nor women be without modesty,
nor the lord be false in words,
nor must any Christian man shamefully strive.
Again, it is very contrary that the poor be proud,
and it is odious that a king be unrighteous;
also it is very hurtful that a bishop be careless,
and it is unprofitable that the folk be without a governor,
or without law, for the harm of them all.
It is for this world's safety that it have wise men,
and however many more there are of wise men on the earth's surface,
so much the better will it fare with the people's needs.
He is no wise man who liveth unwisely,
but such an one is an open sot, though it seem not so to himself.
If cowl-wearing men observe God's service
at set times, and live soberly,
and if the laity live according to right,
then know we for certain that God will provide
for our prosperity, and peace among us,
and, in addition thereto, give us the eternal mirth with Him.
If then the head-men, and the cowl-wearing teachers,
will not take care for this, but think of worldly things,
and care neither for God's commands, nor for His worship,
then will God manifest in them (their) contempt of Him,
either by hunger or by pestilence, that they may acknowledge
that the Almighty Ruler thus wreaketh contempt of Himself;
and they, in addition, shall suffer in the other life,
either for a long time or for ever, for their life's carelessness.
