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The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,

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Title
The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,
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Oxford,: University press,
1850.
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"The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/AFZ9170.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 7, 2024.

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EPHESIANS.

Here bigynneth the prologe to Effeseies.

EPHECYES sothli ben Asyanys; and thes the word of treuthe takun, stooden stedefast in the bileue. Thes preisith the apostle, writynge to hem fro Rome cite out of prisoun, by Tyte, a dekene.

Here eendith the prologe, and bygynneth the Epistel to Ephesies.

CAP. I.

[verse 1] Poul, apostle of Crist, by the will of God, to alle hooly men `that ben at Ephecy [verse 2] and feithful in Crist Jhesu, grace to ȝou and pees of God, oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. [verse 3] `Blessid be God and the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, that blesside vs in al spiritual blessinge in [verse 4] heuenli thingis in Crist, as he chees vs in him bifore the makyng of the world, that

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we schulden be hooli, and with oute wemme, `or vndefoulid, in his siȝt, in charite. [verse 5] The which bifore ordeynede vs into the adopcioun of sones by Jhesu Crist into him, vp the purpos of his [verse 6] will, into heriynge of the glorie of his [verse 7] grace; in the which he made vs able to his grace, `or made dereworthe, in his dereworthe sone. In whom we han aȝen byinge by his blood, and remissioun of [verse 8] synnes, vp the richessis of his grace, that haboundide greetly in vs in all wysdom [verse 9] and prudence, that he schulde make the sacrament of his will knowen to vs, vp the good plesaunce of him, that he pur|poside [verse 10] in him in the dispensacioun of plente of tymes for to instore alle thingis in Crist, the whiche ben in heuenes and in erthe, in him. [verse 11] In whom also and we by sorte, or grace, ben clepid, bifore ordeyned vp the purpos of him that worchith alle thingis vp the counceil of [verse 12] his will; that we be into the heryinge of his glorie, `we that bifore hopiden in Crist. [verse 13] In whom and ȝe, whanne ȝe had|den herd the word of treuthe, resceyu|eden the gospel of ȝoure heelthe, in which and ȝe bileuynge ben markid with [verse 14] the Hooly Gost of biheeste, that is `a wed, or eernes, of ȝoure heritage, into the redempcioun of purchasinge, into heryinge of his glorie. [verse 15] Therfore and I heeringe ȝoure feith, that is in Crist Jhesu, [verse 16] and louynge into alle seyntis, ceesse not doynge thankyngis for ȝou, makynge [verse 17] mynde of ȝou in my preieris; that God of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, fadir of glorie, ȝyue to ȝou the spirit of wysdom and of reuelacioun, into the knowynge of him; [verse 18] the yȝen of ȝoure herte inliȝtened, that ȝe wite, which is the hope of his clepinge,

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and whiche the richessis of the glorie [verse 19] of his heritage in seyntis; and which is the ouersemynge greetnesse of his vertu into vs that han bileuyd, vp the worch|inge [verse 20] of the myȝt of his vertu, the which he wrouȝte in Crist, reysinge him fro deed men, and settinge on his riȝthalf in [verse 21] heuenly thingis, aboue ech principat, `or power of princes, and potestate, and vertu, and lordschiping, and ech name that is named, not oonly in this world, [verse 22] but in the world to come; and made alle thingis suget vndir his feet, and ȝaf [verse 23] him heed vpon al `the chirche, that is the bodi of him, and the plente of him, the which alle thingis in alle thingis is fulfillid.

CAP. II.

[verse 1] And whanne ȝe weren deede in ȝoure [verse 2] giltis and synnes, in which ȝe wandreden sum tyme vp the space, `or lastinge, of this world, vp the prince of the power of this eir, of the spirit that worchith now in to the sones of vntrust, `or vnbileue; [verse 3] in `the which we alle lyueden sum tyme in desyris of oure fleisch, doynge the wille of fleisch and thouȝtis, and we weren by kynde the sones of wraththe, as [verse 4] and othere; forsoth God, that is riche in mercy, for his ful moche charite in [verse 5] which he louede vs, and whanne we weren deede in synnes, quykenede vs to gidere in Crist, by whos grace ȝe ben [verse 6] sauyd, and to gidere aȝen reyside, and to gidere made to sitte in heuenly thingis [verse 7] in Crist Jhesu; that he schulde schewe in the worldis comynge ouer the plenteuouse richessis of his grace in goodnesse vpon vs in Crist Jhesu. [verse 8] Forsothe by grace ȝe ben saued bi feith, and not of ȝou;

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[verse 9] sothli it is the ȝifte of God, not of werkis, that no man glorie. [verse 10] Forsoth we ben the makinge of hym, maad of noȝt in Crist Jhesu, in good workis, that God made redy bifore, that in hem we go. [verse 11] For which thing be ȝe myndeful, that sum tyme ȝe that weren hethene in fleisch, the whiche weren seid prepucie, fro `that that is seid circumcisioun in fleisch maad [verse 12] bi hand; that weren in that tyme with|outen Crist, alyened, `or maad straunge, fro the lyuynge of Israel, and herborid men, `or gestis, of testamentis, not hau|ynge hope of biheeste, and with outen [verse 13] God in this world; `now forsoth in Crist Jhesu ȝe that weren sum tyme ferr, ben maad nyȝ in the blood of Crist. [verse 14] Forsoth he is oure pees, that made both oon, and the myddel wal of a long wal vnbynd|inge, [verse 15] enemytees in his fleisch; auoydinge the lawe of maundementis by domes, that he make twey peplis in him silf into a [verse 16] newe man, makinge pees, that he recon|cile bothe in o body to God by the cross, sleynge the enemytees in him silf. [verse 17] And he comynge euangelisyde pees to ȝou that weren ferr, and pees to hem that weren [verse 18] nyȝ; for by him we both han nyȝ com|ynge in o spirit to the fadir. [verse 19] Therfore now ȝe ben not `herborid men and gestis, `or comelingis, but ȝe ben citeseyns of seyntis, and houshold meyne of God; [verse 20] aboue bildid on the foundement of apo|stlis and of prophetis, bi that hiȝeste [verse 21] corner stoon, Crist Jhesu; in whom ech bildynge maad wexith in to an hooly tem|ple in the Lord. [verse 22] In whom and `be ȝe bildid to gidere into the habitacle of God, in the Hooli Gost.

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CAP. III.

[verse 1] For grace of this thing I Poul, the boundyn of `Jhesu Crist, for ȝou hethene [verse 2] men, if nethelees ȝe han herd the dispen|sacioun of Goddis grace, that is ȝouun to me in ȝou. [verse 3] For vp reuelacioun the sa|crament is maad knowun to me, as I [verse 4] aboue wroot in schort thing, as ȝe redinge mown vndirstonde my prudence in the mysterie of Crist. [verse 5] The which is not knowun to othere generaciouns to the sones of men, as it is now schewid to his hooly apostlis and prophetis in the spirit, [verse 6] hethen men for to be euene eiris, and to gidere bodily and to gidere parceneris of his biheeste in Crist Jhesu by the euan|gelie; [verse 7] whos mynistre I am maad, vp the ȝifte of Goddis grace, the which is ȝouun to me vp the worchinge of his vertu. [verse 8] Forsoth to me, leest of alle seyntis, this grace is ȝouun for to euangelise in he|then men the vnserchable richessis, `or [verse 9] that mown not be souȝt out, of Crist, and for to ynliȝtne alle men, which is the dispensacioun of sacrament hid fro worldis [verse 10] in God, that made alle thingis of noȝt; that the mochefold wysdom of God be knowun to princes and potestatis in heuenli thingis [verse 11] by the chirche, aftir the settinge of worldis, the which he made in Crist Jhe|su oure Lord. [verse 12] In whom we han trust and nyȝ comynge, in trustnynge by the feith of him. [verse 13] For which thing I aske, that ȝe fayle not in my tribulaciouns for ȝou, that is ȝoure glorie. [verse 14] For grace of this thing I bowe my knees to the fadir of oure [verse 15] Lord Jhesu Crist, of whom ech fadirheed [verse 16] in heuenes and in erthe is named, that he ȝyue to ȝou, vp the richessis of his glorie, vertu for to be strengthid by his

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[verse 17] spirit in the ynnere man, Crist for to dwelle by feith in ȝoure hertis; ȝe rootid [verse 18] and groundid in charite, that ȝe mown comprehende with alle seyntis, which is the brede, and lengthe, and hiȝnesse, [verse 19] and depnesse; also for to wite the cha|rite of Crist `aboue semynge to science, that ȝe be fulfillid into al the plente of God. [verse 20] Forsothe to him that is myȝti for to make alle thingis more plenteuously than we axen or vndirstonden, vp the [verse 21] vertu that worchith in vs, to him be glorie in the chirche, and in Crist Jhesu, into alle generaciouns of the world of worldis. Amen. `So be it.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] `And so I bounden in the Lord by|seche, that ȝe walke worthily in the clep|inge, [verse 2] in which ȝe ben clepid, with al mekenesse and myldenesse, with pacience [verse 3] supportinge to gidere in charite, bisy for to kepe vnite of spirit in the bond of pees. [verse 4] O body and o spirit, as ȝe ben clepid [verse 5] in oon hope of ȝoure clepinge; o Lord, o [verse 6] feith, o baptym, o God and fadir of alle, the which is aboue alle men, and by alle thingis, and in vs alle. [verse 7] To ech of vs grace is ȝouun vp the mesure of the [verse 8] ȝyuynge of Crist; for which thing he seith, He styȝinge into hiȝ, ledde caitifte caytif, `or prysonynge prisoned, he ȝaf ȝiftis to men. [verse 9] Forsoth that he assendide, what is it, no but for he dessendide first into the lowere partis of the erthe? [verse 10] He it is that cam down, and that stiȝede vp on alle heuenes, that he schulde fulfille alle thingis. [verse 11] And he ȝaf summe sotheli apostlis, summe forsoth prophetis, othere forsothe euangelistis, othere forsoth schep|herdis [verse 12]

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and techeris, to the ful endynge of seyntis, into the work of mynisterie, into [verse 13] edificacioun of Cristis body, til we rennen alle, in vnyte of feith and of knowynge of Goddis sone, into a parfyt man, into the mesure of age of the plente of Crist; [verse 14] that we ben not now litile children, mou|ynge as wawis, and be borun aboute with al wynd of techinge, in the weywardnesse of men, in sutil witt, to the disceyuynge of errour. [verse 15] Forsoth we doynge treuthe in charite, wexen in him bi alle thingis, that [verse 16] is Crist the heed; of whom al the body sett to gidere, and boundyn to gidere by ech ioynture of vndirseruyng, vp worch|ing into mesure of ech membre, makith encresynge of the body, into edificacioun of it in charite. [verse 17] Therfore this thing I seie, and witnesse it in the Lord, that ȝe walke not now, as and hethen men walken, [verse 18] in the vanyte of her witt, `in derknessis; hauynge vndirstondyng derkened, alyen|ed, `or maad ferr, fro the lyf of God, bi ignoraunce, `or vnkunnynge, that is in hem, for the blyndnesse of her herte. [verse 19] Thei dispeiringe bitoken hem silf to vnchastite, in to worchinge of al vnclen|nesse in coueityse. [verse 20] Forsothe ȝe han not [verse 21] so lerud Crist, if nethelees ȝe herden hym, and ben tauȝt in him, as is treuthe in Jhesu. [verse 22] `Do ȝe awey vp the firste lyuyng the olde man, that is corupt vp [verse 23] the desyris of errour; forsoth `be ȝe re|newid, `or maad newe aȝen, by spirit [verse 24] of ȝoure mynde; and clothe ȝe the newe man, that vp God is maad of noȝt in riȝtwysnesse and hoolynesse of treuthe. [verse 25] For which thing ȝe puttinge awey lees|yng, speke treuthe ech man with his neiȝbore, for we ben membris to gidere. [verse 26] `Be ȝe wroth, and nyle ȝe synne; the

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sunne falle not down on ȝoure wraththe. [verse 27] Nyle ȝe ȝyue stede to the deuel. [verse 28] He that staal, now stele not; `more forsoth tra|ueile he in worchinge with his hondis `that that is good thing, that he haue wherof he schal ȝyue to a man suffringe nede. [verse 29] Ech yuel word go not out of ȝoure mouth; but if ony is good to edificacioun of feith, that it ȝyue grace to men heer|inge. [verse 30] And nyle ȝe make the Hooly Gost of God sori, `or heuy, in the which ȝe ben markid in the day of redempcioun. [verse 31] Al bitternesse, and wraththe, and indig|nacioun, and cry, and blasphemye be takun [verse 32] awey fro ȝou, with al malice; forsoth be ȝe to gidere benygne, `or of good will, mercyful, ȝyuynge `to gidere, as and God ȝaf to ȝou in Crist.

CAP. V.

[verse 1] Therfore be ȝe foloweris of God, as [verse 2] moost dereworthe sones; and walke ȝe in loue, as and Crist louede vs, and ȝaf him silf for vs an offryng and sacrifice to God, in to the odour of swetnesse. [verse 3] Fornyca|cioun forsoth, and al vnclennesse, or auar|ice, be not named in ȝou, as it bicometh [verse 4] hooly men; ether filthe, or foly speche, or harlotrie, that perteyneth not to thing, but more doynge of thankyngis. [verse 5] Forsoth `this thing wyte ȝe, vndirstondinge that ech fornycatour, or vnclene man, or co|ueytous, that is seruage of ydols, `or mawmetis, hath not heritage in the king|dom of Crist and God. [verse 6] No man disceyue ȝou by veyne wordis; forsoth for thes thingis the wraththe of God cam into the sones of vntrist, `or vnbileue. [verse 7] Therfore nyle ȝe be maad parteneris of hem. [verse 8] For|soth ȝe weren sum tyme derknessis, `now forsoth `ȝe ben liȝt in the Lord. Walke

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ȝe as sones of liȝt. [verse 9] Forsothe the fruyt of liȝt is in al goodnesse, and riȝtwys|nesse, [verse 10] and treuthe; prouynge what is wel plesynge to God. [verse 11] And nyle ȝe comune to vnfruytouse workes of derknessis; forsothe more reproue ȝe. [verse 12] Forsothe what thingis ben don of hem and in priuey, it is foul and for to seye. [verse 13] Forsoth alle thingis that ben prouyd of the liȝt, ben maad opyn; forsoth `al thing that is schewid, is liȝt. [verse 14] For which thing he seith, Ryse thou that slepist, and `ryse vp fro deede thingis, and Crist schal illumyne thee. [verse 15] `And so, britheren, se ȝe, how warly ȝe schulen go; not as vnwyse men, [verse 16] but as wyse men, aȝen byinge tyme, for the dayes ben yuele. [verse 17] Therfore nyle ȝe be maad vnprudent, but vndirstondinge which is the will of `the Lord. [verse 18] And nyle ȝe be fulfillid, `or be drunkun, with wyn, in which `luxurie is, but be ȝe ful|fillid [verse 19] with the Hooly Gost; spekinge to ȝou silf in psalmes, and ymnes, and spiri|tual songis, syngynge and seyinge psalme [verse 20] in ȝoure hertis to the Lord; euermore doynge thankyngis for alle thingis in the name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist to God [verse 21] and the fadir, ȝe suget to gidere in the drede of Crist. [verse 22] Be wymmen suget to her `men, or housbondis, as to the Lord; [verse 23] for the man is heed of the womman, as Crist is heed of the chirche; he sauyour of his body. [verse 24] But as the chirche is suget to Crist, so and wymmen to her house|bondis in alle thingis. [verse 25] Men, loue ȝe ȝoure wyues, as and Crist louede the chirche, [verse 26] and ȝaf him silf for it, that he schulde make it hooly; clensynge it with the waisching stoon of watir, in the word of

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[verse 27] lyf; that he schulde ȝyue the chirche glorious to him silf, not hauynge wem, `or spot, or ryuelyng, or ony such thing, but that it be hooli and vndefoulid. [verse 28] So and men schulen loue her wyues, as her owne bodies. He that loueth his wyf, lou|eth [verse 29] him silf; forsoth no man hatide euere his fleisch, but norischith and fos|trith it, as and Crist doth the chirche. [verse 30] For we ben membris of his body, of his fleisch, and of his boones. [verse 31] For this thing a man schal forsake his fadir and his mo|dir, and he schal clyue to his wyf; and thei schulen be tweyne in o fleisch. [verse 32] Forsoth this sacrament is greet; forsoth I seye in Crist, and in his chirche. [verse 33] Ne|theles and ȝe alle, ech man loue his wyf as him silf; forsoth the wyf drede hir hosebonde.

CAP. VI.

[verse 1] Sones, obeische ȝe to ȝoure fadir and modir, in the Lord; forsothe this thing is iust, `or riȝtful. [verse 2] Honoure thou thi fadir and thi modir, that is the firste maunde|ment [verse 3] in the biheeste; that it `be wel to thee, and that thou be longe lyuynge on the erthe. [verse 4] And, ȝe fadris, nyle ȝe terre ȝoure sones to wraththe; but norische ȝe hem in the discipline and correccioun, `or chastysing, of the Lord. [verse 5] Seruauntis, obeysche ȝe to fleishly lordis with drede and tremblyng, in symplenesse of ȝoure [verse 6] herte, as to Crist; not seruynge at yȝe, as plesynge to men, but as seruauntis of Crist; doynge the will of God `of ynwitt, [verse 7] `or resoun, with good will seruynge as [verse 8] to the Lord, and not to men; witynge that ech man, what euere good thing he

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schal do, `this he schal resceyue of the Lord, whethir seruaunt, whether fre man. [verse 9] And, ȝe lordis, do the same thingis to hem, forȝyuynge manacis; witynge for her Lord and ȝoure is in heuenes, and takynge of persoones is not anentis God. [verse 10] Here aftirward, britheren, be ȝe comfortid in the Lord, and in the myȝt of his vertu. [verse 11] Clothe ȝou with the armer of God, that ȝe mown stonde aȝens aspyingis, `or asaylyngis, of the deuel. [verse 12] For stryu|ynge is not to vs aȝens fleisch and `blood, but aȝens the princes and potestatis, aȝens gouernours of the world of thes derknessis, aȝens spiritual thingis of wickidnesse, in heuenli thingis. [verse 13] Ther|fore take ȝe the armer of God, that ȝe mown aȝenstonde in the yuel day; and in alle thingis stonde parfyt. [verse 14] Therfore `stonde ȝe, gird `aboute ȝoure leendis in sothfastnesse, and clothid the haberioun [verse 15] of riȝtwysnesse, and `schood the feet in makynge redy of the gospel of pees; [verse 16] in alle thingis takinge the scheeld of feith, in the which ȝe mown quenche alle the firy dartis of the worste enmye. [verse 17] And take ȝe the helm of heelthe, and the swerd of the Gost, that is, the word of [verse 18] God; by al preier and bisechinge preiynge al tyme in spirit, and in him wakynge in al bysynesse, and byseching for alle hooly, [verse 19] and for me; that word be ȝouun to me in openynge of my mouth, with trist for to make knowun the mysterie of the gos|pel [verse 20] , for which I am sett in legacie, `or message, in this cheyne; so that in it I be hardy for to speke, as it bihoueth me. [verse 21] Forsothe that and ȝe wite, what thingis

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ben aboute me, what I schal do, Titicus, my moost dere brother, and trewe myn|istre in the Lord, schal make alle thingis [verse 22] knowun to ȝou; whom I sente to ȝou in|to this same thing, that ȝe knowe what thingis ben aboute vs, and that he com|forte ȝoure hertis. [verse 23] Pees to britheren, and charite, with feith of God oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. [verse 24] Grace with alle men that louen oure Lord Jhesu Crist in vncorupcioun. Amen.

Here endith the epistle to Ephecies, and bigynneth the prolog to Philipencis.

Notes

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