[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.