Balaam Blesses Israel

fro abuuen cam to him bi-neðen,
Word in herte ðat he ſal queðen;

Quan he cam to balaac a-gen,

4004

Swilc wurdes he let vt-ten.
God's word comes to Balaam,

"Hu mai ic ðat folc curſen on,
[Fol. 78.]

ðor louerd haueð bliſcing don?
ðiſ folk ſal waxen wel and ðen,

4008

And ouer al oðer migtful ben,
Hiſ lif beð bliðe, hiſ ending ſal,
ðe timeð al-ſo ðiſ timen ſal."
and he blesses Israel.

Balaac miſliked al ðiſ queðe,

4012

And ledde hem ðeðen on oðer ſtede,
To munt faga, for to ſen wel
Of folc iſrael ðe oðer del.
Balak is greatly displeased.

He wente on oðer ſtund or ſtede,

4016

Betre timing ðor-fore he it dede,
And wende wenden godes ðogt,
Oc al he ſwinked him for nogt.
He brings the prophet to another place.

Hef[t] haueð he mad her .vii. alter,

4020

And on ilc brend eft twin der.
Gede eft balaam up on-rum,
ðo ſeide ðuſ quanne hem cam dun,
Again seven altars were raised, and offerings made.

"ðis folc, ſprungen of iſrael,

4024

Iſ vnder god timed wel;
Al-ſo leun iſ migtful der,
The parable of Balaam.

So ſal ðiſ folc ben migtful her;
ðiſ leun ſal oðer folc freten,

4028

Lond canaan al preige bi-geten."
Israel is compared to a lion.

Ille liked ðanne balaac
Euerilc word ðe preſt balaam ſpac.
Balak was ill pleased with the priest's words.

Get he ledde him to munt fegor,

4032

And efte he ſacrede deres mor;
ðor ſpac balaam mikel mor
Of ðiſ folckes migt, or he dede or.
"folc ebru," quað he, "ðat ic ſe,
[Fol. 78b.]
Balak brings Balaam to Mount Peor.

4036

Bliſced ſal ben ðe bliſcede ðe;
Again he blesses the Israelites,

MS. dat.

MS. haued.

quede?

MS. dor.