Ælfric: On the Old and New Testament

The Old English Version of the Heptateuch, Ælfric’s Treatise on the Old and New Testament and his Preface to Genesis. Edited by S.J. Crawford. London: Early English Text Society/Humphrey Milford, OUP, 1922

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ncipit libellus de ueteri testamento et nouo. Ðis gewrit wæs to anum men gediht ac hit mæg swa ðeah manegum fremian.
ÆLFRIC ABBOD GRET FREONDLICE SIGWERD æt Eastheolon. Ic secge þe to soðan þæt se bið swiþe wis, se þe mid weorcum spricð, 7 se hæfð forþgang for Gode 7 for worulde, se þe mid godum weorcum hine sylfne geglengð, 7 þæt is swiðe geswutelod on halgum gesetnissum þæt þa halgan weras þe gode weorc beeodon, þæt hi wurðfulle wæron on þissere worulde, 7 nu halige sindon on heofenan rices mirhþe, 7 heora gemynd þurhwunað nu a to worulde for heora anrædnisse 7 heora trywðe wið God. Ða gimeleasan men, þe heora lif adrugon on ealre idelnisse, 7 swa geeondodon, heora gemynd is forgiten on halgum gewritum, buton þæt secgað þa ealdan gesetnissa heora yfelan dæda 7 þæt þæt hig fordemde sindon. Ðu bæde me for oft Engliscra gewritena, 7 ic þe ne getiðode ealles swa timlice, ær ðam þe þu mid weorcum þæs gewilnodest æt me, þa ða þu me bæde for Godes lufon georne þæt ic þe æt ham æt þinum huse gespræce, 7 þu ða swiðe mændest, þa þa ic mid þe wæt, þæt þu mine gewrita begitan ne mihtest. Nu wille ic þæt þu hæbbe huru þis litle, nu ðe wisdom gelicað 7 þu hine habban wilt, þæt þu ealles ne beo minra boca bedæled. God lufað þa godan weorc, 7 he wyle hig habban æt us, 7 hit ys awriten witodlice be him þæt he sylf blissað on his agenum weorcum, swa swa se sealmwirhta þus sang be him: Sit gloria Domini in seculum seculi; letabitur Dominus in operibus suis, þæt ys on Engliscre spræce: "Si ures Drihtenes wuldor on worulda woruldum; ure Drihten blissað on his agenum weorcum." Þus cwæð se witega. Se ælmihtiga Scippend geswutelode hine sylfne þurh þa micclan weorc ðe he geworhte æt fruman, 7 wolde þæt ða gesceafta gesawon his mærða 7 on wuldre mid him wunodon on ecnisse on his underþeodnisse him æfre gehirsume, for ðam þe hit ys swiðe wolic þæt ða geworhtan gesceafta þam ne beon gehirsume þe hi gesceop 7 geworhte. Næs þeos woruld æt fruman, ac hi geworhte God silf, se þe æfre þurhwunode buton ælcum anginne on his miclan wuldre 7 on his mægenþrimnisse eall swa mihtig swa he nu ys 7 eall swa micel on his leohte, for ðan ðe he ys soð leoht 7 lif 7 soðfæstnisse, 7 se ræd wæs æfre on his rædfæstum geþance, þæt he wircan wolde þa wundorlican gesceafta, be þan ðe he wolde þurh his micclan wisdom þa gesceafta gescippan 7 þurh his soðan lufe hig liffæstan on þam life, þe hig habbað. Her is seo halige þrinnis on þisum þrim mannum: se ælmihtiga Fæder of nanum oðrum gecumen, se micla Wisdom of þam wisan Fæder æfre of him anum butan anginne acenned, se þe us alisde of urum þeowte syððan mid þære menniscnisse, þe he of Marian genam; nu is heora begra lufu him bam æfre gemæne, þæt is se Halga Gast, þe ealle þing geliffæst, swa micel 7 swa mihtig, þæt he mid his gife ealle þa englas onliht, þe eardiað on heofenum, 7 ealra manna heortan, þe on middanearde libbað, þa þe rihtlice gelifað on þone lifiendan God, 7 ealra manna synna soðlice forgifð, þam þe heora synna silfwilles behreowsiað, 7 nis nan forgifenis buton þurh his gife; and he spræc þurh witegan, þe witegodon ymbe Crist, for þan þe he ys se willa 7 witodlice lufe þæs Fæder 7 þæs Suna, swa swa we sædon ær. Seofonfealde gifa he gifð mancynne git, be þam ic awrat ær on sumum oðrum gewrite on Engliscre spræce, swa swa Isaias se witega hit on bec sette on his witegunge.

e ælmihtiga Scippend, ða ða he englas geseop, þa geworhte he þurh his wisdom tyn engla werod on þam forman dæge on micelre cægernisse, fela þusenda on ðam frumsceafte, þæt hi on his wuldre hine wurpðedon ealle lichamlease, leohte 7 strange, buton eallum synnum on gesælþe libbende, swa wlitiges gecindes, swa we secgan ne magon, 7 nan yfel ðing næs on ðam englum þa git, ne man yfel ne com ðurh Godes gesceapennisse, for ðan ðe he sylf ys eall god 7 ælc god cimð of him; 7 ða englas þa wunodon on þam wuldre mid Gode. Hwæt, þa binnan six dagum, þe se soða God þa gesceafta gesceop, þe he gescippan wolde, gesceawode se an engel þe þær ænlicost wæs, hu fæger he silf wæs 7 hu scinende on wuldre, 7 cunode his mihte, þæt he mihtig wæs gesceapen, 7 him wel gelicode his wurðfulnisse þa: se hatte "Lucifer," þæt ys "Leohtberend," for ðære miclan beorhtnisse his mæran hiwes. Ða þuhte him to huxlic, þæt he hiran sceolde ænigum hlaforde, þa he swa ænlic wæs, 7 nolde wurðian þone, þe hine geworhte, 7 him þancian æfre ðæs þe he him forgeaf 7 beon underðeodd þæs ðe swiþor geornlice for þære micclan mærðe þe he hine gemæðegode. He nolde þa habban his Scippend him to hlaforde, ne he nolde þurhwunian on ðære soþfæstnisse ðæs soðfæstan Godes sunu, þe hine gesceop fægerne, ac wolde mid riccetere him rice gewinnan 7 þurh modignisse hine macian to Gode, 7 nam him gegadan ongean Godes willan to his unræde on eornost gefæstnod. Ða næfde he nan setl, hwær he sittan mihte, for ðan ðe nan heofon nolde hine aberan, ne nan rice næs, þe his mihte beon ongean Godes willan, þe geworhte ealle ðinc. Ða afunde se modiga, hwilce his mihta wæron, þa þa his fet ne mihton furðon ahwar standan, ac he feoll ða adun to deofle awend, 7 ealle his gegadan of ðam Godes hirede in to helle wite be heora gewirhtum. Ða on ðam sixtan dæge, siþþan ðis gedon wæs, gesceop se ælmihtiga God mannan of eorðan ADAM mid his handum 7 him sawle forgeaf, 7 EVAN eft siþþan of Adames ribbe, þæt hi sceoldon habben, 7 heora ofspring mid him, þa fægeran wununge þe se feond forleas, gif hi gehirsumedon heora Scippende on riht. Ða beswac se deofol siððan eft þa men, þæt hi Godes bebod tobræcon for-raþe 7 wurdon þa deadlice, 7 adræfde butu of ðære myrhþe to þisum middanearde, 7 on sorhge leofodon 7 on geswincum siþþan, 7 eall heora ofsprinc þe him of com siððan, oþ þæt ure Hælend Crist ure yfel gebette, swa swa þeos racu æfter us segð. We nymað of þam bocum þas endebyrdnysse, þe Moises awrat, se mæra heretoga, swa swa him God silf dihte on heora sunderspræce, þa þa he mid Gode wunode on þam munte Sinai feowertig daga on an, 7 underfeng his lare, 7 he ætes ne gimde on eallum þam fyrste for ðære miclan bisnunge þæra boca lare.

if bec he awrat mid wundorlicum dihte. Seo forme ys Genesis, þe befehð þas racu ærest fram frumsceafte, 7 be Adames synne 7 hu he leofode nigan hund geara on þære forman ylde þissere worulde, 7 bearn gestrinde be his gebeddan Euan, 7 he siððan gewat mid sorge to helle. Cain wæs his sunu, se acwealde his broðor, Abel gehaten, unscildigne mannan for his agenum andan, þe he hæfde to him, 7 Caines ofspring, þe him of com, siððan eall wearð adrenced on þam deopan flode, þe on Noes dagum adydde eall mancinn buton þam eahta mannum, ðe binnan þam arce wæron, 7 of þam yfelan teame ne com nan ðing siþþan. Ac Adam gestrinde æfter Abeles slege oðerne sunu, se wæs Seth gehaten, of ðam strenge com þæt þæt cucu belaf, Noe 7 his wif 7 heora þri suna, Sem, Cham 7 Iafeth mid heora þrim wifum. We secgað nu mid ofste þas endebirdnisse, for þan ðe we oft habbað ymbe þis awriten mid maran andgite, þa þu miht sceawian, 7 eac ða getacnunga, þæt Adam getacnude, þe on ðam sixtan dæge gesceapen wæs þurh God, urne Hælend Crist, þe com to þissre worulde, 7 us geedniwode to his gelicnisse. Eua getacnode, þe of Adames sidan. God silf geworhte, Godes gelaðunge, þe of Cristes sidan siþþan wearð acenned. Abeles slege soðlice getacnode ures Hælendes slege, þe ða Iudeiscan ofslogon, yfele gebroðra swa swa Cain wæs. Seth, Adames sunu ( 7 eac se þridda) ys gesæd "ærist," 7 he getacnode untwilice Crist, se þe of deaðe aras on ðam þriddan dæge. Enoh wæs geciged se seofoða man fram Adame; he worhte Godes willan 7 God hinie ða genam mid ansundum lichaman of þisum life upp, 7 he ys cucu git, swa swa Helias, se æðela witega, þe wæs eal swa genumen to þam oðrum life, 7 hi cumað begen togeanes Antecriste, þæt hig his leasunga alecgon þurh God, 7 beoð þonne ofslegen þurh ðone sylfan feond, 7 hi eft arisað, swa swa ealle men doð. Noe, þe on ðam arce wæs on ðam miclum flode, þe ealle woruld adrencte buton þam eahta mannu, ys gereht requies, þæt is "rest" on Englisce; 7 he getacnode Crist, þe for ðy com to us, þæt he us of yðum þissere worulde to reste gebrohte 7 to blisse mid him. And swa forð oð ende, ælc halig fæder mid wordum oþþe mid weorcum cyddon urne Hælend 7 his fær witodlice.

er wæs seo forme yld þissere worulde, 7 seo oðer yld wæs þissere worulde oð Abrahames timan, þæs ealdan heahfæderes. Nu segð us seo boc be Noes ofspringe, þæt his suna gestrindon twa 7 hundseofontig suna; þa begunnon to wircenne þa wundorlican burh 7 þone heagan stipel, þe sceolde astigan upp to heofenum, be heora unræda; ac God silf com þærto 7 sceawode heora weorc 7 sealde heora ælcum synderlice spræce, þæt heora ælcum wæs uncuð hwæt oþer sæde, 7 hi swa geswicon sona þære getimbrunge, 7 hi ða toferdon to fyrlenum lande on swa manegum gereordum swa þæra manna wæs. On þære ylcan ylde man arærde hæðengild wide geond þas woruld, swa swa we awriton æror on oðrum larspellum to geleafan trimminge, 7 on þissere ylde þa yfelan leoda, fif burhscira ðæs fulan mennisces Sodomitisces eardes, mid sweflenum fyre færlice wurdon ealle forbærnde, 7 heora burga samod, buton Loþe anum, þe God alædde þanon mid his ðrim hiwum for his rihtwisnisse. Of Noes yldstan sunu, þe wæs Sem gehaten, com þæt Ebreisce folc, þe on God gelifde, Abrahames forðfæderas, 7 his fæder wæs Tare, se eardode ærest on Chaldea rice, oð þæt Abraham ferde be Godes hæse to Chananeiscan earde, þær his cynn siððan wunode. Abraham se heahfæder, hæfde twegen suna, Ismael 7 Isaac, 7 he wurþode God mid ealre his heortan, 7 se heofonlica God him gelome to spræc for his micclan geleafan, for þan þe he wolde offrian his agenne sunu Gode, Isaac þone leofran, to lace on his weofode on þa ealdan wisan, gif hit God swa wolde. God þa hine gebletsode 7 his bearn wæs gesund, 7 God silf him behet, þæt burh his cyn sceolde eall mannkynn beon gebletsod for his micclan geleafan 7 for his gehirsumnisse, þe he hæfde to Gode. Abraham, þe wolde Isaac geoffrian be Godes hæse, hæfde getacnunge þæs heofonlican Fæder, þe his Sunu asende to cwale for us, 7 Isaac getacnode þone Hælend Crist, ðe acweald wæs for us.

Seo þridde yld wæs ða wuniende oð Dauid, þone mæran cyning Abrahames cynnes; of ðam com Crist siððan, þe eall mancynn alysde. Of Cham, Noes suna, com þæt Chananeisce folc, 7 of Iaphet, þam ginstan, þe wæs gebletsod þurh Noe, com þæt norðerne mennisc be þære Norðsæ, for þan þe ðri dælas sind gedælede þurh hig, Asia on eastrice þam yldstan suna, Affrica on suðdæle þæs Chames cynne, 7 Europa on norðdæle Iapheþes ofspringe. 7 se ælmihtiga God æfter Noes flode eallum mancinne forgeaf him gemænlice fisccinn 7 fugolcinn 7 þa fiðerfetan deor 7 þa clænan nytena for his micclan ciste; ac he forbead swa þeah blod to þicgenne. Isaac þa gestrynde Esau 7 Iacob, twegen getwisan on micelre getacnunge. Ac se gingra broðor, þe Iacob wæs gehaten, wæs Gode leofre for his godum þeawum, 7 for his bilewitnisse he wearð gebletsod. Se gestrynde twelf suna; þa syndon heahfæderas, namcuðe weras. 7 wearð þa micel hunger seofon gear on an, 7 hig siþodon ealle to Egipta lande, þær hi bigleofan fundon. His ginsta sunu buton anum, wæs Ioseph gehaten, wearð ðær hlaford on Egipta lande under þam cininge, him swiðe gecweme, 7 he heold his fæder on fullum wurðscipe þær mid eallum his broðrum 7 heora bearnum samod; 7 se Ioseph leofode on þam lande mærlice hundteontig geara 7 tin to eacan 7 seo boc Genesis geendað þus her.

eo oþer boc ys Exodus gehaten, þe Moyses awrat be þam miclum tacnum 7 be þam tyn witum, þe wurdon þa gefremode ofer Pharao þone cining 7 ofer his folce þurh ðone ælmihtigan God on Moises timan. Se wearð acenned, swa swa us kyð þeos boc, 7 his broðer Aaron, Amrames sunu, on Pharaones dæge, Gode swiþe dyre, swiðe mihtige menn on manegum wundrum. Ða wolde God habban þæt folc of ðam lande Abrahames cynnes eft to heora earde. Ac se Pharao nolde þæt folc fram him lætan, ær þan þe God him sende swiðlice ogan tyn cinna wita for his teonræddenne. 7 Moses þa siððan þæt manncinn gelædde of Pharaones ðeowte æfter feowerhund gearum, siþþan Iacob þider com mid þam Ebreiscan kinne. On þære fyrde wæron, þe ferdon fram Egipte, sixhund þusend manna butan wifum 7 cildum, 7 butan þære mægðe Leui, þe næs genamod þærto. Moyses hig lædde þa þurh Godes mihte ealle ofer ða Readan Sæ, swa swa we rædað on bocum: 7 Pharao se kyning ferde him æthindan on git mid maran fyrde, wolde þæt folc habban ongean to his lande to his laðum þeowte. Þa geopenode seo sæ togeanes Moysen 7 þæt wæter him stod swilce stanweallas bufan heora heafdum, 7 hi eodon be þam grundum, oð þæt hi up comon ealle gesunde, heriende mid sange þone heofenlican God. Moyses þa sloh þa sæ mid his girde 7 þæt wæter þa feoll ofer Pharaones fyrde ofer his menifealdum crætum 7 his mærlicum riddum 7 adrencte hi ealle, þæt þær an mann ne belaf. Nu segð us seo boc, þæt God siððan afedde ealne þone here mid heofonlicum mete, 7 him ælce dæg com edniwe of heofenum feowertig wintra fyrst on þam westene farende, 7 of heardum stane him com yrnende wæter, 7 God him sette æ, þæt ys open lagu, þam folce to steore on þam fif bocum, þe Moyses awrat, swa swa him gewissode God. Ða twa bec we nemnodon; Leuiticus is seo þridde, Numerus feorðe; seo fifte ys gehaten Deuteronomium, þæt ys "oþer lagu." Ðas ðreo bec us secgað hu hig siþþan ferdon ofer þæt widgille westen þær þær nan mann ne wunode ær, 7 be þam miclum wundrum, þe God worhte on him binnan þam feowertigum gearum on ealre þare racu; 7 we habbað awend witodlice on Englisc. On þam mann mæg gehiran, hu se heofonlica God spræc mid weorcum 7 mid wundrum him to; 7 he eac þa weorc on gewritum afæstnode mannum to gemynde on miclum getacnungum. 7 Moises se mæra, mid þam þe he wæs on ylde hundtwentig wintra, ða gewat he of life, 7 God silfe hine bebirigde 7 gesette Iosue on Moyses stede þam mannum to heretogan, 7 Moyses hæfde hine ær gebletsod, 7 God silf him behet þæt he wolde mid him beon, swa swa he mid Moyse wæs, on miclum wundrum.

eo boc þe he gesette, Liber Iosue, segð hu he ferde mid Israhela folce to Abrahames earde, 7 hu he þone eard gewann, hu seo sunne ætstod, oð þæt he sige hæfde, 7 hu he þone eard ealne todælde. Ðis ic awende eac on Englisc hwilon Æþelwerde ealdormen; on þam man mæg sceawian Godes micclan wundra mid weorcum gefremode. His fæder hatte Nun, 7 he leofode hund geara 7 tyn gear to eacan, 7 he siþþan gewat æfter his micclan sige, 7 þæt mennisc ðær siþþan þone eard bogodan under Moises lage. Iosue hæfde ðæs Hælendes getacnunge, mid þam þe he gelædde to þam lande þæt folc, þe him behaten wæs, swa swa se Hælend deð, þe læt to heofenan rice þa ðe on hine gelyfað, gif hi mid godum weorcum hine gegladiað.

efter þisum wæron witodlice deman on þam ylcan earde on Israhela þeode, þe þam folce wissodon, swa swa hit awriten ys on Liber Iudicum, þæt ys "demena boc." Seo boc us segð swutollice be þam folce , þæt hi on sibbe wunedon swa lange swa hi wurðodon þone heofonlican god on his bigengum georne, 7 swa oft swa hi forleton þone lifiendan God, þonne wurdon hi gehergode 7 to hospe gedonne fram hæðenum leodum, þe him abutan eardodon. Eft þonne hi clipodon on eornost to Gode mid soþre dædbote , þonne sende he him fultum þurh sumne deman, þe wiðsette heora feondum 7 hi alisde of heora yrmðe; 7 hi lange swa on þam lande eardodon. Ðis man mæg rædan, se þe his recð to gehirenne, on þære Engliscan, þe ic awende be þisum. Ic þohte þæt ge woldon þurh ða wundorlican race eower mod awendan to Godes willan on eornost; ac beo þeos boc her þus geendod. An wimman hatte Ruth þe wæs æfter þisum Moabiscre þeode, ac heo wearð geæwnod Iessan ealdan fæder, 7 se Iesse wæs DAVIDES fæder. Seo boc þe þis segð hatte Liber Ruth, and heo is geendebyrd on ure bibliothecan.

efter þisum demum þæt Israhela folc gecuron him ciningas, swa swa us cyð seo racu, on Samueles timan, þæs soðfæstan witegan. Be þam sind awritene witodlice feower bec, þa sind gehatenne Liber Regum on Leden, þæt ys "cininga boc" gecweden swa on an, 7 Verba Dierum lið þærto geiced; seo ys seo fifte boc, for fela gewissungum þe seo an boc hæfð toforan þam oðrum, 7 þas bec awriton Samuel and Malachim. On þisum bocum us segð þæt Saul wæs gecoren ærest to cyninge on Israhela þeode, for þan þe hig woldon sumne weriend habban, þe hi geheolde wið þæt hæþene folc, 7 cyddon heora willan þam witegan Samuele, þæt hig heora cynne cining habban woldon, swa swa oðre leodscipas on eallum lande hæfdon. Hwæt þa Samuel sæde þæt Gode, 7 God him geþafode þæt hig setton him to kininge Saul, Cises sunu, 7 he siððan rixode feowertig geara fæc, 7 þæt folc bewerode wið þa hæþenan leoda heardlice mid wæmnum, þeah þe he misferde on manegum oðrum þingum. David, Iessan sunu, se deorwurða sealmwirhta of þam firmestan kynne, þe wæs gecweden Iudan, wearð þurh God gecoren to ciningen siþþan on Israhela þeode hig to bewerienne, 7 he stranglice rixode, 7 bewerode þæt folc wið þa hæðenan leoda ðe him on wunnon, 7 he hæfde æfre sige 7 ofsloh þa hæðenan on ælcum gefeohte, for þan þe he wurðode þone ælmihtigan God mid ealre heortan, 7 mid godum weorcum he geglende his kynedom 7 þæs kynedomes geweold feowertig geara on an, 7 his hlysa is fulcuð on geleafullum bocum. And seo feorðe yld þissere worulde stod fram Dauide oð Daniele þam witegan. Dauid is gecweden fortis manum; on andgitte þæt ys "stranghynde" on Englisc, for þan þe he gewylde þone wildan beran 7 his ceaflas totær buton ælcum wæmne, 7 þa wildan leo he gewylde eal swa; tobræc hire ceaflas mid his barum handum. 7 he eode to anwige ongean þone ent, Goliam gehaten, þa þa he cniht wæs, 7 mid his liðeran ofwearp þone geleafleasan ent, þæt he læg geswogen 7 sloh him of þæt heafod 7 on fleame gebrohte þa Philisteos ealle, þe fuhton wið Saul, 7 he sige þa hæfde. He hæfde getacnungen þæs Hælendes Cristes, þe ys stranghynde, þe þone hetolan deofol eaðelice gewilde, 7 him of gewann ealle þa geleafullan on his gelaðunge, swa swa Dauid gelæhte þæt scep of þam deorum. He ys halig witega, 7 he witegode fela ymbe urne Hælend Crist, swa swa us kyþað þa sealmas, þe he þurh Godes gast Gode to lofe gesang, 7 se Saltere ys an boc, þe he gesette þurh God betwux oðrum bocum on þære bibliothecan.

e gesette on his ylde his sunu to ciningen, þone snoteran Salomon, 7 he siþþan rixode feowertig wintra on fulre sibbe æfre, 7 for his micclum wisdome hyne wurðodon ciningas, 7 man his wisdom sohte of fyrlenum eardum, 7 gehwilcum landum him comon lac to wurðscipe, 7 he his folc geheold butan ælcum gefeohte. He arærde Gode þæt ænlice tempel binnan Hierusalem on wunderlicum cræfte swa fægere getimbrod 7 swa fæste getrymmed 7 swa widgille hus oferworht mid golde 7 mid hwitum seolfre, swa we secgan ne magon. He gesette þreo bec þurh his snoternisse. An ys Parabole, þæt ys "bigspellboc," na swilce ge secgað, ac wisdomes bigspell 7 warnung wið disig, 7 hu man selost mæg synna forbugan, 7 þone weg gefaran þe gewissað to Gode. Oþer ys gecweden Ecclesiastices, þæt ys on Englisc "ealra þeoda ræd" 7 deaflic to gehirenne on healicum gemote. Seo þridde ys gecweden Cantica Canticorum, þæt segð on Englisc "ealra sanga fyrmest" þone he sang be Criste 7 be Cristes circean, þæt ys eall seo laþung þe gelyfð on Crist; 7 þas bec standað nu on þære bibliotheca. Salomon ys gecweden "gesibsum" on Englisc, 7 he getacnode urne Hælend Crist, þe us sibbe brohte, 7 ys þære sibbe ealdor, se þe us geðeodde to engla werodum, 7 us circean arærde, ðe is his gelaðung.

u standað manega cyningas on þæra Cininga Bocum, be þam ic gesette eac sume boc on Englisc. Sume hig wæron rihtwise 7 wurþodon a God, swa swa Ezechias wæs 7 siþþan Iosias, 7 eac sume oþre, þe sigefæste wæron 7 heora kynedom heoldon kenlice þurh Gode, þe hig wurðodon, 7 wunodon on friðe. Sume wæron arlease 7 swiðe yfele ferdon, þonne hi Godes ne gimdon, ne God him ne fylste; 7 amyrdon heora folc þurh heora mandæda 7 on bysmore leofdon þurh geleafleaste, 7 yfele geendodon on heora unhlisan, swa swa Sedechias, se ungesæliga kining, þe mann gelædde on bendum to Babilonian birig, 7 man ofsloh his twegen suna ætforan his gesihþe 7 hine ablende siððan 7 gesette hine on cweartern 7 þam eardum becom oðer wracu siððan.

abochodonosor, se namcuða cining on Chaldeiscum earde, com to Hierusalem mid micelre fyrde, 7 þæt manncyn ofsloh, 7 þa burh towende, 7 þæt tempel towearp æfter feowerhund gearum þæs þe hit gesett wæs, for ðæra kininga geleafleaste, þe forleton heora Drihten, 7 þæs folces gimeleaste, þe ne gimde Godes; 7 gelædde þone kining to Chaldea mid him, Achim gehaten, swiðe huxlice, þæt he mihte oncnawan his manfullan dæda huru on þam hæftnede wið þone heofenlican God. Se Chaldea cininc com þa to his earde mid þære huðe 7 þære herelafe, on ðære wæs Daniel, se deorwyrða witega, 7 þa þry cnihtas, þe synt gehatenne þus, SIDRAC, MISAAC ET ABDENAGO, 7 on oþre wisan hi wæron gehatene Annanias, Azarias, Misael. Ðas þri cnihtas het se cyning awurpan in to byrnendum ofne; ac heora bendas sone wurdon forswælede, 7 hig gesunde eodon, heriende mid sange þone heofenlican God, þe hi swa geheold on þam hatan ofne, þæt heora fex nas furðon forswæled. 7 se kining hi het þa gan of þam ofne.

er ongan seo fifte yld þissere worulde; seo stod swa astreht oð þæt Crist sylf com on þære sixtan ylde to þissere worulde on menniscum gecynde of Marian innoðe, se þe æfre wæs God mid his ælmihtigan Fæder. Seo herelaf ða wunode þæs gehergodan folces on Chaldeiscum earde under þam kininge, gecnæwe heora synna wið þone ælmihtigan God. Hundseofontig geara hi wunodon þær on þeowte, oð þæt Cirus cyning hi asende eft ongean to Iudea lande, þanon þe hi alædde wæron, and het hig eft aræran þæt ænlice tempel, swa swa se ælmihtiga God on his mod asende, þæt he his folce mildsode æfter swa micelre yrmðe; 7 hi þær siþþan wunedon, oð þæt Crist sylf wearð geboren.

u sindon twa mære bec gesette on endebyrdnysse to Salamones bocum, swilce he hig gedihte; for þære gelicnisse his gelogodan spræce 7 for þære getingnysse hig man getitelode him; ac Iesus hi gesette, Siraces sunu: an ys Liber Sapientie, þæt ys, "wisdomes boc," seo oðer ys gecweden, Ecclesiasticus, swiðe micele bec, 7 man hig ræt on circan to micclum wisdome swiðe gewunelice.

ue nymað þa witegan nu þe witegodon embe Crist þurh þone Halgan Gast be þæs Hælendes tokime to þisum middanearde on soðre menniscnisse, swa swa we wyllað awriten heræfter.

saias wæs gehaten sum halig witega on ðæra kininga timan, swa swa us kyð seo boc. Se witegode be Criste swiðe gewisslice, swilce he godspellere wære, swiðe gewyrdelice, 7 cwæð on his gesetnysse swa swa we secgað her: Ecce uirgo concipiet & pariet filium & uocabitur nomen eius Emmanuel, & reliqua. Efne mæden sceal geeacnian 7 oncennan sunu 7 his nama bið geciged "God sylf ys mid us." Eft se ylca witega awrat on his gesetnysse: Puer natus est nobis & filius datus est nobis, & reliqua: "Vs ys cild acenned: 7 us ys sunu forgifen 7 his ealdordom ys on eaxle, 7 his nama bið gehaten wundorlic, rædbora, witodlice strang God 7 fæder towerdre worulde, soðlice sibbe ealdor, 7 his kynedom bið menigfeald, 7 ne bið nan ende his ecan sibbe." His boc ys swiðe micel 7 menigfeald be Criste 7 be Godes mærðe, be eallum mancinne on gastlicum andgitte on Godes gelaþunge. He bodode geleafan on Iudea lande 7 unriht forbead, oð þæt se reða kyning, Mannases gehaten, Ezechian sunu, hine tocleaf on twa 7 hine acwealde swa.

ieremias se witega wæs on þam lande swiðe halig witega fram his cildhade; be þam cwæð God sylf to him: Ic þe gecuðe soðlice ær þan þe ic þe gesceope on þinre modor innoðe, 7 ic þe gehalgode ær þan þe þu acenned wurde, 7 ic þe gesette þeodum to witegan. He wunode on clænnysse, 7 he awrat ane boc ðurh þone Halgan Gast on his witegunge, micele 7 menigfealde, þam mannum to lare, of gastlicum andgitte eacb be þam Hælende. He wearð oft gebend 7 gebroht on cweartern for his halgan lare, 7 he heofode micclum þæs folces synna, swa swa his boc us segð, 7 he wearð oftorfod mid stanum æt nextan on Egipta lande for his geleafan. Plato se uðwita 7 se wisosta mann on hæðenum folce hæfde hine gesprecen, 7 se witega þa hine gewissode, þæt he cuðe gelyfan on þone lifiendan God, swa swa Agustinus hit on bocum gesette; 7 Ieremias ys ure witega synderlice.

zechiel se witega wearð gehergod mid þam folce, þa þa se Chaldeisca kining acwealde ða Iudeiscan 7 ða herelafe to his lande adraf, þa þa Daniel se witega wearð eac gelæht. 7 Ezechiel ða on þeowte þær wunode 7 witegode þær, 7 awrat ane boc micele on gesetnisse be þam mancynne 7 be urum Drihtene, swiðe deop on andgite, oð þæt se heafodman þæs gehergodan folces hine acwealde, swa swa us kyð sum lareow.

aniel se witega wunude on Chaldea, wurðfull þam ciningum, 7 awrat ane boc on his witegunge, þe him God sylf onwreah, 7 he swutelice sæde on his gesetnisse be Cristes acennednisse, swa swa he com to mannum feowerhund geara 7 hundnigontig geara fram Darie ðam cininge, oð þæt ure Drihten com on soðre menniscnisse of Marian innoþe. His boc is swiðe micel on manegum getacnungum, langsum her to secgende be hire gesetnyssum 7 hu he wæs aworpen þam wildum leonum, be þam we awriton on Englisc on sumum spelle hwilon. He næs na ofslagen, ac he him sylf gewat, þa þa he hund geara wæs 7 tyn gear on ylde, 7 he wæs bebirged on Babilonia.

welf witegan syndon to eacan þisum git, ðe twelf bec awriton on heora witegunge be sumum dæle læssan on gesetnysse, micele on andgitte be Cristes menniscnysse 7 be Godes folce, swa swa God him onwreah. Ðæra naman we willað awritan on þisum cwyde: OSEE, IOHEL, AMOS, ABDIAS, IONAS (se þe ðreo niht wæs wiðinnan þam hwale, 7 se hwæl hine abær to Niniuea birig, 7 seo dæd getacnode ures Drihtenes deað, þe læg on birgine swa langum fæce, ac he aras of deaðe þurh his drihtenlican mihte) MICHEAS, NAVM, ABBACVC, se namnode þone Hælend be his naman þus: Ego autem in Domino gaudebo & exultabo in Deo Iesu meo, ðæt ys on Englisc; "Ic blissie on Drihtene 7 ic fægnie on Gode minum Hælende." "Iesus" wæs gehaten ure Hælend on life, 7 swa sæde þes witega, ær ðan þe he wurde acenned, 7 swa swa se heahengel hit sæde on þam godspelle. He ys gehaten eac "Crist"; be þam cwæð sum witega for fela hund gearum, ær þan þe he acenned wurde: Adstiterunt reges terre & principes conuenerunt in unum aduersus Dominum & aduersus Christum eius, "Eorðlice ciningas 7 ealdormenn arison ongean urne Drihten 7 þone Hælend Crist"; þæt wæs Herodes cining 7 Pilatus ealdormann, swa swa ða apostolas be þam understodon; SOPHONIAS, AGGEUS, ZACHARIAS, MALACHIAS.

uæron eac oðre witegan, þe ne writon nane bec, swa swa wæs Helias 7 Heliseus, ac heora wundra syndon awritene swa ðeah on þæra Cininga Bocum on fulcuðum gemynde. Tyn mædena wæron on mislicre tide on hæþenum leodum, þa man het Sibilas, þæt synd "witegestran," hi witegodon ealle be ám Hælende Criste, 7 heora bec setton swiðe swutelice ðurh þone siþan God be ealre his fare mid fullum geleafan, for ðan þe God wolde him gewitan habban of hæðenum leodum 7 of geleafullum; ac heora be ne synd na on ure gesetnissum on þære biblioþecan swa swa þas oðre beoð.

esdras se writere awrat ane boc, hu þæt folc com ongean frm Chaldea lande to Iudea lande 7 hi Hierusalem þa burh eft arærdon, 7 þæt tempel þærbinnan, swa swa Cirus kining him sealde leafe æfter hundseofontigon gearum, þæt hi heora eard bogodon, 7 seo boc ys geendebyrd on þissere gesetnysse mid deopum andgitte on diglum getacnungum.

ob wæs gehaten sum heah Godes þegen on þam lande Chus, swiðe geleafull wer, welig on æhtum; se wearð afandod þurh þone swicolan deofol, swa swa his boc us segð, þe he sylf gesette siþþan he afandod wæs, be þam ic awende on Englisc sumne cwide iu, 7 hit ys eac witegung witodlice be Criste 7 be his gelaþunge, swa swa lareowas secgað, 7 seo boc ys geendebyrd on þissere gesetnysse.

um Iudeisc man wearð eac afandod, Tobias gehaten, swiðe ælmesgeorn 7 swiþe gelyfed on þone lyfiendan God. Se wæs eac gehergod to Sirian lande, ac he heold swa þeah his geleafan þær mid godum weorcum 7 God his afandode, swa þæt he blind wearð and swa wunode tyn gear; ac God hine gehælde eft þurh his heahengel, Raphael gehaten, swa swa seo racu us segð on his agenre bec, þe he sylf awrat, 7 seo boc ys geteald to þisum getele, for ðan þe þæron ys eac swilce getacnung.

ester seo cwen, þe hire kynn ahredde, hæfð eac ane boc on þisum getele, for ðan þe Godes lof ys gelogod þæron; ða ic awende on Englisc on ure wisan sceortlice.

udith seo wuduwe, þe oferwann Holofernem þone Siriscan ealdormann, hæfð hire agene boc betwux þisum bocum be hire agenum sige; seo ys eac on Englisc on ure wisan gesett eow mannum to bysne, þæt ge eowerne eard mid wæmnum bewerian wið onwinnendne here.

wa bec synd gesette æfter cyrclicum þeawum betwux þisum bocum, þe gebiriað to Godes lofe, Machabeorum gehatene, for heora micclum gewinne, for ðan þe hig wunnon mid wæmnum þa swiðe wið þone hæðenan here, þe him on wann swiðe, wolde hig adilegian 7 adyddan of þam earde, þe him God forgeaf, 7 Godes leof alecgan. Hwæt, þa Mathathias, se mæra Godes þegen, mid his fif sunu, feaht wið þone here miccle gelomlicor ðonne þu gelyfan wylle, 7 hig sige hæfdon þurh þone soðan God, þe hig on gelyfdon æfter Moyses æ. Hig noldon na feohtan mid fægerum wordum anum, swa þæt hi wel spræcon, 7 awendon þæt eft, þe læs ðe him become se heftigtime cwyde, þe se witega gecwæð be sumum leodscipe þus: Et iratus est furore Dominus in populo suo & abhominatus hereditatem suam, & cetera: "Drihten wearð yrre mid graman his folce, 7 he onscunode his yrfewerdnisse, 7 he betæhte hig on hæþenra handum, 7 heora fynd soðlice hæfdon heora geweald, 7 hig swiðe gedrehton þa deriendlican fynd 7 hig wurdon geeadmette under heora handum." Nolde Machabeus, se mæra Godes cempa, habban þisne dom ðurh his Drihtenes yrre, ac him wæs leofre, þæt he mid geleafan clipode on his eornost to Godes þisne oðerne cwyde: Da nobis, Domine, auxilium de tribulatione, quia uana salus homins, & cetera: "Syle us, leof Drihten, þinne soðan fultum on ure gedrefednisse 7 gedo us strengran, for þan þe mannes fultum ys unmihtig 7 idel. Ac uton wyrcean mihte on þone mihtigan God, 7 he to nahte gedeð urne deriendlican fynd." Machabeus þa gefylde ðas foresædan word mid stranglicum weorcum, 7 oferwann his fynd, 7 sint for ði gesette his sigefæstan dæda on þam twam bocum on bibliothecan Gode to wurðmynte, 7 ic awende hig on Englisc 7 rædon gif ge wyllað eow sylfum to ræde.

Explicit de Veteri Testamento

C SECGE ÞE NU, SIWERÐ, ÐÆT ic her gesett hæbbe þas feawa bysna of ðan ealdan bocum on þære ealdan gecyðnysse under Moyses æ, 7 hu, gif þu wiltest ealne ðone wisdom þe on þam bocum stynt, þonne woldest þu gelyfan þæt ic na ne wæge on þisum gewrite. Ic wille nu secgan eft sceortlice þe be þære niwan gecyðnisse æfter Cristes tocyme, þæt þu mid ealle ne beo þæs andgites bedæled, þeah þe ðu be fullan underfon ne mage ealle þa gesetnissa þæs soþan gewrites: bist swa ðeah gebet þurh þas litlan bysne.

ex & Prophetæ usque ad Iohannem, sicut legitur in Euangelio: Moyses æ wæs 7 witegan soþlice oð Iohannes wearð acenned, þe Crist gefullode. He ys ende þære ealdan æ 7 æt him ongann seo godspellbodung, 7 he wæs acenned on Cristes tocime. Swa swa dægsteorra on dægred upp gæð ætforan þære sunnan, swa scean Iohannes on haligre bodunge ætforan þam Hælende, 7 he wæs his bydel on his bodunge, 7 mid his fulluhte kydde Cristes fulluht toweard. Crist sylf cwæð be him, þæt ne come nateshwon betwux wifa bearnum nan mærra man ðonne he wæs; ac Crist næs na geteald to þissere wiðmetenysse, se þe acenned wæs of ðam clænan mædene. Ne awrat Iohannes nane boc synderlice, ac his dæda sind awritene on Drihtenes godspelle, þone he gefullode 7 his forerynel wæs on life ge on deaðe, 7 his hlisa nu stynt swa hwær swa cristendom bið 7 þa Cristes bec cumað.

eower Cristes bec sindon be Criste sylfum awriten. An ðæra awrat Matheus, þe mid þam Hælende wæs, his agen leorningcniht on þisum lif farende. 7 he his wundra geseah 7 awrat hi on þære bec, þe him to gemynde þa mihton becuman, on Ebreiscum gereorde æfter Cristes þrowunge on Iudea lande, þam þe gelyfdon on God; 7 he ys se forma godspellere on ðære gesetnisse. Marcus se godspellere, þe wæs mid Petre on lare, his agen godsunu on Godes lare geþogen, wrat þa oðre boc be Petres bodunge be ðam þe he geleornode of his larspellum on Romana byrig, swa swa he gebeden wæs þurh ða geleafullan, þe gelyfdon on God of þare burhware þurh Petres bodunge. Lucas se godspellere awrat ða þriddan boc, se ðe fram cildhade folgode þam apostolum 7 mid Paule siþþan siðode on his fare, 7 æt him leornode ða godspellican lare on clænisse lybbende, 7 awrat þa Cristes boc on Achaian lande mid Greciscum gereorde. Iohannes se apostol on Asian lande, swa swa þa biscopas bædon, began þa feorðan boc be Cristes godcundnysse, on Greciscum gereorde, 7 be ðære deopnysse, þe him Drihten awreah þa þa he hlinode on his luflicum breoste, on þam ðe wæs behydd se heofonlica goldhord.

as synd þa feower ean of anum wyllspringe, þe gað of Paradisum ofer Godes folc wide: 7 þas feower godspelleras wæron gefyrn getacnode, swa Ezechiel hi geseah, Matheus on mannes hiwe, Marcus on leon, Lucas on cealfes, Iohannes on earnes, for ðære getacnunge þe hig getacnodon. Matheus awrat be Cristes menniscnisse, 7 Marcus, swa swa leo hludswege, clipode on þam wildan mancynne swilce on westene, 7 Lucas be þam sacerde Zacharias ongann, þe cealf geoffrode on Godes onsægednisse, and Iohannes, swa swa earn, þa upplican digolnisse mid his scearpum eagum sceawode georne 7 be Cristes godcundnysse his godspell gesette.

as feower bec kyþað hu Crist com to mannum of Marian ðam mædene, middaneardes alysend on þære sixtan ylde þissere worulde, be þan ðe þa witegan hit gewriton on bocum on Bethleem birig binnan Iudea on Augustes dagum, þæs æðelan caseres, 7 englas þa kyddon his acennednysse mid heofonlicum sange fela þusenda. Ða comon þri ciningas to Criste mid lacum of eastrice feorran, 7 Herodes acwealde ealle þa litlan cild, þe on ðam lande wæron, þæt he Crist acwealde, ac he ne com him to na, for ðan ðe he mid swicdome hine swa sohte, 7 se yfela cining on yrmþum acweal. Ða bec us secgað swutelice be Criste, hu he wundra worhte 7 hu he wæs gefullod 7 hu he apostolas geceas, þæt sind ærendracan, twelf on anginne þa þa he ærest bodode. Þa sint gehatene þisum naman on bocum: Petrus 7 Andreas, Iacobus 7 Iohannes Thomas, Matthæus 7 se oðer Iacob, Philippus 7 Bartholomeus, Tatheus, Simon Cananæus 7 Paulus: ac Paulus wæs gecoren æfter Cristes upstige, 7 Mathias eac man geceas for Iudan, þe Crist belæwde 7 þa forloren wæs. Æfter þisum he geceas twa 7 hundseofonti to his lareowdome him to leorningcnihtum, þa he tosende geond eall to ælcere birig þider þe he towerd wæs, þæt mann wiste his cyme; ac we ne afundon na awritene heora naman on bocum. He wunode þa mid mannum on þisum middanearde þreo 7 þrittig geara 7 sumne eacan þærto, 7 cristendom arærde 7 kydde mid wundrum, swa swa his godspell secgað, þæt he Godes sunu ys, þa þa he þa deadan menn þurh his mihte arærde, 7 ælce untrumnysse eaðelice gehælde, 7 he wæter awende to winlicum drence, 7 ofer sæ eode eall drium fotum, 7 windas gestilde mid his wordes hæse, 7 deofla adræfde of gedrehtum wordum, 7 forgeaf gewitt æfter wodnysse. Eft siþþan he þrowode sylfwilles deað on rode ahangen for ure alysednysse, 7 of deaðe aras on þam ðriddan dæge, 7 astah to heofenum to his heofenlican fæder gewunnenum sige, 7 gewylt ealle þing, 7 cymð to demende eallum mancynne on þam micclan dæge, ælcum be his dædum. Ic secge þis sceortlice, for ðan þe ic gesett hæbbe of þisum feower bocum wel feowertig larspella on Engliscum gereorde 7 sumne eacan ðærto, þa þu miht rædan be þissere race on maran andgite, ðonne ic her secge.

a apostoli gesetton eac swilce larspell to þam leodscipum þe to geleafan bugon, þæt hi þurh ða mynegunge heora mod getrymdon on Cristes geleafan on þam cristendome, ðe þa niwan asprang on þære micclan niwan gecyðnysse. Petrvs se apostol awrat twegen pistolas, ac hig sind maran þonne man æt mæssan ræt, 7 habbað langne tige to geleafan trimminge, 7 hig synd to bocum getealde on þære bibliothecan. Iacob se rihtwisa awrat anne pistol miclene on lare mannum to understandenne, þam þe æniges cristendomes cepað on heora life. Iohannes se godspellere, Gode to wurðmynte, gesette ðri pistolas, þæt syndon þreo bec mid lufe afyllede folce to lare. Iudas se apostol awrat anne pistol na se forlorena Iudas þe ðone Hælend belæwde, ac se halga Iudas þe him æfre folgode. And her sind nu seofon bec on þissere gesetnisse

aulus se apostol awrat manega pistolas, for þan þe Crist hine gesette eallum þeodum to lareowe, 7 on soþre eufæstnysse he gesette ða þeawas, ðe þa geleafullan folc on heora life healdað, þa þe hig sylfe gelogiað 7 heora lif for Gode. Fiftyne pistolas awrat se an apostol to þam leodscipum, þe he to geleafan gebigde; þa syndon micele bec on þære bibliothecan 7 þa fremiað us to ure rihtinge, gif we þæs leoda lareowes lare folgiað. He awrat to þam Romaniscum anne, to Corinthios ii. eac to Galathas anne, to Ephesios anne, to Philipenses anne, to Thesalonicenses twegen, to Colosenses anne, eac to Ebreos anne, 7 to his agenum discipulum Timotheum twegen, 7 Titum anne, to Philemonem anne, to Laodicenses anne; ealles fiftyne, swa hlude swa ðunor, geleafullum folcum.