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¹ Forsothe Baldach Suythes answeride, and seide,² `Til to what ende schalt thou booste with wordis? Vndurstonde thou first, and so speke we.<sup>3</sup> Whi ben we arettid as beestis, and han we be foule bifor thee?<sup>4</sup> What leesist thou thi soule in thi woodnes? Whether the erthe schal be forsakun `for thee, and hard stoonys schulen be borun ouer fro her place?

⁵ Whethir the liyt of a wickid man schal not be quenchid; and the flawme of his fier schal not schyne?⁶ Liyt schal wexe derke in his tabernacle; and the lanterne, which is on hym, schal be quenchid.⁷ The steppis of his vertu schulen be maad streit; and his counsel schal caste hym doun.⁸ For he hath sent hise feet in to a net; and he goith in the meschis therof.⁹ His foot schal be holdun with a snare; and thirst schal brenne out ayens hym.¹⁰ The foot trappe of hym is hid in the erthe, and his snare on the path.

¹¹ Dredis schulen make hym aferd on ech side, and schulen biwlappe hise feet.¹² His strengthe be maad feble bi hungur; and pouert asaile hise ribbis.¹³ Deuoure it the fairnesse of his skyn; the firste gendrid deth waste hise armes.¹⁴ His trist be takun awei fro his tabernacle; and perischyng, as a kyng, aboue trede on hym.¹⁵ The felowis of hym that is not, dwelle in his tabernacle; brymston be spreynt in his tabernacle.¹⁶ The rootis of hym be maad drie bynethe; sotheli his ripe corn be al to-brokun aboue.¹⁷ His mynde perische fro the erthe; and his name be not maad solempne in stretis.¹⁸ He schal put hym out fro `liyt in to derknessis; and he schal bere hym ouer fro the world.¹⁹ Nethir his seed nether kynrede schal be in his puple, nether ony relifs in hise cuntreis.²⁰ The laste men schulen wondre in hise daies; and hidousnesse schal asaile the firste men.²¹ Therfor these ben the tabernaclis of a wickid man; and this is the place of hym, that knowith not God.