſeſſioun. If þat hungre were growen vp on þe erþe, or were peſtilence, or corrupt eyr, or fretynge, or locuſt, or ruſt, and turmentiþ hym, and his enemy beſegynge þe ȝatis, al veniaunce, al infirmyte, al curſynge, and wiſſhynge, þat ſhall falle to eny man of þi puple Yrael, if a man knowe þe wounde of his herte, and ſtretche out his hoondis in þis hows, þou ſhalt here in heuene, in þe place of þi dwellynge, and þou ſhalt be aȝen pleſid, and þou ſhalt doo þat þou ȝyue to echon after alle her weyes, as þou ſhalt ſeen þe herte of hym; for þou alone haſt knowun þe herte of alle þe ſonys of men, þat þei dreden þee alle days in þe which þei lyuen vpon þe face of þe erþe, þat þou haſt ȝeuen to oure fadris. Forþermore and an alyen, þat is not of þi puple Irael, whanne he comeþ fro a ferre loond for þi name; forſoþe þi greet name ſhal be herd, and þi ſtrong hoond, and þi ſtrauȝt out arme ouer al; whanne þanne he ſhal come, and preye in þis place, þou ſhalt here in heuene, in þe firmament of þi dwellynge place, and þou ſhalt doo alle þingis, for þe whiche þe alien haþ inwardli clepid þee, þat alle puplis of erþis lernen to drede þi name, as þi puple Yrael, and proue þei, for þi name is inwardly clepid vpon þis hows, þat I haue beeldid. If þi puple were goon out to batail aȝens his enemyes, bi þe weye whidir euere þou ſhalt ſeende hem, þei ſhulen preye þee aȝen þe weye of þe citee þat þou haſt choſun, and aȝens þe hows þat I haue beeldid to þi name, and þou ſhalt here in heuene þe oryſouns of hem, and þe preyers of hem, and doon þe doom of hem. Þat yf þei of enemyes, ferre or niȝ, and doon penaunce in her herte, in þe place of caitifte, and turned han preyed in her caytifte, ſeiynge, We han ſynned, wickidly we han doon, vnpitouſly we han born vs; and weren turned to þee in al her herte, and in al her ſoule, in þe loond of her enemyes, to þe which catife þei weren lad, and preyen þee aȝens þe weie of her loond þat þou haſt ȝouen to þe faders of hem, and of þe citee þat þou haſt choſun, and of þe temple þat I haue beeldid to þi name, þou ſhalt here in heuen, in þe firmament of þi ſee, and þe oryſouns of hem, and þe preiers of hem, and þou ſhalt doon þe doom of hem; and þou ſhalt haue merci to þi puple, þat haþ ſynned to þee, and to alle þe wickidneſſes bi þe whiche þei han treſpaſſid in þee; and þou ſhalt ȝyue merci before hem, þat hadden hem caitife, þat þei doon merci to hem. Forſoþe þi puple he is, and þin heritage, whom þou haſt brouȝt out of þe loond of Egipte, fro þe mydil of þe yren furneis; þat þin eyen ben opened to þe preyer of þi ſeruaunt, and of þi puple Yrael; and þou ſhalt here hem in alle þingis, for þe whiche þei inwardly ſhulen clepe þee. Forſoþe þou haſt ſeuerde hem to þee in to herytage of alle puplis of þe erþe, as þou ſpeke bi Moyſen, þi ſeruaunt, whanne þou laddiſt out oure fadris fro Egipt, Lord God. It is doon forſoþe, whanne Salomon hadde ful eendid, preiynge þe Lord al þe oryſoun, and þis preier, he aroos fro þe ſiȝt of þe auter of þe Lord; forſoþe eiþer knee he hadde piȝt into þe erþe, and þe hoondys he hadde ſprad out to heuene. Þanne he ſtood, and bleſſide to al þe chirche of Yrael wiþ a greet voys, ſeyynge, Bleſſid is þe Lord God, þat ȝaf reſt to his puple Irael, after alle þingis þat he ſpak; þere felle not of a word, forſoþe not oon, of alle þe wordis þat he ſpak bi Moyſes, his ſeruaunt. Be þe Lord oure God wiþ vs, as he was wiþ oure faders, not forſakynge vs, ne þrowynge a ferre; but bowe he oure hertis to hym, þat we goon in alle þe weys of hym, and kepe þe maundements of hym, and cerymonyes, and domes, what euere he comaundide to oure fadres. And ben þes myn wordis, in þe whiche I haue preied before þe Lord, neiȝynge to þee Lord oure God day and nyȝt, þat he do doom to his ſeruaunt, and to his puple Irael bi eche days; and witen alle puplis of þe erþe, for þe Lord he is God, and þere is noon more wiþ out hym. Forſoþe be oure herte parfite wiþ þe Lord oure God, þat we goon in þe domys of hym, and kepen þe heeſtis of hym, as and to day. Þanne þe kyng, and al Yrael wiþ hym, offreden ſlayn ſacrifices before þe Lord. And Salomon ſlewȝ peſible ooſtis, þat he offrede to þe Lord; two and twenti þouſand of oxen, and an hundryd and twenti þouſand of ſheep; and þe kyng and þe ſones of Yrael halweden þe temple of þe Lord. In þat day þe kyng halwide þe mydil of þe porche, þat was before þe hows of þe Lord; forſoþe he dide brent offryngis þere, and ſacrifice, and þe talwȝ of þe peſible þingis; for þe braſen auter þat was before þe Lord was to litil, and myȝte not take þe brent offrynge, and þe ſacrifice, and þe talwȝ of peſible þingis. Þanne Salomon made in þat tyme a ſolempne feeſt day, and al Irael wiþ hym, a greet multitude, fro þe entre of Emaþ vnto þe ryuer of Egipt, before þe Lord oure God, ſeuen days and ſeuen dais, þat is, fourteen dais. And in þe eiȝt day he lafte þe puple, þe which bleſſynge to þe kyng wente into her tabernaclis, gladynge and wiþ myrye herte vpon alle þe goodis þat God hadde doon to Dauid, his ſeruaunt, and to Irael, his puple.

## Capitulum IX.

It is doon forſoþe, whanne Salomon hadde perfourmed þe beeldynge of þe hows of þe Lord, and þe beeldynge of þe kyng, and al þat he deſyryde, and wolde make, þe Lord aperide to hym þe ſecounde tyme, as he aperyde to hym in Gabaon. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, I haue herd þin oriſoun, and þi preyer, þat þou preiediſt before me; I haue halwid þis hows, þat þou haſt beeld, þat I putte my name þere into euermore; and myn eyen and myn herte ſhulen be þere alle days. Forſoþe þou, if þou goſt before me, as þi fader ȝede, in ſymplenes of herte, and euenneſſe, and doſt alle þingis þat I haue comaundid to þee, and my domys, and my lawful þingis kepeſt, I ſhal ſette þe trone of þi rewme vpon Irael in to euermore, as I ſpak to Dauid, þi fader, ſeiynge, Þere ſhal not be doon awey a man of þi kynrede fro þe ſee of Irael. Forſoþe if bi turnynge awey ȝe and ȝoure ſonys weren turned a weye, not folwynge me, ne kepynge myn heeſtis and cerymonyns, þat I purpoſide to ȝow, but ȝe goon awey, and herein alyen goddis, and honouren hem, I ſhal doo awey Irael fro þe vttermooſt of þe erþe þat I haue ȝeuen to hem; and þe temple þat I haue halwid to my name, I ſhal þrowe awey fro my ſiȝt; and Irael ſhal be into prouerbe and into fable, to alle puplis. And þis hows ſhal be into exſaumple; alle þat paſſen bi it, ſhulen wondre, and whiſtlen, and ſeyn, Whi dide þe Lord þus to þis loond, and to þis hows? And þei ſhulen anſwere, For þei forſoken þe Lord her God, þat ladde out þe faders of hem fro þe loond of Egipt; and þei folweden alien goddis, and herieden hem, and honourden hem; þerfor þe Lord brouȝte yn vpon hem al þis yuel. Forſoþe fulfillid twenti ȝeer, after þat Salomon hadde beeldid two howſis, þat is, þe hows of þe Lord, and þe hows of þe kyng, Iram, þe kyng of Tire, ȝeuynge to kyng Salomon cedre and firre trees, and gold, after al þat he hadde nede; þanne Salomon ȝaf to Iram twenti burȝ touns in þe loond of Galilee. And Yram wente out fro Tyro for to ſe þe burȝ touns, þat Salomon hadde ȝeuen to hym, and þei pleſiden not to hym; and he ſeiþ, Wheþer þes ben þe citees þat þou haſt ȝeuen to me, broþer? And he clepide hem þe loond of Chabul, vnto þis day. Forſoþe Iram ſente to kyng Salomon an hundrid and twenti talentis of gold. þis is þe ſumme of þe expenſis, þat kyng Salomon offrede to beelde þe hows of þe Lord, and his hows of Mello, and þe wal of Jeruſalem, and Ezer, and Magedo, and Gazer. Pharao, þe kyng of Egipt, ſtiede vp, and took Gazer, and brente it vp wiþ fier; and Chanane þat dwellide in þe citee he ſlewȝ, and ȝaf it into dower to his douȝter, Salomons wijf. Þanne Salomon beeldide vp Gazer, and þe neþir Beþron, and Balaad, and Palmyram in þe loond of wildirnes, and alle þe touns þat to hym perteyneden, and weren wiþouten wal; and he made ſikir þe citees of charis, and þe cytees of horſmen, and what euere þing to hym pleſide for to beelde in Jeruſalem, and in Liban, and in al þe loond of his power. Al þe puple þat abood ſtylle of Amorreis, Eþees, and Pherezeis, Euees, and Jebuſeis, þat ben not of þe ſones of Irael, Irael, of þes þe ſones þat abiden ſtille in þe loond, þat is, whom þe ſones of Irael myȝten not þrowe out, Salomon made tributaries into þis day. Of þe ſones forſoþe of Irael kyng Salomon ordeynde not eny man to ſerue, but þei weren men fiȝters, and þe ſeruauntis of hym, and princis, and duykis, and prefectis of charis and of hors. Forſoþe þei weren princis vpon alle þe werkis of Salomon, prouoſtis fyue hundrid and fifti, þat hadden þe puple ſubiect, and to þe ordeynd werkis comaundiden. Þe douȝter forſoþe of Pharao ſtiede vp fro þe citee of Dauid in to hir hows, þat Salomon hadde beeldid to hire; þanne he bieldide Mello. Forſoþe Salomon offride þree ſiþes bi eche ȝeer brent ſacrifices and peſible ſlayn ſacrifices, vpon þe auter þat he hadde beeldid to þe Lord; and he brente þe maad encenſe before þe Lord, and perfite is þe temple. Forſoþe kyng Salomon made a nauee in Aziongaber, þat is beſyde Haylam, in þe brenk of þe Reed ſee, in Ydume loond. And Yram ſente in þat nauee his ſeruauntis, ſhipmen, and wiſe of þe ſee, wiþ þe ſeruauntis of Salomon; þe whiche whanne þei weren comen in to Oofer, þens þe taken gold of foure hundrid and twenti talentis þei brouȝten to kyng Salomon.

## Capitulum X.

But and queen Sabaa, þe loos of Salomon herd in þe name of þe Lord, ſhe cam to aſaye hym in derk ſentenſis. And ſhe goon out wiþ greet companye to Jeruſalem, and ritcheſſis, and chamels berynge ſwote ſpices, and gold vnnoumbrid ful myche, and precious iemmys, cam to kyng Salomon, and ſpak to hym alle þingis þat ſhe hadde in hire herte. And Salomon tauȝte hire alle þe wordis þat ſhe purpoſyde; and þere was not a word þat myȝte be vnknowun fro þe kyng, and þat he anſwerde not to hire. Forſoþe queen Sabaa ſeynge al þe wiſdam of Salomon, and þe hows þat he hadde beeldid vp, and þe metis of his bord, and þe dwellynge placis of þe ſeruauntis, and þe ordris of þe ſeruytours, and þe cloþis of hem, and þe botelers, and þe brent ſacrificis þe whiche he offride in þe hows of þe Lord, ſhe hadde no more ſpirite. And ſhe ſeide to þe kyng, Sooþ is þe word þat I herde in my loond, vpon þi wordis, and vpon þi wiſdam; and I trowide not to þe tellers to me, to þe tyme þat I my ſelf cam; and I haue ſeen wiþ myn eyen, and proued þat þe half partye was not toold to me; more is þi wiſdam and þi werkis, þan þe loos þat I haue herd. Bleſſid ben þi men, and bleſſid ben þi ſeruauntis, þes þat ſtonden before þee euermore, and heren þi wiſdam. Þe Lord þi God be bleſſid, to whom þou haſt pleſid, and haþ putte þee vpon þe troone of Yrael; forþi þat þe Lord ſhal loue Yrael into euermore, and he haþ ſette þee a kyng, þat þou doo doom and ryȝtwiſnes. Þanne ſhe ȝaf to þe kyng an hundrid and twenti talentis of gold, and many ſwote ſpicis ful myche, and precious iemmys; þere ben no more brouȝt ſpicis ſo manye, as þoo þe whiche queen Sabaa ȝaf to kyng Salomon. But and þe nauee of Yram, þe which bare gold of Oofer, brouȝte to of Oofer manye tyyn trees ful myche, and precious iemmys. And þe kyng made of þe tyme trees beddis, and of þe hous of þe Lord, and of þe kyngis hows, and harpis, and ſyngynge inſtrumentis to ſyngers; þere ben not brouȝt ſyche maner tyme trees ne ſeen, vnto þe day þat is now. Forſoþe kyng Salomon ȝaf to þe queen Sabaa alle þingis þat ſhe wold, and axed of hym, out take þes þingis þe whiche freeli he ȝaf to hire in þe kyngis ȝift; þe which is turned aȝen, and wente into hire loond wiþ hire ſeruauntis. Forſoþe þe peyſe of gold, þat was offrid to Salomon bi eche ȝeer, was of ſex hundrid and ſexe and ſexti talentis of gold, out take þat men offreden, þat weren vpon tollis, and marchaundis, and alle þe ſellynge ſheeldis, and alle kyngis of Arabye, and duykis of þe loond. And kyng Salomon made two hundrid ſheeldis of mooſt pure gold; ſexe hundrid ouncis of gold he ȝaf in a plate of o ſheeld; and þre hundrid bokelers of mooſt proued gold; þre hundrid pound of gold cloþeden o bokelere. And þe kyng putte hem in þe hows of þe wijlde wode of Liban. Alſo kyng Salomon made a greet trone of yuer, and he cloþide it wiþ ful myche ȝalowȝ gold; þe which hadde ſexe grees; and þe cop of þe trone was round in þe hyndermore partie; and two hoondis hens and þens, holdynge þe ſittynge place, and two liouns ſtoden beſide eche hondis; and twelue litil liouns ſtoondynge vpon þe ſexe grees hens and þens; þere is not maad ſiche a werk in alle rewmes. But and alle þe veſſels, of þe whiche kyng Salomon drank, weren golden, and al þe neceſſarie of þe hows of þe wijlde wode of Liban of mooſt pure gold; and þere was not ſiluer, ne of eny prijs was holden in þe dais of Salomon. For þe nauee of þe kyng bi þe ſee wiþ þe nauee of Yram onys bi þre ȝeer wente into Tharſis, bryngynge þens gold, and ſiluer, and olefauntis teeþ, and apis, and pokokis. Þanne kyng Salomon is magnified vpon alle þe kyngis of erþe in richeſſes and wiſdam. And al erþe deſiride to ſe þe cheer of Salomon, þat it here þe wiſdam of hym, þat God hadde ȝeuen in his herte. And alle þei brouȝten to him ȝiftis, golden veſſels, and ſilueren, cloþis, and batayl aarmys, ſwote ſpicis forſoþe, and hors, and mulis, bi alle ȝeeris. And Salomon gedride charis, and horſmen; and þere ben maad to hym a þouſand and foure hundrid charis, and twelue þouſand of horſmen; and he diſpoſide hem bi þe ſtrengþid citees, and wiþ þe king in Jeruſalem. And he made, þat þere was as myche plente of ſiluer in Jeruſalem, as of ſtoonus; and he ȝaf þe multitude of cedres as mulberie trees, þat growen in wijld feeldis. And þe hors of Salomon weren brouȝt out of Egipt, and of Choa; forſoþe marchauntis of þe kyng bouȝten of Choa, and þe prijs ſet, brouȝten. Forſoþe þere was bouȝt a foure whelid cart of Egipt for ſexe hundrid ouncis of ſiluer, and an hors an hundrid and fifti; and in þis maner alle þe kyngis of Eþees and of Cyrye ſoolden hors.

## Capitulum XI.

Forſoþe kyng Salomon to brennyngly louede many heþen wymmen, þe douȝter forſoþe of Pharao, and Moabitis, and Amonytis, and Ydumees, and Cidonees, and Eþees; of þe gentils, on þe whiche þe Lord ſeide to þe ſones of Yrael, Ȝe ſhulen not goon into hem, ne of hem ſhulen goon out to ȝou; mooſt certeynli forſoþe þei ſhulen turne aweie ȝoure hertis, þat ȝe folwen þe goddis of hem. And ſo to þes is couplid kyng Salomon, bi mooſt brennynge loue. And þere weren to hym wiues as queens ſeuen hundrid, and ſecoundarie wiues þre hundrid; and wymmen turneden awey þe herte of hym. And whanne now he was oold, þe herte of hym is beſhrewid bi wymmen, þat he folwide alien goddis; and þe herte of hym was not parfit wiþ þe Lord his God, as þe herte of Dauid, his fadre. But Salomon heryede Aſtertem, þe goddeſſe of Sydonyes, and Chamos, þe god of Moabitis, and Moloch, þe mawmet of Amonytees; and Salomon dide þat was not pleſynge before þe Lord, and he fulfillide not þat he folwe þe Lord, as Dauid, his fader. Þanne Salomon beeldide vp þe temple of Chamos to þe mawmet of Moab, in þe hil þat is aȝens Jeruſalem, and to Moloch, þe mawmet of þe ſones of Amon. And in þis maner he dide to alle his heyþen wyues, þat brenden encenſe, and offreden to her goddis. Þerfor þe Lord wraþþid to Salomon, forþi þat his mynde was turned aweie fro þe Lord God of Irael; þe which aperide to hym þe ſecounde, and hadde comaundid of þis word, þat he ſhulde not folwe alyen goddis; and he kepte not þat, þat þe Lord comaundyde to hym. And ſo þe Lord ſeide to Salomon, For þou haddiſt þis anentis þee, and keptiſt not my couenant, and myn heeſtis, þe whiche I comaundide to þee, brekynge I ſhal kitte þi rewme, and ȝeuen it to þi ſeruant. Neuerþelater in þi days I ſhal not doon, for Dauid, þi fader; fro þe hoond of þi ſone I ſhal kutte it; and al þe rewme I ſhal not doon a wey, but o lynage I ſhal ȝyue to þi ſone, for Dauid, my ſeruaunt, and Jeruſalem, þat I haue choſen. Þe Lord forſoþe reride an aduerſary to Salomon, Adad Ydume, of þe kyngis ſeed, þat was in Edom. Forſoþe whanne Dauid was in Ydume, and Joab, þe prince of chyualrie, hadde ſtyed vp to byrye hem þat weren ſlayn, and hadde ſlayn al maal in Ydume; forſoþe ſexe moneþis þere dwellide Joab, and al Irael, to þe tyme þat þei hadden ſlayn al maal in Ydume; he Adad fleeiȝ, and Ydume men, of þe ſeruauntis of his fadir, wiþ hym, þat he goo into Egipt; forſoþe Adad was a litil child. And whanne þei hadden ryſen fro Madian, þei camen into Pharan; and þei token wiþ hem men of Pharan, and wenten into Egipt, to Pharao, þe kyng of Egipt; þe which ȝaf to hym an hows, and ordeynde meetis, and a loond aſignede. And Adad foonde grace before Pharao ful myche, in ſo myche þat he ȝaf to hym a wijf, þe ſiſter germayn of his wijf Taphnes, þe queen. And þe ſiſter of Taphnes gat to hym Jenebaþ, a ſone; and Taphnes noriſhide hym in þe hows of Pharao; and Jenebaþ was dwellynge before Pharao, wiþ his ſones. And whanne Adad hadde herd in Egipt, Dauid to haue ſlept wiþ his fadris, and Joab, prynce of chyualrie, to be deed, he ſeide to Pharao, Lete me, þat I goo into my loond. And Pharao ſeide to hym, What þing forſoþe anentis me nediſt þow, þat þou ſeche to goo to þi loond? And he anſwerde, Noon; but I preye þee, þat þou lete me. Forſoþe God reryde to hym an aduerſarie, Raſon, ſone of Eliadan, þat fleiȝ Adadezer, kyng of Soba, his lord; and he gadride aȝens hym men, and he is maad prince of þeues, whanne Dauid ſhulde haue ſlayn hem; and þei wenten to Damaſch, and dwelliden þere; and þei ordeyneden hym a kyng in Damaſch. And he was an aduerſarie to Irael alle þe days of Salomon; and þis is þe yuel of Adad, and haat aȝen Yrael; and he regnede in Cyrye. Forſoþe Jeroboam, þe ſone of Nabaþ, Eufrate of Seredera, ſeruaunt of Salomon, whos moder was a womman widwe, Serua bi name; and he reride þe hoond aȝens þe kyng. And þis þe cauſe of þe rebellioun aȝens hym; for Salomon beeldide Mello, and euenede þe ſwelwȝ of þe citee of Dauid, his fader. Forſoþe Jeroboam was a myȝti man, and a ſtrong; and Salomon ſeynge þe ȝonge waxynge man of good witte, and able to be tauȝt, he made hym a prefect vpon þe tributis of al þe hows of Joſeph. It is doon þanne in þat tyme, þat Jeroboam ſhulde goon out fro Jeruſalem; and Ahyas Silonyte, prophete, foonde him in þe weye, couerde wiþ a newe mantil; forſoþe þei two weren alone in þe feelde. And Ahyas takynge hys newe mantil, wiþ þe which he was couerde, kitte into twelue parties. And he ſeiþ to Jeroboam, Tak to þee ten kyttyngis; þes þingis forſoþe ſeiþ þe Lord God of Yrael, Loo! I ſhal kitte þe rewme fro þe hoond of Salomon, and I ſhal ȝyue to þee ten lynagis; but o lynage ſhal leeue to hym, for my ſeruaunt Dauid, and Jeruſalem, þe citee þat I haue choſen of alle þe lynagis of Irael; forþi þat he forſook me, and honourde Aſtartem, goddeſſe of Sydonees, and Chamos, god of Moab, and Moloch, god of þe ſonys of Amon; and he wente not in my weyes, þat he dide riȝtwiſneſſe before me, and my heeſtis, and my domys, as Dauid, his fader. Ne I ſhal not doo aweye al þe rewme fro his hoond, but I ſhal putte hym a duyk alle þe days of his lijf, for Dauid, my ſeruaunt, whom I chees, þe which kepte myn heeſtis, and my maundementis. I ſhal doo aweye forſoþe þe rewme fro þe hoond of his ſone, I ſhal ȝyue to þee þe ten lynagys; to his ſone forſoþe I ſhal ȝyue o lynage, þat þere abyde ſtille a lantern to Dauid, my ſeruaunt, alle dais before me in Jeruſalem, citee þat I chees, þat þere were my name. Forſoþe þee I ſhall take, and þou ſhalt regne vpon alle þingis þat þi ſoule deſyriþ, and þou ſhalt be kyng vpon Yrael. If þanne þou heriſt alle þingis þat I ſhal comaunde to þee, and goſt in my weies, and doſt þat is riȝt before me, kepynge my maundementis, and myn heeſtis, as Dauid, my ſeruaunt, dide, I ſhal be wiþ þee, and beelde to þee a trewe hows, what maner wiſe I beeldide to Dauid an hows, and I ſhal take to þee Yrael; and I ſhal tourmente þe ſeed of Dauid vpon þis, neuerþelater not alle dais. Þanne Salomon wolde ſlee Jeroboam, þe whiche roos, and fleiȝ into Egipt, to Suſaach, þe kyng of Egipt; and he was in Egipt vnto þe deeþ of Salomon. Forſoþe þe remnaunt of þe wordis of Salomon, and alle þingis þat he dide, and þe wiſdom of him, loo! alle þei ben writyn in þe boke of þe wordis of þe dais of Salomon. Forſoþe þe dais þe whyche Salomon regnede in Jeruſalem vpon al Yrael, ben fourti ȝeer. And Salomon ſlept wiþ his faders, and is biried in þe citee of Dauid, his fader; and Roboam, his ſone, regnede for him.

## Capitulum XII.

Roboam forſoþe cam into Sichym; þider forſoþe was gedrid al Irael to ordeyn hym a kyng. Forſoþe but Jeroboam, þe ſone of Nabaþ, whanne ȝit he was in Egipt, ferre flowen fro þe face of Salomon þe kyng, þe deeþ of hym herd, he turnede aȝen fro Egipt; and þei ſenten, and clepeden hym. Þanne Jeroboam and al þe multitude of Irael cam, and þei ſpeken to Roboam, ſeiynge, Þi fader putte to vs mooſt hard ȝok, and ſo þou now mak laſſe a lytil of þe heeſt of þi fader mooſt hard, and of þe mooſt greuous ȝok þat he haþ putte on to vs, and we ſhulen ſerue to þee. Þe which ſeiþ to hem, Gooþ vnto þe þridde day, and turneþ aȝen to me. And whanne þe puple was goon, kyng Roboam wente in counſeil wiþ þe eldris, þat ſtoden nyȝ before Salomon, his fader, whil þat he ȝit lyuede; and ſeiþ, What counſeil ȝeuen ȝe to me, þat I anſwere to þe puple? Þe whiche ſeiden to hym, If þou obeſſhe to þis puple to dai, and ſerueſt to þis puple, and to þe aſkynge of hem ȝeueſt ſtede, and ſpekiſt to hem liȝt wordis, þei ſhulen be to þee ſeruauntis alle dais. Þe which forſook þe counſeil of þe oold men, þat þei ȝauen to hym, and he took to hym þe ȝonge men, þat weren noriſhid wiþ hym, and ſtoden nyȝ to hym; and he ſeide to hem, What counſeil ȝeuen ȝe to me, þat Y anſwere to þis puple, þat ſeiden to me, Mak liȝter þe ȝok þat þi fader putte vpon vs? And þe ȝonge men ſeiden to hym, þat weren noriſhid wiþ hym, Þus ſpek to þis puple, þat ſpeken to þee, ſeiynge, Þi fader agregide oure ȝok, þou releue vs; þus þou ſhalt ſpeke to hem; My leeſt fyngre is gretter þan þe bak of my fader; and now my fader putte vpon ȝow a greuous ȝok, forſoþe I ſhal adde vpon ȝoure ȝok; my fader bette ȝow wiþ ſcourgis, forſoþe I ſhal bete ȝou wiþ ſcorpiouns. Þanne Jeroboam cam, and al þe puple, to Roboam þe þridde day, as þe kyng ſpak, ſeiynge, Turneþ aȝen to me þe þridde dai. And þe kyng anſwerde to þe puple hard, forſakid þe counſeil of þe eldres, þat þei hadden ȝeuen to hym; and he ſpak to hem aftir þe counſeil of þe ȝonge men, ſeiynge, My fader agregide ȝoure ȝok, and I forſoþe ſhal adde to ȝoure ȝok; my fader bette ȝou wiþ ſcourgis, Y ſhal bete ȝou wiþ ſcorpiouns. And þe kyng aſſentide not to þe puple, for þe Lord was aȝens hym, þat he rere his word, þat þe Lord ſpak in þe hoond of Ahye Silonyte to Jeroboam, ſone of Nabaþ. And ſo þe puple ſeynge, þat þe kyng wolde not here hem, anſwerde to hym, ſeiynge, What to vs part in Dauid, or what heritage in þe ſone of Yſaye? Turne aȝen into þi tabernaclis, Irael; now ſe þin hows, Dauid. And Yrael wente into her tabernaclis. Vpon þe ſonys forſoþe of Irael, whiche euere dwelliden in þe citees of Juda, regnede Roboam. Þanne kyng Roboam ſente to Vram, þat was vpon þe tributis; and al þe puple ſtoneden hym, and he is deed. Forſoþe kyng Roboam haſtijf ſteiede vp in a chare, and fleiȝ into Jeruſalem; and Irael wente a wey fro þe hows of Dauid, vnto þe day þat is now. It is doon forſoþe whanne al Irael hadde ſeen þat Jeroboam was turned aȝen, þei ſenten, and clepeden hym, þe ooſt gadryd, and þei ordeyneden hym kyng vpon al þe rewme of Yſrael; ne eny man folwide þe hous of Dauid, ſaue þe lynage of Juda alone. Forſoþe Roboam cam to Jeruſalem, and he gadride al þe hows of Juda, and þe lynage of Beniamyn, an hundrid and four ſcore þouſand of choſen men and fiȝters, þat þei fiȝten aȝens þe hows of Irael, and brynge aȝen þe rewme to Roboam, þe ſone of Salomon. Forſoþe þe word of þe Lord is don to Semeyam, a man of God, ſeiynge, Spek to Roboam, þe ſone of Salomon, kyng of Juda, and to al þe hous of Juda and of Beniamyn, and to þe toþere of þe puple, ſeiynge, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, Ȝe ſhulen not ſtie up, ne fiȝt aȝens ȝoure breþeren, þe ſones of Irael; turne aȝen a man into his hows, of me forſoþe is doon þis word. Þei herden þe word of þe Lord, and þei ben turned aȝen fro þe weye, as þe Lord comaundide to hem. Forſoþe Jeroboam beeldide vp Sichem, in þe hil of Effraym, and dwellide þere; and goon out þens, he beeldide vp Phanuel. And Jeroboam ſeide in his herte, Now þe kyngdam ſhal turne aȝen to þe hows of Dauid, if þis puple ſtie vp, þat he doo ſacrifices in þe hows of þe Lord in Jeruſalem; and þe herte of þis puple ſhal be turned to her lord, Roboam, kyng of Juda; and þei ſhulen ſlee me, and turnen aȝen to hym. And þe counſeil out þouȝt, he made two golden calues, and ſeide to hem, Wole ȝe no more ſtye vp in to Jeruſalem; loo! þi goddis, Irael, þat ladden þee out of þe loond of Egipt. And he putte oon in Beþel, and anoþer in Dan. And doon is þis word to Irael into ſynne; forſoþe þe puple wente to honoure þe calf, into Dan. And he maade templis in heiȝtis, and preeſtis of þe eendis of þe puple, þat weren not of þe ſones of Leuy. And he ordeyned a ſolempne dai in þe eiȝtiþe moneþ, þe fiftenþe dai of þe moneþ, into þe liknes of þe ſolempnete þat is halwid in Juda. And ſtiynge vp, lijk maner he made an auter in Beþel, þat he offre to þe calues, þe whiche he hadde forgid; and he ſette in Beþel preeſtis of þe heiȝ þingis, þat he hadde maad. And he ſtiede vp vpon þe auter, þat he hadde maad in Beþel, þe fifteenþe day of þe eiȝtiþe moneþ, þe which he feynede of his owne herte; and he made a ſolempnete to þe ſonys of Yrael, and he ſtiede vp vpon þe auter, þat he brenne encenſe.

## Capitulum XIII.

And loo! a man of God cam fro Juda, in þe word of þe Lord, into Beþel, Jeroboam ſtoondynge vpon þe auter, and leiynge encenſe. And he criede out aȝens þe auter, in þe word of þe Lord, and ſeiþ, Auter! auter! þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, Loo! a ſone ſhal be born to þe hows of Dauid, Jozias bi name; and he ſhal offre vpon þee þe preeſtis of heiȝ þingis, þe whiche now in þee encenſis brennen vp, and þe boonys of men vpon þee he ſhal brenne. And he ȝaf in þat day a tokne, ſeiynge, þis ſhal be þe tokne þat þe Lord ſpak, Loo! þe auter ſhal be kyt, and þe aſkis ſhulen be ſhed out, þat in hym is. And whanne þe kyng hadde herde þe word of þe man of God, þat criede aȝens þe auter in Beþel, he ſtrauȝte out his hoond fro þe auter, ſeiynge, Takiþ him. And his hoond, þat he ſtrauȝte out aȝens hym, wex drye, and he myȝte not drawe it aȝen to hym ſelf. Þe auter forſoþe is kit, and þe aſkis ben ſhed out of þe auter, after þe tokne þat þe man of God hadde ſeid before, in þe word of þe Lord. And þe kyng ſeiþ to þe man of God, Beſech þe face of þe Lord þi God, and preye for me, þat myn hoond be reſtorid to me. And þe man of God preiede þe face of God; and þe hoond of þe kyng is turned aȝen to hym, and is maad as it was before. Forſoþe þe kyng ſpak to þe man of God, Cumme wiþ me hoom, þat þou eete, and I ſhal ȝyue to þee ȝiftis. And þe man of God ſeide to þe kyng, If þou ſhuldiſt ȝyue to me þe half parti of þin hows, I ſhal not come wiþ þee, and I ſhal not eete breed, ne drynke water in þis place; forſoþe ſo it is comaundid to me in þe word of þe Lord, comaundynge, Þou ſhalt not eete breed, ne drynke water, ne þou ſhalt turne aȝen bi þe waye þat þou cam. Þanne he wente bi anoþer weye, and he is not turned aȝen bi þe weie, bi þe which he cam in to Beþel. A maner prophete forſoþe, an oold man, dwellide in Beþel, to whom camen his ſonys, and toolden to hym alle þe werkis þat þe man of God hadde doon in þat day in Beþel; and þe wordis þat he hadde ſpoken to þe kyng þei toolden to her fader. And her fader ſeide to hem, Bi what weie wente he? His ſones ſheweden to hym þe weye, bi þe which þe man of God hadde goon, þat cam fro Juda. And he ſeiþ to his ſones, Makiþ redi to me an aſſe. Þe which whanne þei hadden maad redi, he ſtiede vp, and wente aftir þe man of God, and he foonde hym ſittynge vndir a þerebynt. And he ſeiþ to hym, Wheþer þou art þe man of God, þat cam fro Juda? He anſwerde to hym, I am. And he ſeide to hym, Come wiþ me hoom, þat þou eete breed. Þe which ſeiþ, I may not turne aȝen, ne come wiþ þee, and I ſhal not eete breed, ne drynke water in þis place; for þe Lord ſpak to me in þe word of þe Lord, ſeiynge, Þow ſhalt not ete breed, and þou ſhalt not drynke watir þere, ne þou ſhalt turne aȝen bi þe weye þat þou wentiſt. Þe which ſeiþ to hym, And I am a prophete lijk þee; and þe aungel ſpak to me in þe word of þe Lord, ſeiynge, Bryng hym aȝen wiþ þee into þin hous, þat he eete breed, and drynke water. He bigyilde hym, and brouȝte aȝen wiþ hym. Þanne he eete breed in his hous, and drank water. And whanne he ſatte at þe bord, þe word of þe Lord is doon to þe prophete þat brouȝte hym aȝen; and he criede out to þe man of God þat cam fro Juda, ſeiynge, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, For þou were not obeiſhynge to þe mouþ of þe Lord, and keptiſt not þe maundement þat þe Lord þi God comaundide to þee, and turnedeſt aȝen, and eete breed, and dranke water in þe place in þe which I comaundide to þee, þat þou ſhuldiſt not eete breed, ne drynke water, þi careyn ſhal not be born into þe ſepulcre of þi faders. And whanne he hadde eeten and drunken, þe prophete, whom he hadde brouȝt aȝen, made redi his aſſe. Þe which whanne he was goon, a lioun foond hym in þe weye, and ſlewȝ. And þe careyn of hym was þrowun forþ in þe weye; forſoþe þe aſſe ſtood biſide hym, and þe lioun ſtood biſide þe careyn. And loo! men goynge ſeen þe careyn þrowen in þe weie, and a lioun ſtoondynge beſide þe careyn; and þei camen, and openeden into þe citee, in þe which þat ilke olde prophete dwellide. Þe which þing whanne þe prophete hadde herd, þat ladde him aȝen fro þe weye, ſeiþ, Þe man of God he is, þat was vnobeſhynge to þe mouþ of God; and þe Lord took hym to a lyoun, þat bruſſide hym, and ſlewȝ hym, after þe word of þe Lord þat he ſpak to hym. And he ſeide to hys ſonys, Makiþ redi to me an aſſe. Þe which whanne þei hadden maad redi, and he is goon, he foond þe careyn of hym þrowun forþ in þe weye, and an aſſe and a lioun ſtondynge beſide þe careyn; and þe lyoun eete not of þe careyn, ne hurte not þe aſſe. Þanne þe prophete took þe careyn of þe man of God, and putte it vpon þe aſſe; and turned aȝen, he brouȝte it in to þe citee of þe oold prophete, þat he weyle hym. And he putte þe careyn of hym in his ſepulcre, and þei weileden hym, Allas! allas! my broþere! And whanne þei hadden weilid hym, he ſeide to hys ſonys, Whanne I ſhal be deed, birieþ me in þe ſepulcre, in þe which þe man of God is biried; beſide þe bonys of hym putte ȝe my bonys. For forſoþe þe word ſhal come, þat he before ſeide in þe word of þe Lord, aȝens þe auter þat is in Beþel, and aȝens alle þe temples of þe heiȝ þingis, þat ben in þe citees of Samarye. Aftir þes wordis Jeroboam ys not turned awey fro his werſt weye, but aȝenward he made of þe laſt puplis preeſtis of heiȝ þingis; who ſo euer wolde, fulfillid his hoond, and was maad a preeſt of heiȝ þingis. And for þis cauſe þe hows of Jeroboam ſynnede, and is turned vpſedoun, and doon awei fro þe vttermooſt of þe erþe.

## Capitulum XIIII.

In þat tyme Abya, þe ſone of Jeroboam, wexe ſijke. And Jeroboam ſeide to his wijf, Ryſe, and chaunge abijt, þat þou be not knowun, þat þow be þe wijf of Jeroboam; and go in to Silo, where Ahya, þe prophet, is, þe which ſpak to me, þat I was to regne vpon þis puple. Tak forſoþe in þin hoond ten looues, and a litil kake, and a veſſel of hony, and go to hym; forſoþe he ſhal ſhewe to þee, what ben to come to þis child. Þe wijf dide as Jeroboam ſeide, and aryſynge ſhe wente into Silo, and cam into þe hows of Ahye; and he myȝte not ſe, for þe eyen of hym hadden daſewide for eeld. Forſoþe þe Lord ſeide to Ahyam, Loo! þe wijf of Jeroboam is comen in, þat ſhe counſele þee vpon hire ſone, þat is ſijk; þes þingys and þes þou ſhalt ſpeke to hire. Þanne whanne ſhe was comen yn, and hadde vnlikned hire ſelf to be þat ſhe was, Ahias herde þe ſoun of þe feet of hire comynge in bi þe dore, and ſeiþ, Cum in, wijf of Jeroboam; whi anoþir þow feyneſt þee to be? Forſoþe I am ſent to þee an hard meſſagere. Go, and ſey to Jeroboam, Þeſe þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God of Irael, For I haue enhaunſid þee fro þe myddis of þe puple, and ȝaf þee duyk vpon my puple Irael, and kytte þe rewme of þe hows of Dauid, and ȝaf it to þee, and þow was not as my ſeruaunt Dauid, þat kepte myn heeſtis, and folwide me in al his herte, doynge þat was pleſynge in my ſiȝt; but þou haſt wrouȝt euil, ouere alle þat weren before þee, and þou haſt maad alien goddis to þee, and ȝoten, þat þou terre me to wraþþe, forſoþe þou haſt þrowen me behynde þi bak. Þerfor loo! I ſhal brynge yn yuels vpon þe hows of Jeroboam, and I ſhal ſmyte fro Jeroboam vnto a piſſere at þe wal, and cloſide, and laſt in Yrael; and I ſhal clenſe þe relikis of þe hows of Jeroboam, as is wont to be clenſid muk vnto þe pure; forſoþe þoo þat weren deed of Jeroboam in þe citee, houndis ſhulen eete hem; forſoþe þoo þat weren deed in þe feeld, briddes of heuene ſhulen deuowre hem; for þe Lord ſpak. Þou þerfor ryſe, and go into þin hows; and in þat goynge in of þi feet in to þe cytee þe child ſhal dye. And al Yrael ſhal beweile hym, and berye; forſoþe he alone ſhal be brouȝt yn of Jeroboam in to þe ſepulcre, for þere is founden vpon hym a good word of þe Lord God of Yrael, in þe hows of Jeroboam. Þe Lord forſoþe ſhal ordeyne to hym a kyng vpon Irael, þat ſmyte þe hows of Jeroboam, in þis day and in þis tyme; and þe Lord God of Irael ſhal ſmyit, as a reede in water is wont to be moued; and he ſhal pulle vp Irael fro þis good loond, þat he ȝaf to þe faders of hem, and he ſhal wyndowe hem beȝonde þe flood, for þei maden to hem mawmet wodis, þat þei terren þe Lord. And þe Lord God ſhal take Irael to her enemyes, for þe ſynnes of Jeroboam, þe which ſynnede, and made Irael to ſynne. And ſo þe wijf of Jeroboam roos, and wente, and cam into Tharſa; and whanne ſhe wente in þe þreſhwold of þe hows, þe child dyede. And þei birieden hym; and al Irael weylide hym, aftir þe word of þe Lord, þe which he ſpak in þe hoond of his ſeruaunt, Ahye þe prophete. Þe remenaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Jeroboam, how he fauȝt, and how he regnede, loo! þei ben writen in þe book of þe wordis of þe dais of þe kyngis of Yrael. Þe dais forſoþe, in þe whiche regnede Jeroboam, ben two and twenti ȝeer; and Jeroboam ſlepte wiþ his fadres, and Naadab, his ſone, regnede for hym. Forſoþe Roboam, þe ſone of Salomon, regnede in Juda; of oon and fourti ȝeer was Roboam whanne he began to regne, and ſeuenteen ȝeer he regnede vpon Jeruſalem, þe citee þat þe Lord chees, þat he putte his name þere, of alle þe lynagis of Irael. Þe name forſoþe of his moder, Naama Amanyte. And Juda dide yuel before þe Lord, and þei terreden hym vpon alle þingis, þat þe faders of him diden in her ſynnes, þat þei ſynneden. Forſoþe and þei beeldiden vp to hem ſelf auterys, and ymagis, and mawmet wodis, vpon al heiȝ hil, and vndur eche tree ful of braunchis. But men maad wommanlich weren in þe loond, and þei diden alle þe abhomynaciouns of heþen men, þe whiche þe Lord al to-trade before þe face of þe ſonys of Irael. Forſoþe in þe fifþe ȝeer of þe regne of Roboam, Seſac, þe kyng of Egipt, ſtiede vp into Jeruſalem; and he took þe treſours of þe hous of þe Lord, and þe kyngis treſours, and alle þingis he brak in two, and þe golden ſheeldis þat Salomon made. For þe whiche kyng Roboam made braſen ſheeldis, and took hem in þe hoond of þe duykis ſheeldberers, and of hem þat watchiden before þe doore of þe hows of þe kyng. And whanne þe kyng wente into þe hows of þe Lord, þei beeren hem, þat hadden þe office of goynge before, and afterward þei brouȝten aȝen to þe armerye place of þe ſheeldberers. Þe remnaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Roboam, and alle þingis þat he dide, loo! ben writen in þe book of þe wordis of þe dais of þe kyngis of Juda. And þere batayl was bitwix Roboam and Jeroboam alle dais. And Roboam ſlepte wiþ his faders, and is biried wiþ hem in þe citee of Dauid. Forſoþe name of his moder, Naama Amanyte; and Abya, his ſone, regnede for hym.

## Capitulum XV.

Thanne in þe eiȝtetenþe ȝeer of þe regne of Jeroboam, þe ſone of Naabaþ, regnede Abya vpon Judam. Þre ȝeer he regnede in Jeruſalem; name of his moder Macha, þe douȝter of Abeſſalon. And he wente in alle þe ſynnes of his fader, þe whiche he hadde doon before hym; ne þe herte of hym was parfite wiþ þe Lord his God, as þe herte of Dauid, his fader. But for Dauid þe Lord his God ȝaf to hym a lanterne in Jeruſalem, þat he rere his ſone aftyr hym, and ſtoonde in Jeruſalem; for þi þat Dauid hadde doo riȝt in þe eyen of þe Lord, and hadde not bowid awey fro alle þingis þat he hadde comaundide to hym, alle days of his lijf, out taak þe word of Vrie Eþei. Neuerþelater þere was batail betwix Abyam and Jeroboam, al tyme of his lijf. Þe remnaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Abye, and alle þingis þat he dide, wheþir not þes ben writen in þe book of þe wordis of þe days of þe kyngis of Juda? And þere was batail betwix Abyam and Jeroboam. And Abya ſlepte wiþ his faders; and þei biryden hym in þe cite of Dauid; and Aſa, his ſone, regnede for hym. Forſoþe in þe twentiþe ȝeer of Jeroboam, kyng of Irael, regnede Aſa, kyng of Juda; and oon and fourti ȝeer he regnede in Jeruſalem. Name of his moder, Macha, þe douȝter of Abeſſalon. And Aſa dide riȝt in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, as Dauid, his fader; and he took awey þe wommannyſh maad men of þe loond, and he purgide alle þe filþis of þe mawmettis, þe whiche his fadris maden. Ferþermore and his moder Macham he putte awey, þat ſhe were not prince in þe heriyng þingis of þe mawmet of mannus ȝeerde, and in his mawmet wode þat ſhe hadde halowide; and he turnede vpſodoun þe den of hym, and he to-brak þe fouleſt licnes, and brente in þe ſteem of Cedron; forſoþe þe heiȝ þingis he dide not awey; neuerþelater þe herte of Aſa was perfijt wiþ þe Lord his God, alle his dais. And he brouȝte in þo þingis, þe whiche his fader hadde halowid and vowede, into þe hows of þe Lord, ſiluer, and gold, and veſſels. Forſoþe batayl þere was betwix Aſa and Baaſa, kyng of Irael, alle þe dais of hem. Forſoþe Baaſa, þe kyng of Yrael, ſtiede vp into Juda, and he beeldide Rama, þat no man myȝte goon out, or goon yn, fro þe parti of Aſa, kyng of Juda. And ſo Aſa takinge al þe ſiluer and gold, þat lafte in þe treſours of þe hows of þe Lord, and in þe treſours of þe kyngis hows, ȝaf into þe hoondis of his ſeruauntis; and ſente to Benadab, þe ſone of Trabemnon, þe ſone of Oſyon, kyng of Cyrye, þat dwellide in Damaſch, ſeiynge, Couenaunt of pees is betwix me and þee, and betwix my fader and þi fader, and þerfor to þee I haue ſent ȝiftis, gold, and ſiluer; and I aſke, þat þou come, and make at nouȝt þe boond of pees, þat þou haſt wiþ Baaſa, þe kyng of Irael, and he goo awey fro me. Aſſentynge Benadab to kyng Aſa, ſente þe princis of his ooſt into þe citees of Yrael; and þei ſmiten Ahion, and Dayr, and Abel, and þe hows of Maacha, and al Seneroþ, þat is, al þe loond of Neptalym. Þe which þing, whanne Baaſa hadde herd, he lafte to beelde vp Rama, and he turnede aȝen into Tharſa. Forſoþe kyng Aſa ſente a meſſager into al Juda, ſeiynge, No man be excuſid. And þei token þe ſtoonus of Rama, and þe trees of it, wiþ þe whiche Baaſa hadde beeldid; and kyng Aſa made out of þe ſame Gabaa of Beniamyn, and Maſpha. Þe remnaunt forſoþe of alle þe wordis of Aſa, and of al his ſtrengþ, and alle þingis þat he dide, and þe citees þat he made vp, wheþir not þes ben writen in þe book of þe wordis of þe days of þe kyngis of Juda? Neuerþelater in þe tyme of his eelde he akide þe feet. And Aſa ſlepte wiþ his faders, and is biryed wiþ hem in þe citee of Dauid his fader; and Joſaphaþ, his ſone, regnede for hym. Nadab forſoþe, þe ſone of Jeroboam, regnede vpon Irael, þe ſecounde ȝeer of Aſa, þe kyng of Juda; and he regnede vpon Yrael two ȝeer. And he dide þat is yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and wente in þe weies of his fader, and in þe ſynnes of hym, in þe whiche he made Irael to ſynne. Forſoþe Baaſa, þe ſone of Ahia, of þe hows of Yſachar, weytide to hym, and ſmoot hym in Jebeþon, þat is þe citee of Philiſteis; forſoþe Naadab and al Yrael beſegiden Jeboþon. Þanne Baaſa ſlewȝ hym, in þe þridde ȝeer of Aſa, þe kyng of Juda, and regnede for hym. And whanne he hadde regned, he ſmoot al þe hows of Jeroboam; and he laft not forſoþe not oon lijf of his ſeed, to þe tyme þat he dide awey hym, after þe word of þe Lord, þat he ſpak in þe hoond of his ſeruaunt, Ahye Silonyte, prophete, for þe ſynnes of Jeroboam, þe whiche he hadde ſynned, and wiþ whiche he hadde made Irael to ſynnen, and for þe treſpas, in þe which he hadde terred þe Lord God of Yrael. Þe remnaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Naadab, and alle þingis þat he wrouȝte, wheþer not þes ben wrytyn in þe book of þe wordis of þe dais of þe kyngis of Yrael? And þere was batail betwixe Aſa and Baaſa, king of Yrael, alle þe dais of hem. Þe þridde ȝeer of Aſa, kyng of Juda, regnede Baaſa, þe ſone of Ahia, vpon al Yrael, in Tharſa, foure and twenti ȝeer. And he dide yuel before þe Lord, and he wente in þe weyes of Jeroboam, and in þe ſynnes of hym, in þe whiche he made Irael to ſynne.

## Capitulum XVI.

Forſoþe þe word of þe Lord is doon to Yau, þe ſone of Anany, aȝens Baaſa, ſeiynge, Forþi þat I haue enhaunſid þee fro powdre, and ſette þee duyk vpon Yrael, my puple; forſoþe þow haſt goon in þe weie of Jeroboam, and haſt maad my puple Irael to ſynne, þat þow terre me in þe ſynnes of hem; and lo! I ſhal kitte of þe hyndirmore of Baaſa, and þe hyndirmores of þe hows of hym, and I ſhal make þin hows as þe hows of Jeroboam, þe ſone of Naabaþ. Who were deed of Baaſa in þe citee, houndis ſhulen eete hym, and who were deed of hym in þe regioun, þe foulis of heuen ſhulen eete hym. Forſoþe þe remnaunt of þe wordis of Baaſa, and what euer þingis he dide, and þe batayls of hym, wheþer not þes ben writyn in þe bokis of þe wordis of þe dais of þe kyngis of Irael? Þanne Baaſa ſlepte wiþ his faders, and is biryed in Tharſa; and Hela his ſone, regnede for hym. Forſoþe whanne in þe hond of Yau, þe ſone of Anany, þe prophete, þe word of þe Lord was maad aȝens Baaſa, and aȝens þe hows of hym, and aȝens al þe yuel þat he hadde doon before þe Lord, to terren hym in þe werkis of his hondis, þat he were maad as þe hows of Jeroboam, for þis cauſe he ſlewȝ hym, þat is, Yau, þe ſone of Anany, þe prophete. Þe ſixe and twentiþe ȝeer of Aſa, þe kyng of Juda, regnede Hela, þe ſone of Baaſa, vpon Yrael, in Tharſa, two ȝeer. And aȝens hym rebellid Zamry, his ſeruaunt, duyk of þe half partie of þe horſmen; forſoþe Hela was in Tharſa, drynkynge and drunken in þe hows of Arſa, prefect of Tharſa. Þanne Zamry fallinge on ſmoot, and ſlewȝ hym, þe ſeuen and twentiþ ȝeer of Aſa, kyng of Jude; and he regnyde for hym. And whanne he hadde regned, and ſitten vpon his ſee, he ſmoot al þe hows of Baaſa, and he lafte not of yt a piſſer to þe wal, and þe kynne, and þe freendis of hym. And Zamri dide aweye al þe hows of Baaſa, after þe word of þe Lord, þat he hadde ſpoken to Baaſa, in þe hoond of Yau, þe prophete, for alle þe ſynnes of Baaſa, and þe ſynnes of Hela, his ſone, þe whiche ſynneden, and maden Iſrael to ſynne, terrynge þe Lord God of Iſrael in her vanitees. Þe remenaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Hela, and alle þingis þat he dide, wheþer not þes ben writin in þe boke of þe wordis of þe dais of þe kyngis of Iſrael? Þe ſeuen and twentiþe ȝeer of Aſa, kyng of Juda, regnede Zamri ſeuen dais in Tharſa; forſoþe an ooſt beſegide Jebeþon, þe citee of Philiſtees. And whanne it hadde herde Zamri to han rebellid, and to han ſleyn þe king, al Iſrael made to hem a kyng Amry, þat was prince of þe chyualri vpon Iſrael, in þat dai, in þe tentis. Þanne Amri ſtiede vp, and al Iſrael wiþ him, fro Jebeþon, and ſegiden Tharſa. Forſoþe Zamri ſeynge, þat þe cite was to be ouercomen, he wente in to þe paleis, and brende vp him ſelf wiþ þe kingis hous; and is deed in his ſynnes þat he ſynnede, doynge yuel before þe Lord, and goynge in þe weye of Jeroboam, and in þe ſynnes of hym, by þe whiche he made Yrael to ſynne. Þe remnaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Zamry, and of þe ſpies of him, and of þe tyraundiſe, wheþir þes ben not writyn in þe book of þe wordis of þe dais of þe kyngys of Yrael? Þanne þe puple of Irael is deuydid in two parties; þe half partye of þe puple folwide Thebny, þe ſone of Jeneþ, þat he ordeyne hym kyng, and þe half parti Amry. Forſoþe þe puple þat was wiþ Amry hadde þe ouerhoond ouer þe puple þat folwide Thebny, þe ſone of Jeneþ; and Thebny is deed, and Amry regnede. Þe oon and þretty ȝeer of Aſa, kyng of Juda, regnede Amry vpon Yrael, twelue ȝeer; in Tharſa he regnede ſixe ȝeer. And he bouȝte þe hille of Samarye of Somer for two talentis of ſiluer, and he beeldide it; and he clepide þe name of þe citee, þat he bieldide vp, by þe name of Somer, þat is, þe hil of þe Lord, or þe hil of Samarye. Forſoþe Amry dide yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and he wroȝte wickidly, ouer alle þat weren before hym. And he wente in al þe weye of Jeroboam, þe ſone of Nabaþ, and in þe ſynnes of hym, bi þe whiche he made Irael to ſynne, þat he terre þe Lord God of Irael in his vanitees. Þe remnaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Amry, and þe batailis of hym, þat he dide, wheþer not þes ben wryten in þe book of þe wordis of þe dais of þe kyngis of Irael? And Amry ſlepte wiþ his faders, and is biried in Samarye; and Achab, his ſone, regnede for hym. Achab forſoþe, þe ſone of Amry, regnede on Irael þe eiȝt and þrettiþe ȝeer of Aſa, kyng of Juda; and Achab, þe ſone of Amry, regnede vpon Irael, in Samarie, two and twenti ȝeer. And Achab, þe ſone of Amry, dide yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, ouer alle þat weren before hym; ne it ſuffiſide to hym þat he ȝede in þe ſynnes of Jeroboam, þe ſone of Naaboþ, but more ouere he weddide a wijf, Jezabel, þe douȝter of Meþaal, kyng of Sydonyes; and he wente, and ſeruede to Baal, and honourde hym. And he ſette an auter of Baal in þe temple of Baal, þat he hadde beeldid vp in Samarye, and he plauntide a maumet wode; and Achab addide in his werke, terrynge þe Lord God of Yrael, ouer alle þe kyngis of Irael þat weren before hym. In þe dais forſoþe of hym Ahiel of Beþel beeldide vp Jericho; in Abiram, his fyrſt goten, he foundide it, and in Segub, his laſt, he ſette þe ȝatis of it, after þe word of þe Lord, þat he hadde ſpokyn in þe hoond of Joſue, þe ſone of Nun.

## Capitulum XVII.

And Helias Teſbites, of þe dwellers of Galaad, ſeide to Achab, Þe Lord God of Yrael lyueþ, in whos ſiȝt Y ſtond, if þere ſhal be þes ȝeeris dewe and reyn, but after þe wordis of my mouþ. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to hym, ſeynge, Go aweye hens, and go aȝens þe eſt, and be hidde in þe ſtreem of Cariþ, þat is aȝens Jordan, and þere þou ſhalt drynke of þe ſtreem; and to þe crowis I haue comaundide, þat þei feden þee þere. Þanne he wente, and dide after þe word of þe Lord; and whanne he hadde gon, he ſat in þe ſtreem of Cariþ, þat is aȝens Jordan. And þe crowis brouȝten to hym breed and fleſh erly; alſo at euen; and he dranke of þe ſtreem. Forſoþe after ſumme days þe ſtreem is dryed; forſoþe it hadde not reyned vpon erþe. Þanne þe word of þe Lord is do to hym, ſeiynge, Ryis, and go into Sarept of Sidonyes, and þow ſhalt dwelle þere; forſoþe I haue comaundid þere to a womman widowe, þat ſhe fede þee. And he roos, and wente into Serept of Sydonyes; and whanne he was comyn to þe ȝate of þe citee, a womman widowe aperide to hym gederynge ſtickis; and he clepide hire, and ſeide to hir, Ȝif to me a litil of water in a veſſel, þat I drynke. And whanne ſhe wente, þat ſhe brynge to, he criede bihynde þe bak of hir, ſeiynge, Bryng to me, I beſeche, and a morſel of breed in þin hoond. Þe which anſwerde, Þe Lord þy God lyueþ, for I haue not breed, but as myche as an handful may take of mele in a ſtene, and a litil of oyle in an oyle veſſel; loo! I gedre ſtikkis, þat I goo yn, and make it to me, and to my ſone, þat we eten and dien. To whom ſeiþ Helias, Wole þou not drede, but go, and do as þow haſt ſeid; neuerþelater to me firſt make of þat litil mele a litil loof, baken vndre þe aſſhen, and bryng to me; forſoþe to þee and to þi ſone þou ſhalt make afterward. Þes þingis forſoþe ſeiþ þe Lord God of Irael, Þe ſtene of mele ſhal noȝt fayle, ne þe veſſel of oyle ſhal not be mynuſhid, vnto þe day in þe which þe Lord is to ȝyue reyn vpon þe face of þe erþe. Þe which wente, and dide after þe word of Helye; and he ete, and ſhe, and hir hows. And fro þat dai þe ſteen of mele failide not, and þe veſſel of oile is not mynuſhid, after þe word of þe Lord, þat he hadde ſpokyn in þe hoond of Helye. It is doon forſoþe after þes wordis, þe ſone of an huſwijf womman wexe ſijk, and þe langour was mooſt ſtrong, ſo þat þere lafte not in hym breeþ. Þanne ſhe ſeide to Helias, What to me and to þee, þou man of God? Þou wentiſt into me, þat my wickidneſſes ſhulden be remembrid, and þou ſhuldiſt ſlee my ſone. And Helias ſeiþ to hire, Ȝif to me þi ſone. And he took him fro hir boſum, and bare in to þe ſowping place, where he dwellide; and putte hym vpon his litil bed. And he criede to þe Lord, and ſeide, Lord, my God, alſo wheþer þe widowe, anentis whom Y ȝit am ſuſteyned, þou haſt tourmentid, þat þow ſlee þe ſone of hire? And he ſprade out hym ſelf, and meſurede vpon þe child þre ſiþis, and criede to þe Lord, and ſeiþ, Lord my God, þe ſoule of þis child, Y beſeche, be turned aȝen into þe bowels of hym. And þe Lord herde þe voys of Helias, and þe ſoule of þe child is turned aȝen wiþ ynne hym, and he aȝen quikenyde. And Helias took þe child, and putte it doun fro þe ſowpyng place in to þe nedre hows, and took to his moder; and he ſeiþ to hire, Lo! þi ſone lyueþ. And þe womman ſeide to Helias, Now in þis Y haue knowe, for þe man of God þow ert, and þe word of God in þi mouþ is ſoþe.

## Capitulum XVIII.

Aftir manye dais þe word of þe Lord is doo to Helias, in þe þridde ȝeer, ſeiynge, Go, and ſhewe þee to Achab, þat I ȝeue reyn vpon þe face of þe erþe. Þanne Helias wente þat he ſhewe hym to Achab; forſoþe þere was hidows hungre in Samarye. And Achab clepide Abdiam, þe ſtiward of his hows; forſoþe Abdias dradde þe Lord God of Yrael myche. For whanne Jeſabel ſhulde ſlee þe prophetis of þe Lord, he took an hundrid prophetis, and hidde hem, fifti and fifti, in dennys, and he fedde hem wiþ breed and water. Þanne Achab ſeide to Abdias, Go in to þe loond, to alle þe welles of watris, and into alle valeis, if peraduenture we mowen fynde herbe, and ſaue hors and mulis; and þe beeſtis fulli dien not. And þei deuydeden þe regiouns to hem ſelf, þat þei goon about hem; Achab wente bi o weye, and Abdias bi anoþer, aſide. And whanne Abdias was in þe weie, Helias aȝen cam to hym; þe which whanne he hadde knowen hym, he felle vpon his face, and ſeiþ, Wheþir þou art my lord Helias? To whom he anſwerde, Y. And he ſeide, Go, and ſey to þi lord, Helias is neeȝ. And he, What haue I ſynned, he ſeiþ, for þou takiſt me, þi ſeruaunt, in þe hoond of Achab, þat he ſlee me? Þe Lord þi God lyueþ, for þere is not folk or rewme, in þe whiche my lord haþ not ſent, ſechynge þee; and alle men anſwerynge, He is not here, he haþ adiurid alle rewmes and folkis, for þi þat þou art not foundun; and now þou ſeiſt to me, Go, and ſey to þi lord, Helie is neiȝ. And whanne I ſhal goo aweye fro þee, þe Spiryt of þe Lord ſhal bere þee aweye into a place þat I knowe not; and Y goon yn, ſhal telle to Achab, and not fyndynge þee, he ſhal ſlee me; þi ſeruaunt forſoþe drediþ þe Lord fro his ȝongþ. Wheþir is it not ſhewid to þee, my lord, what I haue doon, whanne Jeſabel ſhulde ſlee þe prophetis of þe Lord, þat I hidde of þe prophetis of þe Lord an hundrid men, fifti and fifti, in dennys, and fedde hem wiþ breed and water? And now þow ſeiſt, Go, and ſey to þi lord, Helye is neiȝ, þat he ſlee me. And Helyas ſeide, Þe Lord of ooſtis lyueþ, before whos cheer I ſtonde, for to day Y ſhal apere to hym. Þanne Abdias wente into þe aȝen comynge of Achab, and ſhewide to hym; and Achab cam into þe aȝen comynge to Helye. And whanne he hadde ſeen hym, ſeiþ, Wheþer art þou not he, þat diſturbliſt Irael? And he ſeiþ, I haue not diſturblid Irael, but þow, and þe hows of þi fader, þat haſt forſakyn þe heſtis of þe Lord, and ȝe han folowid Baalym. Neuerþelater now ſend, and gadre to me al Yrael, in þe hil of Carmele, and þe prophetis of Baal foure hundrid and fifti, and þe prophetis of mawmet wodis foure hundrid, þat eten of þe bord of Jezebel. Achab ſente to alle þe ſonys of Yrael, and gaderide þe prophetis in þe hil of Carmele. Forſoþe Helie comynge nyȝ to al þe puple of Yrael, ſeiþ, How long halt ȝe into two parties? If þe Lord is God, folwiþ hym; forſoþe if Baal, folwiþ hym. And þe puple anſwerde not to hym a word. And eft Elias ſeiþ to þe puple, I am laft a prophet of þe Lord alone; þe prophetis forſoþe of Baal foure hundryd and fifti, and þe prophetis of mawmete wodis ben foure hundrid. Be þere ȝouen to vs two oxen; and cheſe þei oon oxe, and hewynge in gobetis þei ſhulen leye vpon trees, forſoþe fier vndurputen þei not; and Y ſhal make anoþir oxe, and putten vpon trees, and fier I ſhal not putte vndur. Inwardly clepe ȝe þe name of ȝowre goddis, and I ſhal inwardly clepe þe name of my God; and God þat heriþ bi þe fier, he be God. Al þe puple anſwerynge ſeiþ, Beſt þe propoſicioun, þat Helias ſpac. Þanne Helias ſeide to þe prophetis of Baal, Cheſiþ to ȝou an oxe, and doþ firſt, for ȝe ben moo; and inwardli clepiþ þe namys of ȝoure goddis, and puttiþ not vndir fier. Þe whiche whanne þei hadden take þe oxe, þat he ȝaf hem, þei diden, and inwardli clepiden þe name of Baal, fro erly vnto myddai, ſeiynge, Baal, here vs! And þere was not voys þat ſhulde anſwere; and þei ſkipten ouer þe auter, þat þei maden. And whanne now was myddai, Helye ſcornyde to hem, ſeiynge, Crieþ wiþ a more voys, forſoþe ȝoure god is, and perauenture wiþ anoþer he ſpekiþ, or in a turnynge in place, or in þe weye, or certis he ſlepiþ, þat he be wakid. Þanne þei crieden wiþ a greet voys, and þei cuttiden hem ſelf, after her rijt, wiþ ſheeris and litil launcis, to þe tyme þat þei weren alle beſhed wiþ blood. Forſoþe aftir þat mydday was paſſid, and hem propheciynge, þe tyme was comen, þe which is wont ſacrifice to be offrid, and vois is not herd, ne eny man anſwerde, ne took heed to þe praiynge. And Helye ſeide to al þe puple, Comeþ to me. And þe puple neiȝynge to hym, he curede þe auter of þe Lord, þat was deſtruyed. And he took twelue ſtonus, after þe noumbre of þe lynagis of þe ſonys of Jacob, to whom þe word of þe Lord is maad, ſeiynge, Yrael ſhal be þi name. And he beeldide vp an auter of ſtonus, in name of þe Lord, and he made a water cundid, as by two litil forwis in enuyroun of þe auter. And he putte togidre þe wode, and he deuydide bi membris þe oxe, and leide vpon þe wode, and ſeiþ, Filliþ foure ſtenys wiþ water, and heeldiþ vpon þe brent ſacrifice, and vpon þe wode. And eft he ſeide, Alſo þe ſecounde doþ þis. Þe which whanne þei hadden doo þe ſecounde, he ſeiþ, Alſo þe þridde þat ſame þing doþ; and þei diden þe þridde. And þe watris runnen aboute þe auter, and þe dijch of þe water cundid is fillid. And whanne now was tyme, þat brent ſacrifice ſhulde be offred, þe prophete Helias comynge nyȝ ſeiþ, Lord God of Abraham, and of Yſaac, and of Yrael, to day ſhew for þow art God of Yrael, and Y þi ſeruaunt, and after þin heeſt haue doon alle þes wordis. Here me, Lord; here me, Lord; þat þis puple lerne, for þou art Lord God, and þou haſt conuertid þe herte of hem eftſonys. Forſoþe þe fijr of þe Lord felle, and deuowride þe brent ſacrifice, and þe wode, and þe ſtonus, forſoþe þe powdre, and þe water þat was in þe water cundid lickynge. Þe which þing whanne al þe puple hadde ſeen, he felle in to his face, and ſeiþ, Þe Lord he is God; þe Lord he is God. And Helias ſeide to hem, Takiþ þe prophetys of Baal; ne oon forſoþe flee aweye of hem. Whom whanne þei hadden cauȝt, Helie ladde hem to þe ſtreem of Syſon, and ſlowȝ hem þere. And Helie ſeiþ to Achab, Sty vp, and eet, and drynk, for ſown of myche reyn is. Achab ſtiede up, þat he eete and drynke; Helyas forſoþe ſtyeȝede up into þe hil of Carmel, and bowede into þe erþe, putte his face betwixe his knees. And he ſeide to hys child, Stye vp, and behold aȝens þe ſee. Þe whiche whanne he hadde ſtyed vp, and lokid, ſeiþ, Þer is no þing. And eft he ſeiþ to hym, Turn aȝen ſeuen ſiþis. Forſoþe in þe ſeuenþe ſijþ, loo! a litil clowde as þe ſtep of a man ſtiede vp fro þe ſee. Þe which ſeiþ, Sty vp, and ſey to Achab, Ioyn þi chare, and cum down, leſt reyn before ocupye þee. And whanne þei hadden turned hem ſelf hidir and þidir, loo! heuenes ben derkid, and clowde, and wynde, and þere is maad a greet reyn. And ſo Achab ſtiynge vp wente into Jezrael; and þe hoond of þe Lord was vpon Helias, and þe reynys gird, he ranne before Achab, to þe tyme þat he cam into Jezrael.

## Capitulum XIX.

Achab forſoþe toolde to Jezabel alle þingis þat Helias hadde doon, and what maner wiſe he hadde ſlayn alle þe prophetis of Baal bi ſwerd. And Jezabel ſente a meſſager to Helias, ſeiynge, Þes þingis doon to me goddis, and þes adden, but þis our to morwe I ſhal putte þi lijf as þe lijf of oon of hem. Þanne Helias dradde, and riſynge wente whidir euer þe wil bare hym; and he cam into Berſabe of Juda, and lafte his child þere; and wente into deſert, þe weye of o day. And whanne he was comen, and ſatte vndir an yue tree, he aſkide to his ſoule, þat he die; and ſeiþ, Lord, it ſuffiſiþ to me, tak awey my lijf; forſoþe ne I am betere þan my faders. And he þrewe hym ſelf doun, and ſlepte in þe ſhadew of þe yue tree. And loo! þe aungel of þe Lord touchide hym, and ſeide to hym, Rijs, and eet. He biheelde, and loo! at his heed a loof bakyn vndur aſſhen, and a veſſel of water. Þanne he ete, and drank, and eft he ſlepte. And þe aungel of þe Lord is turned aȝen þe ſecounde, and touchide hym; and he ſeide to hym, Rijs, and eet; forſoþe a greet weye falliþ to þee. Þe which whanne he hadde ryſen, ete, and drank; and he wente in þe ſtrengþ of þat meete fourti days and fourti nyȝtis, vnto þe hil of God, Oreb. And whanne he was comen þidir, he dwellide in þe denne; and loo! þe word of þe Lord to hym, and ſeide to hym, What doſt þow here, Helyas? And he anſwerde, Bi loue I haue loued, for þe Lord God of ooſtis; for þe ſonys of Yrael han forſaken þe couenaunt of þe Lord; þin auters þei han diſtruyed, and þi prophetis þei han ſlayn bi ſwerd; and I am laft alone, and þei ſechen my lijf, þat þei doon it aweye. And he ſeiþ to hym, Go out, and ſtoond in þe hil, before þe Lord. And loo! þe Lord paſſiþ, and a greet wynde, and a ſtroong, and turnynge vpſedoun hillis, and togidre brooſynge ſtonus before þe Lord; not in þe wynde þe Lord. Alſo after þe wynde quauynge; not in þe quauyng þe Lord. And aftir þe quauynge fijr; not in þe fier þe Lord. And after þe fier whiſtlynge of a þinne blaſt; þere þe Lord. Þe which þing whanne Helias hadde herd, he couerde his cheer wiþ a mantil, and goon out, he ſtode in þe dore of þe denne. And a vois ſeiþ to hym, ſeiynge, What doſt þou here, Helias? And he anſwerde, Bi loue I haue loued, for þe Lord God of ooſtis; for þe ſonys of Yrael han forſakyn þi couenaunt; þin auters þei han diſtruyed, and þi prophetis þei han ſlayn wiþ ſwerd; and Y am lafte alone, and þei ſechen my lijf, þat þei don it awey. And þe Lord ſeiþ to hym, Go, and turn aȝen in to þi weye, bi deſeert, into Damaſch; and whanne þou comeſt þidre, þow ſhalt anoynte Azael kyng vpon Syrye; and Hieu, þe ſone of Nampſy, þou ſhalt anoynt kyng vpon Yrael; Heliſee forſoþe, þe ſone of Saphat, þat is of Abel Mewla, þow ſhalt anoynte prophete for þee. And it ſhal be, who ſo euere fleeþ þe ſwerd of Azael, Hyeu ſhal ſle hym; and who ſo euere ſhal flee þe ſwerd of Hieu, Heliſee ſhal ſlee hym. And I ſhal leeue to me in Yrael ſeuen þouſand of men, of whom þe knees ben not bowid before Baal, and al mouþ þat haþ not honourde hym, kyſſynge þe hoond. Þanne Helias goon forþ þens, foonde Heliſee, þe ſone of Saphaþ, erynge in twelue ȝockis of oxen; and he in þe twelue ȝockis of oxen erynge was oon. And whanne Helias was comen to hym, he putte his mantil vpon him. Þe which anoon, þe oxen laft, ranne aftir Helias, and ſeiþ, Kyſſe Y, I preye þee, my fader and my moder, and ſo I ſhal folwe þee. And he ſeide to hym, Go, and turn aȝen; forſoþe þat þat was myn I haue doon to þee. And turned aȝen forſoþe fro hym, he took a peyr oxen, and ſlewȝ it; and in þe plowȝ of oxen he ſeþide fleſh, and ȝaf to þe puple, and þei eten; and ryſynge he wente, and folwide Helyas, and ſeruede to hym.

## Capitulum XX.

Benadab forſoþe, kyng of Cyrye, gederide al his ooſt, and two and þretti kyngis wiþ him, and hors, and charris; and ſtiynge vp aȝens Samarye fauȝt, and beſegide it. And ſendynge meſſageris to Achab, kyng of Yrael, in to þe citee, ſeiþ, Þes þingis ſeiþ Benadab, Þi ſiluer and þi gold is myyn, and þi wyues, and þi ſones alþerbeſt ben myyn. And þe kyng of Irael anſwerde, Aftir þi word, my lord kyng, I am þin, and alle miyn. And þe meſſagers turnynge aȝen ſeiden, Þes þingis ſeiþ Benadab, þat ſente vs to þee, Þi ſiluer, and þi gold, and þi wyues, and þi ſonys þou ſhalt ȝyue to me. To morwe þanne, þis ſame hour, I ſhal ſende my ſeruauntis to þee, and þei ſhulen aſerchen þin hows, and þe hows of þi ſeruauntis; and al þing þat to hem ſhal pleſe, þei ſhulen putte in her hoondis, and taken aweye. Þe kyng of Yrael forſoþe clepide alle þe eldrys of þe loond, and ſeiþ, Takiþ hede, and ſeeþ, for he aſpieþ to vs; forſoþe he ſente to me for my wyues, and ſonys, and for ſiluer, and gold, and I forſooke not. And alle þe more þurȝ birþ ſeiden, and al þe puple to hym, Here þou not, ne aſſent þou to hym. And he anſwerde to þe meſſageris of Benadab, Seiþ to my lord þe kyng, Alle þingis for þe whiche þou haſt ſent to me, þi ſeruaunt, in þe bigynnynge I ſhal do; forſoþe þis þing I may not doo. And þe meſſagers turned aȝen, tolden alle þingis to hym. Þe which ſente aȝen, and ſeiþ, Þes þingis doon to me goddis, and þes þingis adden þei, if þe powdre of Samarye ſuffiſiþ to þe handfulles of al þe puple þat folwiþ me. And anſwerynge þe kyng of Yrael ſeiþ, Seiþ to hym, Ne glorye euenly þe gird as þe vngird. It is doo forſoþe, whanne Benadab hadde herd þis word, he drank, and þe kyngis, in hiletis; and he ſeiþ to his ſeruauntis, Enuyrouniþ þe citee. And þei enuyrounden it. And loo! a prophet comynge nyȝ to Achab, kyng of Yrael, ſeiþ to hym, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Certis þow haſt ſeen al þis multitude ful myche; loo! I ſhal take it into þin hoond to day, þat þow wite for I am a Lord. And Achab ſeiþ, Bi whom? And he ſeide to hym, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, Bi þe foot folowers of þe pryncis of prouyncis. And he ſeiþ, Who ſhal bigynne to fiȝte. And he ſeide, Þow. Þanne he noumbride þe children of þe princis of prouyncis, and he founde þe noumbre of two hundryd and two and þretti; and he toolde after hem þe puple, alle þe ſones of Yrael, ſeuen þouſand. And þei wenten out at mydday. Benadab forſoþe drank drunken in his hilet, and kyngis two and þretti wiþ hym, þe whiche weren comen to þe help of hym. Forſoþe þe children of þe princis of prouyncis ben goon out in þe firſt frount. And ſo Benadab ſente, þe which toolden to hym, ſeiynge, Men ben goon out fro Samarye. And he ſeiþ, Wheþer for pees þei comen, nymmeþ hem on lyue; wheþir þat þei fiȝten, takiþ hem on lyue. Þanne þe children of þe pryncis of prouyncis wenten out, and þe toþer ooſt folwide; and echon ſmoot þe man þat aȝens hym cam. And Cyris floowen, and Irael purſuede hem; Benadab forſoþe, kyng of Cyrye, fleiȝ in hors wiþ his horſmen. Alſo þe kyng of Irael goon out ſmoot hors and chaarys, and ſmoot Cyrye wiþ a ful mych greet veniaunce. Forſoþe a prophete neiȝynge to þe kyng of Irael, ſeide to hym, Go, and tak coumfort, and wite, and ſe, what þow doſt; forſoþe þe ȝeer folowynge þe kyng of Cyrye ſhal ſteyȝe vp aȝens þee. Þe ſeruauntis forſoþe of þe kyng of Cyrye ſeiden to hym, Þe Goddis of hillis ben þe Goddis of hem, þerfor þei han ouercomen vs; but betere it is þat we fiȝten aȝens hem in þe wijlde feeldis, and we ſhulen weelde hem. Þow þanne do þis word; remeue alle þe kyngis fro þin ooſt, and put princis for hem; and reſtore þe noumbre of knyȝtis, þat fellen of þin, and þe hors aftir þe hors before hadde, and þe chaaris after þe chaarys þat þou haddiſt before; and we ſhulen fiȝte aȝens hem in þe wilde feeldis, and þou ſhalt ſeen, þat we ſhulen weelde hem. He trowide to þe counſeil of hem, and dide ſo. Þanne after þat ȝeer was paſſid, Benadab noumbride Cyros, and ſtieȝede vp in to Affeþ, þat he fiȝte aȝens Yrael. Forſoþe þe ſones of Yrael ben noumbrid; and metis takyn, wenten forþ euen aȝens, and þei ſetten tentis aȝens hem, as two litil flockis of geet. Ciries forſoþe fulfilliden þe erþe. And neiȝynge oo man of God ſeide to þe kyng of Yrael, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, For Cyries ſeiden, God of hillis is þe Lord of hem, and he is not God of valeys, I ſhal ȝyue al þis greet multitude in þin hoond, and ȝe ſhulen wite for I am a Lord. Dreſſeden ſeuen days forn aȝens þes and þei ſheltruns; forſoþe þe ſeuenþe day þe batail is doon, and þe ſones of Yrael ſmyten of Cyryes an hundrid þouſand of foot men in o day. Forſoþe þo þat laften flowen in to Affeþ into þe citee, and þe wal felle vpon ſeuen and twenti þouſand of men þat laften. Forſoþe Benadab fleynge wente in to þe citee, into þe cowch þat was beſide þe bed place; and his ſeruauntis ſeiden to hym, Loo! we han herd þat þe kyngis of þe hous of Yrael ben mercyable, and ſo putte we ſackis in oure reens, and litil coordis in oure heedis, and goo we out to þe kyng of Yrael; perauenture he ſhal ſaue oure lyues. Þei girdeden her reenes wiþ ſackis, and puttiden litil coordis in her heedis, and þei camen to þe kyng of Yrael, and ſeiden to hym, Þi ſeruaunt Benadab ſeiþ, I preye þee, lyue my lijf. And he ſeiþ, If ȝit he lyue, my broþer he is. Þe which þe men token for þe happi good word, and haſtily þei rauyſhiden þe word of his mouþ, and ſeiden, Þi broþir Benadab lyueþ. And he ſeide to hem, Goþ, and bryngiþ hym to me. Þanne Benadab wente out to hym, and he reryde hym into his chaare. Þe which ſeide to hym, Þe citees þat my fader took fro þi fader I ſhal ȝeeld, and ſtreetis make to þee in Damaſk, as my fader made in Samarye; and I boundun to pees ſhal goo aweye fro þee. Þanne he couenauntide a boond of pees, and lafte hym. Þanne a maner man of þe ſones of prophetis ſeide to his felawe, in þe word of þe Lord, Smyit me. And he wolde not ſmyte. To whom he ſeiþ, For þow woldiſt not here þe voys of þe Lord, loo! þou ſhalt goon a weye fro me, and a lioun ſhal ſmyte þee. And whanne he was goon a weye a litil fro hym, a lioun foond hym, and ſmoot hym. But and anoþer man fyndynge he ſeide to hym, Smyit me. Þe which ſmoot hym, and woundide. Þanne þe prophete wente, and aȝen cam to þe kyng in þe weye; and he chaungide, bi ſprengynge of powdre, þe mouþ and his eyen. And whanne þe king was paſſid, he criede to þe kyng, and ſeiþ, Þi ſeruaunt wente out fro nyȝ to fiȝte, and whanne o man was flowen, a maner man brouȝte hym to me, and ſeiþ, Keep þis man; þe which if were ſlyden a weye, þi lijf ſhal be for þe lijf of hym, or a talent of ſiluer þou ſhalt ȝeelde. Forſoþe while Y diſturblid hidir and þidyr turnede me, feerly he aperide not. And þe kyng of Yrael ſeiþ to hym, þis is þi dome þat þi ſelf haſt demyd. And he anoon wipide aweye þe powdre fro his face, and þe kyng of Irael knewe him, þat he was of þe prophetis. Þe whiche ſeiþ to hym, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, For þou haſt laft a man worþi þe deeþ fro þin hoond, þi lijf ſhal be for þe lijf of hym, and þi puple for his puple. Þanne þe kyng of Irael turnede aȝen in to his hows, diſpiſynge to here, and ful of woodnes cam in to Samarie.

## Capitulum XXI.

Aftir þes wordis forſoþe, in þat tyme, þere was a vyn to Naboþ Jezraelite, þat was in Jezrael, biſide þe paleys of Achab, kyng of Samarye. Þanne ſpak Achab to Naboþ, ſeiynge, Ȝif to me þi vyn ȝerd, þat I make to me a wort ȝerd, for it is niȝ, and biſide myn hows; and I ſhal ȝyue to þee for it a betere vyn ȝerd; or if more profitable þow wenyſt to þee, of ſiluer þe prijs as myche as it is worþ, I ſhal ȝeue. To whom anſwerde Naboþ, Merciful be to me þe Lord, þat I ȝyue not þe heritage of my fadres to þee. Þanne Achab cam into his hows, endeynynge, and grutchynge vpon þe word þat Naboþ Jezraelite hadde ſpoken to hym, ſeiynge, I ſhal not ȝyue to þee þe heritage of my faders; and þrowynge hym ſelf into his bed turnede a weye his face to þe wal, and eete not breed. Forſoþe Jezabel, his wijf, wente into hym, and ſeide to hym, What is þat, wherof þi ſoule is drery? and whi etiſt þou not breed? Þe which anſwerde to hire, I ſpak to Naboþ Jezraelite, and ſeide to hym, Ȝif to me þi vyn ȝerd, þe monee takyn, or if to þee it pleſe, I ſhal ȝyue to þee a betere vyn ȝerd for it. And he ſeiþ, I ſhal not ȝyue to þee my vyn ȝerd. Þanne Jeſabel, his wijf, ſeide to hym, Of greet autoryte þou art, and wel þou gouernyſt þe rewme of Yrael; rijs, and eet breed, and in euen ynwit be þow; I ſhal ȝyue to þee þe vyn ȝerd of Naboþ Jezraelite. And ſo ſhe wroot lettris of þe name of Achab, and ſignede hem wiþ his rynge; and ſente to þe more þurȝ birþ, and to þe beſt, þat weren in his cytee, þat dwelliden wiþ Naboþ. Of þe lettris forſoþe þis was þe ſentence; Preche ȝe faſtynge, and makiþ Naboþ to ſitte among þe firſt of þe puple; and vndirleye ȝee two men, ſonys of Belial, aȝens hym, and fals witnes ſeye þei, Naboþ haþ bleſſid God and þe kyng; and lediþ hym out, and ſtoniþ, and ſo dye he. Þanne his citeſeens more þurȝ birþ, and þe beſt þat dwelliden wiþ hym in þe citee, diden as Jeſabel hadde comaundid to hem, and as it was writen in þe lettris, þat ſhe ſente to hem. Þei prechiden faſtynge, and maden Naboþ to ſitte among þe firſt of þe puple; and two men brouȝten forþ, ſonys of þe deuel, þei maden hem to ſitte aȝens hym, and þei, þat is, as deuels men, ſeiden aȝens hym witnes before al þe multitude, Naboþ bleſſide God and þe kyng; for what þing þei ledden hym out of þe citee, and wiþ ſtonus ſlowen. And þei ſenten to Jeſabel, ſeiynge, Naboþ is ſtoned, and is deed. It is doo forſoþe, whanne Jeſabel hadde herd Naboþ ſtoned and deed, ſhe ſpak to Achab, Rijs, weeld þe vyn ȝerd of Naboþ Jezraelite, þat wold not to þee aſſente, and ȝyue it, þe monee taken; forſoþe Naboþ lyueþ not, but he is deed. Þe which þing whanne Achab hadde herd, þat Naboþ is deed, he roos, and cam doun into þe vyn ȝerd of Naboþ Jezraelite, þat he weelde it. Þanne þe word of þe Lord is doon to Helias Theſbites, ſeiynge, Rijs, and come down into aȝen comynge to Achab, kyng of Irael, þat is in Samarye; loo! to þe vyn ȝerd of Naboþ he deſſendide, þat he weelde it. And þou ſhalt ſpeke to hym, ſeiynge, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Þow haſt ſlayn, and furþermore þou haſt weeldid; and after þes þingis þow ſhalt adde, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, In þis place, in þe which houndis lickiden þe blood of Naboþ, ſhulen lick and þi blood. And Achab ſeiþ to Helyas, Wheþer þow haſt foundun me þin enemy? Þe which ſeide, I haue founden, forþi þat þou be ſolde þat þou doo yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord. Þerfor þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, Loo! I ſhal brynge yn yuel vpon þee, and I ſhal hewe of þin hyndirmoris, and ſlee fro Achab a piſſer to þe wal, and þe cloſid, and þe laſt in Irael; and I ſhal ȝyue þin hows as þe hows of Jeroboam, þe ſone of Nabaþ, and as þe hows of Baaſa, þe ſone of Achia; for þou haſt doon þat þou terre me to wraþ, and þou haſt maad Irael to ſynne. But and of Jeſabel þe Lord haþ ſpokyn, ſeiynge, Houndis ſhulen eete Jezabel in þe feelde of Jezrael; if Achab were deed in þe citee, houndis ſhulen ete hym; forſoþe if he were deed in þe feelde, foulis of heuene ſhulen ete hym. Þerfor þere was non oþer ſiche as Achab, þat is ſold þat he do yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord; forſoþe Jezabel, his wijf, ſtiryde hym; and abomynable is maad, inſomiche þat he folwide þe mawmettis þat Amorreis maden, whom þe Lord deſtruyde fro þe face of þe ſonis of Yrael. And ſo whanne Achab hadde herd þes wordis, he kitte his clooþ, and couerde his fleſh wiþ an heire, and he faſtide, and ſlepte in a ſak, and wente, þe heed leyd doun. And þe word of þe Lord is maad to Helye Theſbite, ſeiynge, Wheþer haſt þou not ſeen Achab mekyd before me? Þanne for he is mekid bi cheſoun of me, I ſhal not brynge yn þe yuel in þe days of hym, but in þe dais of his ſone I ſhal brynge yn þe yuel to þe hows of hym.

## Capitulum XXII.

Three ȝeer þanne paſſiden ouer wiþ outen batail bitwixe Cirye and Irael. Forſoþe in þe þridde ȝeer Joſaphat, kyng of Juda, cam doun to þe kyng of Irael. And þe kyng of Irael ſeyde to his ſeruauntis, Vnknowe ȝe, þat Ramoþ Galaad is oure, and we ben negligent to take it fro þe hoond of þe kyng of Cyrye? And he ſeiþ to Joſaphaþ, Shalt þou not come wiþ me to fiȝt in Ramoþ Galaad? And Joſaphaþ ſeide to þe kyng of Irael, As Y am, ſo and þow; my puple and þi puple ben oon, and mi horſmen and þi horſmen. And Joſaphaþ ſeide to þe kyng of Irael, Seche, I praye þee, þe word of þe Lord to day. Þanne þe kyng of Irael gaderide þe prophetis about foure hundrid men, and ſeiþ to hem, Shal I goo into Ramoþ Galaad to fiȝte, or reſte? Þe whiche anſwerden, Sty vp, and þe Lord ſhal ȝeue it in þe hoond of þe kyng. Joſaphaþ forſoþe ſeide, Is þere not here eny man a prophete of þe Lord, þat we aſken bi hym? And þe kyng of Irael ſeiþ to Joſaphat, Þere is laft o man, bi þe which we mowen aſke þe Lord; but and I haue hatid hym, for he propheſieþ not to me good, but yuel, Mycheas, þe ſone of Hyemla. To whom Joſaphaþ ſeiþ, Spek þou not ſo, kyng. Þanne þe kyng of Irael clepide a maner geldyng, and ſeide to hym, Hy to brynge to Mychie, þe ſone of Hyemla. Þe kyng of Irael forſoþe, and Joſaphaþ, kyng of Juda, ſeeten, echon in her ſee, cloþid wiþ kyngis ournynge, in þe corn floore biſide þe dore of þe ȝaat of Samarie; and alle þe prophetis prophecieden in þe ſiȝt of hem. Forſoþe Sedechias, þe ſone of Chanaan, maade to hym yren horns, and ſeiþ, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God, Wiþ þes þou ſhalt wyndowe Cyrye, to þe tyme þat þou doo it a weye. And alle þe prophetis lijc maner prophecieden, ſeiynge, Sty vp into Ramoþ Galaad, and goo welſumli; þe Lord ſhal take in þe hoond of þe kyng þin enemyes. Þe meſſager forſoþe, þat was goon for to clepe Mychie, ſpak to hym, ſeiynge, Loo! þe wordis of þe prophetis wiþ oon mouþ to þe kyng good þinges prechen; þanne be þi word lijc of hem, and ſpeke good þingis. To whom Mychie ſeiþ, Þe Lord lyueþ, for what euer þing þe Lord ſeye to me, þat I ſhal ſpeke. And ſo he cam to þe kyng. And þe kyng ſeiþ to hym, Mychie, ſhulen we goo in to Ramoþ Galaad to fiȝte, or ceeſe? To whom he anſwerde, Sty, and go welſumli; and þe Lord ſhal take it in þe hoond of þe kyng. Forſoþe þe kyng ſeide to hym, Eft and eft I adiure þee, þat þou ſpeke not to me, but þat is ſoþ in name of þe Lord. And he ſeiþ, I ſawȝ al Irael to ſcaterde in hillis, as ſheep not hauynge ſheepherd; and þe Lord ſeiþ, Þes han not a lord, echon turn aȝen into his hows in pees. Þanne þe kyng of Irael ſeide to Joſaphat, Wheþer I ſeide noȝt to þee, for he prophecyede not to me good, but euermore euyl? Forſoþe he addynge ſeiþ, Þerfor here þe word of þe Lord; I ſawȝ þe Lord vpon his ſee ſittynge, and al þe ooſt of heuene ſtondynge neeȝ to hym, fro þe riȝt and fro þe left. And þe Lord ſeiþ, Who ſhal deſſeyue Achab, kyng of Yrael, þat he ſtie vp, and falle in Ramoþ Galaad? And oon ſeide ſiche maner wordis, and anoþer oþerwiſe. Forſoþe a ſpirit wente out, and ſtood before þe Lord, and ſeiþ, I ſhal deſſeyue hym. To whom þe Lord ſpak, In what? And he ſeiþ, I ſhal goon out, and I ſhal be a ſpirit leeȝer in þe mouþ of alle þe prophetis of hym. And þe Lord ſeide, Þou ſhalt deſſeyue, and haue þe ouerhoond; go out, and do ſo. Now þanne, loo! þe Lord haþ ȝeuen a ſpirit of leſynge in þe mouþ of alle þi prophetis þat here ben; and þe Lord ſpak aȝens þee yuel. Forſoþe Sedechias, þe ſone of Chanaan, cam nyȝ, and ſmoot Mychie in to þe cheeke, and ſeiþ, Wheþir þanne þe Spirite of þe Lord haþ laft me, and ſpoken to þee? And Mychie ſeiþ, Þou art to ſeen in þat day, whanne þou ſhalt goon into þe bed place wiþ ynne þe bedde, þat þou be hidde. And þe kyng of Irael ſeiþ, Takiþ Mychie, and dwel he anentis Amon, þe prynce of þe citee, and anentis Joas, þe ſone of Amalech; and ſeiþ to hem, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe kyng, Puttiþ þis man into priſoun, and ſuſteyneþ hym wiþ breed of tribulacioun, and wiþ water of angwiſhe, to þe tyme þat I turne aȝen in pees. And Mychie ſeide, If þow turne aȝen in pees, þe Lord haþ not ſpoken in me. And he ſeiþ, Here ȝe, alle puplis. And ſo þe kyng of Irael ſtieþ vp, and Joſaphaþ, kyng of Juda, into Ramoþ Galaad. And ſo þe king of Yrael ſeide to Joſaphaþ, Tak aarmys, and goo into batail, and be þou cloþid wiþ þi cloþis. But þe kyng of Irael chaungide his habite, and wente into batayl. Þe kyng forſoþe of Cirye comaundide to þe princis of þe chaaris, two and þretti, ſeiynge, Ȝe ſhulen not fiȝte aȝens þe laſſe, and aȝens any more, but oonli aȝens þe kyng of Irael. Whanne þanne þe pryncis hadden ſeen þe chaar of Joſaphaþ, þei ouertroweden þat he hadde ben kyng of Irael, and þe birre maad þei fouȝten aȝens hym. And Joſaphaþ cried out; and þe princis of þe charis vndirſtoden, þat it was not þe kyng of Irael, and þei ceſeden fro hym. A maner man bente a boowe, into vncerteyn dreſſynge an arowe, and bi hap he ſmoot þe kyng of Irael bytwixe þe lunge and þe ſtomak. And he ſeide to hys charyeter, Turn þin hond, and caſt out me fro þe ooſt, for greuouſli Y am woundid. Þanne þe batail is don in þat dai, and þe kyng of Irael ſtood in his chaar aȝens Cyryes, and is deed at euen. Forſoþe þe blood of þe wound flowide in to þe boſum of þe chaar. And þe bedel fulſouned in al þe ooſt, before þe ſunne wente doun, ſeiynge, Echon turne aȝen into þe citee, and into his loond. Þe kyng forſoþe is deed, and is born into Samarye; and þei biryeden þe kyng in Samarie. And þei waſſhen his chaar in þe fiſh poond of Samarye, and houndis lickeden his blood, and þei lickeden þe bridils, after þe word of þe Lord þat was ſpokyn. Þe remnaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Achab, and al þat he dide, and þe yuer hows þat he beeldide, and of al þe citees þat he made vp, wheþer not þes ben wryten in þe book of þe wordis of þe days of þe kyngis of Yrael? Þanne Achab ſlept wiþ his faders, and Ochozias, his ſone, regnede for hym. Joſaphat forſoþe, þe ſone of Aſa, began to regne vpon Juda, þe ferþ ȝeer of Achab, kyng of Yrael. Of fyue and þretti ȝeer he was, whanne he began to regne, and fyue and twenti ȝeer he regnede in Jeruſalem; þe name of his moder Azuba, þe douȝter of Salai. And he wente in al þe weye of Aſa, his fader, and he bowide not aſide fro it; and he dide þat is riȝt in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord. Neuerþelater þe heiȝe þingis he dyde not a weye, ȝit forſoþe þe puple ſacrifiede, and brente encenſe in heȝtis. And Joſaphaþ hadde pees wiþ þe kyng of Irael. Þe remnaunt forſoþe of þe wordis of Joſaphaþ, and his werkis þat he dide, and batails, wheþer not þes ben wryten in þe book of þe wordis of þe days of þe kyngis of Juda? But and þe relikis of þe wommannyſh maad men, þat laften in days of Aſa, his fader, he dide aweye fro þe loond. And þere was not þanne a kyng ordeynyd in Edom. Forſoþe kyng Joſaphaþ made nauees in þe ſee, þe whiche ſaileden in to Oofer for gold, and þei myȝten not goon, for þei ben broken in Aziongober. Þanne Ochozias, þe ſone of Achab, ſeiþ to Joſaphaþ, My ſeruauntis goon wiþ þi ſeruauntis in ſhippis. And Joſaphat wold not. And Joſaphaþ ſlepte wiþ his faders, and is biried wiþ hem in þe citee of Dauid, his fader; and Joram, hys ſone, regnede for hym. Forſoþe Ochozias, þe ſone of Achab, began to regne vpon Yrael, in Samarye, þe ſeuentynþe ȝeer of Joſaphaþ, kyng of Juda; and he regnede vpon Yrael two ȝeer. And he dide yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and he wente in þe weye of his fader, and of his moder, and in þe weye of Jeroboam, ſone of Nabaþ, þat made Irael to ſynne. Forſoþe he ſeruede to Baal, and honourde hym, and he terrede þe Lord God of Irael, aftir alle þingis þat his fader dide.
Here eendiþ þe þridde book of Kyngis, and now bigynneþ þe fourþe.