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Heere men may seen, how synne hath his merite. |
| Beth war, for no man woot whom God wol smyte |
| In no degree, ne in which manere wyse |
280 | The worm of conscience may agryse |
| Of wikked lyf, though it so pryvee be |
| That no man woot therof but God and he. |
| For be he lewed man, or ellis lered, |
| He noot how soone that he shal been afered. |
285 | Therfore I rede yow this conseil take, |
| Forsaketh synne, er synne yow forsake. |
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Here may men see how sin has its desert! |
| Beware, for no man knows whom God will hurt, |
| Nor how profoundly, no, nor in what wise |
280 | The hidden worm of conscience terrifies |
| The wicked soul, though secret its deeds be |
| And no one knows thereof but God and he. |
| For be he ignorant or learned, yet |
| He cannot know when fear will make him sweat |
285 | Therefore I counsel you, this counsel take: |
| Forsake your sin before sin shall you forsake. |
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