Numbers 14:1-12

¹Therfor al the cumpeny criede, and wepte in that nyyt,

²and alle the sones of Israel grutchiden ayens Moises and Aaron, and seiden,

³We wolden that we hadden be deed in Egipt, and not in this waast wildirnesse ; we wolden that we perischen, and that the Lord lede vs not in to this lond, lest we fallen bi swerd, and oure wyues and fre children ben led prisoneris; whether it is not betere to turne ayen in to Egipt?

⁴And thei seiden oon to another, Ordeyne we a duyk to vs, and turne we ayen in to Egipt.

⁵And whanne this was herd, Moises and Aaron felden lowe to erthe, bifor al the multitude of the sones of Israel.

⁶And sotheli Josue, the sone of Nun, and Caleph, the sone of Jephone, whiche also cumpassiden the lond, to renten her clothis,

⁷and spaken to al the multitude of the sones of Israel, The lond which we cumpassiden is ful good;

⁸if the Lord is merciful to vs, he schal lede vs in to it, and schal yyue `to vs the lond flowynge with mylk and hony.

⁹Nyle ye be rebel ayens the Lord, nether drede ye the puple of this lond, for we moun deuoure hem so as breed; al her help passide awei fro hem, the Lord is with vs, nyle ye drede.

¹⁰And whanne al the multitude criede, and wolde oppresse hem with stonys, the glorie of the Lord apperide on the roof of the boond of pees, while alle the sones of Israel sien.

¹¹And the Lord seide to Moises, Hou long schal this puple bacbite me? Hou longe schulen thei not bileue to me in alle `signes, whiche Y haue do bifor hem?

¹²Therfor Y schal smyte hem with pestilence, and Y schal waste hem; forsothe Y schal make thee prince on a greet folk, and strongere than is this.