54r La Nouvele Complainte doutremer

Here begins the New
Complainte¹ of Outremer
On account of the sufferings and the wretchedness
I see in humankind,
I must reveal my thoughts;
sighing, I must open
my mouth to say what I want to say
as an angry man, full of wrath.
When I think of the Holy Land
that sinners ought to retake
before they move beyond their youth,
and I see them enter into old age,
and then go from life to death,
and I see so few people commit themselves
to undertake the holy journey,
and do nothing to attract approval in the eyes of God,
my sense of charity fills me with anger;
because Saint Paul says, in truth,
"We are all one body in Jesus Christ".
So I demonstrate to you through scripture
that each one of us is a part of the other^{3Romans 12:5}.
And yet we are also like boarhounds
who fight over a bone.
I would say more, but I dare not.

You who have sense and wisdom,
I will have you know and understand
that the words of the prophecies
are rendered true by God:
He died on the cross for the
misdeeds that we and others have committed.
He will not die again, that is for sure.
Now it is we who ^{3see article by Tilander in re: piauz}mortgage our hides.
It is true what David says to us:
God is full of mercy,
but take note, there is a major restriction.
He is a Judge full of righteousness.
He is a Judge, strong and powerful,
and wise and very learned.
He is a Judge whom no one can bend,
nor can any man escape His court.
He is strong, so strong
that anyone who tries to best his strength is crazy.
He is so powerful that nothing escapes Him.
Why? Because He has everything under His mantle:
wise, for no one is able to deceive Him,
as anyone can see;
knowledgeable,
for He understands the case
before a man has even stated it.
Whoever should go before such a Judge,
finding neither refuge nor place to hide,
should be afraid if he is in the wrong,
if he has any common sense.

Princes, barons, tourneyers
and you other lay-abouts,
who tend to the comforts of your body,
when your soul is cast out
what refuge will it take?
Can you tell me that?
I don't know; God knows.
But I am complaining too much of your excesses
while you think neither of your own demise,
nor of the ultimate^{4add a footnote glossing "fin" and "pilgrimage"} pilgrimage
that refines the sinful soul,
so that it is rendered to God, more pure and perfect.
First of all, princes, you who do not know