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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.
[3] Whi ben we arettid as beestis, and han we be foule bifor thee?
[4] 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.
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