XLVIII.
[1]
Heres þese, alle genge; with eres bi-se
Alle þat erden werld, in to be;
2
Whilk and erthelike, mennes sones ilkon,
Poure and riche samen on-on.
3
Mi mouth sal speke wisedome on heght,
And thoght of mi hert, sleght.
4
I sal helde mine ere in forbiseninge;
I sal open in sauter mi forsettinge.—
5
Whi sal .I. drede in iuel dai?
Wiknes of mi helespor sal vmgiue me ai.
6
Þat traiste in þaire mighte and in mikelhed
Of þaire welthes mirþen, to mede
7
Brothre sal noght bie, man bie sal al?
Noght gif his queming to god he sal,
8
And worth of againbijnge of his saule to wende;
And he sal swinke in ai, and yhit life in ende.
9
Noght sal he se forworth in land,
When he has seen wise diand;
Samen þe vnwis als-swa
With þe fole forworth sal þa.
10
And leue til outen þair welthes sal þai,
And þair graue þaire hous sal be in ai.
11
In kinde and kinde teldes of þa!
Þai kalled þaire names in þair landes swa.
12
Man, in worschipe when he was broght,
He ne vndrestode ite noght;
Til vnwise meres euenmete es he,
And made to þaim like for to be.
13
Þis þaire wai schame to þam alle;
And after, in þaire mouth queme þai sal.
14
Als schepe in helle set ere þai;
Dede fedes þam night and dai.
15
And lauerd of þas forbi alle thinge
Sal be rightwis in morneinge;
And þe helpe sal elde of þa
In helle alle þaire blisse fra.
16
Bot god mi saule bi sal he
Fra hand of helle, when he tas me.
17
Ne drede þou when riche made man is,
And felefalded of his hous es blis;
18
For, when he sterues, take sal he noghte alle,
Ne with him his blis lightdoune salle.
19
For his saule in his life sal blissed be;
When þou has gode done him schriue sal he to þe:
20
Inga intil kinde of his fadres sal he,
And til in ai lighte sal he noght se.
21
Man, in worschipe when he was broghte,
He ne vndrestode it noghte;
And til vnwis meres euenmet es he,
And made to þam like for to be.
