{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_124/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_124","id":"gutenberg_124","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/124","summary":null,"tags":["Apocryphal books (Old Testament)","Bible. Apocrypha","Category: History - Ancient","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Christianity"],"text":"Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible\n\n\nContents\n\n The First Book of Esdras\n The Second Book of Esdras [sometimes Fourth Book of Ezra]\n The Book of Tobit\n The Book of Judith\n The Greek Additions to Esther\n The Wisdom of Solomon\n The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)\n The Book of Baruch\n The Epistle (or letter) of Jeremiah\n The Song of the Three Holy Children\n The Book of Susanna (in Daniel)\n The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon\n The Prayer of Manasses\n The First Book of the Maccabees\n The Second Book of the Maccabees\n\n\n\n\nThe First Book of Esdras\n\n\n1:1 And Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his\nLord, and offered the passover the fourteenth day of the first month;\n\n1:2 Having set the priests according to their daily courses, being\narrayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord.\n\n1:3 And he spake unto the Levites, the holy ministers of Israel, that\nthey should hallow themselves unto the Lord, to set the holy ark of the\nLord in the house that king Solomon the son of David had built:\n\n1:4 And said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your shoulders: now\ntherefore serve the Lord your God, and minister unto his people Israel,\nand prepare you after your families and kindreds,\n\n1:5 According as David the king of Israel prescribed, and according to\nthe magnificence of Solomon his son: and standing in the temple\naccording to the several dignity of the families of you the Levites,\nwho minister in the presence of your brethren the children of Israel,\n\n1:6 Offer the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices for your\nbrethren, and keep the passover according to the commandment of the\nLord, which was given unto Moses.\n\n1:7 And unto the people that was found there Josias gave thirty\nthousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves: these things were\ngiven of the king\u2019s allowance, according as he promised, to the people,\nto the priests, and to the Levites.\n\n1:8 And Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors of the temple,\ngave to the priests for the passover two thousand and six hundred\nsheep, and three hundred calves.\n\n1:9 And Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Assabias,\nand Ochiel, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for\nthe passover five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.\n\n1:10 And when these things were done, the priests and Levites, having\nthe unleavened bread, stood in very comely order according to the\nkindreds,\n\n1:11 And according to the several dignities of the fathers, before the\npeople, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses:\nand thus did they in the morning.\n\n1:12 And they roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth: as for\nthe sacrifices, they sod them in brass pots and pans with a good\nsavour,\n\n1:13 And set them before all the people: and afterward they prepared\nfor themselves, and for the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.\n\n1:14 For the priests offered the fat until night: and the Levites\nprepared for themselves, and the priests their brethren, the sons of\nAaron.\n\n1:15 The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order,\naccording to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and\nJeduthun, who was of the king\u2019s retinue.\n\n1:16 Moreover the porters were at every gate; it was not lawful for any\nto go from his ordinary service: for their brethren the Levites\nprepared for them.\n\n1:17 Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord\naccomplished in that day, that they might hold the passover,\n\n1:18 And offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the\ncommandment of king Josias.\n\n1:19 So the children of Israel which were present held the passover at\nthat time, and the feast of sweet bread seven days.\n\n1:20 And such a passover was not kept in Israel since the time of the\nprophet Samuel.\n\n1:21 Yea, all the kings of Israel held not such a passover as Josias,\nand the priests, and the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel\nthat were found dwelling at Jerusalem.\n\n1:22 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this passover\nkept.\n\n1:23 And the works or Josias were upright before his Lord with an heart\nfull of godliness.\n\n1:24 As for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written\nin former times, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against\nthe Lord above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him\nexceedingly, so that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel.\n\n1:25 Now after all these acts of Josias it came to pass, that Pharaoh\nthe king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchamis upon Euphrates: and\nJosias went out against him.\n\n1:26 But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with\nthee, O king of Judea?\n\n1:27 I am not sent out from the Lord God against thee; for my war is\nupon Euphrates: and now the Lord is with me, yea, the Lord is with me\nhasting me forward: depart from me, and be not against the Lord.\n\n1:28 Howbeit Josias did not turn back his chariot from him, but\nundertook to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet\nJeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:\n\n1:29 But joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the\nprinces came against king Josias.\n\n1:30 Then said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of the\nbattle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants took him away\nout of the battle.\n\n1:31 Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to\nJerusalem died, and was buried in his father\u2019s sepulchre.\n\n1:32 And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet\nlamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women made lamentation\nfor him unto this day: and this was given out for an ordinance to be\ndone continually in all the nation of Israel.\n\n1:33 These things are written in the book of the stories of the kings\nof Judah, and every one of the acts that Josias did, and his glory, and\nhis understanding in the law of the Lord, and the things that he had\ndone before, and the things now recited, are reported in the book of\nthe kings of Israel and Judea.\n\n1:34 And the people took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king\ninstead of Josias his father, when he was twenty and three years old.\n\n1:35 And he reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and then\nthe king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem.\n\n1:36 And he set a tax upon the land of an hundred talents of silver and\none talent of gold.\n\n1:37 The king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king of Judea\nand Jerusalem.\n\n1:38 And he bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother he\napprehended, and brought him out of Egypt.\n\n1:39 Five and twenty years old was Joacim when he was made king in the\nland of Judea and Jerusalem; and he did evil before the Lord.\n\n1:40 Wherefore against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up,\nand bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him into Babylon.\n\n1:41 Nabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and\ncarried them away, and set them in his own temple at Babylon.\n\n1:42 But those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleaness\nand impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings.\n\n1:43 And Joacim his son reigned in his stead: he was made king being\neighteen years old;\n\n1:44 And reigned but three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did\nevil before the Lord.\n\n1:45 So after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought\ninto Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord;\n\n1:46 And made Zedechias king of Judea and Jerusalem, when he was one\nand twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years:\n\n1:47 And he did evil also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for\nthe words that were spoken unto him by the prophet Jeremy from the\nmouth of the Lord.\n\n1:48 And after that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by the\nname of the Lord, he forswore himself, and rebelled; and hardening his\nneck, his heart, he transgressed the laws of the Lord God of Israel.\n\n1:49 The governors also of the people and of the priests did many\nthings against the laws, and passed all the pollutions of all nations,\nand defiled the temple of the Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem.\n\n1:50 Nevertheless the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to\ncall them back, because he spared them and his tabernacle also.\n\n1:51 But they had his messengers in derision; and, look, when the Lord\nspake unto them, they made a sport of his prophets:\n\n1:52 So far forth, that he, being wroth with his people for their great\nungodliness, commanded the kings of the Chaldees to come up against\nthem;\n\n1:53 Who slew their young men with the sword, yea, even within the\ncompass of their holy temple, and spared neither young man nor maid,\nold man nor child, among them; for he delivered all into their hands.\n\n1:54 And they took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and\nsmall, with the vessels of the ark of God, and the king\u2019s treasures,\nand carried them away into Babylon.\n\n1:55 As for the house of the Lord, they burnt it, and brake down the\nwalls of Jerusalem, and set fire upon her towers:\n\n1:56 And as for her glorious things, they never ceased till they had\nconsumed and brought them all to nought: and the people that were not\nslain with the sword he carried unto Babylon:\n\n1:57 Who became servants to him and his children, till the Persians\nreigned, to fulfil the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremy:\n\n1:58 Until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her\ndesolation shall she rest, until the full term of seventy years.\n\n2:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of\nthe Lord might be accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of\nJeremy;\n\n2:2 The Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians,\nand he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,\n\n2:3 Saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel,\nthe most high Lord, hath made me king of the whole world,\n\n2:4 And commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.\n\n2:5 If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the\nLord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that\nis in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: for he is the\nLord that dwelleth in Jerusalem.\n\n2:6 Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those,\nI say, that are his neighbours, with gold, and with silver,\n\n2:7 With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which\nhave been set forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem.\n\n2:8 Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of\nBenjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they\nwhose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an house for the\nLord at Jerusalem,\n\n2:9 And they that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all things\nwith silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free\ngifts of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto.\n\n2:10 King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which\nNabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his\ntemple of idols.\n\n2:11 Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he\ndelivered them to Mithridates his treasurer:\n\n2:12 And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of\nJudea.\n\n2:13 And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a\nthousand of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold\nthirty, and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten, and a thousand\nother vessels.\n\n2:14 So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away,\nwere five thousand four hundred threescore and nine.\n\n2:15 These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the\ncaptivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem.\n\n2:16 But in the time of Artexerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and\nMithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and\nSemellius the secretary, with others that were in commission with them,\ndwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him against them that\ndwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following;\n\n2:17 To king Artexerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the\nstorywriter, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their council,\nand the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice.\n\n2:18 Be it now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from\nyou to us, being come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city,\ndo build the marketplaces, and repair the walls of it and do lay the\nfoundation of the temple.\n\n2:19 Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will\nnot only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.\n\n2:20 And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in\nhand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,\n\n2:21 But to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be\nthy pleasure it may be sought out in the books of thy fathers:\n\n2:22 And thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written concerning\nthese things, and shalt understand that that city was rebellious,\ntroubling both kings and cities:\n\n2:23 And that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein;\nfor the which cause even this city was made desolate.\n\n2:24 Wherefore now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that if\nthis city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt\nfrom henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice.\n\n2:25 Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to\nBeeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in\ncommission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phenice, after this\nmanner;\n\n2:26 I have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me: therefore I\ncommanded to make diligent search, and it hath been found that that\ncity was from the beginning practising against kings;\n\n2:27 And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that\nmighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted\ntributes in Celosyria and Phenice.\n\n2:28 Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building\nthe city, and heed to be taken that there be no more done in it;\n\n2:29 And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance\nof kings,\n\n2:30 Then king Artexerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and\nSemellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them,\nremoving in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a\nmultitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and\nthe building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of\nthe reign of Darius king of the Persians.\n\n3:1 Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his\nsubjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes of Media\nand Persia,\n\n3:2 And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were\nunder him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven\nprovinces.\n\n3:3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone\nhome, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and\nsoon after awaked.\n\n3:4 Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king\u2019s\nbody, spake one to another;\n\n3:5 Let every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, and\nwhose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him shall the\nking Darius give great gifts, and great things in token of victory:\n\n3:6 As, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon\ngold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an headtire of fine\nlinen, and a chain about his neck:\n\n3:7 And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be\ncalled Darius his cousin.\n\n3:8 And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under\nking Darius his pillow;\n\n3:9 And said that, when the king is risen, some will give him the\nwritings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia\nshall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory\nbe given, as was appointed.\n\n3:10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest.\n\n3:11 The second wrote, The king is strongest.\n\n3:12 The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth\nbeareth away the victory.\n\n3:13 Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and\ndelivered them unto him, and so he read them:\n\n3:14 And sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and Media,\nand the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants, and the chief\nofficers;\n\n3:15 And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings\nwere read before them.\n\n3:16 And he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their own\nsentences. So they were called, and came in.\n\n3:17 And he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the\nwritings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine;\n\n3:18 And he said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it\ncauseth all men to err that drink it:\n\n3:19 It maketh the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be\nall one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the\nrich:\n\n3:20 It turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a\nman remembereth neither sorrow nor debt:\n\n3:21 And it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither\nking nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by talents:\n\n3:22 And when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to\nfriends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords:\n\n3:23 But when they are from the wine, they remember not what they have\ndone.\n\n3:24 O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do thus?\nAnd when he had so spoken, he held his peace.\n\n4:1 Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began\nto say,\n\n4:2 O ye men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over sea and\nland and all things in them?\n\n4:3 But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these\nthings, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever he commandeth them\nthey do.\n\n4:4 If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: if\nhe send them out against the enemies, they go, and break down mountains\nwalls and towers.\n\n4:5 They slay and are slain, and transgress not the king\u2019s commandment:\nif they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil,\nas all things else.\n\n4:6 Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with\nwars, but use husbundry, when they have reaped again that which they\nhad sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay\ntribute unto the king.\n\n4:7 And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he\ncommand to spare, they spare;\n\n4:8 If he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate,\nthey make desolate; if he command to build, they build;\n\n4:9 If he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant,\nthey plant.\n\n4:10 So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lieth\ndown, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest:\n\n4:11 And these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart,\nand do his own business, neither disobey they him in any thing.\n\n4:12 O ye men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such sort\nhe is obeyed? And he held his tongue.\n\n4:13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this\nwas Zorobabel) began to speak.\n\n4:14 O ye men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men,\nneither is it wine, that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth them, or\nhath the lordship over them? are they not women?\n\n4:15 Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea\nand land.\n\n4:16 Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted\nthe vineyards, from whence the wine cometh.\n\n4:17 These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and\nwithout women cannot men be.\n\n4:18 Yea, and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any\nother goodly thing, do they not love a woman which is comely in favour\nand beauty?\n\n4:19 And letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even with\nopen mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have not all men more desire\nunto her than unto silver or gold, or any goodly thing whatsoever?\n\n4:20 A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own\ncountry, and cleaveth unto his wife.\n\n4:21 He sticketh not to spend his life with his wife, and remembereth\nneither father, nor mother, nor country.\n\n4:22 By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye\nnot labour and toil, and give and bring all to the woman?\n\n4:23 Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to\nsteal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;\n\n4:24 And looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he\nhath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.\n\n4:25 Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.\n\n4:26 Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and\nbecome servants for their sakes.\n\n4:27 Many also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.\n\n4:28 And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power?\ndo not all regions fear to touch him?\n\n4:29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king\u2019s concubine, the daughter of\nthe admirable Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king,\n\n4:30 And taking the crown from the king\u2019s head, and setting it upon her\nown head; she also struck the king with her left hand.\n\n4:31 And yet for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open\nmouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any\ndispleasure at him, the king was fain to flatter, that she might be\nreconciled to him again.\n\n4:32 O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do\nthus?\n\n4:33 Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began\nto speak of the truth.\n\n4:34 O ye men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the\nheaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens\nround about, and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one day.\n\n4:35 Is he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is the\ntruth, and stronger than all things.\n\n4:36 All the earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it:\nall works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing.\n\n4:37 Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the\nchildren of men are wicked, and such are all their wicked works; and\nthere is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall\nperish.\n\n4:38 As for the truth, it endureth, and is always strong; it liveth and\nconquereth for evermore.\n\n4:39 With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she\ndoeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unjust and\nwicked things; and all men do well like of her works.\n\n4:40 Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the\nstrength, kingdom, power, and majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God\nof truth.\n\n4:41 And with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted,\nand said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.\n\n4:42 Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is\nappointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, because thou art\nfound wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my\ncousin.\n\n4:43 Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast\nvowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,\n\n4:44 And to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of\nJerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and\nto send them again thither.\n\n4:45 Thou also hast vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites\nburned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldees.\n\n4:46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which\nI desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality proceeding from\nthyself: I desire therefore that thou make good the vow, the\nperformance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast vowed to the King of\nheaven.\n\n4:47 Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters\nfor him unto all the treasurers and lieutenants and captains and\ngovernors, that they should safely convey on their way both him, and\nall those that go up with him to build Jerusalem.\n\n4:48 He wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in Celosyria\nand Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar\nwood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city\nwith him.\n\n4:49 Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up\ninto Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no\nlieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors;\n\n4:50 And that all the country which they hold should be free without\ntribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the\nJews which then they held:\n\n4:51 Yea, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the\nbuilding of the temple, until the time that it were built;\n\n4:52 And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon\nthe altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen:\n\n4:53 And that all they that went from Babylon to build the city should\nhave free liberty, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests\nthat went away.\n\n4:54 He wrote also concerning the charges, and the priests\u2019 vestments\nwherein they minister;\n\n4:55 And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them\nuntil the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up.\n\n4:56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and\nwages.\n\n4:57 He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set\napart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he\nalso to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem.\n\n4:58 Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to\nheaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,\n\n4:59 And said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom, and\nthine is the glory, and I am thy servant.\n\n4:60 Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I give\nthanks, O Lord of our fathers.\n\n4:61 And so he took the letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon,\nand told it all his brethren.\n\n4:62 And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given\nthem freedom and liberty\n\n4:63 To go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called\nby his name: and they feasted with instruments of musick and gladness\nseven days.\n\n5:1 After this were the principal men of the families chosen according\nto their tribes, to go up with their wives and sons and daughters, with\ntheir menservants and maidservants, and their cattle.\n\n5:2 And Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen, till they had\nbrought them back to Jerusalem safely, and with musical [instruments]\ntabrets and flutes.\n\n5:3 And all their brethren played, and he made them go up together with\nthem.\n\n5:4 And these are the names of the men which went up, according to\ntheir families among their tribes, after their several heads.\n\n5:5 The priests, the sons of Phinees the son of Aaron: Jesus the son of\nJosedec, the son of Saraias, and Joacim the son of Zorobabel, the son\nof Salathiel, of the house of David, out of the kindred of Phares, of\nthe tribe of Judah;\n\n5:6 Who spake wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in the\nsecond year of his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month.\n\n5:7 And these are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity, where\nthey dwelt as strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had\ncarried away unto Babylon.\n\n5:8 And they returned unto Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry,\nevery man to his own city, who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus,\nNehemias, and Zacharias, and Reesaias, Enenius, Mardocheus, Beelsarus,\nAspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana, their guides.\n\n5:9 The number of them of the nation, and their governors, sons of\nPhoros, two thousand an hundred seventy and two; the sons of Saphat,\nfour hundred seventy and two:\n\n5:10 The sons of Ares, seven hundred fifty and six:\n\n5:11 The sons of Phaath Moab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve:\n\n5:12 The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four: the sons\nof Zathul, nine hundred forty and five: the sons of Corbe, seven\nhundred and five: the sons of Bani, six hundred forty and eight:\n\n5:13 The sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three: the sons of\nSadas, three thousand two hundred twenty and two:\n\n5:14 The sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and seven: the sons of\nBagoi, two thousand sixty and six: the sons of Adin, four hundred fifty\nand four:\n\n5:15 The sons of Aterezias, ninety and two: the sons of Ceilan and\nAzetas threescore and seven: the sons of Azuran, four hundred thirty\nand two:\n\n5:16 The sons of Ananias, an hundred and one: the sons of Arom, thirty\ntwo: and the sons of Bassa, three hundred twenty and three: the sons of\nAzephurith, an hundred and two:\n\n5:17 The sons of Meterus, three thousand and five: the sons of\nBethlomon, an hundred twenty and three:\n\n5:18 They of Netophah, fifty and five: they of Anathoth, an hundred\nfifty and eight: they of Bethsamos, forty and two:\n\n5:19 They of Kiriathiarius, twenty and five: they of Caphira and\nBeroth, seven hundred forty and three: they of Pira, seven hundred:\n\n5:20 They of Chadias and Ammidoi, four hundred twenty and two: they of\nCirama and Gabdes, six hundred twenty and one:\n\n5:21 They of Macalon, an hundred twenty and two: they of Betolius,\nfifty and two: the sons of Nephis, an hundred fifty and six:\n\n5:22 The sons of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred twenty and five:\nthe sons of Jerechus, two hundred forty and five:\n\n5:23 The sons of Annas, three thousand three hundred and thirty.\n\n5:24 The priests: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Jesus among the sons of\nSanasib, nine hundred seventy and two: the sons of Meruth, a thousand\nfifty and two:\n\n5:25 The sons of Phassaron, a thousand forty and seven: the sons of\nCarme, a thousand and seventeen.\n\n5:26 The Levites: the sons of Jessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and\nSudias, seventy and four.\n\n5:27 The holy singers: the sons of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.\n\n5:28 The porters: the sons of Salum, the sons of Jatal, the sons of\nTalmon, the sons of Dacobi, the sons of Teta, the sons of Sami, in all\nan hundred thirty and nine.\n\n5:29 The servants of the temple: the sons of Esau, the sons of Asipha,\nthe sons of Tabaoth, the sons of Ceras, the sons of Sud, the sons of\nPhaleas, the sons of Labana, the sons of Graba,\n\n5:30 The sons of Acua, the sons of Uta, the sons of Cetab, the sons of\nAgaba, the sons of Subai, the sons of Anan, the sons of Cathua, the\nsons of Geddur,\n\n5:31 The sons of Airus, the sons of Daisan, the sons of Noeba, the sons\nof Chaseba, the sons of Gazera, the sons of Azia, the sons of Phinees,\nthe sons of Azare, the sons of Bastai, the sons of Asana, the sons of\nMeani, the sons of Naphisi, the sons of Acub, the sons of Acipha, the\nsons of Assur, the sons of Pharacim, the sons of Basaloth,\n\n5:32 The sons of Meeda, the sons of Coutha, the sons of Charea, the\nsons of Charcus, the sons of Aserer, the sons of Thomoi, the sons of\nNasith, the sons of Atipha.\n\n5:33 The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Azaphion, the\nsons of Pharira, the sons of Jeeli, the sons of Lozon, the sons of\nIsrael, the sons of Sapheth,\n\n5:34 The sons of Hagia, the sons of Pharacareth, the sons of Sabi, the\nsons of Sarothie, the sons of Masias, the sons of Gar, the sons of\nAddus, the sons of Suba, the sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the\nsons of Sabat, the sons of Allom.\n\n5:35 All the ministers of the temple, and the sons of the servants of\nSolomon, were three hundred seventy and two.\n\n5:36 These came up from Thermeleth and Thelersas, Charaathalar leading\nthem, and Aalar;\n\n5:37 Neither could they shew their families, nor their stock, how they\nwere of Israel: the sons of Ladan, the son of Ban, the sons of Necodan,\nsix hundred fifty and two.\n\n5:38 And of the priests that usurped the office of the priesthood, and\nwere not found: the sons of Obdia, the sons of Accoz, the sons of\nAddus, who married Augia one of the daughters of Barzelus, and was\nnamed after his name.\n\n5:39 And when the description of the kindred of these men was sought in\nthe register, and was not found, they were removed from executing the\noffice of the priesthood:\n\n5:40 For unto them said Nehemias and Atharias, that they should not be\npartakers of the holy things, till there arose up an high priest\nclothed with doctrine and truth.\n\n5:41 So of Israel, from them of twelve years old and upward, they were\nall in number forty thousand, beside menservants and womenservants two\nthousand three hundred and sixty.\n\n5:42 Their menservants and handmaids were seven thousand three hundred\nforty and seven: the singing men and singing women, two hundred forty\nand five:\n\n5:43 Four hundred thirty and five camels, seven thousand thirty and six\nhorses, two hundred forty and five mules, five thousand five hundred\ntwenty and five beasts used to the yoke.\n\n5:44 And certain of the chief of their families, when they came to the\ntemple of God that is in Jerusalem, vowed to set up the house again in\nhis own place according to their ability,\n\n5:45 And to give into the holy treasury of the works a thousand pounds\nof gold, five thousand of silver, and an hundred priestly vestments.\n\n5:46 And so dwelt the priests and the Levites and the people in\nJerusalem, and in the country, the singers also and the porters; and\nall Israel in their villages.\n\n5:47 But when the seventh month was at hand, and when the children of\nIsrael were every man in his own place, they came all together with one\nconsent into the open place of the first gate which is toward the east.\n\n5:48 Then stood up Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren the\npriests and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and made\nready the altar of the God of Israel,\n\n5:49 To offer burnt sacrifices upon it, according as it is expressly\ncommanded in the book of Moses the man of God.\n\n5:50 And there were gathered unto them out of the other nations of the\nland, and they erected the altar upon his own place, because all the\nnations of the land were at enmity with them, and oppressed them; and\nthey offered sacrifices according to the time, and burnt offerings to\nthe Lord both morning and evening.\n\n5:51 Also they held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the\nlaw, and offered sacrifices daily, as was meet:\n\n5:52 And after that, the continual oblations, and the sacrifice of the\nsabbaths, and of the new moons, and of all holy feasts.\n\n5:53 And all they that had made any vow to God began to offer\nsacrifices to God from the first day of the seventh month, although the\ntemple of the Lord was not yet built.\n\n5:54 And they gave unto the masons and carpenters money, meat, and\ndrink, with cheerfulness.\n\n5:55 Unto them of Zidon also and Tyre they gave carrs, that they should\nbring cedar trees from Libanus, which should be brought by floats to\nthe haven of Joppa, according as it was commanded them by Cyrus king of\nthe Persians.\n\n5:56 And in the second year and second month after his coming to the\ntemple of God at Jerusalem began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and\nJesus the son of Josedec, and their brethren, and the priests, and the\nLevites, and all they that were come unto Jerusalem out of the\ncaptivity:\n\n5:57 And they laid the foundation of the house of God in the first day\nof the second month, in the second year after they were come to Jewry\nand Jerusalem.\n\n5:58 And they appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the\nworks of the Lord. Then stood up Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and\nCadmiel his brother, and the sons of Madiabun, with the sons of Joda\nthe son of Eliadun, with their sons and brethren, all Levites, with one\naccord setters forward of the business, labouring to advance the works\nin the house of God. So the workmen built the temple of the Lord.\n\n5:59 And the priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical\ninstruments and trumpets; and the Levites the sons of Asaph had\ncymbals,\n\n5:60 Singing songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, according as\nDavid the king of Israel had ordained.\n\n5:61 And they sung with loud voices songs to the praise of the Lord,\nbecause his mercy and glory is for ever in all Israel.\n\n5:62 And all the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud\nvoice, singing songs of thanksgiving unto the Lord for the rearing up\nof the house of the Lord.\n\n5:63 Also of the priests and Levites, and of the chief of their\nfamilies, the ancients who had seen the former house came to the\nbuilding of this with weeping and great crying.\n\n5:64 But many with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice,\n\n5:65 Insomuch that the trumpets might not be heard for the weeping of\nthe people: yet the multitude sounded marvellously, so that it was\nheard afar off.\n\n5:66 Wherefore when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin\nheard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets should mean.\n\n5:67 And they perceived that they that were of the captivity did build\nthe temple unto the Lord God of Israel.\n\n5:68 So they went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief of the\nfamilies, and said unto them, We will build together with you.\n\n5:69 For we likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto\nhim from the days of Azbazareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought\nus hither.\n\n5:70 Then Zorobabel and Jesus and the chief of the families of Israel\nsaid unto them, It is not for us and you to build together an house\nunto the Lord our God.\n\n5:71 We ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel, according\nas Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us.\n\n5:72 But the heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of\nJudea, and holding them strait, hindered their building;\n\n5:73 And by their secret plots, and popular persuasions and commotions,\nthey hindered the finishing of the building all the time that king\nCyrus lived: so they were hindered from building for the space of two\nyears, until the reign of Darius.\n\n6:1 Now in the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and Zacharias\nthe son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied unto the Jews in Jewry and\nJerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel, which was upon them.\n\n6:2 Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of\nJosedec, and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the\nprophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them.\n\n6:3 At the same time came unto them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and\nPhenice, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said unto them,\n\n6:4 By whose appointment do ye build this house and this roof, and\nperform all the other things? and who are the workmen that perform\nthese things?\n\n6:5 Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the\nLord had visited the captivity;\n\n6:6 And they were not hindered from building, until such time as\nsignification was given unto Darius concerning them, and an answer\nreceived.\n\n6:7 The copy of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and\nPhenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, rulers in Syria and\nPhenice, wrote and sent unto Darius; To king Darius, greeting:\n\n6:8 Let all things be known unto our lord the king, that being come\ninto the country of Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem we\nfound in the city of Jerusalem the ancients of the Jews that were of\nthe captivity\n\n6:9 Building an house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly\nstones, and the timber already laid upon the walls.\n\n6:10 And those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth on\nprosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence is it\nmade.\n\n6:11 Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye\nthis house, and lay the foundations of these works?\n\n6:12 Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by\nwriting, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required\nof them the names in writing of their principal men.\n\n6:13 So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which\nmade heaven and earth.\n\n6:14 And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of\nIsrael great and strong, and was finished.\n\n6:15 But when our fathers provoked God unto wrath, and sinned against\nthe Lord of Israel which is in heaven, he gave them over into the power\nof Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, of the Chaldees;\n\n6:16 Who pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the\npeople captives unto Babylon.\n\n6:17 But in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of\nBabylon Cyrus the king wrote to build up this house.\n\n6:18 And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor\nhad carried away out of the house at Jerusalem, and had set them in his\nown temple those Cyrus the king brought forth again out of the temple\nat Babylon, and they were delivered to Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus\nthe ruler,\n\n6:19 With commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and\nput them in the temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord\nshould be built in his place.\n\n6:20 Then the same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the\nfoundations of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; and from that time\nto this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.\n\n6:21 Now therefore, if it seem good unto the king, let search be made\namong the records of king Cyrus:\n\n6:22 And if it be found that the building of the house of the Lord at\nJerusalem hath been done with the consent of king Cyrus, and if our\nlord the king be so minded, let him signify unto us thereof.\n\n6:23 Then commanded king Darius to seek among the records at Babylon:\nand so at Ecbatane the palace, which is in the country of Media, there\nwas found a roll wherein these things were recorded.\n\n6:24 In the first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded that\nthe house of the Lord at Jerusalem should be built again, where they do\nsacrifice with continual fire:\n\n6:25 Whose height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits,\nwith three rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that\ncountry; and the expences thereof to be given out of the house of king\nCyrus:\n\n6:26 And that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold\nand silver, that Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at Jerusalem, and\nbrought to Babylon, should be restored to the house at Jerusalem, and\nbe set in the place where they were before.\n\n6:27 And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and\nPhenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were\nappointed rulers in Syria and Phenice, should be careful not to meddle\nwith the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and\ngovernor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews, to build the house of\nthe Lord in that place.\n\n6:28 I have commanded also to have it built up whole again; and that\nthey look diligently to help those that be of the captivity of the\nJews, till the house of the Lord be finished:\n\n6:29 And out of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion\ncarefully to be given these men for the sacrifices of the Lord, that\nis, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and lambs;\n\n6:30 And also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every\nyear without further question, according as the priests that be in\nJerusalem shall signify to be daily spent:\n\n6:31 That offerings may be made to the most high God for the king and\nfor his children, and that they may pray for their lives.\n\n6:32 And he commanded that whosoever should transgress, yea, or make\nlight of any thing afore spoken or written, out of his own house should\na tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged, and all his goods seized for\nthe king.\n\n6:33 The Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly\ndestroy every king and nation, that stretcheth out his hand to hinder\nor endamage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.\n\n6:34 I Darius the king have ordained that according unto these things\nit be done with diligence.\n\n7:1 Then Sisinnes the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, and\nSathrabuzanes, with their companions following the commandments of king\nDarius,\n\n7:2 Did very carefully oversee the holy works, assisting the ancients\nof the Jews and governors of the temple.\n\n7:3 And so the holy works prospered, when Aggeus and Zacharias the\nprophets prophesied.\n\n7:4 And they finished these things by the commandment of the Lord God\nof Israel, and with the consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Artexerxes, kings\nof Persia.\n\n7:5 And thus was the holy house finished in the three and twentieth day\nof the month Adar, in the sixth year of Darius king of the Persians\n\n7:6 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and\nothers that were of the captivity, that were added unto them, did\naccording to the things written in the book of Moses.\n\n7:7 And to the dedication of the temple of the Lord they offered an\nhundred bullocks two hundred rams, four hundred lambs;\n\n7:8 And twelve goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number\nof the chief of the tribes of Israel.\n\n7:9 The priests also and the Levites stood arrayed in their vestments,\naccording to their kindreds, in the service of the Lord God of Israel,\naccording to the book of Moses: and the porters at every gate.\n\n7:10 And the children of Israel that were of the captivity held the\npassover the fourteenth day of the first month, after that the priests\nand the Levites were sanctified.\n\n7:11 They that were of the captivity were not all sanctified together:\nbut the Levites were all sanctified together.\n\n7:12 And so they offered the passover for all them of the captivity,\nand for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.\n\n7:13 And the children of Israel that came out of the captivity did eat,\neven all they that had separated themselves from the abominations of\nthe people of the land, and sought the Lord.\n\n7:14 And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, making\nmerry before the Lord,\n\n7:15 For that he had turned the counsel of the king of Assyria toward\nthem, to strengthen their hands in the works of the Lord God of Israel.\n\n8:1 And after these things, when Artexerxes the king of the Persians\nreigned came Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of Ezerias, the son of\nHelchiah, the son of Salum,\n\n8:2 The son of Sadduc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amarias, the son\nof Ezias, the son of Meremoth, the son of Zaraias, the son of Savias,\nthe son of Boccas, the son of Abisum, the son of Phinees, the son of\nEleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest.\n\n8:3 This Esdras went up from Babylon, as a scribe, being very ready in\nthe law of Moses, that was given by the God of Israel.\n\n8:4 And the king did him honour: for he found grace in his sight in all\nhis requests.\n\n8:5 There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, of\nthe priest of the Levites, of the holy singers, porters, and ministers\nof the temple, unto Jerusalem,\n\n8:6 In the seventh year of the reign of Artexerxes, in the fifth month,\nthis was the king\u2019s seventh year; for they went from Babylon in the\nfirst day of the first month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the\nprosperous journey which the Lord gave them.\n\n8:7 For Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the\nlaw and commandments of the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances\nand judgments.\n\n8:8 Now the copy of the commission, which was written from Artexerxes\nthe king, and came to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the\nLord, is this that followeth;\n\n8:9 King Artexerxes unto Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the\nLord sendeth greeting:\n\n8:10 Having determined to deal graciously, I have given order, that\nsuch of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites being\nwithin our realm, as are willing and desirous should go with thee unto\nJerusalem.\n\n8:11 As many therefore as have a mind thereunto, let them depart with\nthee, as it hath seemed good both to me and my seven friends the\ncounsellors;\n\n8:12 That they may look unto the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem,\nagreeably to that which is in the law of the Lord;\n\n8:13 And carry the gifts unto the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I\nand my friends have vowed, and all the gold and silver that in the\ncountry of Babylon can be found, to the Lord in Jerusalem,\n\n8:14 With that also which is given of the people for the temple of the\nLord their God at Jerusalem: and that silver and gold may be collected\nfor bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things thereunto appertaining;\n\n8:15 To the end that they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord upon the\naltar of the Lord their God, which is in Jerusalem.\n\n8:16 And whatsoever thou and thy brethren will do with the silver and\ngold, that do, according to the will of thy God.\n\n8:17 And the holy vessels of the Lord, which are given thee for the use\nof the temple of thy God, which is in Jerusalem, thou shalt set before\nthy God in Jerusalem.\n\n8:18 And whatsoever thing else thou shalt remember for the use of the\ntemple of thy God, thou shalt give it out of the king\u2019s treasury.\n\n8:19 And I king Artexerxes have also commanded the keepers of the\ntreasures in Syria and Phenice, that whatsoever Esdras the priest and\nthe reader of the law of the most high God shall send for, they should\ngive it him with speed,\n\n8:20 To the sum of an hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat\neven to an hundred cors, and an hundred pieces of wine, and other\nthings in abundance.\n\n8:21 Let all things be performed after the law of God diligently unto\nthe most high God, that wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and\nhis sons.\n\n8:22 I command you also, that ye require no tax, nor any other\nimposition, of any of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or\nporters, or ministers of the temple, or of any that have doings in this\ntemple, and that no man have authority to impose any thing upon them.\n\n8:23 And thou, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God ordain judges and\njustices, that they may judge in all Syria and Phenice all those that\nknow the law of thy God; and those that know it not thou shalt teach.\n\n8:24 And whosoever shall transgress the law of thy God, and of the\nking, shall be punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other\npunishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment.\n\n8:25 Then said Esdras the scribe, Blessed be the only Lord God of my\nfathers, who hath put these things into the heart of the king, to\nglorify his house that is in Jerusalem:\n\n8:26 And hath honoured me in the sight of the king, and his\ncounsellors, and all his friends and nobles.\n\n8:27 Therefore was I encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and\ngathered together men of Israel to go up with me.\n\n8:28 And these are the chief according to their families and several\ndignities, that went up with me from Babylon in the reign of king\nArtexerxes:\n\n8:29 Of the sons of Phinees, Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of\nthe sons of David, Lettus the son of Sechenias:\n\n8:30 Of the sons of Pharez, Zacharias; and with him were counted an\nhundred and fifty men:\n\n8:31 Of the sons of Pahath Moab, Eliaonias, the son of Zaraias, and\nwith him two hundred men:\n\n8:32 Of the sons of Zathoe, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him\nthree hundred men: of the sons of Adin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and\nwith him two hundred and fifty men:\n\n8:33 Of the sons of Elam, Josias son of Gotholias, and with him seventy\nmen:\n\n8:34 Of the sons of Saphatias, Zaraias son of Michael, and with him\nthreescore and ten men:\n\n8:35 Of the sons of Joab, Abadias son of Jezelus, and with him two\nhundred and twelve men:\n\n8:36 Of the sons of Banid, Assalimoth son of Josaphias, and with him an\nhundred and threescore men:\n\n8:37 Of the sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty\nand eight men:\n\n8:38 Of the sons of Astath, Johannes son of Acatan, and with him an\nhundred and ten men:\n\n8:39 Of the sons of Adonikam the last, and these are the names of them,\nEliphalet, Jewel, and Samaias, and with them seventy men:\n\n8:40 Of the sons of Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him\nseventy men.\n\n8:41 And these I gathered together to the river called Theras, where we\npitched our tents three days: and then I surveyed them.\n\n8:42 But when I had found there none of the priests and Levites,\n\n8:43 Then sent I unto Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman,\n\n8:44 And Alnathan, and Mamaias, and Joribas, and Nathan, Eunatan,\nZacharias, and Mosollamon, principal men and learned.\n\n8:45 And I bade them that they should go unto Saddeus the captain, who\nwas in the place of the treasury:\n\n8:46 And commanded them that they should speak unto Daddeus, and to his\nbrethren, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as\nmight execute the priests\u2019 office in the house of the Lord.\n\n8:47 And by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought unto us skilful\nmen of the sons of Moli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Asebebia,\nand his sons, and his brethren, who were eighteen.\n\n8:48 And Asebia, and Annus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of\nChannuneus, and their sons, were twenty men.\n\n8:49 And of the servants of the temple whom David had ordained, and the\nprincipal men for the service of the Levites to wit, the servants of\nthe temple two hundred and twenty, the catalogue of whose names were\nshewed.\n\n8:50 And there I vowed a fast unto the young men before our Lord, to\ndesire of him a prosperous journey both for us and them that were with\nus, for our children, and for the cattle:\n\n8:51 For I was ashamed to ask the king footmen, and horsemen, and\nconduct for safeguard against our adversaries.\n\n8:52 For we had said unto the king, that the power of the Lord our God\nshould be with them that seek him, to support them in all ways.\n\n8:53 And again we besought our Lord as touching these things, and found\nhim favourable unto us.\n\n8:54 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Esebrias, and\nAssanias, and ten men of their brethren with them:\n\n8:55 And I weighed them the gold, and the silver, and the holy vessels\nof the house of our Lord, which the king, and his council, and the\nprinces, and all Israel, had given.\n\n8:56 And when I had weighed it, I delivered unto them six hundred and\nfifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of an hundred talents, and\nan hundred talents of gold,\n\n8:57 And twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of\nfine brass, glittering like gold.\n\n8:58 And I said unto them, Both ye are holy unto the Lord, and the\nvessels are holy, and the gold and the silver is a vow unto the Lord,\nthe Lord of our fathers.\n\n8:59 Watch ye, and keep them till ye deliver them to the chief of the\npriests and Levites, and to the principal men of the families of\nIsrael, in Jerusalem, into the chambers of the house of our God.\n\n8:60 So the priests and the Levites, who had received the silver and\nthe gold and the vessels, brought them unto Jerusalem, into the temple\nof the Lord.\n\n8:61 And from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first\nmonth, and came to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was\nwith us: and from the beginning of our journey the Lord delivered us\nfrom every enemy, and so we came to Jerusalem.\n\n8:62 And when we had been there three days, the gold and silver that\nwas weighed was delivered in the house of our Lord on the fourth day\nunto Marmoth the priest the son of Iri.\n\n8:63 And with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were\nJosabad the son of Jesu and Moeth the son of Sabban, Levites: all was\ndelivered them by number and weight.\n\n8:64 And all the weight of them was written up the same hour.\n\n8:65 Moreover they that were come out of the captivity offered\nsacrifice unto the Lord God of Israel, even twelve bullocks for all\nIsrael, fourscore and sixteen rams,\n\n8:66 Threescore and twelve lambs, goats for a peace offering, twelve;\nall of them a sacrifice to the Lord.\n\n8:67 And they delivered the king\u2019s commandments unto the king\u2019s\nstewards\u2019 and to the governors of Celosyria and Phenice; and they\nhonoured the people and the temple of God.\n\n8:68 Now when these things were done, the rulers came unto me, and\nsaid,\n\n8:69 The nation of Israel, the princes, the priests and Levites, have\nnot put away from them the strange people of the land, nor the\npollutions of the Gentiles to wit, of the Canaanites, Hittites,\nPheresites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites.\n\n8:70 For both they and their sons have married with their daughters,\nand the holy seed is mixed with the strange people of the land; and\nfrom the beginning of this matter the rulers and the great men have\nbeen partakers of this iniquity.\n\n8:71 And as soon as I had heard these things, I rent my clothes, and\nthe holy garment, and pulled off the hair from off my head and beard,\nand sat me down sad and very heavy.\n\n8:72 So all they that were then moved at the word of the Lord God of\nIsrael assembled unto me, whilst I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat\nstill full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice.\n\n8:73 Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and the holy garment\nrent, and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands unto the Lord,\n\n8:74 I said, O Lord, I am confounded and ashamed before thy face;\n\n8:75 For our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our ignorances\nhave reached up unto heaven.\n\n8:76 For ever since the time of our fathers we have been and are in\ngreat sin, even unto this day.\n\n8:77 And for our sins and our fathers\u2019 we with our brethren and our\nkings and our priests were given up unto the kings of the earth, to the\nsword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, unto this day.\n\n8:78 And now in some measure hath mercy been shewed unto us from thee,\nO Lord, that there should be left us a root and a name in the place of\nthy sanctuary;\n\n8:79 And to discover unto us a light in the house of the Lord our God,\nand to give us food in the time of our servitude.\n\n8:80 Yea, when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our Lord;\nbut he made us gracious before the kings of Persia, so that they gave\nus food;\n\n8:81 Yea, and honoured the temple of our Lord, and raised up the\ndesolate Sion, that they have given us a sure abiding in Jewry and\nJerusalem.\n\n8:82 And now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for we\nhave transgressed thy commandments, which thou gavest by the hand of\nthy servants the prophets, saying,\n\n8:83 That the land, which ye enter into to possess as an heritage, is a\nland polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and\nthey have filled it with their uncleanness.\n\n8:84 Therefore now shall ye not join your daughters unto their sons,\nneither shall ye take their daughters unto your sons.\n\n8:85 Moreover ye shall never seek to have peace with them, that ye may\nbe strong, and eat the good things of the land, and that ye may leave\nthe inheritance of the land unto your children for evermore.\n\n8:86 And all that is befallen is done unto us for our wicked works and\ngreat sins; for thou, O Lord, didst make our sins light,\n\n8:87 And didst give unto us such a root: but we have turned back again\nto transgress thy law, and to mingle ourselves with the uncleanness of\nthe nations of the land.\n\n8:88 Mightest not thou be angry with us to destroy us, till thou hadst\nleft us neither root, seed, nor name?\n\n8:89 O Lord of Israel, thou art true: for we are left a root this day.\n\n8:90 Behold, now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot\nstand any longer by reason of these things before thee.\n\n8:91 And as Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and\nlying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered unto him\nfrom Jerusalem a very great multitude of men and women and children:\nfor there was great weeping among the multitude.\n\n8:92 Then Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel,\ncalled out, and said, O Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord God, we\nhave married strange women of the nations of the land, and now is all\nIsrael aloft.\n\n8:93 Let us make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all our\nwives, which we have taken of the heathen, with their children,\n\n8:94 Like as thou hast decreed, and as many as do obey the law of the\nLord.\n\n8:95 Arise and put in execution: for to thee doth this matter\nappertain, and we will be with thee: do valiantly.\n\n8:96 So Esdras arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests and\nLevites of all Israel to do after these things; and so they sware.\n\n9:1 Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber\nof Joanan the son of Eliasib,\n\n9:2 And remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning\nfor the great iniquities of the multitude.\n\n9:3 And there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them\nthat were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at\nJerusalem:\n\n9:4 And that whosoever met not there within two or three days according\nas the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized\nto the use of the temple, and himself cast out from them that were of\nthe captivity.\n\n9:5 And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin\ngathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.\n\n9:6 And all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the\ntemple because of the present foul weather.\n\n9:7 So Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the\nlaw in marrying strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.\n\n9:8 And now by confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,\n\n9:9 And do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the\nland, and from the strange women.\n\n9:10 Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like\nas thou hast spoken, so will we do.\n\n9:11 But forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather, so\nthat we cannot stand without, and this is not a work of a day or two,\nseeing our sin in these things is spread far:\n\n9:12 Therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them\nof our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,\n\n9:13 And with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn\naway the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.\n\n9:14 Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus\naccordingly took this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and\nSabbatheus helped them.\n\n9:15 And they that were of the captivity did according to all these\nthings.\n\n9:16 And Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of their\nfamilies, all by name: and in the first day of the tenth month they sat\ntogether to examine the matter.\n\n9:17 So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end in\nthe first day of the first month.\n\n9:18 And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives,\nthere were found:\n\n9:19 Of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren;\nMatthelas and Eleazar, and Joribus and Joadanus.\n\n9:20 And they gave their hands to put away their wives and to offer\nrams to make reconcilement for their errors.\n\n9:21 And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and\nSameius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.\n\n9:22 And of the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and\nNathanael, and Ocidelus and Talsas.\n\n9:23 And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called\nCalitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.\n\n9:24 Of the holy singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus.\n\n9:25 Of the porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes.\n\n9:26 Of them of Israel, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and\nMelchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Baanias.\n\n9:27 Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and\nHieremoth, and Aedias.\n\n9:28 And of the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth,\nand Sabatus, and Sardeus.\n\n9:29 Of the sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and\nAmatheis.\n\n9:30 Of the sons of Mani; Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael,\nand Hieremoth.\n\n9:31 And of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and\nNaidus, and Mathanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.\n\n9:32 And of the sons of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias, and\nSabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.\n\n9:33 And of the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia,\nEliphalet, and Manasses, and Semei.\n\n9:34 And of the sons of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai,\nand Pelias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus,\nEliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of\nOzora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambis, Josephus.\n\n9:35 And of the sons of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel,\nBanaias.\n\n9:36 All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with\ntheir children.\n\n9:37 And the priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt\nin Jerusalem, and in the country, in the first day of the seventh\nmonth: so the children of Israel were in their habitations.\n\n9:38 And the whole multitude came together with one accord into the\nbroad place of the holy porch toward the east:\n\n9:39 And they spake unto Esdras the priest and reader, that he would\nbring the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord God of Israel.\n\n9:40 So Esdras the chief priest brought the law unto the whole\nmultitude from man to woman, and to all the priests, to hear law in the\nfirst day of the seventh month.\n\n9:41 And he read in the broad court before the holy porch from morning\nunto midday, before both men and women; and the multitude gave heed\nunto the law.\n\n9:42 And Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon a pulpit\nof wood, which was made for that purpose.\n\n9:43 And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias,\nUrias, Ezecias, Balasamus, upon the right hand:\n\n9:44 And upon his left hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchias,\nLothasubus, and Nabarias.\n\n9:45 Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude: for he\nsat honourably in the first place in the sight of them all.\n\n9:46 And when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras\nblessed the Lord God most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.\n\n9:47 And all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they\nfell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.\n\n9:48 Also Jesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas,\nMaianeas, and Calitas, Asrias, and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the\nLevites, taught the law of the Lord, making them withal to understand\nit.\n\n9:49 Then spake Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest and reader, and\nto the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, saying,\n\n9:50 This day is holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard\nthe law:)\n\n9:51 Go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to\nthem that have nothing;\n\n9:52 For this day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the\nLord will bring you to honour.\n\n9:53 So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, This\nday is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful.\n\n9:54 Then went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make\nmerry, and to give part to them that had nothing, and to make great\ncheer;\n\n9:55 Because they understood the words wherein they were instructed,\nand for the which they had been assembled.\n\n\n\n\nThe Second Book of Esdras\n\n\n1:1 The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son\nof Azarias, the son of Helchias, the son of Sadamias, the sou of Sadoc,\nthe son of Achitob,\n\n1:2 The son of Achias, the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of\nAmarias, the son of Aziei, the son of Marimoth, the son of And he spake\nunto the of Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of\nEleazar,\n\n1:3 The son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi; which was captive in the\nland of the Medes, in the reign of Artexerxes king of the Persians.\n\n1:4 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,\n\n1:5 Go thy way, and shew my people their sinful deeds, and their\nchildren their wickedness which they have done against me; that they\nmay tell their children\u2019s children:\n\n1:6 Because the sins of their fathers are increased in them: for they\nhave forgotten me, and have offered unto strange gods.\n\n1:7 Am not I even he that brought them out of the land of Egypt, from\nthe house of bondage? but they have provoked me unto wrath, and\ndespised my counsels.\n\n1:8 Pull thou off then the hair of thy head, and cast all evil upon\nthem, for they have not been obedient unto my law, but it is a\nrebellious people.\n\n1:9 How long shall I forbear them, into whom I have done so much good?\n\n1:10 Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his\nservants and all his power have I smitten down.\n\n1:11 All the nations have I destroyed before them, and in the east I\nhave scattered the people of two provinces, even of Tyrus and Sidon,\nand have slain all their enemies.\n\n1:12 Speak thou therefore unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord,\n\n1:13 I led you through the sea and in the beginning gave you a large\nand safe passage; I gave you Moses for a leader, and Aaron for a\npriest.\n\n1:14 I gave you light in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I\ndone among you; yet have ye forgotten me, saith the Lord.\n\n1:15 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I\ngave you tents for your safeguard: nevertheless ye murmured there,\n\n1:16 And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies,\nbut ever to this day do ye yet murmur.\n\n1:17 Where are the benefits that I have done for you? when ye were\nhungry and thirsty in the wilderness, did ye not cry unto me,\n\n1:18 Saying, Why hast thou brought us into this wilderness to kill us?\nit had been better for us to have served the Egyptians, than to die in\nthis wilderness.\n\n1:19 Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so\nye did eat angels\u2019 bread.\n\n1:20 When ye were thirsty, did I not cleave the rock, and waters flowed\nout to your fill? for the heat I covered you with the leaves of the\ntrees.\n\n1:21 I divided among you a fruitful land, I cast out the Canaanites,\nthe Pherezites, and the Philistines, before you: what shall I yet do\nmore for you? saith the Lord.\n\n1:22 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, When ye were in the wilderness, in\nthe river of the Amorites, being athirst, and blaspheming my name,\n\n1:23 I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the\nwater, and made the river sweet.\n\n1:24 What shall I do unto thee, O Jacob? thou, Juda, wouldest not obey\nme: I will turn me to other nations, and unto those will I give my\nname, that they may keep my statutes.\n\n1:25 Seeing ye have forsaken me, I will forsake you also; when ye\ndesire me to be gracious unto you, I shall have no mercy upon you.\n\n1:26 Whensoever ye shall call upon me, I will not hear you: for ye have\ndefiled your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit\nmanslaughter.\n\n1:27 Ye have not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the\nLord.\n\n1:28 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father\nhis sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes,\n\n1:29 That ye would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye\nwould be my children, and I should be your father?\n\n1:30 I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her\nwings: but now, what shall I do unto you? I will cast you out from my\nface.\n\n1:31 When ye offer unto me, I will turn my face from you: for your\nsolemn feastdays, your new moons, and your circumcisions, have I\nforsaken.\n\n1:32 I sent unto you my servants the prophets, whom ye have taken and\nslain, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of\nyour hands, saith the Lord.\n\n1:33 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast\nyou out as the wind doth stubble.\n\n1:34 And your children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my\ncommandment, and done the thing that is an evil before me.\n\n1:35 Your houses will I give to a people that shall come; which not\nhaving heard of me yet shall believe me; to whom I have shewed no\nsigns, yet they shall do that I have commanded them.\n\n1:36 They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to\nremembrance, and acknowledge them.\n\n1:37 I take to witness the grace of the people to come, whose little\nones rejoice in gladness: and though they have not seen me with bodily\neyes, yet in spirit they believe the thing that I say.\n\n1:38 And now, brother, behold what glory; and see the people that come\nfrom the east:\n\n1:39 Unto whom I will give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,\nOseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel, Abdias, and Jonas,\n\n1:40 Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary, and Malachy, which\nis called also an angel of the Lord.\n\n2:1 Thus saith the Lord, I brought this people out of bondage, and I\ngave them my commandments by menservants the prophets; whom they would\nnot hear, but despised my counsels.\n\n2:2 The mother that bare them saith unto them, Go your way, ye\nchildren; for I am a widow and forsaken.\n\n2:3 I brought you up with gladness; but with sorrow and heaviness have\nI lost you: for ye have sinned before the Lord your God, and done that\nthing that is evil before him.\n\n2:4 But what shall I now do unto you? I am a widow and forsaken: go\nyour way, O my children, and ask mercy of the Lord.\n\n2:5 As for me, O father, I call upon thee for a witness over the mother\nof these children, which would not keep my covenant,\n\n2:6 That thou bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil,\nthat there may be no offspring of them.\n\n2:7 Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen, let their names be\nput out of the earth: for they have despised my covenant.\n\n2:8 Woe be unto thee, Assur, thou that hidest the unrighteous in thee!\nO thou wicked people, remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrha;\n\n2:9 Whose land lieth in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes: even so also\nwill I do unto them that hear me not, saith the Almighty Lord.\n\n2:10 Thus saith the Lord unto Esdras, Tell my people that I will give\nthem the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I would have given unto Israel.\n\n2:11 Their glory also will I take unto me, and give these the\neverlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for them.\n\n2:12 They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour;\nthey shall neither labour, nor be weary.\n\n2:13 Go, and ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they\nmay be shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.\n\n2:14 Take heaven and earth to witness; for I have broken the evil in\npieces, and created the good: for I live, saith the Lord.\n\n2:15 Mother, embrace thy children, and bring them up with gladness,\nmake their feet as fast as a pillar: for I have chosen thee, saith the\nLord.\n\n2:16 And those that be dead will I raise up again from their places,\nand bring them out of the graves: for I have known my name in Israel.\n\n2:17 Fear not, thou mother of the children: for I have chosen thee,\nsaith the Lord.\n\n2:18 For thy help will I send my servants Esau and Jeremy, after whose\ncounsel I have sanctified and prepared for thee twelve trees laden with\ndivers fruits,\n\n2:19 And as many fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven\nmighty mountains, whereupon there grow roses and lilies, whereby I will\nfill thy children with joy.\n\n2:20 Do right to the widow, judge for the fatherless, give to the poor,\ndefend the orphan, clothe the naked,\n\n2:21 Heal the broken and the weak, laugh not a lame man to scorn,\ndefend the maimed, and let the blind man come into the sight of my\nclearness.\n\n2:22 Keep the old and young within thy walls.\n\n2:23 Wheresoever thou findest the dead, take them and bury them, and I\nwill give thee the first place in my resurrection.\n\n2:24 Abide still, O my people, and take thy rest, for thy quietness\nstill come.\n\n2:25 Nourish thy children, O thou good nurse; stablish their feet.\n\n2:26 As for the servants whom I have given thee, there shall not one of\nthem perish; for I will require them from among thy number.\n\n2:27 Be not weary: for when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh,\nothers shall weep and be sorrowful, but thou shalt be merry and have\nabundance.\n\n2:28 The heathen shall envy thee, but they shall be able to do nothing\nagainst thee, saith the Lord.\n\n2:29 My hands shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see\nhell.\n\n2:30 Be joyful, O thou mother, with thy children; for I will deliver\nthee, saith the Lord.\n\n2:31 Remember thy children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of\nthe sides of the earth, and shew mercy unto them: for I am merciful,\nsaith the Lord Almighty.\n\n2:32 Embrace thy children until I come and shew mercy unto them: for my\nwells run over, and my grace shall not fail.\n\n2:33 I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I\nshould go unto Israel; but when I came unto them, they set me at\nnought, and despised the commandment of the Lord.\n\n2:34 And therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and\nunderstand, look for your Shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest;\nfor he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world.\n\n2:35 Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light\nshall shine upon you for evermore.\n\n2:36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your\nglory: I testify my Saviour openly.\n\n2:37 O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks\nunto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom.\n\n2:38 Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in\nthe feast of the Lord;\n\n2:39 Which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received\nglorious garments of the Lord.\n\n2:40 Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are\nclothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.\n\n2:41 The number of thy children, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled:\nbeseech the power of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called\nfrom the beginning, may be hallowed.\n\n2:42 I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not\nnumber, and they all praised the Lord with songs.\n\n2:43 And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature,\ntaller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set\ncrowns, and was more exalted; which I marvelled at greatly.\n\n2:44 So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these?\n\n2:45 He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the\nmortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name\nof God: now are they crowned, and receive palms.\n\n2:46 Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowneth\nthem, and giveth them palms in their hands?\n\n2:47 So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they\nhave confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that\nstood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.\n\n2:48 Then the angel said unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what\nmanner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast\nseen.\n\n3:1 In the thirtieth year after the ruin of the city I was in Babylon,\nand lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart:\n\n3:2 For I saw the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt\nat Babylon.\n\n3:3 And my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak words full\nof fear to the most High, and said,\n\n3:4 O Lord, who bearest rule, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou\ndidst plant the earth, and that thyself alone, and commandedst the\npeople,\n\n3:5 And gavest a body unto Adam without soul, which was the workmanship\nof thine hands, and didst breathe into him the breath of life, and he\nwas made living before thee.\n\n3:6 And thou leadest him into paradise, which thy right hand had\nplanted, before ever the earth came forward.\n\n3:7 And unto him thou gavest commandment to love thy way: which he\ntransgressed, and immediately thou appointedst death in him and in his\ngenerations, of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds, out of\nnumber.\n\n3:8 And every people walked after their own will, and did wonderful\nthings before thee, and despised thy commandments.\n\n3:9 And again in process of time thou broughtest the flood upon those\nthat dwelt in the world, and destroyedst them.\n\n3:10 And it came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam,\nso was the flood to these.\n\n3:11 Nevertheless one of them thou leftest, namely, Noah with his\nhousehold, of whom came all righteous men.\n\n3:12 And it happened, that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to\nmultiply, and had gotten them many children, and were a great people,\nthey began again to be more ungodly than the first.\n\n3:13 Now when they lived so wickedly before thee, thou didst choose\nthee a man from among them, whose name was Abraham.\n\n3:14 Him thou lovedst, and unto him only thou shewedst thy will:\n\n3:15 And madest an everlasting covenant with him, promising him that\nthou wouldest never forsake his seed.\n\n3:16 And unto him thou gavest Isaac, and unto Isaac also thou gavest\nJacob and Esau. As for Jacob, thou didst choose him to thee, and put by\nEsau: and so Jacob became a great multitude.\n\n3:17 And it came to pass, that when thou leadest his seed out of Egypt,\nthou broughtest them up to the mount Sinai.\n\n3:18 And bowing the heavens, thou didst set fast the earth, movedst the\nwhole world, and madest the depths to tremble, and troubledst the men\nof that age.\n\n3:19 And thy glory went through four gates, of fire, and of earthquake,\nand of wind, and of cold; that thou mightest give the law unto the seed\nof Jacob, and diligence unto the generation of Israel.\n\n3:20 And yet tookest thou not away from them a wicked heart, that thy\nlaw might bring forth fruit in them.\n\n3:21 For the first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was\novercome; and so be all they that are born of him.\n\n3:22 Thus infirmity was made permanent; and the law (also) in the heart\nof the people with the malignity of the root; so that the good departed\naway, and the evil abode still.\n\n3:23 So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end:\nthen didst thou raise thee up a servant, called David:\n\n3:24 Whom thou commandedst to build a city unto thy name, and to offer\nincense and oblations unto thee therein.\n\n3:25 When this was done many years, then they that inhabited the city\nforsook thee,\n\n3:26 And in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had\ndone: for they also had a wicked heart:\n\n3:27 And so thou gavest thy city over into the hands of thine enemies.\n\n3:28 Are their deeds then any better that inhabit Babylon, that they\nshould therefore have the dominion over Sion?\n\n3:29 For when I came thither, and had seen impieties without number,\nthen my soul saw many evildoers in this thirtieth year, so that my\nheart failed me.\n\n3:30 For I have seen how thou sufferest them sinning, and hast spared\nwicked doers: and hast destroyed thy people, and hast preserved thine\nenemies, and hast not signified it.\n\n3:31 I do not remember how this way may be left: Are they then of\nBabylon better than they of Sion?\n\n3:32 Or is there any other people that knoweth thee beside Israel? or\nwhat generation hath so believed thy covenants as Jacob?\n\n3:33 And yet their reward appeareth not, and their labour hath no\nfruit: for I have gone here and there through the heathen, and I see\nthat they flow in wealth, and think not upon thy commandments.\n\n3:34 Weigh thou therefore our wickedness now in the balance, and theirs\nalso that dwell the world; and so shall thy name no where be found but\nin Israel.\n\n3:35 Or when was it that they which dwell upon the earth have not\nsinned in thy sight? or what people have so kept thy commandments?\n\n3:36 Thou shalt find that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts; but\nnot the heathen.\n\n4:1 And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me\nan answer,\n\n4:2 And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest\nthou to comprehend the way of the most High?\n\n4:3 Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent\nto shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before\nthee:\n\n4:4 Whereof if thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way\nthat thou desirest to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked\nheart cometh.\n\n4:5 And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way,\nweigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind,\nor call me again the day that is past.\n\n4:6 Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou\nshouldest ask such things of me?\n\n4:7 And he said unto me, If I should ask thee how great dwellings are\nin the midst of the sea, or how many springs are in the beginning of\nthe deep, or how many springs are above the firmament, or which are the\noutgoings of paradise:\n\n4:8 Peradventure thou wouldest say unto me, I never went down into the\ndeep, nor as yet into hell, neither did I ever climb up into heaven.\n\n4:9 Nevertheless now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind,\nand of the day wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which\nthou canst not be separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of\nthem.\n\n4:10 He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown\nup with thee, canst thou not know;\n\n4:11 How should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the\nHighest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the\ncorruption that is evident in my sight?\n\n4:12 Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than\nthat we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know\nwherefore.\n\n4:13 He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and\nthe trees took counsel,\n\n4:14 And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may\ndepart away before us, and that we may make us more woods.\n\n4:15 The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said,\nCome, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also\nwe may make us another country.\n\n4:16 The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and\nconsumed it.\n\n4:17 The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for\nthe sand stood up and stopped them.\n\n4:18 If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin\nto justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?\n\n4:19 I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both\nhave devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also\nhath his place to bear his floods.\n\n4:20 Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment,\nbut why judgest thou not thyself also?\n\n4:21 For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his\nfloods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing\nbut that which is upon the earth: and he that dwelleth above the\nheavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the\nheavens.\n\n4:22 Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have\nunderstanding:\n\n4:23 For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of\nsuch as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a\nreproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast\nloved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our\nforefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to\nnone effect,\n\n4:24 And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is\nastonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.\n\n4:25 What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these\nthings have I asked.\n\n4:26 Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more\nthou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,\n\n4:27 And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the\nrighteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness\nand infirmities.\n\n4:28 But as concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell\nthee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet\ncome.\n\n4:29 If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if\nthe place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come\nthat is sown with good.\n\n4:30 For the grain of evil seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam\nfrom the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath it brought up unto\nthis time? and how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of\nthreshing come?\n\n4:31 Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of\nevil seed hath brought forth.\n\n4:32 And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how\ngreat a floor shall they fill?\n\n4:33 Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to\npass? wherefore are our years few and evil?\n\n4:34 And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most\nHighest: for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much\nexceeded.\n\n4:35 Did not the souls also of the righteous ask question of these\nthings in their chambers, saying, How long shall I hope on this\nfashion? when cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward?\n\n4:36 And unto these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and\nsaid, Even when the number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath\nweighed the world in the balance.\n\n4:37 By measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he\nnumbered the times; and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said\nmeasure be fulfilled.\n\n4:38 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all\nare full of impiety.\n\n4:39 And for our sakes peradventure it is that the floors of the\nrighteous are not filled, because of the sins of them that dwell upon\nthe earth.\n\n4:40 So he answered me, and said, Go thy way to a woman with child, and\nask of her when she hath fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may\nkeep the birth any longer within her.\n\n4:41 Then said I, No, Lord, that can she not. And he said unto me, In\nthe grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman:\n\n4:42 For like as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the\nnecessity of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver\nthose things that are committed unto them.\n\n4:43 From the beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be\nshewed thee.\n\n4:44 Then answered I and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and\nif it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,\n\n4:45 Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more\npast than is to come.\n\n4:46 What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.\n\n4:47 And he said unto me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall\nexpound the similitude unto thee.\n\n4:48 So I stood, and saw, and, behold, an hot burning oven passed by\nbefore me: and it happened that when the flame was gone by I looked,\nand, behold, the smoke remained still.\n\n4:49 After this there passed by before me a watery cloud, and sent down\nmuch rain with a storm; and when the stormy rain was past, the drops\nremained still.\n\n4:50 Then said he unto me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more\nthan the drops, and as the fire is greater than the smoke; but the\ndrops and the smoke remain behind: so the quantity which is past did\nmore exceed.\n\n4:51 Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that\ntime? or what shall happen in those days?\n\n4:52 He answered me, and said, As for the tokens whereof thou askest\nme, I may tell thee of them in part: but as touching thy life, I am not\nsent to shew thee; for I do not know it.\n\n5:1 Nevertheless as coming the tokens, behold, the days shall come,\nthat they which dwell upon earth shall be taken in a great number, and\nthe way of truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of\nfaith.\n\n5:2 But iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or\nthat thou hast heard long ago.\n\n5:3 And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see\nwasted suddenly.\n\n5:4 But if the most High grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the\nthird trumpet that the sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and\nthe moon thrice in the day:\n\n5:5 And blood shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his\nvoice, and the people shall be troubled:\n\n5:6 And even he shall rule, whom they look not for that dwell upon the\nearth, and the fowls shall take their flight away together:\n\n5:7 And the Sodomitish sea shall cast out fish, and make a noise in the\nnight, which many have not known: but they shall all hear the voice\nthereof.\n\n5:8 There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall\nbe oft sent out again, and the wild beasts shall change their places,\nand menstruous women shall bring forth monsters:\n\n5:9 And salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall\ndestroy one another; then shall wit hide itself, and understanding\nwithdraw itself into his secret chamber,\n\n5:10 And shall be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall\nunrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied upon earth.\n\n5:11 One land also shall ask another, and say, Is righteousness that\nmaketh a man righteous gone through thee? And it shall say, No.\n\n5:12 At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall\nlabour, but their ways shall not prosper.\n\n5:13 To shew thee such tokens I have leave; and if thou wilt pray\nagain, and weep as now, and fast even days, thou shalt hear yet greater\nthings.\n\n5:14 Then I awaked, and an extreme fearfulness went through all my\nbody, and my mind was troubled, so that it fainted.\n\n5:15 So the angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me,\nand set me up upon my feet.\n\n5:16 And in the second night it came to pass, that Salathiel the\ncaptain of the people came unto me, saying, Where hast thou been? and\nwhy is thy countenance so heavy?\n\n5:17 Knowest thou not that Israel is committed unto thee in the land of\ntheir captivity?\n\n5:18 Up then, and eat bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that\nleaveth his flock in the hands of cruel wolves.\n\n5:19 Then said I unto him, Go thy ways from me, and come not nigh me.\nAnd he heard what I said, and went from me.\n\n5:20 And so I fasted seven days, mourning and weeping, like as Uriel\nthe angel commanded me.\n\n5:21 And after seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were\nvery grievous unto me again,\n\n5:22 And my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began to\ntalk with the most High again,\n\n5:23 And said, O Lord that bearest rule, of every wood of the earth,\nand of all the trees thereof, thou hast chosen thee one only vine:\n\n5:24 And of all lands of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit:\nand of all the flowers thereof one lily:\n\n5:25 And of all the depths of the sea thou hast filled thee one river:\nand of all builded cities thou hast hallowed Sion unto thyself:\n\n5:26 And of all the fowls that are created thou hast named thee one\ndove: and of all the cattle that are made thou hast provided thee one\nsheep:\n\n5:27 And among all the multitudes of people thou hast gotten thee one\npeople: and unto this people, whom thou lovedst, thou gavest a law that\nis approved of all.\n\n5:28 And now, O Lord, why hast thou given this one people over unto\nmany? and upon the one root hast thou prepared others, and why hast\nthou scattered thy only one people among many?\n\n5:29 And they which did gainsay thy promises, and believed not thy\ncovenants, have trodden them down.\n\n5:30 If thou didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish\nthem with thine own hands.\n\n5:31 Now when I had spoken these words, the angel that came to me the\nnight afore was sent unto me,\n\n5:32 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to\nthe thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more.\n\n5:33 And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Thou art sore\ntroubled in mind for Israel\u2019s sake: lovest thou that people better than\nhe that made them?\n\n5:34 And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my\nreins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the\nmost High, and to seek out part of his judgment.\n\n5:35 And he said unto me, Thou canst not. And I said, Wherefore, Lord?\nwhereunto was I born then? or why was not my mother\u2019s womb then my\ngrave, that I might not have seen the travail of Jacob, and the\nwearisome toil of the stock of Israel?\n\n5:36 And he said unto me, Number me the things that are not yet come,\ngather me together the dross that are scattered abroad, make me the\nflowers green again that are withered,\n\n5:37 Open me the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds\nthat in them are shut up, shew me the image of a voice: and then I will\ndeclare to thee the thing that thou labourest to know.\n\n5:38 And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, who may know these things,\nbut he that hath not his dwelling with men?\n\n5:39 As for me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things\nwhereof thou askest me?\n\n5:40 Then said he unto me, Like as thou canst do none of these things\nthat I have spoken of, even so canst thou not find out my judgment, or\nin the end the love that I have promised unto my people.\n\n5:41 And I said, Behold, O Lord, yet art thou nigh unto them that be\nreserved till the end: and what shall they do that have been before me,\nor we that be now, or they that shall come after us?\n\n5:42 And he said unto me, I will liken my judgment unto a ring: like as\nthere is no slackness of the last, even so there is no swiftness of the\nfirst.\n\n5:43 So I answered and said, Couldest thou not make those that have\nbeen made, and be now, and that are for to come, at once; that thou\nmightest shew thy judgment the sooner?\n\n5:44 Then answered he me, and said, The creature may not haste above\nthe maker; neither may the world hold them at once that shall be\ncreated therein.\n\n5:45 And I said, As thou hast said unto thy servant, that thou, which\ngivest life to all, hast given life at once to the creature that thou\nhast created, and the creature bare it: even so it might now also bear\nthem that now be present at once.\n\n5:46 And he said unto me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If\nthou bringest forth children, why dost thou it not together, but one\nafter another? pray her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.\n\n5:47 And I said, She cannot: but must do it by distance of time.\n\n5:48 Then said he unto me, Even so have I given the womb of the earth\nto those that be sown in it in their times.\n\n5:49 For like as a young child may not bring forth the things that\nbelong to the aged, even so have I disposed the world which I created.\n\n5:50 And I asked, and said, Seeing thou hast now given me the way, I\nwill proceed to speak before thee: for our mother, of whom thou hast\ntold me that she is young, draweth now nigh unto age.\n\n5:51 He answered me, and said, Ask a woman that beareth children, and\nshe shall tell thee.\n\n5:52 Say unto her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now brought\nforth like those that were before, but less of stature?\n\n5:53 And she shall answer thee, They that be born in the strength of\nyouth are of one fashion, and they that are born in the time of age,\nwhen the womb faileth, are otherwise.\n\n5:54 Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than\nthose that were before you.\n\n5:55 And so are they that come after you less than ye, as the creatures\nwhich now begin to be old, and have passed over the strength of youth.\n\n5:56 Then said I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I have found favour in thy\nsight, shew thy servant by whom thou visitest thy creature.\n\n6:1 And he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was made,\nbefore the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds blew,\n\n6:2 Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of\nparadise were laid,\n\n6:3 Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were\nestablished, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered\ntogether,\n\n6:4 Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures\nof the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,\n\n6:5 And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the\ninventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were sealed\nthat have gathered faith for a treasure:\n\n6:6 Then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me\nalone, and through none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by\nnone other.\n\n6:7 Then answered I and said, What shall be the parting asunder of the\ntimes? or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of it\nthat followeth?\n\n6:8 And he said unto me, From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau\nwere born of him, Jacob\u2019s hand held first the heel of Esau.\n\n6:9 For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it\nthat followeth.\n\n6:10 The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question,\nEsdras, ask thou not.\n\n6:11 I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have\nfound favour in thy sight,\n\n6:12 I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof\nthou shewedst me part the last night.\n\n6:13 So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear\na mighty sounding voice.\n\n6:14 And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where\nthou standest shall not be moved.\n\n6:15 And therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of\nthe end, and the foundation of the earth is understood.\n\n6:16 And why? because the speech of these things trembleth and is\nmoved: for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed.\n\n6:17 And it happened, that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet,\nand hearkened, and, behold, there was a voice that spake, and the sound\nof it was like the sound of many waters.\n\n6:18 And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw\nnigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,\n\n6:19 And will begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have\nhurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of\nSion shall be fulfilled;\n\n6:20 And when the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be\nfinished, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened\nbefore the firmament, and they shall see all together:\n\n6:21 And the children of a year old shall speak with their voices, the\nwomen with child shall bring forth untimely children of three or four\nmonths old, and they shall live, and be raised up.\n\n6:22 And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full\nstorehouses shall suddenly be found empty:\n\n6:23 And tha trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth,\nthey shall be suddenly afraid.\n\n6:24 At that time shall friends fight one against another like enemies,\nand the earth shall stand in fear with those that dwell therein, the\nsprings of the fountains shall stand still, and in three hours they\nshall not run.\n\n6:25 Whosoever remaineth from all these that I have told thee shall\nescape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world.\n\n6:26 And the men that are received shall see it, who have not tasted\ndeath from their birth: and the heart of the inhabitants shall be\nchanged, and turned into another meaning.\n\n6:27 For evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched.\n\n6:28 As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and\nthe truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared.\n\n6:29 And when he talked with me, behold, I looked by little and little\nupon him before whom I stood.\n\n6:30 And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time\nof the night to come.\n\n6:31 If thou wilt pray yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall\ntell thee greater things by day than I have heard.\n\n6:32 For thy voice is heard before the most High: for the Mighty hath\nseen thy righteous dealing, he hath seen also thy chastity, which thou\nhast had ever since thy youth.\n\n6:33 And therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and\nto say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not\n\n6:34 And hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things,\nthat thou mayest not hasten from the latter times.\n\n6:35 And it came to pass after this, that I wept again, and fasted\nseven days in like manner, that I might fulfil the three weeks which he\ntold me.\n\n6:36 And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I\nbegan to speak before the most High.\n\n6:37 For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in\ndistress.\n\n6:38 And I said, O Lord, thou spakest from the beginning of the\ncreation, even the first day, and saidst thus; Let heaven and earth be\nmade; and thy word was a perfect work.\n\n6:39 And then was the spirit, and darkness and silence were on every\nside; the sound of man\u2019s voice was not yet formed.\n\n6:40 Then commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures,\nthat thy work might appear.\n\n6:41 Upon the second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and\ncommandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt the\nwaters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.\n\n6:42 Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be\ngathered in the seventh part of the earth: six pats hast thou dried up,\nand kept them, to the intent that of these some being planted of God\nand tilled might serve thee.\n\n6:43 For as soon as thy word went forth the work was made.\n\n6:44 For immediately there was great and innumerable fruit, and many\nand divers pleasures for the taste, and flowers of unchangeable colour,\nand odours of wonderful smell: and this was done the third day.\n\n6:45 Upon the fourth day thou commandedst that the sun should shine,\nand the moon give her light, and the stars should be in order:\n\n6:46 And gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be\nmade.\n\n6:47 Upon the fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the\nwaters were gathered that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls\nand fishes: and so it came to pass.\n\n6:48 For the dumb water and without life brought forth living things at\nthe commandment of God, that all people might praise thy wondrous\nworks.\n\n6:49 Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst\nEnoch, and the other Leviathan;\n\n6:50 And didst separate the one from the other: for the seventh part,\nnamely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them\nboth.\n\n6:51 Unto Enoch thou gavest one part, which was dried up the third day,\nthat he should dwell in the same part, wherein are a thousand hills:\n\n6:52 But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the\nmoist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.\n\n6:53 Upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that\nbefore thee it should bring forth beasts, cattle, and creeping things:\n\n6:54 And after these, Adam also, whom thou madest lord of all thy\ncreatures: of him come we all, and the people also whom thou hast\nchosen.\n\n6:55 All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest\nthe world for our sakes\n\n6:56 As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said\nthat they are nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the\nabundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel.\n\n6:57 And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been\nreputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us.\n\n6:58 But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only\nbegotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.\n\n6:59 If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an\ninheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?\n\n7:1 And when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent\nunto me the angel which had been sent unto me the nights afore:\n\n7:2 And he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come\nto tell thee.\n\n7:3 And I said, Speak on, my God. Then said he unto me, The sea is set\nin a wide place, that it might be deep and great.\n\n7:4 But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;\n\n7:5 Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if\nhe went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad?\n\n7:6 There is also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a\nbroad field, and is full of all good things:\n\n7:7 The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to\nfall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a\ndeep water:\n\n7:8 And one only path between them both, even between the fire and the\nwater, so small that there could but one man go there at once.\n\n7:9 If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he\nnever shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this\ninheritance?\n\n7:10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is\nIsrael\u2019s portion.\n\n7:11 Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam\ntransgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.\n\n7:12 Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow\nand travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils,: and very\npainful.\n\n7:13 For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and\nbrought immortal fruit.\n\n7:14 If then they that live labour not to enter these strait and vain\nthings, they can never receive those that are laid up for them.\n\n7:15 Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a\ncorruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?\n\n7:16 Why hast thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to\ncome, rather than that which is present?\n\n7:17 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, thou hast\nordained in thy law, that the righteous should inherit these things,\nbut that the ungodly should perish.\n\n7:18 Nevertheless the righteous shall suffer strait things, and hope\nfor wide: for they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait\nthings, and yet shall not see the wide.\n\n7:19 And he said unto me. There is no judge above God, and none that\nhath understanding above the Highest.\n\n7:20 For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise\nthe law of God that is set before them.\n\n7:21 For God hath given strait commandment to such as came, what they\nshould do to live, even as they came, and what they should observe to\navoid punishment.\n\n7:22 Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against\nhim, and imagined vain things;\n\n7:23 And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the\nmost High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:\n\n7:24 But his law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his\nstatutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works.\n\n7:25 And therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the\nfull are the full things.\n\n7:26 Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told\nthee shall come to pass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming\nforth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth.\n\n7:27 And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my\nwonders.\n\n7:28 For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him,\nand they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.\n\n7:29 After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have\nlife.\n\n7:30 And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days,\nlike as in the former judgments: so that no man shall remain.\n\n7:31 And after seven days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be\nraised up, and that shall die that is corrupt\n\n7:32 And the earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so\nshall the dust those that dwell in silence, and the secret places shall\ndeliver those souls that were committed unto them.\n\n7:33 And the most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and\nmisery shall pass away, and the long suffering shall have an end:\n\n7:34 But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall\nwax strong:\n\n7:35 And the work shall follow, and the reward shall be shewed, and the\ngood deeds shall be of force, and wicked deeds shall bear no rule.\n\n7:36 Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for\nthe fathers that sinned in the wilderness:\n\n7:37 And Jesus after him for Israel in the time of Achan:\n\n7:38 And Samuel and David for the destruction: and Solomon for them\nthat should come to the sanctuary:\n\n7:39 And Helias for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he\nmight live:\n\n7:40 And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many\nfor many.\n\n7:41 Even so now, seeing corruption is grown up, and wickedness\nincreased, and the righteous have prayed for the ungodly: wherefore\nshall it not be so now also?\n\n7:42 He answered me, and said, This present life is not the end where\nmuch glory doth abide; therefore have they prayed for the weak.\n\n7:43 But the day of doom shall be the end of this time, and the\nbeginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is past,\n\n7:44 Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is\ngrown, and truth is sprung up.\n\n7:45 Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to\noppress him that hath gotten the victory.\n\n7:46 I answered then and said, This is my first and last saying, that\nit had been better not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else, when\nit was given him, to have restrained him from sinning.\n\n7:47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in\nheaviness, and after death to look for punishment?\n\n7:48 O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that\nsinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.\n\n7:49 For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal\ntime, whereas we have done the works that bring death?\n\n7:50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas\nourselves being most wicked are made vain?\n\n7:51 And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety,\nwhereas we have lived wickedly?\n\n7:52 And that the glory of the most High is kept to defend them which\nhave led a wary life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of\nall?\n\n7:53 And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth\nfor ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter\ninto it?\n\n7:54 (For we have walked in unpleasant places.)\n\n7:55 And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine\nabove the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?\n\n7:56 For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that\nwe should begin to suffer for it after death.\n\n7:57 Then answered he me, and said, This is the condition of the\nbattle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight;\n\n7:58 That, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if\nhe get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say.\n\n7:59 For this is the life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he\nlived, saying, Choose thee life, that thou mayest live.\n\n7:60 Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after\nhim, no nor me which have spoken unto them,\n\n7:61 That there should not be such heaviness in their destruction, as\nshall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.\n\n7:62 I answered then, and said, I know, Lord, that the most High is\ncalled merciful, in that he hath mercy upon them which are not yet come\ninto the world,\n\n7:63 And upon those also that turn to his law;\n\n7:64 And that he is patient, and long suffereth those that have sinned,\nas his creatures;\n\n7:65 And that he is bountiful, for he is ready to give where it\nneedeth;\n\n7:66 And that he is of great mercy, for he multiplieth more and more\nmercies to them that are present, and that are past, and also to them\nwhich are to come.\n\n7:67 For if he shall not multiply his mercies, the world would not\ncontinue with them that inherit therein.\n\n7:68 And he pardoneth; for if he did not so of his goodness, that they\nwhich have committed iniquities might be eased of them, the ten\nthousandth part of men should not remain living.\n\n7:69 And being judge, if he should not forgive them that are cured with\nhis word, and put out the multitude of contentions,\n\n7:70 There should be very few left peradventure in an innumerable\nmultitude.\n\n8:1 And he answered me, saying, The most High hath made this world for\nmany, but the world to come for few.\n\n8:2 I will tell thee a similitude, Esdras; As when thou askest the\nearth, it shall say unto thee, that it giveth much mould whereof\nearthen vessels are made, but little dust that gold cometh of: even so\nis the course of this present world.\n\n8:3 There be many created, but few shall be saved.\n\n8:4 So answered I and said, Swallow then down, O my soul,\nunderstanding, and devour wisdom.\n\n8:5 For thou hast agreed to give ear, and art willing to prophesy: for\nthou hast no longer space than only to live.\n\n8:6 O Lord, if thou suffer not thy servant, that we may pray before\nthee, and thou give us seed unto our heart, and culture to our\nunderstanding, that there may come fruit of it; how shall each man live\nthat is corrupt, who beareth the place of a man?\n\n8:7 For thou art alone, and we all one workmanship of thine hands, like\nas thou hast said.\n\n8:8 For when the body is fashioned now in the mother\u2019s womb, and thou\ngivest it members, thy creature is preserved in fire and water, and\nnine months doth thy workmanship endure thy creature which is created\nin her.\n\n8:9 But that which keepeth and is kept shall both be preserved: and\nwhen the time cometh, the womb preserved delivereth up the things that\ngrew in it.\n\n8:10 For thou hast commanded out of the parts of the body, that is to\nsay, out of the breasts, milk to be given, which is the fruit of the\nbreasts,\n\n8:11 That the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time,\ntill thou disposest it to thy mercy.\n\n8:12 Thou broughtest it up with thy righteousness, and nurturedst it in\nthy law, and reformedst it with thy judgment.\n\n8:13 And thou shalt mortify it as thy creature, and quicken it as thy\nwork.\n\n8:14 If therefore thou shalt destroy him which with so great labour was\nfashioned, it is an easy thing to be ordained by thy commandment, that\nthe thing which was made might be preserved.\n\n8:15 Now therefore, Lord, I will speak; touching man in general, thou\nknowest best; but touching thy people, for whose sake I am sorry;\n\n8:16 And for thine inheritance, for whose cause I mourn; and for\nIsrael, for whom I am heavy; and for Jacob, for whose sake I am\ntroubled;\n\n8:17 Therefore will I begin to pray before thee for myself and for\nthem: for I see the falls of us that dwell in the land.\n\n8:18 But I have heard the swiftness of the judge which is to come.\n\n8:19 Therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I shall\nspeak before thee. This is the beginning of the words of Esdras, before\nhe was taken up: and I said,\n\n8:20 O Lord, thou that dwellest in everlastingness which beholdest from\nabove things in the heaven and in the air;\n\n8:21 Whose throne is inestimable; whose glory may not be comprehended;\nbefore whom the hosts of angels stand with trembling,\n\n8:22 Whose service is conversant in wind and fire; whose word is true,\nand sayings constant; whose commandment is strong, and ordinance\nfearful;\n\n8:23 Whose look drieth up the depths, and indignation maketh the\nmountains to melt away; which the truth witnesseth:\n\n8:24 O hear the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of\nthy creature.\n\n8:25 For while I live I will speak, and so long as I have understanding\nI will answer.\n\n8:26 O look not upon the sins of thy people; but on them which serve\nthee in truth.\n\n8:27 Regard not the wicked inventions of the heathen, but the desire of\nthose that keep thy testimonies in afflictions.\n\n8:28 Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before thee: but\nremember them, which according to thy will have known thy fear.\n\n8:29 Let it not be thy will to destroy them which have lived like\nbeasts; but to look upon them that have clearly taught thy law.\n\n8:30 Take thou no indignation at them which are deemed worse than\nbeasts; but love them that always put their trust in thy righteousness\nand glory.\n\n8:31 For we and our fathers do languish of such diseases: but because\nof us sinners thou shalt be called merciful.\n\n8:32 For if thou hast a desire to have mercy upon us, thou shalt be\ncalled merciful, to us namely, that have no works of righteousness.\n\n8:33 For the just, which have many good works laid up with thee, shall\nout of their own deeds receive reward.\n\n8:34 For what is man, that thou shouldest take displeasure at him? or\nwhat is a corruptible generation, that thou shouldest be so bitter\ntoward it?\n\n8:35 For in truth them is no man among them that be born, but he hath\ndealt wickedly; and among the faithful there is none which hath not\ndone amiss.\n\n8:36 For in this, O Lord, thy righteousness and thy goodness shall be\ndeclared, if thou be merciful unto them which have not the confidence\nof good works.\n\n8:37 Then answered he me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken\naright, and according unto thy words it shall be.\n\n8:38 For indeed I will not think on the disposition of them which have\nsinned before death, before judgment, before destruction:\n\n8:39 But I will rejoice over the disposition of the righteous, and I\nwill remember also their pilgrimage, and the salvation, and the reward,\nthat they shall have.\n\n8:40 Like as I have spoken now, so shall it come to pass.\n\n8:41 For as the husbandman soweth much seed upon the ground, and\nplanteth many trees, and yet the thing that is sown good in his season\ncometh not up, neither doth all that is planted take root: even so is\nit of them that are sown in the world; they shall not all be saved.\n\n8:42 I answered then and said, If I have found grace, let me speak.\n\n8:43 Like as the husbandman\u2019s seed perisheth, if it come not up, and\nreceive not thy rain in due season; or if there come too much rain, and\ncorrupt it:\n\n8:44 Even so perisheth man also, which is formed with thy hands, and is\ncalled thine own image, because thou art like unto him, for whose sake\nthou hast made all things, and likened him unto the husbandman\u2019s seed.\n\n8:45 Be not wroth with us but spare thy people, and have mercy upon\nthine own inheritance: for thou art merciful unto thy creature.\n\n8:46 Then answered he me, and said, Things present are for the present,\nand things to cometh for such as be to come.\n\n8:47 For thou comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my\ncreature more than I: but I have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and\nunto it, but never to the unrighteous.\n\n8:48 In this also thou art marvellous before the most High:\n\n8:49 In that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast\nnot judged thyself worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.\n\n8:50 For many great miseries shall be done to them that in the latter\ntime shall dwell in the world, because they have walked in great pride.\n\n8:51 But understand thou for thyself, and seek out the glory for such\nas be like thee.\n\n8:52 For unto you is paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the\ntime to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is\nbuilded, and rest is allowed, yea, perfect goodness and wisdom.\n\n8:53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness and the moth is\nhid from you, and corruption is fled into hell to be forgotten:\n\n8:54 Sorrows are passed, and in the end is shewed the treasure of\nimmortality.\n\n8:55 And therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude\nof them that perish.\n\n8:56 For when they had taken liberty, they despised the most High,\nthought scorn of his law, and forsook his ways.\n\n8:57 Moreover they have trodden down his righteous,\n\n8:58 And said in their heart, that there is no God; yea, and that\nknowing they must die.\n\n8:59 For as the things aforesaid shalt receive you, so thirst and pain\nare prepared for them: for it was not his will that men should come to\nnought:\n\n8:60 But they which be created have defiled the name of him that made\nthem, and were unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.\n\n8:61 And therefore is my judgment now at hand.\n\n8:62 These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a\nfew like thee. Then answered I and said,\n\n8:63 Behold, O Lord, now hast thou shewed me the multitude of the\nwonders, which thou wilt begin to do in the last times: but at what\ntime, thou hast not shewed me.\n\n9:1 He answered me then, and said, Measure thou the time diligently in\nitself: and when thou seest part of the signs past, which I have told\nthee before,\n\n9:2 Then shalt thou understand, that it is the very same time, wherein\nthe Highest will begin to visit the world which he made.\n\n9:3 Therefore when there shall be seen earthquakes and uproars of the\npeople in the world:\n\n9:4 Then shalt thou well understand, that the most High spake of those\nthings from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.\n\n9:5 For like as all that is made in the world hath a beginning and an\nend, and the end is manifest:\n\n9:6 Even so the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings in\nwonder and powerful works, and endings in effects and signs.\n\n9:7 And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by\nhis works, and by faith, whereby ye have believed,\n\n9:8 Shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see my salvation\nin my land, and within my borders: for I have sanctified them for me\nfrom the beginning.\n\n9:9 Then shall they be in pitiful case, which now have abused my ways:\nand they that have cast them away despitefully shall dwell in torments.\n\n9:10 For such as in their life have received benefits, and have not\nknown me;\n\n9:11 And they that have loathed my law, while they had yet liberty,\nand, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, understood\nnot, but despised it;\n\n9:12 The same must know it after death by pain.\n\n9:13 And therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be\npunished, and when: but enquire how the righteous shall be saved, whose\nthe world is, and for whom the world is created.\n\n9:14 Then answered I and said,\n\n9:15 I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it also\nhereafter, that there be many more of them which perish, than of them\nwhich shall be saved:\n\n9:16 Like as a wave is greater than a drop.\n\n9:17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the\nseed; as the flowers be, such are the colours also; such as the workman\nis, such also is the work; and as the husbandman is himself, so is his\nhusbandry also: for it was the time of the world.\n\n9:18 And now when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, even\nfor them to dwell in that now live, no man spake against me.\n\n9:19 For then every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which are\ncreated in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed,\nand by a law which is unsearchable rid themselves.\n\n9:20 So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of\nthe devices that were come into it.\n\n9:21 And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the\ncluster, and a plant of a great people.\n\n9:22 Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my\ngrape be kept, and my plant; for with great labour have I made it\nperfect.\n\n9:23 Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou\nshalt not fast in them,\n\n9:24 But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat\nonly the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat\nflowers only;)\n\n9:25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk\nwith thee.\n\n9:26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he\ncommanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the\nherbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me.\n\n9:27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed\nwithin me, like as before:\n\n9:28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and\nsaid,\n\n9:29 O Lord, thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto\nour fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treadeth, in a\nbarren place, when they came out of Egypt.\n\n9:30 And thou spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words,\nthou seed of Jacob.\n\n9:31 For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you,\nand ye shall be honoured in it for ever.\n\n9:32 But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed\nnot thy ordinances: and though the fruit of thy law did not perish,\nneither could it, for it was thine;\n\n9:33 Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the\nthing that was sown in them.\n\n9:34 And, lo, it is a custom, when the ground hath received seed, or\nthe sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished\nwherein it was sown or cast into,\n\n9:35 That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, doth\nperish, and remaineth not with us: but with us it hath not happened so.\n\n9:36 For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart\nalso which received it\n\n9:37 Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.\n\n9:38 And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked back with mine\neyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned\nand wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in heart, and her\nclothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.\n\n9:39 Then let I my thoughts go that I was in, and turned me unto her,\n\n9:40 And said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so grieved\nin thy mind?\n\n9:41 And she said unto me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail myself,\nand add unto my sorrow, for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought\nvery low.\n\n9:42 And I said unto her, What aileth thee? tell me.\n\n9:43 She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no\nchild, though I had an husband thirty years,\n\n9:44 And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every\nhour, but make my, prayer to the Highest.\n\n9:45 After thirty years God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon my\nmisery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son: and I was very glad\nof him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbours: and we gave\ngreat honour unto the Almighty.\n\n9:46 And I nourished him with great travail.\n\n9:47 So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a\nwife, I made a feast.\n\n10:1 And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his\nwedding chamber, he fell down, and died.\n\n10:2 Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to\ncomfort me: so I took my rest unto the second day at night.\n\n10:3 And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to\nthe end I might be quiet; then rose I up by night and fled, and came\nhither into this field, as thou seest.\n\n10:4 And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to\nstay, and neither to eat nor drink, but continually to mourn and to\nfast until I die.\n\n10:5 Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in\nanger, saying,\n\n10:6 Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning,\nand what happeneth unto us?\n\n10:7 How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much\nhumbled, mourning very sore?\n\n10:8 And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in\nheaviness, art thou grieved for one son?\n\n10:9 For ask the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which\nought to mourn for the fall of so many that grow upon her.\n\n10:10 For out of her came all at the first, and out of her shall all\nothers come, and, behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and a\nmultitude of them is utterly rooted out.\n\n10:11 Who then should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so\ngreat a multitude; and not thou, which art sorry but for one?\n\n10:12 But if thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the\nearth\u2019s, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought\nforth with pains, and bare with sorrows;\n\n10:13 But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according\nto the course of the earth is gone, as it came:\n\n10:14 Then say I unto thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with\nlabour; even so the earth also hath given her fruit, namely, man, ever\nsince the beginning unto him that made her.\n\n10:15 Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good\ncourage that which hath befallen thee.\n\n10:16 For if thou shalt acknowledge the determination of God to be\njust, thou shalt both receive thy son in time, and shalt be commended\namong women.\n\n10:17 Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.\n\n10:18 And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the\ncity, but here will I die.\n\n10:19 So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,\n\n10:20 Do not so, but be counselled by me: for how many are the\nadversities of Sion? be comforted in regard of the sorrow of Jerusalem.\n\n10:21 For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken\ndown, our temple destroyed;\n\n10:22 Our psaltery is laid on the ground, our song is put to silence,\nour rejoicing is at an end, the light of our candlestick is put out,\nthe ark of our covenant is spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and\nthe name that is called upon us is almost profaned: our children are\nput to shame, our priests are burnt, our Levites are gone into\ncaptivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our\nrighteous men carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young men\nare brought in bondage, and our strong men are become weak;\n\n10:23 And, which is the greatest of all, the seal of Sion hath now lost\nher honour; for she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us.\n\n10:24 And therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the\nmultitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again,\nand the Highest shall give thee rest and ease from thy labour.\n\n10:25 And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her\nface upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered,\nso that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.\n\n10:26 And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that\nthe earth shook at the noise of the woman.\n\n10:27 And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more,\nbut there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself from the\nfoundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,\n\n10:28 Where is Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he\nhath caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into\ncorruption, and my prayer to rebuke.\n\n10:29 And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and\nlooked upon me.\n\n10:30 And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and mine understanding\nwas taken from me: and he took me by the right hand, and comforted me,\nand set me upon my feet, and said unto me,\n\n10:31 What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is\nthine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?\n\n10:32 And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did\naccording to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have\nseen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.\n\n10:33 And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.\n\n10:34 Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest\nI die frustrate of my hope.\n\n10:35 For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.\n\n10:36 Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?\n\n10:37 Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of\nthis vision.\n\n10:38 He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee,\nand tell thee wherefore thou art afraid: for the Highest will reveal\nmany secret things unto thee.\n\n10:39 He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest\ncontinually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.\n\n10:40 This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately\nsawest:\n\n10:41 Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:\n\n10:42 But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there\nappeared unto thee a city builded.\n\n10:43 And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the\nsolution:\n\n10:44 This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto\nthee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,\n\n10:45 Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty\nyears barren: those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering\nmade in her.\n\n10:46 But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered\nofferings: and then bare the barren a son.\n\n10:47 And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour:\nthat was the dwelling in Jerusalem.\n\n10:48 But whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into his\nmarriage chamber happened to have a fail, and died: this was the\ndestruction that came to Jerusalem.\n\n10:49 And, behold, thou sawest her likeness, and because she mourned\nfor her son, thou begannest to comfort her: and of these things which\nhave chanced, these are to be opened unto thee.\n\n10:50 For now the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly,\nand sufferest from thy whole heart for her, so hath he shewed thee the\nbrightness of her glory, and the comeliness of her beauty:\n\n10:51 And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was\nbuilded:\n\n10:52 For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.\n\n10:53 Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no\nfoundation of any building was.\n\n10:54 For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city,\nthere can no man\u2019s building be able to stand.\n\n10:55 And therefore fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go\nthy way in, and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much\nas thine eyes be able to see:\n\n10:56 And then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.\n\n10:57 For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the\nHighest; and so are but few.\n\n10:58 But to morrow at night thou shalt remain here;\n\n10:59 And so shall the Highest shew thee visions of the high things,\nwhich the most High will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the\nlast days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.\n\n11:1 Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an\neagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.\n\n11:2 And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth,\nand all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.\n\n11:3 And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary\nfeathers; and they became little feathers and small.\n\n11:4 But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than\nthe other, yet rested it with the residue.\n\n11:5 Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and\nreigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.\n\n11:6 And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and\nno man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.\n\n11:7 And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake\nto her feathers, saying,\n\n11:8 Watch not all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch\nby course:\n\n11:9 But let the heads be preserved for the last.\n\n11:10 And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but\nfrom the midst of her body.\n\n11:11 And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were\neight of them.\n\n11:12 And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one\nfeather, and reigned over all the earth;\n\n11:13 And so it was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the\nplace thereof appeared no more: so the next following stood up, and\nreigned, and had a great time;\n\n11:14 And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also,\nlike as the first, so that it appeared no more.\n\n11:15 Then came there a voice unto it, and said,\n\n11:16 Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say\nunto thee, before thou beginnest to appear no more,\n\n11:17 There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto\nthe half thereof.\n\n11:18 Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and\nappeared no more also.\n\n11:19 So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every\none reigned, and then appeared no more.\n\n11:20 Then I beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that\nfollowed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also; and\nsome of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more:\n\n11:21 For some of them were set up, but ruled not.\n\n11:22 After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no\nmore, nor the two little feathers:\n\n11:23 And there was no more upon the eagle\u2019s body, but three heads that\nrested, and six little wings.\n\n11:24 Then saw I also that two little feathers divided themselves from\nthe six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side: for\nthe four continued in their place.\n\n11:25 And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing\nthought to set up themselves and to have the rule.\n\n11:26 And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it\nappeared no more.\n\n11:27 And the second was sooner away than the first.\n\n11:28 And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in\nthemselves to reign:\n\n11:29 And when they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads\nthat were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was\ngreater than the two other heads.\n\n11:30 And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.\n\n11:31 And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and\ndid eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned.\n\n11:32 But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it\nover all those that dwelt upon the earth with much oppression; and it\nhad the governance of the world more than all the wings that had been.\n\n11:33 And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst\nsuddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.\n\n11:34 But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled\nupon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.\n\n11:35 And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it\nthat was upon the left side.\n\n11:36 Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and\nconsider the thing that thou seest.\n\n11:37 And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the\nwood: and I saw that he sent out a man\u2019s voice unto the eagle, and\nsaid,\n\n11:38 Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto\nthee,\n\n11:39 Art not thou it that remainest of the four beasts, whom I made to\nreign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them?\n\n11:40 And the fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past,\nand had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole\ncompass of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time\ndwelt he upon the earth with deceit.\n\n11:41 For the earth hast thou not judged with truth.\n\n11:42 For thou hast afflicted the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable,\nthou hast loved liars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought\nforth fruit, and hast cast down the walls of such as did thee no harm.\n\n11:43 Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and\nthy pride unto the Mighty.\n\n11:44 The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold,\nthey are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.\n\n11:45 And therefore appear no more, thou eagle, nor thy horrible wings,\nnor thy wicked feathers nor thy malicious heads, nor thy hurtful claws,\nnor all thy vain body:\n\n11:46 That all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being\ndelivered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and\nmercy of him that made her.\n\n12:1 And it came to pass, whiles the lion spake these words unto the\neagle, I saw,\n\n12:2 And, behold, the head that remained and the four wings appeared no\nmore, and the two went unto it and set themselves up to reign, and\ntheir kingdom was small, and fill of uproar.\n\n12:3 And I saw, and, behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body\nof the eagle was burnt so that the earth was in great fear: then awaked\nI out of the trouble and trance of my mind, and from great fear, and\nsaid unto my spirit,\n\n12:4 Lo, this hast thou done unto me, in that thou searchest out the\nways of the Highest.\n\n12:5 Lo, yet am I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and\nlittle strength is there in me, for the great fear wherewith I was\nafflicted this night.\n\n12:6 Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me\nunto the end.\n\n12:7 And I said, Lord that bearest rule, if I have found grace before\nthy sight, and if I am justified with thee before many others, and if\nmy prayer indeed be come up before thy face;\n\n12:8 Comfort me then, and shew me thy servant the interpretation and\nplain difference of this fearful vision, that thou mayest perfectly\ncomfort my soul.\n\n12:9 For thou hast judged me worthy to shew me the last times.\n\n12:10 And he said unto me, This is the interpretation of the vision:\n\n12:11 The eagle, whom thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom\nwhich was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel.\n\n12:12 But it was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it\nunto thee.\n\n12:13 Behold, the days will come, that there shall rise up a kingdom\nupon earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms that were\nbefore it.\n\n12:14 In the same shall twelve kings reign, one after another:\n\n12:15 Whereof the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time\nthan any of the twelve.\n\n12:16 And this do the twelve wings signify, which thou sawest.\n\n12:17 As for the voice which thou heardest speak, and that thou sawest\nnot to go out from the heads but from the midst of the body thereof,\nthis is the interpretation:\n\n12:18 That after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great\nstrivings, and it shall stand in peril of failing: nevertheless it\nshall not then fall, but shall be restored again to his beginning.\n\n12:19 And whereas thou sawest the eight small under feathers sticking\nto her wings, this is the interpretation:\n\n12:20 That in him there shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be\nbut small, and their years swift.\n\n12:21 And two of them shall perish, the middle time approaching: four\nshall be kept until their end begin to approach: but two shall be kept\nunto the end.\n\n12:22 And whereas thou sawest three heads resting, this is the\ninterpretation:\n\n12:23 In his last days shall the most High raise up three kingdoms, and\nrenew many things therein, and they shall have the dominion of the\nearth,\n\n12:24 And of those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all\nthose that were before them: therefore are they called the heads of the\neagle.\n\n12:25 For these are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that\nshall finish his last end.\n\n12:26 And whereas thou sawest that the great head appeared no more, it\nsignifieth that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain.\n\n12:27 For the two that remain shall be slain with the sword.\n\n12:28 For the sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last\nshall he fall through the sword himself.\n\n12:29 And whereas thou sawest two feathers under the wings passing over\nthe head that is on the right side;\n\n12:30 It signifieth that these are they, whom the Highest hath kept\nunto their end: this is the small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou\nsawest.\n\n12:31 And the lion, whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood, and\nroaring, and speaking to the eagle, and rebuking her for her\nunrighteousness with all the words which thou hast heard;\n\n12:32 This is the anointed, which the Highest hath kept for them and\nfor their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and shall\nupbraid them with their cruelty.\n\n12:33 For he shall set them before him alive in judgment, and shall\nrebuke them, and correct them.\n\n12:34 For the rest of my people shall he deliver with mercy, those that\nhave been pressed upon my borders, and he shall make them joyful until\nthe coming of the day of judgment, whereof I have spoken unto thee from\nthe beginning.\n\n12:35 This is the dream that thou sawest, and these are the\ninterpretations.\n\n12:36 Thou only hast been meet to know this secret of the Highest.\n\n12:37 Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book,\nand hide them:\n\n12:38 And teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou\nknowest may comprehend and keep these secrets.\n\n12:39 But wait thou here thyself yet seven days more, that it may be\nshewed thee, whatsoever it pleaseth the Highest to declare unto thee.\nAnd with that he went his way.\n\n12:40 And it came to pass, when all the people saw that the seven days\nwere past, and I not come again into the city, they gathered them all\ntogether, from the least unto the greatest, and came unto me, and said,\n\n12:41 What have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against\nthee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest here in this place?\n\n12:42 For of all the prophets thou only art left us, as a cluster of\nthe vintage, and as a candle in a dark place, and as a haven or ship\npreserved from the tempest.\n\n12:43 Are not the evils which are come to us sufficient?\n\n12:44 If thou shalt forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if\nwe also had been burned in the midst of Sion?\n\n12:45 For we are not better than they that died there. And they wept\nwith a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said,\n\n12:46 Be of good comfort, O Israel; and be not heavy, thou house of\nJacob:\n\n12:47 For the Highest hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not\nforgotten you in temptation.\n\n12:48 As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from\nyou: but am come into this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion,\nand that I might seek mercy for the low estate of your sanctuary.\n\n12:49 And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I\ncome unto you.\n\n12:50 So the people went their way into the city, like as I commanded\nthem:\n\n12:51 But I remained still in the field seven days, as the angel\ncommanded me; and did eat only in those days of the flowers of the\nfield, and had my meat of the herbs\n\n13:1 And it came to pass after seven days, I dreamed a dream by night:\n\n13:2 And, lo, there arose a wind from the sea, that it moved all the\nwaves thereof.\n\n13:3 And I beheld, and, lo, that man waxed strong with the thousands of\nheaven: and when he turned his countenance to look, all the things\ntrembled that were seen under him.\n\n13:4 And whensoever the voice went out of his mouth, all they burned\nthat heard his voice, like as the earth faileth when it feeleth the\nfire.\n\n13:5 And after this I beheld, and, lo, there was gathered together a\nmultitude of men, out of number, from the four winds of the heaven, to\nsubdue the man that came out of the sea\n\n13:6 But I beheld, and, lo, he had graved himself a great mountain, and\nflew up upon it.\n\n13:7 But I would have seen the region or place whereout the hill was\ngraven, and I could not.\n\n13:8 And after this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered\ntogether to subdue him were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.\n\n13:9 And, lo, as he saw the violence of the multitude that came, he\nneither lifted up his hand, nor held sword, nor any instrument of war:\n\n13:10 But only I saw that he sent out of his mouth as it had been a\nblast of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his\ntongue he cast out sparks and tempests.\n\n13:11 And they were all mixed together; the blast of fire, the flaming\nbreath, and the great tempest; and fell with violence upon the\nmultitude which was prepared to fight, and burned them up every one, so\nthat upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude nothing was to be\nperceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this I was\nafraid.\n\n13:12 Afterward saw I the same man come down from the mountain, and\ncall unto him another peaceable Multitude.\n\n13:13 And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some\nwere sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some brought of them\nthat were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked,\nand said,\n\n13:14 Thou hast shewed thy servant these wonders from the beginning,\nand hast counted me worthy that thou shouldest receive my prayer:\n\n13:15 Shew me now yet the interpretation of this dream.\n\n13:16 For as I conceive in mine understanding, woe unto them that shall\nbe left in those days and much more woe unto them that are not left\nbehind!\n\n13:17 For they that were not left were in heaviness.\n\n13:18 Now understand I the things that are laid up in the latter days,\nwhich shall happen unto them, and to those that are left behind.\n\n13:19 Therefore are they come into great perils and many necessities,\nlike as these dreams declare.\n\n13:20 Yet is it easier for him that is in danger to come into these\nthings, than to pass away as a cloud out of the world, and not to see\nthe things that happen in the last days. And he answered unto me, and\nsaid,\n\n13:21 The interpretation of the vision shall I shew thee, and I will\nopen unto thee the thing that thou hast required.\n\n13:22 Whereas thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, this is\nthe interpretation:\n\n13:23 He that shall endure the peril in that time hath kept himself:\nthey that be fallen into danger are such as have works, and faith\ntoward the Almighty.\n\n13:24 Know this therefore, that they which be left behind are more\nblessed than they that be dead.\n\n13:25 This is the meaning of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man\ncoming up from the midst of the sea:\n\n13:26 The same is he whom God the Highest hath kept a great season,\nwhich by his own self shall deliver his creature: and he shall order\nthem that are left behind.\n\n13:27 And whereas thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came as a\nblast of wind, and fire, and storm;\n\n13:28 And that he held neither sword, nor any instrument of war, but\nthat the rushing in of him destroyed the whole multitude that came to\nsubdue him; this is the interpretation:\n\n13:29 Behold, the days come, when the most High will begin to deliver\nthem that are upon the earth.\n\n13:30 And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the\nearth.\n\n13:31 And one shall undertake to fight against another, one city\nagainst another, one place against another, one people against another,\nand one realm against another.\n\n13:32 And the time shall be when these things shall come to pass, and\nthe signs shall happen which I shewed thee before, and then shall my\nSon be declared, whom thou sawest as a man ascending.\n\n13:33 And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their\nown land leave the battle they have one against another.\n\n13:34 And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as thou\nsawest them, willing to come, and to overcome him by fighting.\n\n13:35 But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion.\n\n13:36 And Sion shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being\nprepared and builded, like as thou sawest the hill graven without\nhands.\n\n13:37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those\nnations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest;\n\n13:38 And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments\nwherewith they shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto a\nflame: and he shall destroy them without labour by the law which is\nlike unto me.\n\n13:39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable\nmultitude unto him;\n\n13:40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out\nof their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the\nking of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters,\nand so came they into another land.\n\n13:41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would\nleave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further\ncountry, where never mankind dwelt,\n\n13:42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept\nin their own land.\n\n13:43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the\nriver.\n\n13:44 For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the\nflood, till they were passed over.\n\n13:45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of\na year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth.\n\n13:46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they\nshall begin to come,\n\n13:47 The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they\nmay go through: therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace.\n\n13:48 But those that be left behind of thy people are they that are\nfound within my borders.\n\n13:49 Now when he destroyeth the multitude of the nations that are\ngathered together, he shall defend his people that remain.\n\n13:50 And then shall he shew them great wonders.\n\n13:51 Then said I, O Lord that bearest rule, shew me this: Wherefore\nhave I seen the man coming up from the midst of the sea?\n\n13:52 And he said unto me, Like as thou canst neither seek out nor know\nthe things that are in the deep of the sea: even so can no man upon\nearth see my Son, or those that be with him, but in the day time.\n\n13:53 This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, and\nwhereby thou only art here lightened.\n\n13:54 For thou hast forsaken thine own way, and applied thy diligence\nunto my law, and sought it.\n\n13:55 Thy life hast thou ordered in wisdom, and hast called\nunderstanding thy mother.\n\n13:56 And therefore have I shewed thee the treasures of the Highest:\nafter other three days I will speak other things unto thee, and declare\nunto thee mighty and wondrous things.\n\n13:57 Then went I forth into the field, giving praise and thanks\ngreatly unto the most High because of his wonders which he did in time;\n\n13:58 And because he governeth the same, and such things as fall in\ntheir seasons: and there I sat three days.\n\n14:1 And it came to pass upon the third day, I sat under an oak, and,\nbehold, there came a voice out of a bush over against me, and said,\nEsdras, Esdras.\n\n14:2 And I said, Here am I, Lord And I stood up upon my feet.\n\n14:3 Then said he unto me, In the bush I did manifestly reveal myself\nunto Moses, and talked with him, when my people served in Egypt:\n\n14:4 And I sent him and led my people out of Egypt, and brought him up\nto the mount of where I held him by me a long season,\n\n14:5 And told him many wondrous things, and shewed him the secrets of\nthe times, and the end; and commanded him, saying,\n\n14:6 These words shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hide.\n\n14:7 And now I say unto thee,\n\n14:8 That thou lay up in thy heart the signs that I have shewed, and\nthe dreams that thou hast seen, and the interpretations which thou hast\nheard:\n\n14:9 For thou shalt be taken away from all, and from henceforth thou\nshalt remain with my Son, and with such as be like thee, until the\ntimes be ended.\n\n14:10 For the world hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax\nold.\n\n14:11 For the world is divided into twelve parts, and the ten parts of\nit are gone already, and half of a tenth part:\n\n14:12 And there remaineth that which is after the half of the tenth\npart.\n\n14:13 Now therefore set thine house in order, and reprove thy people,\ncomfort such of them as be in trouble, and now renounce corruption,\n\n14:14 Let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man,\nput off now the weak nature,\n\n14:15 And set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and\nhaste thee to flee from these times.\n\n14:16 For yet greater evils than those which thou hast seen happen\nshall be done hereafter.\n\n14:17 For look how much the world shall be weaker through age, so much\nthe more shall evils increase upon them that dwell therein.\n\n14:18 For the time is fled far away, and leasing is hard at hand: for\nnow hasteth the vision to come, which thou hast seen.\n\n14:19 Then answered I before thee, and said,\n\n14:20 Behold, Lord, I will go, as thou hast commanded me, and reprove\nthe people which are present: but they that shall be born afterward,\nwho shall admonish them? thus the world is set in darkness, and they\nthat dwell therein are without light.\n\n14:21 For thy law is burnt, therefore no man knoweth the things that\nare done of thee, or the work that shall begin.\n\n14:22 But if I have found grace before thee, send the Holy Ghost into\nme, and I shall write all that hath been done in the world since the\nbeginning, which were written in thy law, that men may find thy path,\nand that they which will live in the latter days may live.\n\n14:23 And he answered me, saying, Go thy way, gather the people\ntogether, and say unto them, that they seek thee not for forty days.\n\n14:24 But look thou prepare thee many box trees, and take with thee\nSarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ecanus, and Asiel, these five which are ready\nto write swiftly;\n\n14:25 And come hither, and I shall light a candle of understanding in\nthine heart, which shall not be put out, till the things be performed\nwhich thou shalt begin to write.\n\n14:26 And when thou hast done, some things shalt thou publish, and some\nthings shalt thou shew secretly to the wise: to morrow this hour shalt\nthou begin to write.\n\n14:27 Then went I forth, as he commanded, and gathered all the people\ntogether, and said,\n\n14:28 Hear these words, O Israel.\n\n14:29 Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence\nthey were delivered:\n\n14:30 And received the law of life, which they kept not, which ye also\nhave transgressed after them.\n\n14:31 Then was the land, even the land of Sion, parted among you by\nlot: but your fathers, and ye yourselves, have done unrighteousness,\nand have not kept the ways which the Highest commanded you.\n\n14:32 And forasmuch as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in\ntime the thing that he had given you.\n\n14:33 And now are ye here, and your brethren among you.\n\n14:34 Therefore if so be that ye will subdue your own understanding,\nand reform your hearts, ye shall be kept alive and after death ye shall\nobtain mercy.\n\n14:35 For after death shall the judgment come, when we shall live\nagain: and then shall the names of the righteous be manifest, and the\nworks of the ungodly shall be declared.\n\n14:36 Let no man therefore come unto me now, nor seek after me these\nforty days.\n\n14:37 So I took the five men, as he commanded me, and we went into the\nfield, and remained there.\n\n14:38 And the next day, behold, a voice called me, saying, Esdras, open\nthy mouth, and drink that I give thee to drink.\n\n14:39 Then opened I my mouth, and, behold, he reached me a full cup,\nwhich was full as it were with water, but the colour of it was like\nfire.\n\n14:40 And I took it, and drank: and when I had drunk of it, my heart\nuttered understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast, for my spirit\nstrengthened my memory:\n\n14:41 And my mouth was opened, and shut no more.\n\n14:42 The Highest gave understanding unto the five men, and they wrote\nthe wonderful visions of the night that were told, which they knew not:\nand they sat forty days, and they wrote in the day, and at night they\nate bread.\n\n14:43 As for me. I spake in the day, and I held not my tongue by night.\n\n14:44 In forty days they wrote two hundred and four books.\n\n14:45 And it came to pass, when the forty days were filled, that the\nHighest spake, saying, The first that thou hast written publish openly,\nthat the worthy and unworthy may read it:\n\n14:46 But keep the seventy last, that thou mayest deliver them only to\nsuch as be wise among the people:\n\n14:47 For in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of\nwisdom, and the stream of knowledge.\n\n14:48 And I did so.\n\n15:1 Behold, speak thou in the ears of my people the words of prophecy,\nwhich I will put in thy mouth, saith the Lord:\n\n15:2 And cause them to be written in paper: for they are faithful and\ntrue.\n\n15:3 Fear not the imaginations against thee, let not the incredulity of\nthem trouble thee, that speak against thee.\n\n15:4 For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness.\n\n15:5 Behold, saith the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world; the\nsword, famine, death, and destruction.\n\n15:6 For wickedness hath exceedingly polluted the whole earth, and\ntheir hurtful works are fulfilled.\n\n15:7 Therefore saith the Lord,\n\n15:8 I will hold my tongue no more as touching their wickedness, which\nthey profanely commit, neither will I suffer them in those things, in\nwhich they wickedly exercise themselves: behold, the innocent and\nrighteous blood crieth unto me, and the souls of the just complain\ncontinually.\n\n15:9 And therefore, saith the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and\nreceive unto me all the innocent blood from among them.\n\n15:10 Behold, my people is led as a flock to the slaughter: I will not\nsuffer them now to dwell in the land of Egypt:\n\n15:11 But I will bring them with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm,\nand smite Egypt with plagues, as before, and will destroy all the land\nthereof.\n\n15:12 Egypt shall mourn, and the foundation of it shall be smitten with\nthe plague and punishment that God shall bring upon it.\n\n15:13 They that till the ground shall mourn: for their seeds shall fail\nthrough the blasting and hail, and with a fearful constellation.\n\n15:14 Woe to the world and them that dwell therein!\n\n15:15 For the sword and their destruction draweth nigh, and one people\nshall stand up and fight against another, and swords in their hands.\n\n15:16 For there shall be sedition among men, and invading one another;\nthey shall not regard their kings nor princes, and the course of their\nactions shall stand in their power.\n\n15:17 A man shall desire to go into a city, and shall not be able.\n\n15:18 For because of their pride the cities shall be troubled, the\nhouses shall be destroyed, and men shall be afraid.\n\n15:19 A man shall have no pity upon his neighbour, but shall destroy\ntheir houses with the sword, and spoil their goods, because of the lack\nof bread, and for great tribulation.\n\n15:20 Behold, saith God, I will call together all the kings of the\nearth to reverence me, which are from the rising of the sun, from the\nsouth, from the east, and Libanus; to turn themselves one against\nanother, and repay the things that they have done to them.\n\n15:21 Like as they do yet this day unto my chosen, so will I do also,\nand recompense in their bosom. Thus saith the Lord God;\n\n15:22 My right hand shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not\ncease over them that shed innocent blood upon the earth.\n\n15:23 The fire is gone forth from his wrath, and hath consumed the\nfoundations of the earth, and the sinners, like the straw that is\nkindled.\n\n15:24 Woe to them that sin, and keep not my commandments! saith the\nLord.\n\n15:25 I will not spare them: go your way, ye children, from the power,\ndefile not my sanctuary.\n\n15:26 For the Lord knoweth all them that sin against him, and therefore\ndelivereth he them unto death and destruction.\n\n15:27 For now are the plagues come upon the whole earth and ye shall\nremain in them: for God shall not deliver you, because ye have sinned\nagainst him.\n\n15:28 Behold an horrible vision, and the appearance thereof from the\neast:\n\n15:29 Where the nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with\nmany chariots, and the multitude of them shall be carried as the wind\nupon earth, that all they which hear them may fear and tremble.\n\n15:30 Also the Carmanians raging in wrath shall go forth as the wild\nboars of the wood, and with great power shall they come, and join\nbattle with them, and shall waste a portion of the land of the\nAssyrians.\n\n15:31 And then shall the dragons have the upper hand, remembering their\nnature; and if they shall turn themselves, conspiring together in great\npower to persecute them,\n\n15:32 Then these shall be troubled bled, and keep silence through their\npower, and shall flee.\n\n15:33 And from the land of the Assyrians shall the enemy besiege them,\nand consume some of them, and in their host shall be fear and dread,\nand strife among their kings.\n\n15:34 Behold clouds from the east and from the north unto the south,\nand they are very horrible to look upon, full of wrath and storm.\n\n15:35 They shall smite one upon another, and they shall smite down a\ngreat multitude of stars upon the earth, even their own star; and blood\nshall be from the sword unto the belly,\n\n15:36 And dung of men unto the camel\u2019s hough.\n\n15:37 And there shall be great fearfulness and trembling upon earth:\nand they that see the wrath shall be afraid, and trembling shall come\nupon them.\n\n15:38 And then shall there come great storms from the south, and from\nthe north, and another part from the west.\n\n15:39 And strong winds shall arise from the east, and shall open it;\nand the cloud which he raised up in wrath, and the star stirred to\ncause fear toward the east and west wind, shall be destroyed.\n\n15:40 The great and mighty clouds shall be puffed up full of wrath, and\nthe star, that they may make all the earth afraid, and them that dwell\ntherein; and they shall pour out over every high and eminent place an\nhorrible star,\n\n15:41 Fire, and hail, and flying swords, and many waters, that all\nfields may be full, and all rivers, with the abundance of great waters.\n\n15:42 And they shall break down the cities and walls, mountains and\nhills, trees of the wood, and grass of the meadows, and their corn.\n\n15:43 And they shall go stedfastly unto Babylon, and make her afraid.\n\n15:44 They shall come to her, and besiege her, the star and all wrath\nshall they pour out upon her: then shall the dust and smoke go up unto\nthe heaven, and all they that be about her shall bewail her.\n\n15:45 And they that remain under her shall do service unto them that\nhave put her in fear.\n\n15:46 And thou, Asia, that art partaker of the hope of Babylon, and art\nthe glory of her person:\n\n15:47 Woe be unto thee, thou wretch, because thou hast made thyself\nlike unto her; and hast decked thy daughters in whoredom, that they\nmight please and glory in thy lovers, which have always desired to\ncommit whoredom with thee.\n\n15:48 Thou hast followed her that is hated in all her works and\ninventions: therefore saith God,\n\n15:49 I will send plagues upon thee; widowhood, poverty, famine, sword,\nand pestilence, to waste thy houses with destruction and death.\n\n15:50 And the glory of thy Power shall be dried up as a flower, the\nheat shall arise that is sent over thee.\n\n15:51 Thou shalt be weakened as a poor woman with stripes, and as one\nchastised with wounds, so that the mighty and lovers shall not be able\nto receive thee.\n\n15:52 Would I with jealousy have so proceeded against thee, saith the\nLord,\n\n15:53 If thou hadst not always slain my chosen, exalting the stroke of\nthine hands, and saying over their dead, when thou wast drunken,\n\n15:54 Set forth the beauty of thy countenance?\n\n15:55 The reward of thy whoredom shall be in thy bosom, therefore shalt\nthou receive recompence.\n\n15:56 Like as thou hast done unto my chosen, saith the Lord, even so\nshall God do unto thee, and shall deliver thee into mischief\n\n15:57 Thy children shall die of hunger, and thou shalt fall through the\nsword: thy cities shall be broken down, and all thine shall perish with\nthe sword in the field.\n\n15:58 They that be in the mountains shall die of hunger, and eat their\nown flesh, and drink their own blood, for very hunger of bread, and\nthirst of water.\n\n15:59 Thou as unhappy shalt come through the sea, and receive plagues\nagain.\n\n15:60 And in the passage they shall rush on the idle city, and shall\ndestroy some portion of thy land, and consume part of thy glory, and\nshall return to Babylon that was destroyed.\n\n15:61 And thou shalt be cast down by them as stubble, and they shall be\nunto thee as fire;\n\n15:62 And shall consume thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy\nmountains; all thy woods and thy fruitful trees shall they burn up with\nfire.\n\n15:63 Thy children shall they carry away captive, and, look, what thou\nhast, they shall spoil it, and mar the beauty of thy face.\n\n16:1 Woe be unto thee, Babylon, and Asia! woe be unto thee, Egypt and\nSyria!\n\n16:2 Gird up yourselves with cloths of sack and hair, bewail your\nchildren, and be sorry; for your destruction is at hand.\n\n16:3 A sword is sent upon you, and who may turn it back?\n\n16:4 A fire is sent among you, and who may quench it?\n\n16:5 Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that may drive them\naway?\n\n16:6 May any man drive away an hungry lion in the wood? or may any one\nquench the fire in stubble, when it hath begun to burn?\n\n16:7 May one turn again the arrow that is shot of a strong archer?\n\n16:8 The mighty Lord sendeth the plagues and who is he that can drive\nthem away?\n\n16:9 A fire shall go forth from his wrath, and who is he that may\nquench it?\n\n16:10 He shall cast lightnings, and who shall not fear? he shall\nthunder, and who shall not be afraid?\n\n16:11 The Lord shall threaten, and who shall not be utterly beaten to\npowder at his presence?\n\n16:12 The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth\nup with waves from the deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the\nfishes thereof also, before the Lord, and before the glory of his\npower:\n\n16:13 For strong is his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows\nthat he shooteth are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be\nshot into the ends of the world.\n\n16:14 Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until\nthey come upon the earth.\n\n16:15 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume\nthe foundation of the earth.\n\n16:16 Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not\nbackward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not\nreturn again.\n\n16:17 Woe is me! woe is me! who will deliver me in those days?\n\n16:18 The beginning of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of\nfamine and great death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall\nstand in fear; the beginning of evils! what shall I do when these evils\nshall come?\n\n16:19 Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as\nscourges for amendment.\n\n16:20 But for all these things they shall not turn from their\nwickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.\n\n16:21 Behold, victuals shall be so good cheap upon earth, that they\nshall think themselves to be in good case, and even then shall evils\ngrow upon earth, sword, famine, and great confusion.\n\n16:22 For many of them that dwell upon earth shall perish of famine;\nand the other, that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy.\n\n16:23 And the dead shall be cast out as dung, and there shall be no man\nto comfort them: for the earth shall be wasted, and the cities shall be\ncast down.\n\n16:24 There shall be no man left to till the earth, and to sow it\n\n16:25 The trees shall give fruit, and who shall gather them?\n\n16:26 The grapes shall ripen, and who shall tread them? for all places\nshall be desolate of men:\n\n16:27 So that one man shall desire to see another, and to hear his\nvoice.\n\n16:28 For of a city there shall be ten left, and two of the field,\nwhich shall hide themselves in the thick groves, and in the clefts of\nthe rocks.\n\n16:29 As in an orchard of Olives upon every tree there are left three\nor four olives;\n\n16:30 Or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some clusters\nof them that diligently seek through the vineyard:\n\n16:31 Even so in those days there shall be three or four left by them\nthat search their houses with the sword.\n\n16:32 And the earth shall be laid waste, and the fields thereof shall\nwax old, and her ways and all her paths shall grow full of thorns,\nbecause no man shall travel therethrough.\n\n16:33 The virgins shall mourn, having no bridegrooms; the women shall\nmourn, having no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, having no\nhelpers.\n\n16:34 In the wars shall their bridegrooms be destroyed, and their\nhusbands shall perish of famine.\n\n16:35 Hear now these things and understand them, ye servants of the\nLord.\n\n16:36 Behold, the word of the Lord, receive it: believe not the gods of\nwhom the Lord spake.\n\n16:37 Behold, the plagues draw nigh, and are not slack.\n\n16:38 As when a woman with child in the ninth month bringeth forth her\nson, with two or three hours of her birth great pains compass her womb,\nwhich pains, when the child cometh forth, they slack not a moment:\n\n16:39 Even so shall not the plagues be slack to come upon the earth,\nand the world shall mourn, and sorrows shall come upon it on every\nside.\n\n16:40 O my people, hear my word: make you ready to thy battle, and in\nthose evils be even as pilgrims upon the earth.\n\n16:41 He that selleth, let him be as he that fleeth away: and he that\nbuyeth, as one that will lose:\n\n16:42 He that occupieth merchandise, as he that hath no profit by it:\nand he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therein:\n\n16:43 He that soweth, as if he should not reap: so also he that\nplanteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes:\n\n16:44 They that marry, as they that shall get no children; and they\nthat marry not, as the widowers.\n\n16:45 And therefore they that labour labour in vain:\n\n16:46 For strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil their goods,\noverthrow their houses, and take their children captives, for in\ncaptivity and famine shall they get children.\n\n16:47 And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, the more\nthey deck their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their own\npersons:\n\n16:48 The more will I be angry with them for their sin, saith the Lord.\n\n16:49 Like as a whore envieth a right honest and virtuous woman:\n\n16:50 So shall righteousness hate iniquity, when she decketh herself,\nand shall accuse her to her face, when he cometh that shall defend him\nthat diligently searcheth out every sin upon earth.\n\n16:51 And therefore be ye not like thereunto, nor to the works thereof.\n\n16:52 For yet a little, and iniquity shall be taken away out of the\nearth, and righteousness shall reign among you.\n\n16:53 Let not the sinner say that he hath not sinned: for God shall\nburn coals of fire upon his head, which saith before the Lord God and\nhis glory, I have not sinned.\n\n16:54 Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their\nimaginations, their thoughts, and their hearts:\n\n16:55 Which spake but the word, Let the earth be made; and it was made:\nLet the heaven be made; and it was created.\n\n16:56 In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of\nthem.\n\n16:57 He searcheth the deep, and the treasures thereof; he hath\nmeasured the sea, and what it containeth.\n\n16:58 He hath shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his\nword hath he hanged the earth upon the waters.\n\n16:59 He spreadeth out the heavens like a vault; upon the waters hath\nhe founded it.\n\n16:60 In the desert hath he made springs of water, and pools upon the\ntops of the mountains, that the floods might pour down from the high\nrocks to water the earth.\n\n16:61 He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave\nhim breath, life, and understanding.\n\n16:62 Yea and the Spirit of Almighty God, which made all things, and\nsearcheth out all hidden things in the secrets of the earth,\n\n16:63 Surely he knoweth your inventions, and what ye think in your\nhearts, even them that sin, and would hide their sin.\n\n16:64 Therefore hath the Lord exactly searched out all your works, and\nhe will put you all to shame.\n\n16:65 And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before\nmen, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day.\n\n16:66 What will ye do? or how will ye hide your sins before God and his\nangels?\n\n16:67 Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your\nsins, and forget your iniquities, to meddle no more with them for ever:\nso shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.\n\n16:68 For, behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled\nover you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed you, being\nidle, with things offered unto idols.\n\n16:69 And they that consent unto them shall be had in derision and in\nreproach, and trodden under foot.\n\n16:70 For there shall be in every place, and in the next cities, a\ngreat insurrection upon those that fear the Lord.\n\n16:71 They shall be like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and\ndestroying those that fear the Lord.\n\n16:72 For they shall waste and take away their goods, and cast them out\nof their houses.\n\n16:73 Then shall they be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be\ntried as the gold in the fire.\n\n16:74 Hear, O ye my beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of\ntrouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same.\n\n16:75 Be ye not afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,\n\n16:76 And the guide of them who keep my commandments and precepts,\nsaith the Lord God: let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your\niniquities lift up themselves.\n\n16:77 Woe be unto them that are bound with their sins, and covered with\ntheir iniquities like as a field is covered over with bushes, and the\npath thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through!\n\n16:78 It is left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed\ntherewith.\n\n\n\n\nThe Book of Tobit\n\n\n1:1 The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel,\nthe son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe\nof Nephthali;\n\n1:2 Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians was led captive\nout of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of that city, which is called\nproperly Nephthali in Galilee above Aser.\n\n1:3 I Tobit have walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth\nand justice, and I did many almsdeeds to my brethren, and my nation,\nwho came with me to Nineve, into the land of the Assyrians.\n\n1:4 And when I was in mine own country, in the land of Israel being but\nyoung, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell from the house of\nJerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all\nthe tribes should sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation\nof the most High was consecrated and built for all ages.\n\n1:5 Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the house of my\nfather Nephthali, sacrificed unto the heifer Baal.\n\n1:6 But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it was\nordained unto all the people of Israel by an everlasting decree, having\nthe firstfruits and tenths of increase, with that which was first\nshorn; and them gave I at the altar to the priests the children of\nAaron.\n\n1:7 The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron,\nwho ministered at Jerusalem: another tenth part I sold away, and went,\nand spent it every year at Jerusalem:\n\n1:8 And the third I gave unto them to whom it was meet, as Debora my\nfather\u2019s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my\nfather.\n\n1:9 Furthermore, when I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of\nmine own kindred, and of her I begat Tobias.\n\n1:10 And when we were carried away captives to Nineve, all my brethren\nand those that were of my kindred did eat of the bread of the Gentiles.\n\n1:11 But I kept myself from eating;\n\n1:12 Because I remembered God with all my heart.\n\n1:13 And the most High gave me grace and favour before Enemessar, so\nthat I was his purveyor.\n\n1:14 And I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael, the brother\nof Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media ten talents of silver.\n\n1:15 Now when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his\nstead; whose estate was troubled, that I could not go into Media.\n\n1:16 And in the time of Enemessar I gave many alms to my brethren, and\ngave my bread to the hungry,\n\n1:17 And my clothes to the naked: and if I saw any of my nation dead,\nor cast about the walls of Nineve, I buried him.\n\n1:18 And if the king Sennacherib had slain any, when he was come, and\nfled from Judea, I buried them privily; for in his wrath he killed\nmany; but the bodies were not found, when they were sought for of the\nking.\n\n1:19 And when one of the Ninevites went and complained of me to the\nking, that I buried them, and hid myself; understanding that I was\nsought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear.\n\n1:20 Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there any\nthing left me, beside my wife Anna and my son Tobias.\n\n1:21 And there passed not five and fifty days, before two of his sons\nkilled him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararath; and\nSarchedonus his son reigned in his stead; who appointed over his\nfather\u2019s accounts, and over all his affairs, Achiacharus my brother\nAnael\u2019s son.\n\n1:22 And Achiacharus intreating for me, I returned to Nineve. Now\nAchiacharus was cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and\noverseer of the accounts: and Sarchedonus appointed him next unto him:\nand he was my brother\u2019s son.\n\n2:1 Now when I was come home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto\nme, with my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy\nfeast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the\nwhich I sat down to eat.\n\n2:2 And when I saw abundance of meat, I said to my son, Go and bring\nwhat poor man soever thou shalt find out of our brethren, who is\nmindful of the Lord; and, lo, I tarry for thee.\n\n2:3 But he came again, and said, Father, one of our nation is\nstrangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.\n\n2:4 Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up\ninto a room until the going down of the sun.\n\n2:5 Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness,\n\n2:6 Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said, Your feasts shall be\nturned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.\n\n2:7 Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the sun I went and\nmade a grave, and buried him.\n\n2:8 But my neighbours mocked me, and said, This man is not yet afraid\nto be put to death for this matter: who fled away; and yet, lo, he\nburieth the dead again.\n\n2:9 The same night also I returned from the burial, and slept by the\nwall of my courtyard, being polluted and my face was uncovered:\n\n2:10 And I knew not that there were sparrows in the wall, and mine eyes\nbeing open, the sparrows muted warm dung into mine eyes, and a\nwhiteness came in mine eyes: and I went to the physicians, but they\nhelped me not: moreover Achiacharus did nourish me, until I went into\nElymais.\n\n2:11 And my wife Anna did take women\u2019s works to do.\n\n2:12 And when she had sent them home to the owners, they paid her\nwages, and gave her also besides a kid.\n\n2:13 And when it was in my house, and began to cry, I said unto her,\nFrom whence is this kid? is it not stolen? render it to the owners; for\nit is not lawful to eat any thing that is stolen.\n\n2:14 But she replied upon me, It was given for a gift more than the\nwages. Howbeit I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the\nowners: and I was abashed at her. But she replied upon me, Where are\nthine alms and thy righteous deeds? behold, thou and all thy works are\nknown.\n\n3:1 Then I being grieved did weep, and in my sorrow prayed, saying,\n\n3:2 O Lord, thou art just, and all thy works and all thy ways are mercy\nand truth, and thou judgest truly and justly for ever.\n\n3:3 Remember me, and look on me, punish me not for my sins and\nignorances, and the sins of my fathers, who have sinned before thee:\n\n3:4 For they obeyed not thy commandments: wherefore thou hast delivered\nus for a spoil, and unto captivity, and unto death, and for a proverb\nof reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed.\n\n3:5 And now thy judgments are many and true: deal with me according to\nmy sins and my fathers\u2019: because we have not kept thy commandments,\nneither have walked in truth before thee.\n\n3:6 Now therefore deal with me as seemeth best unto thee, and command\nmy spirit to be taken from me, that I may be dissolved, and become\nearth: for it is profitable for me to die rather than to live, because\nI have heard false reproaches, and have much sorrow: command therefore\nthat I may now be delivered out of this distress, and go into the\neverlasting place: turn not thy face away from me.\n\n3:7 It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city of Media Sara\nthe daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father\u2019s maids;\n\n3:8 Because that she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodeus\nthe evil spirit had killed, before they had lain with her. Dost thou\nnot know, said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast\nhad already seven husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them.\n\n3:9 Wherefore dost thou beat us for them? if they be dead, go thy ways\nafter them, let us never see of thee either son or daughter.\n\n3:10 Whe she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she\nthought to have strangled herself; and she said, I am the only daughter\nof my father, and if I do this, it shall be a reproach unto him, and I\nshall bring his old age with sorrow unto the grave.\n\n3:11 Then she prayed toward the window, and said, Blessed art thou, O\nLord my God, and thine holy and glorious name is blessed and honourable\nfor ever: let all thy works praise thee for ever.\n\n3:12 And now, O Lord, I set I mine eyes and my face toward thee,\n\n3:13 And say, Take me out of the earth, that I may hear no more the\nreproach.\n\n3:14 Thou knowest, Lord, that I am pure from all sin with man,\n\n3:15 And that I never polluted my name, nor the name of my father, in\nthe land of my captivity: I am the only daughter of my father, neither\nhath he any child to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son\nof his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife: my seven husbands\nare already dead; and why should I live? but if it please not thee that\nI should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of\nme, that I hear no more reproach.\n\n3:16 So the prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the\ngreat God.\n\n3:17 And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the\nwhiteness of Tobit\u2019s eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for\na wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil\nspirit; because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. The\nselfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the\ndaughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.\n\n4:1 In that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to\nGabael in Rages of Media,\n\n4:2 And said with himself, I have wished for death; wherefore do I not\ncall for my son Tobias that I may signify to him of the money before I\ndie?\n\n4:3 And when he had called him, he said, My son, when I am dead, bury\nme; and despise not thy mother, but honour her all the days of thy\nlife, and do that which shall please her, and grieve her not.\n\n4:4 Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for thee, when thou\nwast in her womb: and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave.\n\n4:5 My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all thy days, and let not\nthy will be set to sin, or to transgress his commandments: do uprightly\nall thy life long, and follow not the ways of unrighteousness.\n\n4:6 For if thou deal truly, thy doings shall prosperously succeed to\nthee, and to all them that live justly.\n\n4:7 Give alms of thy substance; and when thou givest alms, let not\nthine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from any poor, and the face\nof God shall not be turned away from thee.\n\n4:8 If thou hast abundance give alms accordingly: if thou have but a\nlittle, be not afraid to give according to that little:\n\n4:9 For thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of\nnecessity.\n\n4:10 Because that alms do deliver from death, and suffereth not to come\ninto darkness.\n\n4:11 For alms is a good gift unto all that give it in the sight of the\nmost High.\n\n4:12 Beware of all whoredom, my son, and chiefly take a wife of the\nseed of thy fathers, and take not a strange woman to wife, which is not\nof thy father\u2019s tribe: for we are the children of the prophets, Noe,\nAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob: remember, my son, that our fathers from the\nbeginning, even that they all married wives of their own kindred, and\nwere blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land.\n\n4:13 Now therefore, my son, love thy brethren, and despise not in thy\nheart thy brethren, the sons and daughters of thy people, in not taking\na wife of them: for in pride is destruction and much trouble, and in\nlewdness is decay and great want: for lewdness is the mother of famine.\n\n4:14 Let not the wages of any man, which hath wrought for thee, tarry\nwith thee, but give him it out of hand: for if thou serve God, he will\nalso repay thee: be circumspect my son, in all things thou doest, and\nbe wise in all thy conversation.\n\n4:15 Do that to no man which thou hatest: drink not wine to make thee\ndrunken: neither let drunkenness go with thee in thy journey.\n\n4:16 Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that\nare naked; and according to thine abundance give alms: and let not\nthine eye be envious, when thou givest alms.\n\n4:17 Pour out thy bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to\nthe wicked.\n\n4:18 Ask counsel of all that are wise, and despise not any counsel that\nis profitable.\n\n4:19 Bless the Lord thy God alway, and desire of him that thy ways may\nbe directed, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper: for every\nnation hath not counsel; but the Lord himself giveth all good things,\nand he humbleth whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son,\nremember my commandments, neither let them be put out of thy mind.\n\n4:20 And now I signify this to they that I committed ten talents to\nGabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media.\n\n4:21 And fear not, my son, that we are made poor: for thou hast much\nwealth, if thou fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is\npleasing in his sight.\n\n5:1 Tobias then answered and said, Father, I will do all things which\nthou hast commanded me:\n\n5:2 But how can I receive the money, seeing I know him not?\n\n5:3 Then he gave him the handwriting, and said unto him, Seek thee a\nman which may go with thee, whiles I yet live, and I will give him\nwages: and go and receive the money.\n\n5:4 Therefore when he went to seek a man, he found Raphael that was an\nangel.\n\n5:5 But he knew not; and he said unto him, Canst thou go with me to\nRages? and knowest thou those places well?\n\n5:6 To whom the angel said, I will go with thee, and I know the way\nwell: for I have lodged with our brother Gabael.\n\n5:7 Then Tobias said unto him, Tarry for me, till I tell my father.\n\n5:8 Then he said unto him, Go and tarry not. So he went in and said to\nhis father, Behold, I have found one which will go with me. Then he\nsaid, Call him unto me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and\nwhether he be a trusty man to go with thee.\n\n5:9 So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another.\n\n5:10 Then Tobit said unto him, Brother, shew me of what tribe and\nfamily thou art.\n\n5:11 To whom he said, Dost thou seek for a tribe or family, or an hired\nman to go with thy son? Then Tobit said unto him, I would know,\nbrother, thy kindred and name.\n\n5:12 Then he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, and of\nthy brethren.\n\n5:13 Then Tobit said, Thou art welcome, brother; be not now angry with\nme, because I have enquired to know thy tribe and thy family; for thou\nart my brother, of an honest and good stock: for I know Ananias and\nJonathas, sons of that great Samaias, as we went together to Jerusalem\nto worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of the fruits;\nand they were not seduced with the error of our brethren: my brother,\nthou art of a good stock.\n\n5:14 But tell me, what wages shall I give thee? wilt thou a drachm a\nday, and things necessary, as to mine own son?\n\n5:15 Yea, moreover, if ye return safe, I will add something to thy\nwages.\n\n5:16 So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias, Prepare thyself\nfor the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his son had\nprepared all things far the journey, his father said, Go thou with this\nman, and God, which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your journey, and the\nangel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and the young\nman\u2019s dog with them.\n\n5:17 But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why hast thou sent\naway our son? is he not the staff of our hand, in going in and out\nbefore us?\n\n5:18 Be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be as refuse in\nrespect of our child.\n\n5:19 For that which the Lord hath given us to live with doth suffice\nus.\n\n5:20 Then said Tobit to her, Take no care, my sister; he shall return\nin safety, and thine eyes shall see him.\n\n5:21 For the good angel will keep him company, and his journey shall be\nprosperous, and he shall return safe.\n\n5:22 Then she made an end of weeping.\n\n6:1 And as they went on their journey, they came in the evening to the\nriver Tigris, and they lodged there.\n\n6:2 And when the young man went down to wash himself, a fish leaped out\nof the river, and would have devoured him.\n\n6:3 Then the angel said unto him, Take the fish. And the young man laid\nhold of the fish, and drew it to land.\n\n6:4 To whom the angel said, Open the fish, and take the heart and the\nliver and the gall, and put them up safely.\n\n6:5 So the young man did as the angel commanded him; and when they had\nroasted the fish, they did eat it: then they both went on their way,\ntill they drew near to Ecbatane.\n\n6:6 Then the young man said to the angel, Brother Azarias, to what use\nis the heart and the liver and the gal of the fish?\n\n6:7 And he said unto him, Touching the heart and the liver, if a devil\nor an evil spirit trouble any, we must make a smoke thereof before the\nman or the woman, and the party shall be no more vexed.\n\n6:8 As for the gall, it is good to anoint a man that hath whiteness in\nhis eyes, and he shall be healed.\n\n6:9 And when they were come near to Rages,\n\n6:10 The angel said to the young man, Brother, to day we shall lodge\nwith Raguel, who is thy cousin; he also hath one only daughter, named\nSara; I will speak for her, that she may be given thee for a wife.\n\n6:11 For to thee doth the right of her appertain, seeing thou only art\nof her kindred.\n\n6:12 And the maid is fair and wise: now therefore hear me, and I will\nspeak to her father; and when we return from Rages we will celebrate\nthe marriage: for I know that Raguel cannot marry her to another\naccording to the law of Moses, but he shall be guilty of death, because\nthe right of inheritance doth rather appertain to thee than to any\nother.\n\n6:13 Then the young man answered the angel, I have heard, brother\nAzarias that this maid hath been given to seven men, who all died in\nthe marriage chamber.\n\n6:14 And now I am the only son of my father, and I am afraid, lest if I\ngo in unto her, I die, as the other before: for a wicked spirit loveth\nher, which hurteth no body, but those which come unto her; wherefore I\nalso fear lest I die, and bring my father\u2019s and my mother\u2019s life\nbecause of me to the grave with sorrow: for they have no other son to\nbury them.\n\n6:15 Then the angel said unto him, Dost thou not remember the precepts\nwhich thy father gave thee, that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine\nown kindred? wherefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given\nthee to wife; and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this\nsame night shall she be given thee in marriage.\n\n6:16 And when thou shalt come into the marriage chamber, thou shalt\ntake the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay upon them some of the heart\nand liver of the fish, and shalt make a smoke with it:\n\n6:17 And the devil shall smell it, and flee away, and never come again\nany more: but when thou shalt come to her, rise up both of you, and\npray to God which is merciful, who will have pity on you, and save you:\nfear not, for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou\nshalt preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Moreover I suppose that\nshe shall bear thee children. Now when Tobias had heard these things,\nhe loved her, and his heart was effectually joined to her.\n\n7:1 And when they were come to Ecbatane, they came to the house of\nRaguel, and Sara met them: and after they had saluted one another, she\nbrought them into the house.\n\n7:2 Then said Raguel to Edna his wife, How like is this young man to\nTobit my cousin!\n\n7:3 And Raguel asked them, From whence are ye, brethren? To whom they\nsaid, We are of the sons of Nephthalim, which are captives in Nineve.\n\n7:4 Then he said to them, Do ye know Tobit our kinsman? And they said,\nWe know him. Then said he, Is he in good health?\n\n7:5 And they said, He is both alive, and in good health: and Tobias\nsaid, He is my father.\n\n7:6 Then Raguel leaped up, and kissed him, and wept,\n\n7:7 And blessed him, and said unto him, Thou art the son of an honest\nand good man. But when he had heard that Tobit was blind, he was\nsorrowful, and wept.\n\n7:8 And likewise Edna his wife and Sara his daughter wept. Moreover\nthey entertained them cheerfully; and after that they had killed a ram\nof the flock, they set store of meat on the table. Then said Tobias to\nRaphael, Brother Azarias, speak of those things of which thou didst\ntalk in the way, and let this business be dispatched.\n\n7:9 So he communicated the matter with Raguel: and Raguel said to\nTobias, Eat and drink, and make merry:\n\n7:10 For it is meet that thou shouldest marry my daughter: nevertheless\nI will declare unto thee the truth.\n\n7:11 I have given my daughter in marriage to seven men, who died that\nnight they came in unto her: nevertheless for the present be merry. But\nTobias said, I will eat nothing here, till we agree and swear one to\nanother.\n\n7:12 Raguel said, Then take her from henceforth according to the\nmanner, for thou art her cousin, and she is thine, and the merciful God\ngive you good success in all things.\n\n7:13 Then he called his daughter Sara, and she came to her father, and\nhe took her by the hand, and gave her to be wife to Tobias, saying,\nBehold, take her after the law of Moses, and lead her away to thy\nfather. And he blessed them;\n\n7:14 And called Edna his wife, and took paper, and did write an\ninstrument of covenants, and sealed it.\n\n7:15 Then they began to eat.\n\n7:16 After Raguel called his wife Edna, and said unto her, Sister,\nprepare another chamber, and bring her in thither.\n\n7:17 Which when she had done as he had bidden her, she brought her\nthither: and she wept, and she received the tears of her daughter, and\nsaid unto her,\n\n7:18 Be of good comfort, my daughter; the Lord of heaven and earth give\nthee joy for this thy sorrow: be of good comfort, my daughter.\n\n8:1 And when they had supped, they brought Tobias in unto her.\n\n8:2 And as he went, he remembered the words of Raphael, and took the\nashes of the perfumes, and put the heart and the liver of the fish\nthereupon, and made a smoke therewith.\n\n8:3 The which smell when the evil spirit had smelled, he fled into the\nutmost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him.\n\n8:4 And after that they were both shut in together, Tobias rose out of\nthe bed, and said, Sister, arise, and let us pray that God would have\npity on us.\n\n8:5 Then began Tobias to say, Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers,\nand blessed is thy holy and glorious name for ever; let the heavens\nbless thee, and all thy creatures.\n\n8:6 Thou madest Adam, and gavest him Eve his wife for an helper and\nstay: of them came mankind: thou hast said, It is not good that man\nshould be alone; let us make unto him an aid like unto himself.\n\n8:7 And now, O Lord, I take not this my sister for lust, but uprightly:\ntherefore mercifully ordain that we may become aged together.\n\n8:8 And she said with him, Amen.\n\n8:9 So they slept both that night. And Raguel arose, and went and made\na grave,\n\n8:10 Saying, I fear lest he also be dead.\n\n8:11 But when Raguel was come into his house,\n\n8:12 He said unto his wife Edna. Send one of the maids, and let her see\nwhether he be alive: if he be not, that we may bury him, and no man\nknow it.\n\n8:13 So the maid opened the door, and went in, and found them both\nasleep,\n\n8:14 And came forth, and told them that he was alive.\n\n8:15 Then Raguel praised God, and said, O God, thou art worthy to be\npraised with all pure and holy praise; therefore let thy saints praise\nthee with all thy creatures; and let all thine angels and thine elect\npraise thee for ever.\n\n8:16 Thou art to be praised, for thou hast made me joyful; and that is\nnot come to me which I suspected; but thou hast dealt with us according\nto thy great mercy.\n\n8:17 Thou art to be praised because thou hast had mercy of two that\nwere the only begotten children of their fathers: grant them mercy, O\nLord, and finish their life in health with joy and mercy.\n\n8:18 Then Raguel bade his servants to fill the grave.\n\n8:19 And he kept the wedding feast fourteen days.\n\n8:20 For before the days of the marriage were finished, Raguel had said\nunto him by an oath, that he should not depart till the fourteen days\nof the marriage were expired;\n\n8:21 And then he should take the half of his goods, and go in safety to\nhis father; and should have the rest when I and my wife be dead.\n\n9:1 Then Tobias called Raphael, and said unto him,\n\n9:2 Brother Azarias, take with thee a servant, and two camels, and go\nto Rages of Media to Gabael, and bring me the money, and bring him to\nthe wedding.\n\n9:3 For Raguel hath sworn that I shall not depart.\n\n9:4 But my father counteth the days; and if I tarry long, he will be\nvery sorry.\n\n9:5 So Raphael went out, and lodged with Gabael, and gave him the\nhandwriting: who brought forth bags which were sealed up, and gave them\nto him.\n\n9:6 And early in the morning they went forth both together, and came to\nthe wedding: and Tobias blessed his wife.\n\n10:1 Now Tobit his father counted every day: and when the days of the\njourney were expired, and they came not,\n\n10:2 Then Tobit said, Are they detained? or is Gabael dead, and there\nis no man to give him the money?\n\n10:3 Therefore he was very sorry.\n\n10:4 Then his wife said unto him, My son is dead, seeing he stayeth\nlong; and she began to bewail him, and said,\n\n10:5 Now I care for nothing, my son, since I have let thee go, the\nlight of mine eyes.\n\n10:6 To whom Tobit said, Hold thy peace, take no care, for he is safe.\n\n10:7 But she said, Hold thy peace, and deceive me not; my son is dead.\nAnd she went out every day into the way which they went, and did eat no\nmeat on the daytime, and ceased not whole nights to bewail her son\nTobias, until the fourteen days of the wedding were expired, which\nRaguel had sworn that he should spend there. Then Tobias said to\nRaguel, Let me go, for my father and my mother look no more to see me.\n\n10:8 But his father in law said unto him, Tarry with me, and I will\nsend to thy father, and they shall declare unto him how things go with\nthee.\n\n10:9 But Tobias said, No; but let me go to my father.\n\n10:10 Then Raguel arose, and gave him Sara his wife, and half his\ngoods, servants, and cattle, and money:\n\n10:11 And he blessed them, and sent them away, saying, The God of\nheaven give you a prosperous journey, my children.\n\n10:12 And he said to his daughter, Honour thy father and thy mother in\nlaw, which are now thy parents, that I may hear good report of thee.\nAnd he kissed her. Edna also said to Tobias, The Lord of heaven restore\nthee, my dear brother, and grant that I may see thy children of my\ndaughter Sara before I die, that I may rejoice before the Lord: behold,\nI commit my daughter unto thee of special trust; where are do not\nentreat her evil.\n\n11:1 After these things Tobias went his way, praising God that he had\ngiven him a prosperous journey, and blessed Raguel and Edna his wife,\nand went on his way till they drew near unto Nineve.\n\n11:2 Then Raphael said to Tobias, Thou knowest, brother, how thou didst\nleave thy father:\n\n11:3 Let us haste before thy wife, and prepare the house.\n\n11:4 And take in thine hand the gall of the fish. So they went their\nway, and the dog went after them.\n\n11:5 Now Anna sat looking about toward the way for her son.\n\n11:6 And when she espied him coming, she said to his father, Behold,\nthy son cometh, and the man that went with him.\n\n11:7 Then said Raphael, I know, Tobias, that thy father will open his\neyes.\n\n11:8 Therefore anoint thou his eyes with the gall, and being pricked\ntherewith, he shall rub, and the whiteness shall fall away, and he\nshall see thee.\n\n11:9 Then Anna ran forth, and fell upon the neck of her son, and said\nunto him, Seeing I have seen thee, my son, from henceforth I am content\nto die. And they wept both.\n\n11:10 Tobit also went forth toward the door, and stumbled: but his son\nran unto him,\n\n11:11 And took hold of his father: and he strake of the gall on his\nfathers\u2019 eyes, saying, Be of good hope, my father.\n\n11:12 And when his eyes began to smart, he rubbed them;\n\n11:13 And the whiteness pilled away from the corners of his eyes: and\nwhen he saw his son, he fell upon his neck.\n\n11:14 And he wept, and said, Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is\nthy name for ever; and blessed are all thine holy angels:\n\n11:15 For thou hast scourged, and hast taken pity on me: for, behold, I\nsee my son Tobias. And his son went in rejoicing, and told his father\nthe great things that had happened to him in Media.\n\n11:16 Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter in law at the gate of\nNineve, rejoicing and praising God: and they which saw him go\nmarvelled, because he had received his sight.\n\n11:17 But Tobias gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on him.\nAnd when he came near to Sara his daughter in law, he blessed her,\nsaying, Thou art welcome, daughter: God be blessed, which hath brought\nthee unto us, and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was\njoy among all his brethren which were at Nineve.\n\n11:18 And Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother\u2019s son, came:\n\n11:19 And Tobias\u2019 wedding was kept seven days with great joy.\n\n12:1 Then Tobit called his son Tobias, and said unto him, My son, see\nthat the man have his wages, which went with thee, and thou must give\nhim more.\n\n12:2 And Tobias said unto him, O father, it is no harm to me to give\nhim half of those things which I have brought:\n\n12:3 For he hath brought me again to thee in safety, and made whole my\nwife, and brought me the money, and likewise healed thee.\n\n12:4 Then the old man said, It is due unto him.\n\n12:5 So he called the angel, and he said unto him, Take half of all\nthat ye have brought and go away in safety.\n\n12:6 Then he took them both apart, and said unto them, Bless God,\npraise him, and magnify him, and praise him for the things which he\nhath done unto you in the sight of all that live. It is good to praise\nGod, and exalt his name, and honourably to shew forth the works of God;\ntherefore be not slack to praise him.\n\n12:7 It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it is\nhonourable to reveal the works of God. Do that which is good, and no\nevil shall touch you.\n\n12:8 Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little\nwith righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is\nbetter to give alms than to lay up gold:\n\n12:9 For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin.\nThose that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life:\n\n12:10 But they that sin are enemies to their own life.\n\n12:11 Surely I will keep close nothing from you. For I said, It was\ngood to keep close the secret of a king, but that it was honourable to\nreveal the works of God.\n\n12:12 Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara thy daughter in\nlaw, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One:\nand when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee likewise.\n\n12:13 And when thou didst not delay to rise up, and leave thy dinner,\nto go and cover the dead, thy good deed was not hid from me: but I was\nwith thee.\n\n12:14 And now God hath sent me to heal thee and Sara thy daughter in\nlaw.\n\n12:15 I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the\nprayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the\nHoly One.\n\n12:16 Then they were both troubled, and fell upon their faces: for they\nfeared.\n\n12:17 But he said unto them, Fear not, for it shall go well with you;\npraise God therefore.\n\n12:18 For not of any favour of mine, but by the will of our God I came;\nwherefore praise him for ever.\n\n12:19 All these days I did appear unto you; but I did neither eat nor\ndrink, but ye did see a vision.\n\n12:20 Now therefore give God thanks: for I go up to him that sent me;\nbut write all things which are done in a book.\n\n12:21 And when they arose, they saw him no more.\n\n12:22 Then they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and how\nthe angel of the Lord had appeared unto them.\n\n13:1 Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said, Blessed be God\nthat liveth for ever, and blessed be his kingdom.\n\n13:2 For he doth scourge, and hath mercy: he leadeth down to hell, and\nbringeth up again: neither is there any that can avoid his hand.\n\n13:3 Confess him before the Gentiles, ye children of Israel: for he\nhath scattered us among them.\n\n13:4 There declare his greatness, and extol him before all the living:\nfor he is our Lord, and he is the God our Father for ever.\n\n13:5 And he will scourge us for our iniquities, and will have mercy\nagain, and will gather us out of all nations, among whom he hath\nscattered us.\n\n13:6 If ye turn to him with your whole heart, and with your whole mind,\nand deal uprightly before him, then will he turn unto you, and will not\nhide his face from you. Therefore see what he will do with you, and\nconfess him with your whole mouth, and praise the Lord of might, and\nextol the everlasting King. In the land of my captivity do I praise\nhim, and declare his might and majesty to a sinful nation. O ye\nsinners, turn and do justice before him: who can tell if he will accept\nyou, and have mercy on you?\n\n13:7 I will extol my God, and my soul shall praise the King of heaven,\nand shall rejoice in his greatness.\n\n13:8 Let all men speak, and let all praise him for his righteousness.\n\n13:9 O Jerusalem, the holy city, he will scourge thee for thy\nchildren\u2019s works, and will have mercy again on the sons of the\nrighteous.\n\n13:10 Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: and praise the\neverlasting King, that his tabernacle may be builded in thee again with\njoy, and let him make joyful there in thee those that are captives, and\nlove in thee for ever those that are miserable.\n\n13:11 Many nations shall come from far to the name of the Lord God with\ngifts in their hands, even gifts to the King of heaven; all generations\nshall praise thee with great joy.\n\n13:12 Cursed are all they which hate thee, and blessed shall all be\nwhich love thee for ever.\n\n13:13 Rejoice and be glad for the children of the just: for they shall\nbe gathered together, and shall bless the Lord of the just.\n\n13:14 O blessed are they which love thee, for they shall rejoice in thy\npeace: blessed are they which have been sorrowful for all thy scourges;\nfor they shall rejoice for thee, when they have seen all thy glory, and\nshall be glad for ever.\n\n13:15 Let my soul bless God the great King.\n\n13:16 For Jerusalem shall be built up with sapphires and emeralds, and\nprecious stone: thy walls and towers and battlements with pure gold.\n\n13:17 And the streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with beryl and\ncarbuncle and stones of Ophir.\n\n13:18 And all her streets shall say, Alleluia; and they shall praise\nhim, saying, Blessed be God, which hath extolled it for ever.\n\n14:1 So Tobit made an end of praising God.\n\n14:2 And he was eight and fifty years old when he lost his sight, which\nwas restored to him after eight years: and he gave alms, and he\nincreased in the fear of the Lord God, and praised him.\n\n14:3 And when he was very aged he called his son, and the sons of his\nson, and said to him, My son, take thy children; for, behold, I am\naged, and am ready to depart out of this life.\n\n14:4 Go into Media my son, for I surely believe those things which\nJonas the prophet spake of Nineve, that it shall be overthrown; and\nthat for a time peace shall rather be in Media; and that our brethren\nshall lie scattered in the earth from that good land: and Jerusalem\nshall be desolate, and the house of God in it shall be burned, and\nshall be desolate for a time;\n\n14:5 And that again God will have mercy on them, and bring them again\ninto the land, where they shall build a temple, but not like to the\nfirst, until the time of that age be fulfilled; and afterward they\nshall return from all places of their captivity, and build up Jerusalem\ngloriously, and the house of God shall be built in it for ever with a\nglorious building, as the prophets have spoken thereof.\n\n14:6 And all nations shall turn, and fear the Lord God truly, and shall\nbury their idols.\n\n14:7 So shall all nations praise the Lord, and his people shall confess\nGod, and the Lord shall exalt his people; and all those which love the\nLord God in truth and justice shall rejoice, shewing mercy to our\nbrethren.\n\n14:8 And now, my son, depart out of Nineve, because that those things\nwhich the prophet Jonas spake shall surely come to pass.\n\n14:9 But keep thou the law and the commandments, and shew thyself\nmerciful and just, that it may go well with thee.\n\n14:10 And bury me decently, and thy mother with me; but tarry no longer\nat Nineve. Remember, my son, how Aman handled Achiacharus that brought\nhim up, how out of light he brought him into darkness, and how he\nrewarded him again: yet Achiacharus was saved, but the other had his\nreward: for he went down into darkness. Manasses gave alms, and escaped\nthe snares of death which they had set for him: but Aman fell into the\nsnare, and perished.\n\n14:11 Wherefore now, my son, consider what alms doeth, and how\nrighteousness doth deliver. When he had said these things, he gave up\nthe ghost in the bed, being an hundred and eight and fifty years old;\nand he buried him honourably.\n\n14:12 And when Anna his mother was dead, he buried her with his father.\nBut Tobias departed with his wife and children to Ecbatane to Raguel\nhis father in law,\n\n14:13 Where he became old with honour, and he buried his father and\nmother in law honourably, and he inherited their substance, and his\nfather Tobit\u2019s.\n\n14:14 And he died at Ecbatane in Media, being an hundred and seven and\ntwenty years old.\n\n14:15 But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineve, which\nwas taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus: and before his death he\nrejoiced over Nineve.\n\n\n\n\nThe Book of Judith\n\n\n1:1 In the twelfth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, who reigned in\nNineve, the great city; in the days of Arphaxad, which reigned over the\nMedes in Ecbatane,\n\n1:2 And built in Ecbatane walls round about of stones hewn three cubits\nbroad and six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy\ncubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits:\n\n1:3 And set the towers thereof upon the gates of it an hundred cubits\nhigh, and the breadth thereof in the foundation threescore cubits:\n\n1:4 And he made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to the\nheight of seventy cubits, and the breadth of them was forty cubits, for\nthe going forth of his mighty armies, and for the setting in array of\nhis footmen:\n\n1:5 Even in those days king Nabuchodonosor made war with king Arphaxad\nin the great plain, which is the plain in the borders of Ragau.\n\n1:6 And there came unto him all they that dwelt in the hill country,\nand all that dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris and Hydaspes, and the plain\nof Arioch the king of the Elymeans, and very many nations of the sons\nof Chelod, assembled themselves to the battle.\n\n1:7 Then Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians sent unto all that dwelt\nin Persia, and to all that dwelt westward, and to those that dwelt in\nCilicia, and Damascus, and Libanus, and Antilibanus, and to all that\ndwelt upon the sea coast,\n\n1:8 And to those among the nations that were of Carmel, and Galaad, and\nthe higher Galilee, and the great plain of Esdrelom,\n\n1:9 And to all that were in Samaria and the cities thereof, and beyond\nJordan unto Jerusalem, and Betane, and Chelus, and Kades, and the river\nof Egypt, and Taphnes, and Ramesse, and all the land of Gesem,\n\n1:10 Until ye come beyond Tanis and Memphis, and to all the inhabitants\nof Egypt, until ye come to the borders of Ethiopia.\n\n1:11 But all the inhabitants of the land made light of the commandment\nof Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, neither went they with him to\nthe battle; for they were not afraid of him: yea, he was before them as\none man, and they sent away his ambassadors from them without effect,\nand with disgrace.\n\n1:12 Therefore Nabuchodonosor was very angry with all this country, and\nsware by his throne and kingdom, that he would surely be avenged upon\nall those coasts of Cilicia, and Damascus, and Syria, and that he would\nslay with the sword all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the\nchildren of Ammon, and all Judea, and all that were in Egypt, till ye\ncome to the borders of the two seas.\n\n1:13 Then he marched in battle array with his power against king\nArphaxad in the seventeenth year, and he prevailed in his battle: for\nhe overthrew all the power of Arphaxad, and all his horsemen, and all\nhis chariots,\n\n1:14 And became lord of his cities, and came unto Ecbatane, and took\nthe towers, and spoiled the streets thereof, and turned the beauty\nthereof into shame.\n\n1:15 He took also Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragau, and smote him\nthrough with his darts, and destroyed him utterly that day.\n\n1:16 So he returned afterward to Nineve, both he and all his company of\nsundry nations being a very great multitude of men of war, and there he\ntook his ease, and banqueted, both he and his army, an hundred and\ntwenty days.\n\n2:1 And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the first\nmonth, there was talk in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the\nAssyrians that he should, as he said, avenge himself on all the earth.\n\n2:2 So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, and\ncommunicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting\nof the whole earth out of his own mouth.\n\n2:3 Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the\ncommandment of his mouth.\n\n2:4 And when he had ended his counsel, Nabuchodonosor king of the\nAssyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, which was\nnext unto him, and said unto him.\n\n2:5 Thus saith the great king, the lord of the whole earth, Behold,\nthou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee men that trust\nin their own strength, of footmen an hundred and twenty thousand; and\nthe number of horses with their riders twelve thousand.\n\n2:6 And thou shalt go against all the west country, because they\ndisobeyed my commandment.\n\n2:7 And thou shalt declare unto that they prepare for me earth and\nwater: for I will go forth in my wrath against them and will cover the\nwhole face of the earth with the feet of mine army, and I will give\nthem for a spoil unto them:\n\n2:8 So that their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks and the\nriver shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow:\n\n2:9 And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the earth.\n\n2:10 Thou therefore shalt go forth, and take beforehand for me all\ntheir coasts: and if they will yield themselves unto thee, thou shalt\nreserve them for me till the day of their punishment.\n\n2:11 But concerning them that rebel, let not thine eye spare them; but\nput them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou goest.\n\n2:12 For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I have\nspoken, that will I do by mine hand.\n\n2:13 And take thou heed that thou transgress none of the commandments\nof thy lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have commanded thee, and\ndefer not to do them.\n\n2:14 Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and\ncalled all the governors and captains, and the officers of the army of\nAssur;\n\n2:15 And he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord had\ncommanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand\narchers on horseback;\n\n2:16 And he ranged them, as a great army is ordered for the war.\n\n2:17 And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very great\nnumber; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their\nprovision:\n\n2:18 And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very much\ngold and silver out of the king\u2019s house.\n\n2:19 Then he went forth and all his power to go before king\nNabuchodonosor in the voyage, and to cover all the face of the earth\nwestward with their chariots, and horsemen, and their chosen footmen.\n\n2:20 A great number also sundry countries came with them like locusts,\nand like the sand of the earth: for the multitude was without number.\n\n2:21 And they went forth of Nineve three days\u2019 journey toward the plain\nof Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth near the mountain which is at\nthe left hand of the upper Cilicia.\n\n2:22 Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen and chariots,\nand went from thence into the hill country;\n\n2:23 And destroyed Phud and Lud, and spoiled all the children of\nRasses, and the children of Ismael, which were toward the wilderness at\nthe south of the land of the Chellians.\n\n2:24 Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia, and\ndestroyed all the high cities that were upon the river Arbonai, till ye\ncome to the sea.\n\n2:25 And he took the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that resisted\nhim, and came to the borders of Japheth, which were toward the south,\nover against Arabia.\n\n2:26 He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burned up their\ntabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcotes.\n\n2:27 Then he went down into the plain of Damascus in the time of wheat\nharvest, and burnt up all their fields, and destroyed their flocks and\nherds, also he spoiled their cities, and utterly wasted their\ncountries, and smote all their young men with the edge of the sword.\n\n2:28 Therefore the fear and dread of him fell upon all the inhabitants\nof the sea coasts, which were in Sidon and Tyrus, and them that dwelt\nin Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in Jemnaan; and they that dwelt in\nAzotus and Ascalon feared him greatly.\n\n3:1 So they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,\n\n3:2 Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie before\nthee; use us as shall be good in thy sight.\n\n3:3 Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of\nwheat, and flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents lie\nbefore thy face; use them as it pleaseth thee.\n\n3:4 Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy\nservants; come and deal with them as seemeth good unto thee.\n\n3:5 So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after this\nmanner.\n\n3:6 Then came he down toward the sea coast, both he and his army, and\nset garrisons in the high cities, and took out of them chosen men for\naid.\n\n3:7 So they and all the country round about received them with\ngarlands, with dances, and with timbrels.\n\n3:8 Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their groves:\nfor he had decreed to destroy all the gods of the land, that all\nnations should worship Nabuchodonosor only, and that all tongues and\ntribes should call upon him as god.\n\n3:9 Also he came over against Esdraelon near unto Judea, over against\nthe great strait of Judea.\n\n3:10 And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he tarried\na whole month, that he might gather together all the carriages of his\narmy.\n\n4:1 Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that\nHolofernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians\nhad done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their\ntemples, and brought them to nought.\n\n4:2 Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled\nfor Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:\n\n4:3 For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people\nof Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar,\nand the house, were sanctified after the profanation.\n\n4:4 Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the\nvillages and to Bethoron, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba, and\nEsora, and to the valley of Salem:\n\n4:5 And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high\nmountains, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up\nvictuals for the provision of war: for their fields were of late\nreaped.\n\n4:6 Also Joacim the high priest, which was in those days in Jerusalem,\nwrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomestham, which is over\nagainst Esdraelon toward the open country, near to Dothaim,\n\n4:7 Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for by them\nthere was an entrance into Judea, and it was easy to stop them that\nwould come up, because the passage was straight, for two men at the\nmost.\n\n4:8 And the children of Israel did as Joacim the high priest had\ncommanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which\ndwelt at Jerusalem.\n\n4:9 Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with\ngreat vehemency did they humble their souls:\n\n4:10 Both they, and their wives and their children, and their cattle,\nand every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money,\nput sackcloth upon their loins.\n\n4:11 Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the\ninhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon\ntheir heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the\nLord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,\n\n4:12 And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent earnestly,\nthat he would not give their children for a prey, and their wives for a\nspoil, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the\nsanctuary to profanation and reproach, and for the nations to rejoice\nat.\n\n4:13 So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for\nthe people fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the\nsanctuary of the Lord Almighty.\n\n4:14 And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before\nthe Lord, and they which ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt\nwith sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows\nand free gifts of the people,\n\n4:15 And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with all\ntheir power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel\ngraciously.\n\n5:1 Then was it declared to Holofernes, the chief captain of the army\nof Assur, that the children of Israel had prepared for war, and had\nshut up the passages of the hill country, and had fortified all the\ntops of the high hills and had laid impediments in the champaign\ncountries:\n\n5:2 Wherewith he was very angry, and called all the princes of Moab,\nand the captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the sea coast,\n\n5:3 And he said unto them, Tell me now, ye sons of Chanaan, who this\npeople is, that dwelleth in the hill country, and what are the cities\nthat they inhabit, and what is the multitude of their army, and wherein\nis their power and strength, and what king is set over them, or captain\nof their army;\n\n5:4 And why have they determined not to come and meet me, more than all\nthe inhabitants of the west.\n\n5:5 Then said Achior, the captain of all the sons of Ammon, Let my lord\nnow hear a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I will declare unto\nthee the truth concerning this people, which dwelleth near thee, and\ninhabiteth the hill countries: and there shall no lie come out of the\nmouth of thy servant.\n\n5:6 This people are descended of the Chaldeans:\n\n5:7 And they sojourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they would\nnot follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the land of\nChaldea.\n\n5:8 For they left the way of their ancestors, and worshipped the God of\nheaven, the God whom they knew: so they cast them out from the face of\ntheir gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and sojourned there many\ndays.\n\n5:9 Then their God commanded them to depart from the place where they\nsojourned, and to go into the land of Chanaan: where they dwelt, and\nwere increased with gold and silver, and with very much cattle.\n\n5:10 But when a famine covered all the land of Chanaan, they went down\ninto Egypt, and sojourned there, while they were nourished, and became\nthere a great multitude, so that one could not number their nation.\n\n5:11 Therefore the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt\nsubtilly with them, and brought them low with labouring in brick, and\nmade them slaves.\n\n5:12 Then they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of Egypt\nwith incurable plagues: so the Egyptians cast them out of their sight.\n\n5:13 And God dried the Red sea before them,\n\n5:14 And brought them to mount Sina, and Cades-Barne, and cast forth\nall that dwelt in the wilderness.\n\n5:15 So they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed by\ntheir strength all them of Esebon, and passing over Jordan they\npossessed all the hill country.\n\n5:16 And they cast forth before them the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, the\nJebusite, and the Sychemite, and all the Gergesites, and they dwelt in\nthat country many days.\n\n5:17 And whilst they sinned not before their God, they prospered,\nbecause the God that hateth iniquity was with them.\n\n5:18 But when they departed from the way which he appointed them, they\nwere destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led captives into a\nland that was not theirs, and the temple of their God was cast to the\nground, and their cities were taken by the enemies.\n\n5:19 But now are they returned to their God, and are come up from the\nplaces where they were scattered, and have possessed Jerusalem, where\ntheir sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill country; for it was\ndesolate.\n\n5:20 Now therefore, my lord and governor, if there be any error against\nthis people, and they sin against their God, let us consider that this\nshall be their ruin, and let us go up, and we shall overcome them.\n\n5:21 But if there be no iniquity in their nation, let my lord now pass\nby, lest their Lord defend them, and their God be for them, and we\nbecome a reproach before all the world.\n\n5:22 And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the people\nstanding round about the tent murmured, and the chief men of\nHolofernes, and all that dwelt by the sea side, and in Moab, spake that\nhe should kill him.\n\n5:23 For, say they, we will not be afraid of the face of the children\nof Israel: for, lo, it is a people that have no strength nor power for\na strong battle\n\n5:24 Now therefore, lord Holofernes, we will go up, and they shall be a\nprey to be devoured of all thine army.\n\n6:1 And when the tumult of men that were about the council was ceased,\nHolofernes the chief captain of the army of Assur said unto Achior and\nall the Moabites before all the company of other nations,\n\n6:2 And who art thou, Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim, that thou\nhast prophesied against us as to day, and hast said, that we should not\nmake war with the people of Israel, because their God will defend them?\nand who is God but Nabuchodonosor?\n\n6:3 He will send his power, and will destroy them from the face of the\nearth, and their God shall not deliver them: but we his servants will\ndestroy them as one man; for they are not able to sustain the power of\nour horses.\n\n6:4 For with them we will tread them under foot, and their mountains\nshall be drunken with their blood, and their fields shall be filled\nwith their dead bodies, and their footsteps shall not be able to stand\nbefore us, for they shall utterly perish, saith king Nabuchodonosor,\nlord of all the earth: for he said, None of my words shall be in vain.\n\n6:5 And thou, Achior, an hireling of Ammon, which hast spoken these\nwords in the day of thine iniquity, shalt see my face no more from this\nday, until I take vengeance of this nation that came out of Egypt.\n\n6:6 And then shall the sword of mine army, and the multitude of them\nthat serve me, pass through thy sides, and thou shalt fall among their\nslain, when I return.\n\n6:7 Now therefore my servants shall bring thee back into the hill\ncountry, and shall set thee in one of the cities of the passages:\n\n6:8 And thou shalt not perish, till thou be destroyed with them.\n\n6:9 And if thou persuade thyself in thy mind that they shall be taken,\nlet not thy countenance fall: I have spoken it, and none of my words\nshall be in vain.\n\n6:10 Then Holofernes commanded his servants, that waited in his tent,\nto take Achior, and bring him to Bethulia, and deliver him into the\nhands of the children of Israel.\n\n6:11 So his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp into the\nplain, and they went from the midst of the plain into the hill country,\nand came unto the fountains that were under Bethulia.\n\n6:12 And when the men of the city saw them, they took up their weapons,\nand went out of the city to the top of the hill: and every man that\nused a sling kept them from coming up by casting of stones against\nthem.\n\n6:13 Nevertheless having gotten privily under the hill, they bound\nAchior, and cast him down, and left him at the foot of the hill, and\nreturned to their lord.\n\n6:14 But the Israelites descended from their city, and came unto him,\nand loosed him, and brought him to Bethulia, and presented him to the\ngovernors of the city:\n\n6:15 Which were in those days Ozias the son of Micha, of the tribe of\nSimeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of\nMelchiel.\n\n6:16 And they called together all the ancients of the city, and all\ntheir youth ran together, and their women, to the assembly, and they\nset Achior in the midst of all their people. Then Ozias asked him of\nthat which was done.\n\n6:17 And he answered and declared unto them the words of the council of\nHolofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the\nprinces of Assur, and whatsoever Holofernes had spoken proudly against\nthe house of Israel.\n\n6:18 Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried unto God,\nsaying,\n\n6:19 O Lord God of heaven, behold their pride, and pity the low estate\nof our nation, and look upon the face of those that are sanctified unto\nthee this day.\n\n6:20 Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.\n\n6:21 And Ozias took him out of the assembly unto his house, and made a\nfeast to the elders; and they called on the God of Israel all that\nnight for help.\n\n7:1 The next day Holofernes commanded all his army, and all his people\nwhich were come to take his part, that they should remove their camp\nagainst Bethulia, to take aforehand the ascents of the hill country,\nand to make war against the children of Israel.\n\n7:2 Then their strong men removed their camps in that day, and the army\nof the men of war was an hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and\ntwelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and other men that were\nafoot among them, a very great multitude.\n\n7:3 And they camped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the fountain,\nand they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim even to Belmaim, and\nin length from Bethulia unto Cynamon, which is over against Esdraelon.\n\n7:4 Now the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them,\nwere greatly troubled, and said every one to his neighbour, Now will\nthese men lick up the face of the earth; for neither the high\nmountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, are able to bear their\nweight.\n\n7:5 Then every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had\nkindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that\nnight.\n\n7:6 But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his horsemen in\nthe sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,\n\n7:7 And viewed the passages up to the city, and came to the fountains\nof their waters, and took them, and set garrisons of men of war over\nthem, and he himself removed toward his people.\n\n7:8 Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esau, and all\nthe governors of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast,\nand said,\n\n7:9 Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in\nthine army.\n\n7:10 For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their\nspears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, because\nit is not easy to come up to the tops of their mountains.\n\n7:11 Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle array,\nand there shall not so much as one man of thy people perish.\n\n7:12 Remain in thy camp, and keep all the men of thine army, and let\nthy servants get into their hands the fountain of water, which issueth\nforth of the foot of the mountain:\n\n7:13 For all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence; so\nshall thirst kill them, and they shall give up their city, and we and\nour people shall go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and\nwill camp upon them, to watch that none go out of the city.\n\n7:14 So they and their wives and their children shall be consumed with\nfamine, and before the sword come against them, they shall be\noverthrown in the streets where they dwell.\n\n7:15 Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they rebelled,\nand met not thy person peaceably.\n\n7:16 And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he\nappointed to do as they had spoken.\n\n7:17 So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them five\nthousand of the Assyrians, and they pitched in the valley, and took the\nwaters, and the fountains of the waters of the children of Israel.\n\n7:18 Then the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and\ncamped in the hill country over against Dothaim: and they sent some of\nthem toward the south, and toward the east over against Ekrebel, which\nis near unto Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the\narmy of the Assyrians camped in the plain, and covered the face of the\nwhole land; and their tents and carriages were pitched to a very great\nmultitude.\n\n7:19 Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their God, because\ntheir heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed them round\nabout, and there was no way to escape out from among them.\n\n7:20 Thus all the company of Assur remained about them, both their\nfootmen, chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty days, so that all\ntheir vessels of water failed all the inhibitants of Bethulia.\n\n7:21 And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink\ntheir fill for one day; for they gave them drink by measure.\n\n7:22 Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their women\nand young men fainted for thirst, and fell down in the streets of the\ncity, and by the passages of the gates, and there was no longer any\nstrength in them.\n\n7:23 Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chief of the\ncity, both young men, and women, and children, and cried with a loud\nvoice, and said before all the elders,\n\n7:24 God be judge between us and you: for ye have done us great injury,\nin that ye have not required peace of the children of Assur.\n\n7:25 For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their hands,\nthat we should be thrown down before them with thirst and great\ndestruction.\n\n7:26 Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city for a\nspoil to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army.\n\n7:27 For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to die\nfor thirst: for we will be his servants, that our souls may live, and\nnot see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our\nchildren to die.\n\n7:28 We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our\nGod and Lord of our fathers, which punisheth us according to our sins\nand the sins of our fathers, that he do not according as we have said\nthis day.\n\n7:29 Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of the\nassembly; and they cried unto the Lord God with a loud voice.\n\n7:30 Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet\nendure five days, in the which space the Lord our God may turn his\nmercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.\n\n7:31 And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do\naccording to your word.\n\n7:32 And he dispersed the people, every one to their own charge; and\nthey went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent the women\nand children into their houses: and they were very low brought in the\ncity.\n\n8:1 Now at that time Judith heard thereof, which was the daughter of\nMerari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozel, the son of\nElcia, the son of Ananias, the son of Gedeon, the son of Raphaim, the\nson of Acitho, the son of Eliu, the son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael,\nthe son of Samael, the son of Salasadal, the son of Israel.\n\n8:2 And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in\nthe barley harvest.\n\n8:3 For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the field,\nthe heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in the\ncity of Bethulia: and they buried him with his fathers in the field\nbetween Dothaim and Balamo.\n\n8:4 So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months.\n\n8:5 And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on\nsackcloth upon her loins and ware her widow\u2019s apparel.\n\n8:6 And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves of the\nsabbaths, and the sabbaths, and the eves of the new moons, and the new\nmoons and the feasts and solemn days of the house of Israel.\n\n8:7 She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to behold:\nand her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants\nand maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she remained upon them.\n\n8:8 And there was none that gave her an ill word; for she feared God\ngreatly.\n\n8:9 Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the\ngovernor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had heard all\nthe words that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he had sworn to\ndeliver the city unto the Assyrians after five days;\n\n8:10 Then she sent her waitingwoman, that had the government of all\nthings that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, the\nancients of the city.\n\n8:11 And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now, O ye\ngovernors of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words that ye have\nspoken before the people this day are not right, touching this oath\nwhich ye made and pronounced between God and you, and have promised to\ndeliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turn\nto help you.\n\n8:12 And now who are ye that have tempted God this day, and stand\ninstead of God among the children of men?\n\n8:13 And now try the Lord Almighty, but ye shall never know any thing.\n\n8:14 For ye cannot find the depth of the heart of man, neither can ye\nperceive the things that he thinketh: then how can ye search out God,\nthat hath made all these things, and know his mind, or comprehend his\npurpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord our God to anger.\n\n8:15 For if he will not help us within these five days, he hath power\nto defend us when he will, even every day, or to destroy us before our\nenemies.\n\n8:16 Do not bind the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not as\nman, that he may be threatened; neither is he as the son of man, that\nhe should be wavering.\n\n8:17 Therefore let us wait for salvation of him, and call upon him to\nhelp us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him.\n\n8:18 For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in these\ndays neither tribe, nor family, nor people, nor city among us, which\nworship gods made with hands, as hath been aforetime.\n\n8:19 For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a\nspoil, and had a great fall before our enemies.\n\n8:20 But we know none other god, therefore we trust that he will not\ndispise us, nor any of our nation.\n\n8:21 For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, and our\nsanctuary shall be spoiled; and he will require the profanation thereof\nat our mouth.\n\n8:22 And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the\ncountry, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turn upon our\nheads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in bondage; and we\nshall be an offence and a reproach to all them that possess us.\n\n8:23 For our servitude shall not be directed to favour: but the Lord\nour God shall turn it to dishonour.\n\n8:24 Now therefore, O brethren, let us shew an example to our brethren,\nbecause their hearts depend upon us, and the sanctuary, and the house,\nand the altar, rest upon us.\n\n8:25 Moreover let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth us,\neven as he did our fathers.\n\n8:26 Remember what things he did to Abraham, and how he tried Isaac,\nand what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the\nsheep of Laban his mother\u2019s brother.\n\n8:27 For he hath not tried us in the fire, as he did them, for the\nexamination of their hearts, neither hath he taken vengeance on us: but\nthe Lord doth scourge them that come near unto him, to admonish them.\n\n8:28 Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou spoken\nwith a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy words.\n\n8:29 For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is manifested;\nbut from the beginning of thy days all the people have known thy\nunderstanding, because the disposition of thine heart is good.\n\n8:30 But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto them\nas we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will\nnot break.\n\n8:31 Therefore now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly woman,\nand the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint\nno more.\n\n8:32 Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, which\nshall go throughout all generations to the children of our nation.\n\n8:33 Ye shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth with my\nwaitingwoman: and within the days that ye have promised to deliver the\ncity to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by mine hand.\n\n8:34 But enquire not ye of mine act: for I will not declare it unto\nyou, till the things be finished that I do.\n\n8:35 Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Go in peace, and the\nLord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies.\n\n8:36 So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.\n\n9:1 Then Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and\nuncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the time\nthat the incense of that evening was offered in Jerusalem in the house\nof the Lord Judith cried with a loud voice, and said,\n\n9:2 O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take\nvengeance of the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maid to defile\nher, and discovered the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity\nto her reproach; for thou saidst, It shall not be so; and yet they did\nso:\n\n9:3 Wherefore thou gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed\ntheir bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the servants with their\nlords, and the lords upon their thrones;\n\n9:4 And hast given their wives for a prey, and their daughters to be\ncaptives, and all their spoils to be divided among thy dear children;\nwhich were moved with thy zeal, and abhorred the pollution of their\nblood, and called upon thee for aid: O God, O my God, hear me also a\nwidow.\n\n9:5 For thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the things\nwhich fell out before, and which ensued after; thou hast thought upon\nthe things which are now, and which are to come.\n\n9:6 Yea, what things thou didst determine were ready at hand, and said,\nLo, we are here: for all thy ways are prepared, and thy judgments are\nin thy foreknowledge.\n\n9:7 For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power; they are\nexalted with horse and man; they glory in the strength of their\nfootmen; they trust in shield, and spear, and bow, and sling; and know\nnot that thou art the Lord that breakest the battles: the Lord is thy\nname.\n\n9:8 Throw down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force\nin thy wrath: for they have purposed to defile thy sanctuary, and to\npollute the tabernacle where thy glorious name resteth and to cast down\nwith sword the horn of thy altar.\n\n9:9 Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads: give into\nmine hand, which am a widow, the power that I have conceived.\n\n9:10 Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and\nthe prince with the servant: break down their stateliness by the hand\nof a woman.\n\n9:11 For thy power standeth not in multitude nor thy might in strong\nmen: for thou art a God of the afflicted, an helper of the oppressed,\nan upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them\nthat are without hope.\n\n9:12 I pray thee, I pray thee, O God of my father, and God of the\ninheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and earth, Creator of the\nwaters, king of every creature, hear thou my prayer:\n\n9:13 And make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who\nhave purposed cruel things against thy covenant, and thy hallowed\nhouse, and against the top of Sion, and against the house of the\npossession of thy children.\n\n9:14 And make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that thou art the\nGod of all power and might, and that there is none other that\nprotecteth the people of Israel but thou.\n\n10:1 Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and\nhad made an end of all these words.\n\n10:2 She rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went\ndown into the house in the which she abode in the sabbath days, and in\nher feast days,\n\n10:3 And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the\ngarments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and\nanointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her\nhead, and put on a tire upon it, and put on her garments of gladness,\nwherewith she was clad during the life of Manasses her husband.\n\n10:4 And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her\nbracelets, and her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her\nornaments, and decked herself bravely, to allure the eyes of all men\nthat should see her.\n\n10:5 Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and\nfilled a bag with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with fine bread;\nso she folded all these things together, and laid them upon her.\n\n10:6 Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and\nfound standing there Ozias and the ancients of the city, Chabris and\nCharmis.\n\n10:7 And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her\napparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly, and said\nunto her.\n\n10:8 The God, the God of our fathers give thee favour, and accomplish\nthine enterprizes to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the\nexaltation of Jerusalem. Then they worshipped God.\n\n10:9 And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be opened\nunto me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things whereof ye have\nspoken with me. So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as\nshe had spoken.\n\n10:10 And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid\nwith her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone\ndown the mountain, and till she had passed the valley, and could see\nher no more.\n\n10:11 Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first watch\nof the Assyrians met her,\n\n10:12 And took her, and asked her, Of what people art thou? and whence\ncomest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am a woman of the\nHebrews, and am fled from them: for they shall be given you to be\nconsumed:\n\n10:13 And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army,\nto declare words of truth; and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall\ngo, and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of\nany one of his men.\n\n10:14 Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance,\nthey wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,\n\n10:15 Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down\nto the presence of our lord: now therefore come to his tent, and some\nof us shall conduct thee, until they have delivered thee to his hands.\n\n10:16 And when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart,\nbut shew unto him according to thy word; and he will entreat thee well.\n\n10:17 Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and\nher maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.\n\n10:18 Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her\ncoming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as she\nstood without the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of her.\n\n10:19 And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of\nIsrael because of her, and every one said to his neighbour, Who would\ndespise this people, that have among them such women? surely it is not\ngood that one man of them be left who being let go might deceive the\nwhole earth.\n\n10:20 And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his servants\nand they brought her into the tent.\n\n10:21 Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was\nwoven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.\n\n10:22 So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with\nsilver lamps going before him.\n\n10:23 And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all\nmarvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her\nface, and did reverence unto him: and his servants took her up.\n\n11:1 Then said Holofernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort, fear not\nin thine heart: for I never hurt any that was willing to serve\nNabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth.\n\n11:2 Now therefore, if thy people that dwelleth in the mountains had\nnot set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them:\nbut they have done these things to themselves.\n\n11:3 But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come\nunto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou\nshalt live this night, and hereafter:\n\n11:4 For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the\nservants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.\n\n11:5 Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and\nsuffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no\nlie to my lord this night.\n\n11:6 And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will\nbring the thing perfectly to pass by thee; and my lord shall not fail\nof his purposes.\n\n11:7 As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his power\nliveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing: for\nnot only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field,\nand the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall live by thy power under\nNabuchodonosor and all his house.\n\n11:8 For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is\nreported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all the\nkingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.\n\n11:9 Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy\ncouncil, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him,\nand he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.\n\n11:10 Therefore, O lord and governor, respect not his word; but lay it\nup in thine heart, for it is true: for our nation shall not be\npunished, neither can sword prevail against them, except they sin\nagainst their God.\n\n11:11 And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his\npurpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath\novertaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger\nwhensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done:\n\n11:12 For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and\nthey have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to\nconsume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eat by his\nlaws:\n\n11:13 And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the corn, and the\ntenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the\npriests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the which\nthings it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with\ntheir hands.\n\n11:14 For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that\ndwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the\nsenate.\n\n11:15 Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it,\nand they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same day.\n\n11:16 Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their\npresence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee, whereat all\nthe earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall hear it.\n\n11:17 For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day\nand night: now therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee, and thy\nservant will go out by night into the valley, and I will pray unto God,\nand he will tell me when they have committed their sins:\n\n11:18 And I will come and shew it unto thee: then thou shalt go forth\nwith all thine army, and there shall be none of them that shall resist\nthee.\n\n11:19 And I will lead thee through the midst of Judea, until thou come\nbefore Jerusalem; and I will set thy throne in the midst thereof; and\nthou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall\nnot so much as open his mouth at thee: for these things were told me\naccording to my foreknowledge, and they were declared unto me, and I am\nsent to tell thee.\n\n11:20 Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they\nmarvelled at her wisdom, and said,\n\n11:21 There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other,\nboth for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.\n\n11:22 Likewise Holofernes said unto her. God hath done well to send\nthee before the people, that strength might be in our hands and\ndestruction upon them that lightly regard my lord.\n\n11:23 And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in\nthy words: surely if thou do as thou hast spoken thy God shall be my\nGod, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king Nabuchodonosor, and\nshalt be renowned through the whole earth.\n\n12:1 Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and\nbade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she\nshould drink of his own wine.\n\n12:2 And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an offence:\nbut provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought.\n\n12:3 Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail, how\nshould we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation.\n\n12:4 Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine\nhandmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work\nby mine hand the things that he hath determined.\n\n12:5 Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she\nslept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning\nwatch,\n\n12:6 And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that thine\nhandmaid may go forth unto prayer.\n\n12:7 Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her:\nthus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night into\nthe valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by\nthe camp.\n\n12:8 And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of Israel to\ndirect her way to the raising up of the children of her people.\n\n12:9 So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat\nher meat at evening.\n\n12:10 And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants\nonly, and called none of the officers to the banquet.\n\n12:11 Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that\nhe had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that\nshe come unto us, and eat and drink with us.\n\n12:12 For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such\na woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us,\nshe will laugh us to scorn.\n\n12:13 Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to\nher, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and\nto be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us\nand be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which\nserve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.\n\n12:14 Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my\nlord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall\nbe my joy unto the day of my death.\n\n12:15 So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her\nwoman\u2019s attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for\nher over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas far her\ndaily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.\n\n12:16 Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was\nravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her\ncompany; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had\nseen her.\n\n12:17 Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us.\n\n12:18 So Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is\nmagnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.\n\n12:19 Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had\nprepared.\n\n12:20 And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine\nthan he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.\n\n13:1 Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart,\nand Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the\npresence of his lord; and they went to their beds: for they were all\nweary, because the feast had been long.\n\n13:2 And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying along\nupon his bed: for he was filled with wine.\n\n13:3 Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her bedchamber,\nand to wait for her coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she\nwould go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the\nsame purpose.\n\n13:4 So all went forth and none was left in the bedchamber, neither\nlittle nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart,\nO Lord God of all power, look at this present upon the works of mine\nhands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.\n\n13:5 For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute mine\nenterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against\nus.\n\n13:6 Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes\u2019\nhead, and took down his fauchion from thence,\n\n13:7 And approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head,\nand said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.\n\n13:8 And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took\naway his head from him.\n\n13:9 And tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy\nfrom the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave Holofernes\nhis head to her maid;\n\n13:10 And she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went together\naccording to their custom unto prayer: and when they passed the camp,\nthey compassed the valley, and went up the mountain of Bethulia, and\ncame to the gates thereof.\n\n13:11 Then said Judith afar off, to the watchmen at the gate, Open,\nopen now the gate: God, even our God, is with us, to shew his power yet\nin Jerusalem, and his forces against the enemy, as he hath even done\nthis day.\n\n13:12 Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to\ngo down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders of the\ncity.\n\n13:13 And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it was\nstrange unto them that she was come: so they opened the gate, and\nreceived them, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them.\n\n13:14 Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise, praise God,\npraise God, I say, for he hath not taken away his mercy from the house\nof Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night.\n\n13:15 So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto\nthem, behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of\nAssur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness;\nand the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman.\n\n13:16 As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my\ncountenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath he not\ncommitted sin with me, to defile and shame me.\n\n13:17 Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed\nthemselves and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed be\nthou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of\nthy people.\n\n13:18 Then said Ozias unto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the\nmost high God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be the\nLord God, which hath created the heavens and the earth, which hath\ndirected thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our\nenemies.\n\n13:19 For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men,\nwhich remember the power of God for ever.\n\n13:20 And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to\nvisit thee in good things because thou hast not spared thy life for the\naffliction of our nation, but hast revenged our ruin, walking a\nstraight way before our God. And all the people said; So be it, so be\nit.\n\n14:1 Then said Judith unto them, Hear me now, my brethren, and take\nthis head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walls.\n\n14:2 And so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come\nforth upon the earth, take ye every one his weapons, and go forth every\nvaliant man out of the city, and set ye a captain over them, as though\nye would go down into the field toward the watch of the Assyrians; but\ngo not down.\n\n14:3 Then they shall take their armour, and shall go into their camp,\nand raise up the captains of the army of Assur, and shall run to the\ntent of Holofernes, but shall not find him: then fear shall fall upon\nthem, and they shall flee before your face.\n\n14:4 So ye, and all that inhabit the coast of Israel, shall pursue\nthem, and overthrow them as they go.\n\n14:5 But before ye do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that\nhe may see and know him that despised the house of Israel, and that\nsent him to us as it were to his death.\n\n14:6 Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; and when he was\ncome, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man\u2019s hand in the assembly of\nthe people, he fell down on his face, and his spirit failed.\n\n14:7 But when they had recovered him, he fell at Judith\u2019s feet, and\nreverenced her, and said, Blessed art thou in all the tabernacles of\nJuda, and in all nations, which hearing thy name shall be astonished.\n\n14:8 Now therefore tell me all the things that thou hast done in these\ndays. Then Judith declared unto him in the midst of the people all that\nshe had done, from the day that she went forth until that hour she\nspake unto them.\n\n14:9 And when she had left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud\nvoice, and made a joyful noise in their city.\n\n14:10 And when Achior had seen all that the God of Israel had done, he\nbelieved in God greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and\nwas joined unto the house of Israel unto this day.\n\n14:11 And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of\nHolofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went\nforth by bands unto the straits of the mountain.\n\n14:12 But when the Assyrians saw them, they sent to their leaders,\nwhich came to their captains and tribunes, and to every one of their\nrulers.\n\n14:13 So they came to Holofernes\u2019 tent, and said to him that had the\ncharge of all his things, Waken now our lord: for the slaves have been\nbold to come down against us to battle, that they may be utterly\ndestroyed.\n\n14:14 Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent; for he\nthought that he had slept with Judith.\n\n14:15 But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the\nbedchamber, and found him cast upon the floor dead, and his head was\ntaken from him.\n\n14:16 Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and sighing,\nand a mighty cry, and rent his garments.\n\n14:17 After he went into the tent where Judith lodged: and when he\nfound her not, he leaped out to the people, and cried,\n\n14:18 These slaves have dealt treacherously; one woman of the Hebrews\nhath brought shame upon the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for, behold,\nHolofernes lieth upon the ground without a head.\n\n14:19 When the captains of the Assyrians\u2019 army heard these words, they\nrent their coats and their minds were wonderfully troubled, and there\nwas a cry and a very great noise throughout the camp.\n\n15:1 And when they that were in the tents heard, they were astonished\nat the thing that was done.\n\n15:2 And fear and trembling fell upon them, so that there was no man\nthat durst abide in the sight of his neighbour, but rushing out all\ntogether, they fled into every way of the plain, and of the hill\ncountry.\n\n15:3 They also that had camped in the mountains round about Bethulia\nfled away. Then the children of Israel, every one that was a warrior\namong them, rushed out upon them.\n\n15:4 Then sent Ozias to Betomasthem, and to Bebai, and Chobai, and Cola\nand to all the coasts of Israel, such as should tell the things that\nwere done, and that all should rush forth upon their enemies to destroy\nthem.\n\n15:5 Now when the children of Israel heard it, they all fell upon them\nwith one consent, and slew them unto Chobai: likewise also they that\ncame from Jerusalem, and from all the hill country, (for men had told\nthem what things were done in the camp of their enemies) and they that\nwere in Galaad, and in Galilee, chased them with a great slaughter,\nuntil they were past Damascus and the borders thereof.\n\n15:6 And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia, fell upon the camp of\nAssur, and spoiled them, and were greatly enriched.\n\n15:7 And the children of Israel that returned from the slaughter had\nthat which remained; and the villages and the cities, that were in the\nmountains and in the plain, gat many spoils: for the multitude was very\ngreat.\n\n15:8 Then Joacim the high priest, and the ancients of the children of\nIsrael that dwelt in Jerusalem, came to behold the good things that God\nhad shewed to Israel, and to see Judith, and to salute her.\n\n15:9 And when they came unto her, they blessed her with one accord, and\nsaid unto her, Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem, thou art the great\nglory of Israel, thou art the great rejoicing of our nation:\n\n15:10 Thou hast done all these things by thine hand: thou hast done\nmuch good to Israel, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be thou of\nthe Almighty Lord for evermore. And all the people said, So be it.\n\n15:11 And the people spoiled the camp the space of thirty days: and\nthey gave unto Judith Holofernes his tent, and all his plate, and beds,\nand vessels, and all his stuff: and she took it and laid it on her\nmule; and made ready her carts, and laid them thereon.\n\n15:12 Then all the women of Israel ran together to see her, and blessed\nher, and made a dance among them for her: and she took branches in her\nhand, and gave also to the women that were with her.\n\n15:13 And they put a garland of olive upon her and her maid that was\nwith her, and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all\nthe women: and all the men of Israel followed in their armour with\ngarlands, and with songs in their mouths.\n\n16:1 Then Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all\nthe people sang after her this song of praise.\n\n16:2 And Judith said, Begin unto my God with timbrels, sing unto my\nLord with cymbals: tune unto him a new psalm: exalt him, and call upon\nhis name.\n\n16:3 For God breaketh the battles: for among the camps in the midst of\nthe people he hath delivered me out of the hands of them that\npersecuted me.\n\n16:4 Assur came out of the mountains from the north, he came with ten\nthousands of his army, the multitude whereof stopped the torrents, and\ntheir horsemen have covered the hills.\n\n16:5 He bragged that he would burn up my borders, and kill my young men\nwith the sword, and dash the sucking children against the ground, and\nmake mine infants as a prey, and my virgins as a spoil.\n\n16:6 But the Almighty Lord hath disappointed them by the hand of a\nwoman.\n\n16:7 For the mighty one did not fall by the young men, neither did the\nsons of the Titans smite him, nor high giants set upon him: but Judith\nthe daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her countenance.\n\n16:8 For she put off the garment of her widowhood for the exaltation of\nthose that were oppressed in Israel, and anointed her face with\nointment, and bound her hair in a tire, and took a linen garment to\ndeceive him.\n\n16:9 Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty took his mind prisoner,\nand the fauchion passed through his neck.\n\n16:10 The Persians quaked at her boldness, and the Medes were daunted\nat her hardiness.\n\n16:11 Then my afflicted shouted for joy, and my weak ones cried aloud;\nbut they were astonished: these lifted up their voices, but they were\noverthrown.\n\n16:12 The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and wounded\nthem as fugatives\u2019 children: they perished by the battle of the Lord.\n\n16:13 I will sing unto the Lord a new song: O Lord, thou art great and\nglorious, wonderful in strength, and invincible.\n\n16:14 Let all creatures serve thee: for thou spakest, and they were\nmade, thou didst send forth thy spirit, and it created them, and there\nis none that can resist thy voice.\n\n16:15 For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the\nwaters, the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence: yet thou art\nmerciful to them that fear thee.\n\n16:16 For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savour unto thee, and\nall the fat is not sufficient for thy burnt offering: but he that\nfeareth the Lord is great at all times.\n\n16:17 Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! the Lord\nAlmighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgment, in putting\nfire and worms in their flesh; and they shall feel them, and weep for\never.\n\n16:18 Now as soon as they entered into Jerusalem, they worshipped the\nLord; and as soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt\nofferings, and their free offerings, and their gifts.\n\n16:19 Judith also dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the\npeople had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken out of\nhis bedchamber, for a gift unto the Lord.\n\n16:20 So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the\nsanctuary for the space of three months and Judith remained with them.\n\n16:21 After this time every one returned to his own inheritance, and\nJudith went to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was in\nher time honourable in all the country.\n\n16:22 And many desired her, but none knew her all the days of her life,\nafter that Manasses her husband was dead, and was gathered to his\npeople.\n\n16:23 But she increased more and more in honour, and waxed old in her\nhusband\u2019s house, being an hundred and five years old, and made her maid\nfree; so she died in Bethulia: and they buried her in the cave of her\nhusband Manasses.\n\n16:24 And the house of Israel lamented her seven days: and before she\ndied, she did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of\nkindred to Manasses her husband, and to them that were the nearest of\nher kindred.\n\n16:25 And there was none that made the children of Israel any more\nafraid in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death.\n\n\n\n\nThe Greek Additions to Esther\n[The Rest of the Chapters of the Book of Esther]\n\n\n10:4 Then Mardocheus said, God hath done these things.\n\n10:5 For I remember a dream which I saw concerning these matters, and\nnothing thereof hath failed.\n\n10:6 A little fountain became a river, and there was light, and the\nsun, and much water: this river is Esther, whom the king married, and\nmade queen:\n\n10:7 And the two dragons are I and Aman.\n\n10:8 And the nations were those that were assembled to destroy the name\nof the Jews:\n\n10:9 And my nation is this Israel, which cried to God, and were saved:\nfor the Lord hath saved his people, and the Lord hath delivered us from\nall those evils, and God hath wrought signs and great wonders, which\nhave not been done among the Gentiles.\n\n10:10 Therefore hath he made two lots, one for the people of God, and\nanother for all the Gentiles.\n\n10:11 And these two lots came at the hour, and time, and day of\njudgment, before God among all nations.\n\n10:12 So God remembered his people, and justified his inheritance.\n\n10:13 Therefore those days shall be unto them in the month Adar, the\nfourteenth and fifteenth day of the same month, with an assembly, and\njoy, and with gladness before God, according to the generations for\never among his people.\n\n11:1 In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemeus and Cleopatra,\nDositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and Ptolemeus his son,\nbrought this epistle of Phurim, which they said was the same, and that\nLysimachus the son of Ptolemeus, that was in Jerusalem, had interpreted\nit.\n\n11:2 In the second year of the reign of Artexerxes the great, in the\nfirst day of the month Nisan, Mardocheus the son of Jairus, the son of\nSemei, the son of Cisai, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream;\n\n11:3 Who was a Jew, and dwelt in the city of Susa, a great man, being a\nservitor in the king\u2019s court.\n\n11:4 He was also one of the captives, which Nabuchodonosor the king of\nBabylon carried from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of Judea; and this\nwas his dream:\n\n11:5 Behold a noise of a tumult, with thunder, and earthquakes, and\nuproar in the land:\n\n11:6 And, behold, two great dragons came forth ready to fight, and\ntheir cry was great.\n\n11:7 And at their cry all nations were prepared to battle, that they\nmight fight against the righteous people.\n\n11:8 And lo a day of darkness and obscurity, tribulation and anguish,\naffliction and great uproar, upon earth.\n\n11:9 And the whole righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own\nevils, and were ready to perish.\n\n11:10 Then they cried unto God, and upon their cry, as it were from a\nlittle fountain, was made a great flood, even much water.\n\n11:11 The light and the sun rose up, and the lowly were exalted, and\ndevoured the glorious.\n\n11:12 Now when Mardocheus, who had seen this dream, and what God had\ndetermined to do, was awake, he bare this dream in mind, and until\nnight by all means was desirous to know it.\n\n12:1 And Mardocheus took his rest in the court with Gabatha and Tharra,\nthe two eunuchs of the king, and keepers of the palace.\n\n12:2 And he heard their devices, and searched out their purposes, and\nlearned that they were about to lay hands upon Artexerxes the king; and\nso he certified the king of them.\n\n12:3 Then the king examined the two eunuchs, and after that they had\nconfessed it, they were strangled.\n\n12:4 And the king made a record of these things, and Mardocheus also\nwrote thereof.\n\n12:5 So the king commanded Mardocheus to serve in the court, and for\nthis he rewarded him.\n\n12:6 Howbeit Aman the son of Amadathus the Agagite, who was in great\nhonour with the king, sought to molest Mardocheus and his people\nbecause of the two eunuchs of the king.\n\n13:1 The copy of the letters was this: The great king Artexerxes\nwriteth these things to the princes and governors that are under him\nfrom India unto Ethiopia in an hundred and seven and twenty provinces.\n\n13:2 After that I became lord over many nations and had dominion over\nthe whole world, not lifted up with presumption of my authority, but\ncarrying myself always with equity and mildness, I purposed to settle\nmy subjects continually in a quiet life, and making my kingdom\npeaceable, and open for passage to the utmost coasts, to renew peace,\nwhich is desired of all men.\n\n13:3 Now when I asked my counsellors how this might be brought to pass,\nAman, that excelled in wisdom among us, and was approved for his\nconstant good will and steadfast fidelity, and had the honour of the\nsecond place in the kingdom,\n\n13:4 Declared unto us, that in all nations throughout the world there\nwas scattered a certain malicious people, that had laws contrary to all\nnations, and continually despised the commandments of kings, so as the\nuniting of our kingdoms, honourably intended by us cannot go forward.\n\n13:5 Seeing then we understand that this people alone is continually in\nopposition unto all men, differing in the strange manner of their laws,\nand evil affected to our state, working all the mischief they can that\nour kingdom may not be firmly established:\n\n13:6 Therefore have we commanded, that all they that are signified in\nwriting unto you by Aman, who is ordained over the affairs, and is next\nunto us, shall all, with their wives and children, be utterly destroyed\nby the sword of their enemies, without all mercy and pity, the\nfourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year:\n\n13:7 That they, who of old and now also are malicious, may in one day\nwith violence go into the grave, and so ever hereafter cause our\naffairs to be well settled, and without trouble.\n\n13:8 Then Mardocheus thought upon all the works of the Lord, and made\nhis prayer unto him,\n\n13:9 Saying, O Lord, Lord, the King Almighty: for the whole world is in\nthy power, and if thou hast appointed to save Israel, there is no man\nthat can gainsay thee:\n\n13:10 For thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous things\nunder the heaven.\n\n13:11 Thou art Lord of all things, and there is no man that can resist\nthee, which art the Lord.\n\n13:12 Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest, Lord, that it was\nneither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire of glory, that I did\nnot bow down to proud Aman.\n\n13:13 For I could have been content with good will for the salvation of\nIsrael to kiss the soles of his feet.\n\n13:14 But I did this, that I might not prefer the glory of man above\nthe glory of God: neither will I worship any but thee, O God, neither\nwill I do it in pride.\n\n13:15 And now, O Lord God and King, spare thy people: for their eyes\nare upon us to bring us to nought; yea, they desire to destroy the\ninheritance, that hath been thine from the beginning.\n\n13:16 Despise not the portion, which thou hast delivered out of Egypt\nfor thine own self.\n\n13:17 Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto thine inheritance: turn our\nsorrow into joy, that we may live, O Lord, and praise thy name: and\ndestroy not the mouths of them that praise thee, O Lord.\n\n13:18 All Israel in like manner cried most earnestly unto the Lord,\nbecause their death was before their eyes.\n\n14:1 Queen Esther also, being in fear of death, resorted unto the Lord:\n\n14:2 And laid away her glorious apparel, and put on the garments of\nanguish and mourning: and instead of precious ointments, she covered\nher head with ashes and dung, and she humbled her body greatly, and all\nthe places of her joy she filled with her torn hair.\n\n14:3 And she prayed unto the Lord God of Israel, saying, O my Lord,\nthou only art our King: help me, desolate woman, which have no helper\nbut thee:\n\n14:4 For my danger is in mine hand.\n\n14:5 From my youth up I have heard in the tribe of my family that thou,\nO Lord, tookest Israel from among all people, and our fathers from all\ntheir predecessors, for a perpetual inheritance, and thou hast\nperformed whatsoever thou didst promise them.\n\n14:6 And now we have sinned before thee: therefore hast thou given us\ninto the hands of our enemies,\n\n14:7 Because we worshipped their gods: O Lord, thou art righteous.\n\n14:8 Nevertheless it satisfieth them not, that we are in bitter\ncaptivity: but they have stricken hands with their idols,\n\n14:9 That they will abolish the thing that thou with thy mouth hast\nordained, and destroy thine inheritance, and stop the mouth of them\nthat praise thee, and quench the glory of thy house, and of thine\naltar,\n\n14:10 And open the mouths of the heathen to set forth the praises of\nthe idols, and to magnify a fleshly king for ever.\n\n14:11 O Lord, give not thy sceptre unto them that be nothing, and let\nthem not laugh at our fall; but turn their device upon themselves, and\nmake him an example, that hath begun this against us.\n\n14:12 Remember, O Lord, make thyself known in time of our affliction,\nand give me boldness, O King of the nations, and Lord of all power.\n\n14:13 Give me eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion: turn his\nheart to hate him that fighteth against us, that there may be an end of\nhim, and of all that are likeminded to him:\n\n14:14 But deliver us with thine hand, and help me that am desolate, and\nwhich have no other help but thee.\n\n14:15 Thou knowest all things, O Lord; thou knowest that I hate the\nglory of the unrighteous, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised, and\nof all the heathen.\n\n14:16 Thou knowest my necessity: for I abhor the sign of my high\nestate, which is upon mine head in the days wherein I shew myself, and\nthat I abhor it as a menstruous rag, and that I wear it not when I am\nprivate by myself.\n\n14:17 And that thine handmaid hath not eaten at Aman\u2019s table, and that\nI have not greatly esteemed the king\u2019s feast, nor drunk the wine of the\ndrink offerings.\n\n14:18 Neither had thine handmaid any joy since the day that I was\nbrought hither to this present, but in thee, O Lord God of Abraham.\n\n14:19 O thou mighty God above all, hear the voice of the forlorn and\ndeliver us out of the hands of the mischievous, and deliver me out of\nmy fear.\n\n15:1 And upon the third day, when she had ended her prayers, she laid\naway her mourning garments, and put on her glorious apparel.\n\n15:2 And being gloriously adorned, after she had called upon God, who\nis the beholder and saviour of all things, she took two maids with her:\n\n15:3 And upon the one she leaned, as carrying herself daintily;\n\n15:4 And the other followed, bearing up her train.\n\n15:5 And she was ruddy through the perfection of her beauty, and her\ncountenance was cheerful and very amiable: but her heart was in anguish\nfor fear.\n\n15:6 Then having passed through all the doors, she stood before the\nking, who sat upon his royal throne, and was clothed with all his robes\nof majesty, all glittering with gold and precious stones; and he was\nvery dreadful.\n\n15:7 Then lifting up his countenance that shone with majesty, he looked\nvery fiercely upon her: and the queen fell down, and was pale, and\nfainted, and bowed herself upon the head of the maid that went before\nher.\n\n15:8 Then God changed the spirit of the king into mildness, who in a\nfear leaped from his throne, and took her in his arms, till she came to\nherself again, and comforted her with loving words and said unto her,\n\n15:9 Esther, what is the matter? I am thy brother, be of good cheer:\n\n15:10 Thou shalt not die, though our commandment be general: come near.\n\n15:11 And so be held up his golden sceptre, and laid it upon her neck,\n\n15:12 And embraced her, and said, Speak unto me.\n\n15:13 Then said she unto him, I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God,\nand my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.\n\n15:14 For wonderful art thou, lord, and thy countenance is full of\ngrace.\n\n15:15 And as she was speaking, she fell down for faintness.\n\n15:16 Then the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.\n\n16:1 The great king Artexerxes unto the princes and governors of an\nhundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto Ethiopia, and\nunto all our faithful subjects, greeting.\n\n16:2 Many, the more often they are honoured with the great bounty of\ntheir gracious princes, the more proud they are waxen,\n\n16:3 And endeavour to hurt not our subjects only, but not being able to\nbear abundance, do take in hand to practise also against those that do\nthem good:\n\n16:4 And take not only thankfulness away from among men, but also\nlifted up with the glorious words of lewd persons, that were never\ngood, they think to escape the justice of God, that seeth all things\nand hateth evil.\n\n16:5 Oftentimes also fair speech of those, that are put in trust to\nmanage their friends\u2019 affairs, hath caused many that are in authority\nto be partakers of innocent blood, and hath enwrapped them in\nremediless calamities:\n\n16:6 Beguiling with the falsehood and deceit of their lewd disposition\nthe innocency and goodness of princes.\n\n16:7 Now ye may see this, as we have declared, not so much by ancient\nhistories, as ye may, if ye search what hath been wickedly done of late\nthrough the pestilent behaviour of them that are unworthily placed in\nauthority.\n\n16:8 And we must take care for the time to come, that our kingdom may\nbe quiet and peaceable for all men,\n\n16:9 Both by changing our purposes, and always judging things that are\nevident with more equal proceeding.\n\n16:10 For Aman, a Macedonian, the son of Amadatha, being indeed a\nstranger from the Persian blood, and far distant from our goodness, and\nas a stranger received of us,\n\n16:11 Had so far forth obtained the favour that we shew toward every\nnation, as that he was called our father, and was continually honoured\nof all the next person unto the king.\n\n16:12 But he, not bearing his great dignity, went about to deprive us\nof our kingdom and life:\n\n16:13 Having by manifold and cunning deceits sought of us the\ndestruction, as well of Mardocheus, who saved our life, and continually\nprocured our good, as also of blameless Esther, partaker of our\nkingdom, with their whole nation.\n\n16:14 For by these means he thought, finding us destitute of friends to\nhave translated the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians.\n\n16:15 But we find that the Jews, whom this wicked wretch hath delivered\nto utter destruction, are no evildoers, but live by most just laws:\n\n16:16 And that they be children of the most high and most mighty,\nliving God, who hath ordered the kingdom both unto us and to our\nprogenitors in the most excellent manner.\n\n16:17 Wherefore ye shall do well not to put in execution the letters\nsent unto you by Aman the son of Amadatha.\n\n16:18 For he that was the worker of these things, is hanged at the\ngates of Susa with all his family: God, who ruleth all things, speedily\nrendering vengeance to him according to his deserts.\n\n16:19 Therefore ye shall publish the copy of this letter in all places,\nthat the Jews may freely live after their own laws.\n\n16:20 And ye shall aid them, that even the same day, being the\nthirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, they may be avenged on them,\nwho in the time of their affliction shall set upon them.\n\n16:21 For Almighty God hath turned to joy unto them the day, wherein\nthe chosen people should have perished.\n\n16:22 Ye shall therefore among your solemn feasts keep it an high day\nwith all feasting:\n\n16:23 That both now and hereafter there may be safety to us and the\nwell affected Persians; but to those which do conspire against us a\nmemorial of destruction.\n\n16:24 Therefore every city and country whatsoever, which shall not do\naccording to these things, shall be destroyed without mercy with fire\nand sword, and shall be made not only unpassable for men, but also most\nhateful to wild beasts and fowls for ever.\n\n\n\n\nThe Book of Wisdom\n[The Wisdom of Solomon]\n\n\n1:1 Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth: think of the\nLord with a good (heart,) and in simplicity of heart seek him.\n\n1:2 For he will be found of them that tempt him not; and sheweth\nhimself unto such as do not distrust him.\n\n1:3 For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is\ntried, reproveth the unwise.\n\n1:4 For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the\nbody that is subject unto sin.\n\n1:5 For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from\nthoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when\nunrighteousness cometh in.\n\n1:6 For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of\nhis words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his\nheart, and a hearer of his tongue.\n\n1:7 For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which\ncontaineth all things hath knowledge of the voice.\n\n1:8 Therefore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hid:\nneither shall vengeance, when it punisheth, pass by him.\n\n1:9 For inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly: and\nthe sound of his words shall come unto the Lord for the manifestation\nof his wicked deeds.\n\n1:10 For the ear of jealousy heareth all things: and the noise of\nmurmurings is not hid.\n\n1:11 Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain\nyour tongue from backbiting: for there is no word so secret, that shall\ngo for nought: and the mouth that belieth slayeth the soul.\n\n1:12 Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon\nyourselves destruction with the works of your hands.\n\n1:13 For God made not death: neither hath he pleasure in the\ndestruction of the living.\n\n1:14 For he created all things, that they might have their being: and\nthe generations of the world were healthful; and there is no poison of\ndestruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the earth:\n\n1:15 (For righteousness is immortal:)\n\n1:16 But ungodly men with their works and words called it to them: for\nwhen they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nought, and\nmade a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it.\n\n2:1 For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright,\nOur life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no\nremedy: neither was there any man known to have returned from the\ngrave.\n\n2:2 For we are born at all adventure: and we shall be hereafter as\nthough we had never been: for the breath in our nostrils is as smoke,\nand a little spark in the moving of our heart:\n\n2:3 Which being extinguished, our body shall be turned into ashes, and\nour spirit shall vanish as the soft air,\n\n2:4 And our name shall be forgotten in time, and no man shall have our\nworks in remembrance, and our life shall pass away as the trace of a\ncloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, that is driven away with the\nbeams of the sun, and overcome with the heat thereof.\n\n2:5 For our time is a very shadow that passeth away; and after our end\nthere is no returning: for it is fast sealed, so that no man cometh\nagain.\n\n2:6 Come on therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are present:\nand let us speedily use the creatures like as in youth.\n\n2:7 Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments: and let no\nflower of the spring pass by us:\n\n2:8 Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds, before they be withered:\n\n2:9 Let none of us go without his part of our voluptuousness: let us\nleave tokens of our joyfulness in every place: for this is our portion,\nand our lot is this.\n\n2:10 Let us oppress the poor righteous man, let us not spare the widow,\nnor reverence the ancient gray hairs of the aged.\n\n2:11 Let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is feeble\nis found to be nothing worth.\n\n2:12 Therefore let us lie in wait for the righteous; because he is not\nfor our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings: he upbraideth us\nwith our offending the law, and objecteth to our infamy the\ntransgressings of our education.\n\n2:13 He professeth to have the knowledge of God: and he calleth himself\nthe child of the Lord.\n\n2:14 He was made to reprove our thoughts.\n\n2:15 He is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not like\nother men\u2019s, his ways are of another fashion.\n\n2:16 We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our\nways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just to be\nblessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father.\n\n2:17 Let us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall\nhappen in the end of him.\n\n2:18 For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and\ndeliver him from the hand of his enemies.\n\n2:19 Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may\nknow his meekness, and prove his patience.\n\n2:20 Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he\nshall be respected.\n\n2:21 Such things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their own\nwickedness hath blinded them.\n\n2:22 As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not: neither hoped\nthey for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for\nblameless souls.\n\n2:23 For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of\nhis own eternity.\n\n2:24 Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world:\nand they that do hold of his side do find it.\n\n3:1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there\nshall no torment touch them.\n\n3:2 In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure\nis taken for misery,\n\n3:3 And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in\npeace.\n\n3:4 For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope\nfull of immortality.\n\n3:5 And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded:\nfor God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.\n\n3:6 As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a\nburnt offering.\n\n3:7 And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to\nand fro like sparks among the stubble.\n\n3:8 They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people,\nand their Lord shall reign for ever.\n\n3:9 They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and\nsuch as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy\nis to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.\n\n3:10 But the ungodly shall be punished according to their own\nimaginations, which have neglected the righteous, and forsaken the\nLord.\n\n3:11 For whoso despiseth wisdom and nurture, he is miserable, and their\nhope is vain, their labours unfruitful, and their works unprofitable:\n\n3:12 Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked:\n\n3:13 Their offspring is cursed. Wherefore blessed is the barren that is\nundefiled, which hath not known the sinful bed: she shall have fruit in\nthe visitation of souls.\n\n3:14 And blessed is the eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought no\niniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be\ngiven the special gift of faith, and an inheritance in the temple of\nthe Lord more acceptable to his mind.\n\n3:15 For glorious is the fruit of good labours: and the root of wisdom\nshall never fall away.\n\n3:16 As for the children of adulterers, they shall not come to their\nperfection, and the seed of an unrighteous bed shall be rooted out.\n\n3:17 For though they live long, yet shall they be nothing regarded: and\ntheir last age shall be without honour.\n\n3:18 Or, if they die quickly, they have no hope, neither comfort in the\nday of trial.\n\n3:19 For horrible is the end of the unrighteous generation.\n\n4:1 Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the\nmemorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with\nmen.\n\n4:2 When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone,\nthey desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having\ngotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.\n\n4:3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take\ndeep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.\n\n4:4 For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not\nlast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of\nwinds they shall be rooted out.\n\n4:5 The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit\nunprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.\n\n4:6 For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness\nagainst their parents in their trial.\n\n4:7 But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be\nin rest.\n\n4:8 For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time,\nnor that is measured by number of years.\n\n4:9 But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old\nage.\n\n4:10 He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among\nsinners he was translated.\n\n4:11 Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter\nhis understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.\n\n4:12 For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are\nhonest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple\nmind.\n\n4:13 He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:\n\n4:14 For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him\naway from among the wicked.\n\n4:15 This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up\nthis in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and\nthat he hath respect unto his chosen.\n\n4:16 Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which\nare living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age\nof the unrighteous.\n\n4:17 For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand\nwhat God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord\nhath set him in safety.\n\n4:18 They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to\nscorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among\nthe dead for evermore.\n\n4:19 For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they\nshall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and\nthey shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial\nshall perish.\n\n4:20 And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come\nwith fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.\n\n5:1 Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the\nface of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of his labours.\n\n5:2 When they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and\nshall be amazed at the strangeness of his salvation, so far beyond all\nthat they looked for.\n\n5:3 And they repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit shall say\nwithin themselves, This was he, whom we had sometimes in derision, and\na proverb of reproach:\n\n5:4 We fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be without\nhonour:\n\n5:5 How is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among\nthe saints!\n\n5:6 Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light of\nrighteousness hath not shined unto us, and the sun of righteousness\nrose not upon us.\n\n5:7 We wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness and destruction: yea,\nwe have gone through deserts, where there lay no way: but as for the\nway of the Lord, we have not known it.\n\n5:8 What hath pride profited us? or what good hath riches with our\nvaunting brought us?\n\n5:9 All those things are passed away like a shadow, and as a post that\nhasted by;\n\n5:10 And as a ship that passeth over the waves of the water, which when\nit is gone by, the trace thereof cannot be found, neither the pathway\nof the keel in the waves;\n\n5:11 Or as when a bird hath flown through the air, there is no token of\nher way to be found, but the light air being beaten with the stroke of\nher wings and parted with the violent noise and motion of them, is\npassed through, and therein afterwards no sign where she went is to be\nfound;\n\n5:12 Or like as when an arrow is shot at a mark, it parteth the air,\nwhich immediately cometh together again, so that a man cannot know\nwhere it went through:\n\n5:13 Even so we in like manner, as soon as we were born, began to draw\nto our end, and had no sign of virtue to shew; but were consumed in our\nown wickedness.\n\n5:14 For the hope of the ungodly is like dust that is blown away with\nthe wind; like a thin froth that is driven away with the storm; like as\nthe smoke which is dispersed here and there with a tempest, and passeth\naway as the remembrance of a guest that tarrieth but a day.\n\n5:15 But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the\nLord, and the care of them is with the most High.\n\n5:16 Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful\ncrown from the Lord\u2019s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover\nthem, and with his arm shall he protect them.\n\n5:17 He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make\nthe creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies.\n\n5:18 He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment\ninstead of an helmet.\n\n5:19 He shall take holiness for an invincible shield.\n\n5:20 His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall\nfight with him against the unwise.\n\n5:21 Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the\nclouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark.\n\n5:22 And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow,\nand the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall\ncruelly drown them.\n\n5:23 Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm\nshall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth,\nand ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.\n\n6:1 Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be\njudges of the ends of the earth.\n\n6:2 Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of\nnations.\n\n6:3 For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the\nHighest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.\n\n6:4 Because, being ministers of his kingdom, ye have not judged aright,\nnor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;\n\n6:5 Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgment\nshall be to them that be in high places.\n\n6:6 For mercy will soon pardon the meanest: but mighty men shall be\nmightily tormented.\n\n6:7 For he which is Lord over all shall fear no man\u2019s person, neither\nshall he stand in awe of any man\u2019s greatness: for he hath made the\nsmall and great, and careth for all alike.\n\n6:8 But a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.\n\n6:9 Unto you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may learn wisdom,\nand not fall away.\n\n6:10 For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they\nthat have learned such things shall find what to answer.\n\n6:11 Wherefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye\nshall be instructed.\n\n6:12 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen\nof them that love her, and found of such as seek her.\n\n6:13 She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known\nunto them.\n\n6:14 Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall\nfind her sitting at his doors.\n\n6:15 To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso\nwatcheth for her shall quickly be without care.\n\n6:16 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, sheweth\nherself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth them in every\nthought.\n\n6:17 For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline;\nand the care of discipline is love;\n\n6:18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her\nlaws is the assurance of incorruption;\n\n6:19 And incorruption maketh us near unto God:\n\n6:20 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.\n\n6:21 If your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the\npeople, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.\n\n6:22 As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you,\nand will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the\nbeginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light,\nand will not pass over the truth.\n\n6:23 Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have\nno fellowship with wisdom.\n\n6:24 But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a\nwise king is the upholding of the people.\n\n6:25 Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do\nyou good.\n\n7:1 I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of\nhim that was first made of the earth,\n\n7:2 And in my mother\u2019s womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of\nten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the\npleasure that came with sleep.\n\n7:3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the\nearth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was\ncrying, as all others do.\n\n7:4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.\n\n7:5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.\n\n7:6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.\n\n7:7 Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon\nGod, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.\n\n7:8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches\nnothing in comparison of her.\n\n7:9 Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in\nrespect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay\nbefore her.\n\n7:10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead\nof light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.\n\n7:11 All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable\nriches in her hands.\n\n7:12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and\nI knew not that she was the mother of them.\n\n7:13 I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not\nhide her riches.\n\n7:14 For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that\nuse become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come\nfrom learning.\n\n7:15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is\nmeet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth\nunto wisdom, and directeth the wise.\n\n7:16 For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and\nknowledge of workmanship.\n\n7:17 For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are,\nnamely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the\nelements:\n\n7:18 The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of\nthe turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:\n\n7:19 The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:\n\n7:20 The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts:\nthe violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diversities of\nplants and the virtues of roots:\n\n7:21 And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.\n\n7:22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in\nher is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil,\nlively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing\nthat is good, quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,\n\n7:23 Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power,\noverseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and\nmost subtil, spirits.\n\n7:24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth\nthrough all things by reason of her pureness.\n\n7:25 For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence\nflowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing\nfall into her.\n\n7:26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted\nmirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.\n\n7:27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in\nherself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy\nsouls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.\n\n7:28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.\n\n7:29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of\nstars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.\n\n7:30 For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against\nwisdom.\n\n8:1 Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth\nshe order all things.\n\n8:2 I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make\nher my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.\n\n8:3 In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility:\nyea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.\n\n8:4 For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a\nlover of his works.\n\n8:5 If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is\nricher than wisdom, that worketh all things?\n\n8:6 And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman\nthan she?\n\n8:7 And if a man love righteousness her labours are virtues: for she\nteacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such\nthings, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.\n\n8:8 If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and\nconjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of\nspeeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and\nwonders, and the events of seasons and times.\n\n8:9 Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing\nthat she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares\nand grief.\n\n8:10 For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and\nhonour with the elders, though I be young.\n\n8:11 I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be\nadmired in the sight of great men.\n\n8:12 When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I\nspeak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they shall lay\ntheir hands upon their mouth.\n\n8:13 Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave\nbehind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.\n\n8:14 I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject\nunto me.\n\n8:15 Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I\nshall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.\n\n8:16 After I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with her:\nfor her conversation hath no bitterness; and to live with her hath no\nsorrow, but mirth and joy.\n\n8:17 Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in\nmy heart, how that to be allied unto wisdom is immortality;\n\n8:18 And great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works\nof her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference\nwith her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report; I went\nabout seeking how to take her to me.\n\n8:19 For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.\n\n8:20 Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.\n\n8:21 Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain\nher, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to\nknow whose gift she was; I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him, and\nwith my whole heart I said,\n\n9:1 O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things\nwith thy word,\n\n9:2 And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion\nover the creatures which thou hast made,\n\n9:3 And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and\nexecute judgment with an upright heart:\n\n9:4 Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from\namong thy children:\n\n9:5 For I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and\nof a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and\nlaws.\n\n9:6 For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet\nif thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.\n\n9:7 Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy\nsons and daughters:\n\n9:8 Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy mount, and\nan altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy\ntabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning.\n\n9:9 And wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present\nwhen thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight,\nand right in thy commandments.\n\n9:10 O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy\nglory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what\nis pleasing unto thee.\n\n9:11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead\nme soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.\n\n9:12 So shall my works be acceptable, and then shall I judge thy people\nrighteously, and be worthy to sit in my father\u2019s seat.\n\n9:13 For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can\nthink what the will of the Lord is?\n\n9:14 For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are\nbut uncertain.\n\n9:15 For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy\ntabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things.\n\n9:16 And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and\nwith labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things\nthat are in heaven who hath searched out?\n\n9:17 And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send\nthy Holy Spirit from above?\n\n9:18 For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed,\nand men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were\nsaved through wisdom.\n\n10:1 She preserved the first formed father of the world, that was\ncreated alone, and brought him out of his fall,\n\n10:2 And gave him power to rule all things.\n\n10:3 But when the unrighteous went away from her in his anger, he\nperished also in the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.\n\n10:4 For whose cause the earth being drowned with the flood, wisdom\nagain preserved it, and directed the course of the righteous in a piece\nof wood of small value.\n\n10:5 Moreover, the nations in their wicked conspiracy being confounded,\nshe found out the righteous, and preserved him blameless unto God, and\nkept him strong against his tender compassion toward his son.\n\n10:6 When the ungodly perished, she delivered the righteous man, who\nfled from the fire which fell down upon the five cities.\n\n10:7 Of whose wickedness even to this day the waste land that smoketh\nis a testimony, and plants bearing fruit that never come to ripeness:\nand a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an unbelieving soul.\n\n10:8 For regarding not wisdom, they gat not only this hurt, that they\nknew not the things which were good; but also left behind them to the\nworld a memorial of their foolishness: so that in the things wherein\nthey offended they could not so much as be hid.\n\n10:9 But wisdom delivered from pain those that attended upon her.\n\n10:10 When the righteous fled from his brother\u2019s wrath she guided him\nin right paths, shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him knowledge\nof holy things, made him rich in his travels, and multiplied the fruit\nof his labours.\n\n10:11 In the covetousness of such as oppressed him she stood by him,\nand made him rich.\n\n10:12 She defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those\nthat lay in wait, and in a sore conflict she gave him the victory; that\nhe might know that goodness is stronger than all.\n\n10:13 When the righteous was sold, she forsook him not, but delivered\nhim from sin: she went down with him into the pit,\n\n10:14 And left him not in bonds, till she brought him the sceptre of\nthe kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: as for them\nthat had accused him, she shewed them to be liars, and gave him\nperpetual glory.\n\n10:15 She delivered the righteous people and blameless seed from the\nnation that oppressed them.\n\n10:16 She entered into the soul of the servant of the Lord, and\nwithstood dreadful kings in wonders and signs;\n\n10:17 Rendered to the righteous a reward of their labours, guided them\nin a marvellous way, and was unto them for a cover by day, and a light\nof stars in the night season;\n\n10:18 Brought them through the Red sea, and led them through much\nwater:\n\n10:19 But she drowned their enemies, and cast them up out of the bottom\nof the deep.\n\n10:20 Therefore the righteous spoiled the ungodly, and praised thy holy\nname, O Lord, and magnified with one accord thine hand, that fought for\nthem.\n\n10:21 For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of\nthem that cannot speak eloquent.\n\n11:1 She prospered their works in the hand of the holy prophet.\n\n11:2 They went through the wilderness that was not inhabited, and\npitched tents in places where there lay no way.\n\n11:3 They stood against their enemies, and were avenged of their\nadversaries.\n\n11:4 When they were thirsty, they called upon thee, and water was given\nthem out of the flinty rock, and their thirst was quenched out of the\nhard stone.\n\n11:5 For by what things their enemies were punished, by the same they\nin their need were benefited.\n\n11:6 For instead of a fountain of a perpetual running river troubled\nwith foul blood,\n\n11:7 For a manifest reproof of that commandment, whereby the infants\nwere slain, thou gavest unto them abundance of water by a means which\nthey hoped not for:\n\n11:8 Declaring by that thirst then how thou hadst punished their\nadversaries.\n\n11:9 For when they were tried albeit but in mercy chastised, they knew\nhow the ungodly were judged in wrath and tormented, thirsting in\nanother manner than the just.\n\n11:10 For these thou didst admonish and try, as a father: but the\nother, as a severe king, thou didst condemn and punish.\n\n11:11 Whether they were absent or present, they were vexed alike.\n\n11:12 For a double grief came upon them, and a groaning for the\nremembrance of things past.\n\n11:13 For when they heard by their own punishments the other to be\nbenefited, they had some feeling of the Lord.\n\n11:14 For whom they rejected with scorn, when he was long before thrown\nout at the casting forth of the infants, him in the end, when they saw\nwhat came to pass, they admired.\n\n11:15 But for the foolish devices of their wickedness, wherewith being\ndeceived they worshipped serpents void of reason, and vile beasts, thou\ndidst send a multitude of unreasonable beasts upon them for vengeance;\n\n11:16 That they might know, that wherewithal a man sinneth, by the same\nalso shall he be punished.\n\n11:17 For thy Almighty hand, that made the world of matter without\nform, wanted not means to send among them a multitude of bears or\nfierce lions,\n\n11:18 Or unknown wild beasts, full of rage, newly created, breathing\nout either a fiery vapour, or filthy scents of scattered smoke, or\nshooting horrible sparkles out of their eyes:\n\n11:19 Whereof not only the harm might dispatch them at once, but also\nthe terrible sight utterly destroy them.\n\n11:20 Yea, and without these might they have fallen down with one\nblast, being persecuted of vengeance, and scattered abroad through the\nbreath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure and\nnumber and weight.\n\n11:21 For thou canst shew thy great strength at all times when thou\nwilt; and who may withstand the power of thine arm?\n\n11:22 For the whole world before thee is as a little grain of the\nbalance, yea, as a drop of the morning dew that falleth down upon the\nearth.\n\n11:23 But thou hast mercy upon all; for thou canst do all things, and\nwinkest at the sins of men, because they should amend.\n\n11:24 For thou lovest all the things that are, and abhorrest nothing\nwhich thou hast made: for never wouldest thou have made any thing, if\nthou hadst hated it.\n\n11:25 And how could any thing have endured, if it had not been thy\nwill? or been preserved, if not called by thee?\n\n11:26 But thou sparest all: for they are thine, O Lord, thou lover of\nsouls.\n\n12:1 For thine incorruptible Spirit is in all things.\n\n12:2 Therefore chastenest thou them by little and little that offend,\nand warnest them by putting them in remembrance wherein they have\noffended, that leaving their wickedness they may believe on thee, O\nLord.\n\n12:3 For it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our fathers both\nthose old inhabitants of thy holy land,\n\n12:4 Whom thou hatedst for doing most odious works of witchcrafts, and\nwicked sacrifices;\n\n12:5 And also those merciless murderers of children, and devourers of\nman\u2019s flesh, and the feasts of blood,\n\n12:6 With their priests out of the midst of their idolatrous crew, and\nthe parents, that killed with their own hands souls destitute of help:\n\n12:7 That the land, which thou esteemedst above all other, might\nreceive a worthy colony of God\u2019s children.\n\n12:8 Nevertheless even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send\nwasps, forerunners of thine host, to destroy them by little and little.\n\n12:9 Not that thou wast unable to bring the ungodly under the hand of\nthe righteous in battle, or to destroy them at once with cruel beasts,\nor with one rough word:\n\n12:10 But executing thy judgments upon them by little and little, thou\ngavest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a\nnaughty generation, and that their malice was bred in them, and that\ntheir cogitation would never be changed.\n\n12:11 For it was a cursed seed from the beginning; neither didst thou\nfor fear of any man give them pardon for those things wherein they\nsinned.\n\n12:12 For who shall say, What hast thou done? or who shall withstand\nthy judgment? or who shall accuse thee for the nations that perish,\nwhom thou made? or who shall come to stand against thee, to be revenged\nfor the unrighteous men?\n\n12:13 For neither is there any God but thou that careth for all, to\nwhom thou mightest shew that thy judgment is not unright.\n\n12:14 Neither shall king or tyrant be able to set his face against thee\nfor any whom thou hast punished.\n\n12:15 Forsomuch then as thou art righteous thyself, thou orderest all\nthings righteously: thinking it not agreeable with thy power to condemn\nhim that hath not deserved to be punished.\n\n12:16 For thy power is the beginning of righteousness, and because thou\nart the Lord of all, it maketh thee to be gracious unto all.\n\n12:17 For when men will not believe that thou art of a full power, thou\nshewest thy strength, and among them that know it thou makest their\nboldness manifest.\n\n12:18 But thou, mastering thy power, judgest with equity, and orderest\nus with great favour: for thou mayest use power when thou wilt.\n\n12:19 But by such works hast thou taught thy people that the just man\nshould be merciful, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope\nthat thou givest repentance for sins.\n\n12:20 For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy children, and the\ncondemned to death, with such deliberation, giving them time and place,\nwhereby they might be delivered from their malice:\n\n12:21 With how great circumspection didst thou judge thine own sons,\nunto whose fathers thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good\npromises?\n\n12:22 Therefore, whereas thou dost chasten us, thou scourgest our\nenemies a thousand times more, to the intent that, when we judge, we\nshould carefully think of thy goodness, and when we ourselves are\njudged, we should look for mercy.\n\n12:23 Wherefore, whereas men have lived dissolutely and unrighteously,\nthou hast tormented them with their own abominations.\n\n12:24 For they went astray very far in the ways of error, and held them\nfor gods, which even among the beasts of their enemies were despised,\nbeing deceived, as children of no understanding.\n\n12:25 Therefore unto them, as to children without the use of reason,\nthou didst send a judgment to mock them.\n\n12:26 But they that would not be reformed by that correction, wherein\nhe dallied with them, shall feel a judgment worthy of God.\n\n12:27 For, look, for what things they grudged, when they were punished,\nthat is, for them whom they thought to be gods; [now] being punished in\nthem, when they saw it, they acknowledged him to be the true God, whom\nbefore they denied to know: and therefore came extreme damnation upon\nthem.\n\n13:1 Surely vain are all men by nature, who are ignorant of God, and\ncould not out of the good things that are seen know him that is:\nneither by considering the works did they acknowledge the workmaster;\n\n13:2 But deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circle\nof the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the\ngods which govern the world.\n\n13:3 With whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be gods;\nlet them know how much better the Lord of them is: for the first author\nof beauty hath created them.\n\n13:4 But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them\nunderstand by them, how much mightier he is that made them.\n\n13:5 For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably\nthe maker of them is seen.\n\n13:6 But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they\nperadventure err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.\n\n13:7 For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, and\nbelieve their sight: because the things are beautiful that are seen.\n\n13:8 Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned.\n\n13:9 For if they were able to know so much, that they could aim at the\nworld; how did they not sooner find out the Lord thereof?\n\n13:10 But miserable are they, and in dead things is their hope, who\ncall them gods, which are the works of men\u2019s hands, gold and silver, to\nshew art in, and resemblances of beasts, or a stone good for nothing,\nthe work of an ancient hand.\n\n13:11 Now a carpenter that felleth timber, after he hath sawn down a\ntree meet for the purpose, and taken off all the bark skilfully round\nabout, and hath wrought it handsomely, and made a vessel thereof fit\nfor the service of man\u2019s life;\n\n13:12 And after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat, hath\nfilled himself;\n\n13:13 And taking the very refuse among those which served to no use,\nbeing a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, hath carved it\ndiligently, when he had nothing else to do, and formed it by the skill\nof his understanding, and fashioned it to the image of a man;\n\n13:14 Or made it like some vile beast, laying it over with vermilion,\nand with paint colouring it red, and covering every spot therein;\n\n13:15 And when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a wall,\nand made it fast with iron:\n\n13:16 For he provided for it that it might not fall, knowing that it\nwas unable to help itself; for it is an image, and hath need of help:\n\n13:17 Then maketh he prayer for his goods, for his wife and children,\nand is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life.\n\n13:18 For health he calleth upon that which is weak: for life prayeth\nto that which is dead; for aid humbly beseecheth that which hath least\nmeans to help: and for a good journey he asketh of that which cannot\nset a foot forward:\n\n13:19 And for gaining and getting, and for good success of his hands,\nasketh ability to do of him, that is most unable to do any thing.\n\n14:1 Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through\nthe raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the\nvessel that carrieth him.\n\n14:2 For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it\nby his skill.\n\n14:3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a\nway in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;\n\n14:4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man\nwent to sea without art.\n\n14:5 Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should\nbe idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of\nwood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved.\n\n14:6 For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope\nof the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel, and left to\nall ages a seed of generation.\n\n14:7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.\n\n14:8 But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he\nthat made it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being\ncorruptible, it was called god.\n\n14:9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto\nGod.\n\n14:10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that\nmade it.\n\n14:11 Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a\nvisitation: because in the creature of God they are become an\nabomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to\nthe feet of the unwise.\n\n14:12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual\nfornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.\n\n14:13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be\nfor ever.\n\n14:14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and\ntherefore shall they come shortly to an end.\n\n14:15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made\nan image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which\nwas then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him\nceremonies and sacrifices.\n\n14:16 Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept\nas a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of\nkings.\n\n14:17 Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far\noff, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an\nexpress image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this\ntheir forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were\npresent.\n\n14:18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set\nforward the ignorant to more superstition.\n\n14:19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced\nall his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.\n\n14:20 And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him\nnow for a god, which a little before was but honoured as a man.\n\n14:21 And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving\neither calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the\nincommunicable name.\n\n14:22 Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the\nknowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance,\nthose so great plagues called they peace.\n\n14:23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret\nceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;\n\n14:24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but\neither one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.\n\n14:25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood,\nmanslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness,\ntumults, perjury,\n\n14:26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of\nsouls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless\nuncleanness.\n\n14:27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning,\nthe cause, and the end, of all evil.\n\n14:28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or\nlive unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.\n\n14:29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life;\nthough they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.\n\n14:30 Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both\nbecause they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also\nunjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.\n\n14:31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the\njust vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the\nungodly.\n\n15:1 But thou, O God, art gracious and true, longsuffering, and in\nmercy ordering all things,\n\n15:2 For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will not\nsin, knowing that we are counted thine.\n\n15:3 For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power\nis the root of immortality.\n\n15:4 For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us, nor\nan image spotted with divers colours, the painter\u2019s fruitless labour;\n\n15:5 The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so they\ndesire the form of a dead image, that hath no breath.\n\n15:6 Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that\nworship them, are lovers of evil things, and are worthy to have such\nthings to trust upon.\n\n15:7 For the potter, tempering soft earth, fashioneth every vessel with\nmuch labour for our service: yea, of the same clay he maketh both the\nvessels that serve for clean uses, and likewise also all such as serve\nto the contrary: but what is the use of either sort, the potter himself\nis the judge.\n\n15:8 And employing his labours lewdly, he maketh a vain god of the same\nclay, even he which a little before was made of earth himself, and\nwithin a little while after returneth to the same, out when his life\nwhich was lent him shall be demanded.\n\n15:9 Notwithstanding his care is, not that he shall have much labour,\nnor that his life is short: but striveth to excel goldsmiths and\nsilversmiths, and endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and\ncounteth it his glory to make counterfeit things.\n\n15:10 His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his\nlife of less value than clay:\n\n15:11 Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into\nhim an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.\n\n15:12 But they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a market\nfor gain: for, say they, we must be getting every way, though it be by\nevil means.\n\n15:13 For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and\ngraven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.\n\n15:14 And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection,\nare most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes.\n\n15:15 For they counted all the idols of the heathen to be gods: which\nneither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears\nto hear, nor fingers of hands to handle; and as for their feet, they\nare slow to go.\n\n15:16 For man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned\nthem: but no man can make a god like unto himself.\n\n15:17 For being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands: for\nhe himself is better than the things which he worshippeth: whereas he\nlived once, but they never.\n\n15:18 Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful: for\nbeing compared together, some are worse than others.\n\n15:19 Neither are they beautiful, so much as to be desired in respect\nof beasts: but they went without the praise of God and his blessing.\n\n16:1 Therefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the\nmultitude of beasts tormented.\n\n16:2 Instead of which punishment, dealing graciously with thine own\npeople, thou preparedst for them meat of a strange taste, even quails\nto stir up their appetite:\n\n16:3 To the end that they, desiring food, might for the ugly sight of\nthe beasts sent among them lothe even that, which they must needs\ndesire; but these, suffering penury for a short space, might be made\npartakers of a strange taste.\n\n16:4 For it was requisite, that upon them exercising tyranny should\ncome penury, which they could not avoid: but to these it should only be\nshewed how their enemies were tormented.\n\n16:5 For when the horrible fierceness of beasts came upon these, and\nthey perished with the stings of crooked serpents, thy wrath endured\nnot for ever:\n\n16:6 But they were troubled for a small season, that they might be\nadmonished, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of\nthe commandment of thy law.\n\n16:7 For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing\nthat he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all.\n\n16:8 And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who\ndeliverest from all evil:\n\n16:9 For them the bitings of grasshoppers and flies killed, neither was\nthere found any remedy for their life: for they were worthy to be\npunished by such.\n\n16:10 But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for\nthy mercy was ever by them, and healed them.\n\n16:11 For they were pricked, that they should remember thy words; and\nwere quickly saved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they\nmight be continually mindful of thy goodness.\n\n16:12 For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaister, that restored\nthem to health: but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.\n\n16:13 For thou hast power of life and death: thou leadest to the gates\nof hell, and bringest up again.\n\n16:14 A man indeed killeth through his malice: and the spirit, when it\nis gone forth, returneth not; neither the soul received up cometh\nagain.\n\n16:15 But it is not possible to escape thine hand.\n\n16:16 For the ungodly, that denied to know thee, were scourged by the\nstrength of thine arm: with strange rains, hails, and showers, were\nthey persecuted, that they could not avoid, and through fire were they\nconsumed.\n\n16:17 For, which is most to be wondered at, the fire had more force in\nthe water, that quencheth all things: for the world fighteth for the\nrighteous.\n\n16:18 For sometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up\nthe beasts that were sent against the ungodly; but themselves might see\nand perceive that they were persecuted with the judgment of God.\n\n16:19 And at another time it burneth even in the midst of water above\nthe power of fire, that it might destroy the fruits of an unjust land.\n\n16:20 Instead whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels\u2019 food,\nand didst send them from heaven bread prepared without their labour,\nable to content every man\u2019s delight, and agreeing to every taste.\n\n16:21 For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and\nserving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man\u2019s\nliking.\n\n16:22 But snow and ice endured the fire, and melted not, that they\nmight know that fire burning in the hail, and sparkling in the rain,\ndid destroy the fruits of the enemies.\n\n16:23 But this again did even forget his own strength, that the\nrighteous might be nourished.\n\n16:24 For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker increaseth\nhis strength against the unrighteous for their punishment, and abateth\nhis strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee.\n\n16:25 Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was\nobedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all things, according to the\ndesire of them that had need:\n\n16:26 That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovest, might know, that it\nis not the growing of fruits that nourisheth man: but that it is thy\nword, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee.\n\n16:27 For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a\nlittle sunbeam, soon melted away:\n\n16:28 That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee\nthanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.\n\n16:29 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter\u2019s\nhoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water.\n\n17:1 For great are thy judgments, and cannot be expressed: therefore\nunnurtured souls have erred.\n\n17:2 For when unrighteous men thought to oppress the holy nation; they\nbeing shut up in their houses, the prisoners of darkness, and fettered\nwith the bonds of a long night, lay [there] exiled from the eternal\nprovidence.\n\n17:3 For while they supposed to lie hid in their secret sins, they were\nscattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly\nastonished, and troubled with [strange] apparitions.\n\n17:4 For neither might the corner that held them keep them from fear:\nbut noises [as of waters] falling down sounded about them, and sad\nvisions appeared unto them with heavy countenances.\n\n17:5 No power of the fire might give them light: neither could the\nbright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible night.\n\n17:6 Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself, very\ndreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they\nsaw to be worse than the sight they saw not.\n\n17:7 As for the illusions of art magick, they were put down, and their\nvaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace.\n\n17:8 For they, that promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a\nsick soul, were sick themselves of fear, worthy to be laughed at.\n\n17:9 For though no terrible thing did fear them; yet being scared with\nbeasts that passed by, and hissing of serpents,\n\n17:10 They died for fear, denying that they saw the air, which could of\nno side be avoided.\n\n17:11 For wickedness, condemned by her own witness, is very timorous,\nand being pressed with conscience, always forecasteth grievous things.\n\n17:12 For fear is nothing else but a betraying of the succours which\nreason offereth.\n\n17:13 And the expectation from within, being less, counteth the\nignorance more than the cause which bringeth the torment.\n\n17:14 But they sleeping the same sleep that night, which was indeed\nintolerable, and which came upon them out of the bottoms of inevitable\nhell,\n\n17:15 Were partly vexed with monstrous apparitions, and partly fainted,\ntheir heart failing them: for a sudden fear, and not looked for, came\nupon them.\n\n17:16 So then whosoever there fell down was straitly kept, shut up in a\nprison without iron bars,\n\n17:17 For whether he were husbandman, or shepherd, or a labourer in the\nfield, he was overtaken, and endured that necessity, which could not be\navoided: for they were all bound with one chain of darkness.\n\n17:18 Whether it were a whistling wind, or a melodious noise of birds\namong the spreading branches, or a pleasing fall of water running\nviolently,\n\n17:19 Or a terrible sound of stones cast down, or a running that could\nnot be seen of skipping beasts, or a roaring voice of most savage wild\nbeasts, or a rebounding echo from the hollow mountains; these things\nmade them to swoon for fear.\n\n17:20 For the whole world shined with clear light, and none were\nhindered in their labour:\n\n17:21 Over them only was spread an heavy night, an image of that\ndarkness which should afterward receive them: but yet were they unto\nthemselves more grievous than the darkness.\n\n18:1 Nevertheless thy saints had a very great light, whose voice they\nhearing, and not seeing their shape, because they also had not suffered\nthe same things, they counted them happy.\n\n18:2 But for that they did not hurt them now, of whom they had been\nwronged before, they thanked them, and besought them pardon for that\nthey had been enemies.\n\n18:3 Instead whereof thou gavest them a burning pillar of fire, both to\nbe a guide of the unknown journey, and an harmless sun to entertain\nthem honourably.\n\n18:4 For they were worthy to be deprived of light and imprisoned in\ndarkness, who had kept thy sons shut up, by whom the uncorrupt light of\nthe law was to be given unto the world.\n\n18:5 And when they had determined to slay the babes of the saints, one\nchild being cast forth, and saved, to reprove them, thou tookest away\nthe multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a\nmighty water.\n\n18:6 Of that night were our fathers certified afore, that assuredly\nknowing unto what oaths they had given credence, they might afterwards\nbe of good cheer.\n\n18:7 So of thy people was accepted both the salvation of the righteous,\nand destruction of the enemies.\n\n18:8 For wherewith thou didst punish our adversaries, by the same thou\ndidst glorify us, whom thou hadst called.\n\n18:9 For the righteous children of good men did sacrifice secretly, and\nwith one consent made a holy law, that the saints should be like\npartakers of the same good and evil, the fathers now singing out the\nsongs of praise.\n\n18:10 But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the\nenemies, and a lamentable noise was carried abroad for children that\nwere bewailed.\n\n18:11 The master and the servant were punished after one manner; and\nlike as the king, so suffered the common person.\n\n18:12 So they all together had innumerable dead with one kind of death;\nneither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the\nnoblest offspring of them was destroyed.\n\n18:13 For whereas they would not believe any thing by reason of the\nenchantments; upon the destruction of the firstborn, they acknowledged\nthis people to be the sons of God.\n\n18:14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was in\nthe midst of her swift course,\n\n18:15 Thine Almighty word leaped down from heaven out of thy royal\nthrone, as a fierce man of war into the midst of a land of destruction,\n\n18:16 And brought thine unfeigned commandment as a sharp sword, and\nstanding up filled all things with death; and it touched the heaven,\nbut it stood upon the earth.\n\n18:17 Then suddenly visions of horrible dreams troubled them sore, and\nterrors came upon them unlooked for.\n\n18:18 And one thrown here, and another there, half dead, shewed the\ncause of his death.\n\n18:19 For the dreams that troubled them did foreshew this, lest they\nshould perish, and not know why they were afflicted.\n\n18:20 Yea, the tasting of death touched the righteous also, and there\nwas a destruction of the multitude in the wilderness: but the wrath\nendured not long.\n\n18:21 For then the blameless man made haste, and stood forth to defend\nthem; and bringing the shield of his proper ministry, even prayer, and\nthe propitiation of incense, set himself against the wrath, and so\nbrought the calamity to an end, declaring that he was thy servant.\n\n18:22 So he overcame the destroyer, not with strength of body, nor\nforce of arms, but with a word subdued him that punished, alleging the\noaths and covenants made with the fathers.\n\n18:23 For when the dead were now fallen down by heaps one upon another,\nstanding between, he stayed the wrath, and parted the way to the\nliving.\n\n18:24 For in the long garment was the whole world, and in the four rows\nof the stones was the glory of the fathers graven, and thy Majesty upon\nthe daidem.\n\n18:25 Unto these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for\nit was enough that they only tasted of the wrath.\n\n19:1 As for the ungodly, wrath came upon them without mercy unto the\nend: for he knew before what they would do;\n\n19:2 How that having given them leave to depart, and sent them hastily\naway, they would repent and pursue them.\n\n19:3 For whilst they were yet mourning and making lamentation at the\ngraves of the dead, they added another foolish device, and pursued them\nas fugitives, whom they had intreated to be gone.\n\n19:4 For the destiny, whereof they were worthy, drew them unto this\nend, and made them forget the things that had already happened, that\nthey might fulfil the punishment which was wanting to their torments:\n\n19:5 And that thy people might pass a wonderful way: but they might\nfind a strange death.\n\n19:6 For the whole creature in his proper kind was fashioned again\nanew, serving the peculiar commandments that were given unto them, that\nthy children might be kept without hurt:\n\n19:7 As namely, a cloud shadowing the camp; and where water stood\nbefore, dry land appeared; and out of the Red sea a way without\nimpediment; and out of the violent stream a green field:\n\n19:8 Wherethrough all the people went that were defended with thy hand,\nseeing thy marvellous strange wonders.\n\n19:9 For they went at large like horses, and leaped like lambs,\npraising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.\n\n19:10 For they were yet mindful of the things that were done while they\nsojourned in the strange land, how the ground brought forth flies\ninstead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs\ninstead of fishes.\n\n19:11 But afterwards they saw a new generation of fowls, when, being\nled with their appetite, they asked delicate meats.\n\n19:12 For quails came up unto them from the sea for their contentment.\n\n19:13 And punishments came upon the sinners not without former signs by\nthe force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their own\nwickedness, insomuch as they used a more hard and hateful behaviour\ntoward strangers.\n\n19:14 For the Sodomites did not receive those, whom they knew not when\nthey came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had well\ndeserved of them.\n\n19:15 And not only so, but peradventure some respect shall be had of\nthose, because they used strangers not friendly:\n\n19:16 But these very grievously afflicted them, whom they had received\nwith feastings, and were already made partakers of the same laws with\nthem.\n\n19:17 Therefore even with blindness were these stricken, as those were\nat the doors of the righteous man: when, being compassed about with\nhorrible great darkness, every one sought the passage of his own doors.\n\n19:18 For the elements were changed in themselves by a kind of harmony,\nlike as in a psaltery notes change the name of the tune, and yet are\nalways sounds; which may well be perceived by the sight of the things\nthat have been done.\n\n19:19 For earthly things were turned into watery, and the things, that\nbefore swam in the water, now went upon the ground.\n\n19:20 The fire had power in the water, forgetting his own virtue: and\nthe water forgat his own quenching nature.\n\n19:21 On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of the\ncorruptible living things, though they walked therein; neither melted\nthey the icy kind of heavenly meat that was of nature apt to melt.\n\n19:22 For in all things, O Lord, thou didst magnify thy people, and\nglorify them, neither didst thou lightly regard them: but didst assist\nthem in every time and place.\n\n\n\n\nThe Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)\n[The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus]\n\n\n_A Prologue made by an uncertain Author_\n\n\nThis Jesus was the son of Sirach, and grandchild to Jesus of the same\nname with him: this man therefore lived in the latter times, after the\npeople had been led away captive, and called home again, and almost\nafter all the prophets. Now his grandfather Jesus, as he himself\nwitnesseth, was a man of great diligence and wisdom among the Hebrews,\nwho did not only gather the grave and short sentences of wise men, that\nhad been before him, but himself also uttered some of his own, full of\nmuch understanding and wisdom. When as therefore the first Jesus died,\nleaving this book almost perfected, Sirach his son receiving it after\nhim left it to his own son Jesus, who, having gotten it into his hands,\ncompiled it all orderly into one volume, and called it Wisdom,\nintituling it both by his own name, his father\u2019s name, and his\ngrandfather\u2019s; alluring the hearer by the very name of Wisdom to have a\ngreater love to the study of this book. It containeth therefore wise\nsayings, dark sentences, and parables, and certain particular ancient\ngodly stories of men that pleased God; also his prayer and song;\nmoreover, what benefits God had vouchsafed his people, and what plagues\nhe had heaped upon their enemies. This Jesus did imitate Solomon, and\nwas no less famous for wisdom and learning, both being indeed a man of\ngreat learning, and so reputed also.\n\n_The Prologue of the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach._\n\n\nWhereas many and great things have been delivered unto us by the law\nand the prophets, and by others that have followed their steps, for the\nwhich things Israel ought to be commended for learning and wisdom; and\nwhereof not only the readers must needs become skilful themselves, but\nalso they that desire to learn be able to profit them which are\nwithout, both by speaking and writing: my grandfather Jesus, when he\nhad much given himself to the reading of the law, and the prophets, and\nother books of our fathers, and had gotten therein good judgment, was\ndrawn on also himself to write something pertaining to learning and\nwisdom; to the intent that those which are desirous to learn, and are\naddicted to these things, might profit much more in living according to\nthe law. Wherefore let me intreat you to read it with favour and\nattention, and to pardon us, wherein we may seem to come short of some\nwords, which we have laboured to interpret. For the same things uttered\nin Hebrew, and translated into another tongue, have not the same force\nin them: and not only these things, but the law itself, and the\nprophets, and the rest of the books, have no small difference, when\nthey are spoken in their own language. For in the eight and thirtieth\nyear coming into Egypt, when Euergetes was king, and continuing there\nsome time, I found a book of no small learning: therefore I thought it\nmost necessary for me to bestow some diligence and travail to interpret\nit; using great watchfulness and skill in that space to bring the book\nto an end, and set it forth for them also, which in a strange country\nare willing to learn, being prepared before in manners to live after\nthe law.\n\n1:1 All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever.\n\n1:2 Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the\ndays of eternity?\n\n1:3 Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the\nearth, and the deep, and wisdom?\n\n1:4 Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding\nof prudence from everlasting.\n\n1:5 The word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom; and her ways\nare everlasting commandments.\n\n1:6 To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? or who hath known\nher wise counsels?\n\n1:7 [Unto whom hath the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest? and who\nhath understood her great experience?]\n\n1:8 There is one wise and greatly to be feared, the Lord sitting upon\nhis throne.\n\n1:9 He created her, and saw her, and numbered her, and poured her out\nupon all his works.\n\n1:10 She is with all flesh according to his gift, and he hath given her\nto them that love him.\n\n1:11 The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a\ncrown of rejoicing.\n\n1:12 The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and giveth joy, and\ngladness, and a long life.\n\n1:13 Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and\nhe shall find favour in the day of his death.\n\n1:14 To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and it was created\nwith the faithful in the womb.\n\n1:15 She hath built an everlasting foundation with men, and she shall\ncontinue with their seed.\n\n1:16 To fear the Lord is fulness of wisdom, and filleth men with her\nfruits.\n\n1:17 She filleth all their house with things desirable, and the garners\nwith her increase.\n\n1:18 The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and\nperfect health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and it\nenlargeth their rejoicing that love him.\n\n1:19 Wisdom raineth down skill and knowledge of understanding standing,\nand exalteth them to honour that hold her fast.\n\n1:20 The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and the branches thereof\nare long life.\n\n1:21 The fear of the Lord driveth away sins: and where it is present,\nit turneth away wrath.\n\n1:22 A furious man cannot be justified; for the sway of his fury shall\nbe his destruction.\n\n1:23 A patient man will bear for a time, and afterward joy shall spring\nup unto him.\n\n1:24 He will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall\ndeclare his wisdom.\n\n1:25 The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but\ngodliness is an abomination to a sinner.\n\n1:26 If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord shall\ngive her unto thee.\n\n1:27 For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith and\nmeekness are his delight.\n\n1:28 Distrust not the fear of the Lord when thou art poor: and come not\nunto him with a double heart.\n\n1:29 Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what\nthou speakest.\n\n1:30 Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy\nsoul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst\nof the congregation, because thou camest not in truth to the fear of\nthe Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit.\n\n2:1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for\ntemptation.\n\n2:2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in\ntime of trouble.\n\n2:3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased\nat thy last end.\n\n2:4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient\nwhen thou art changed to a low estate.\n\n2:5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of\nadversity.\n\n2:6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and\ntrust in him.\n\n2:7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest\nye fall.\n\n2:8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.\n\n2:9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and\nmercy.\n\n2:10 Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the\nLord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was\nforsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?\n\n2:11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and\nvery pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.\n\n2:12 Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that\ngoeth two ways!\n\n2:13 Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore\nshall he not be defended.\n\n2:14 Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the\nLord shall visit you?\n\n2:15 They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that\nlove him will keep his ways.\n\n2:16 They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing\nunto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.\n\n2:17 They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble\ntheir souls in his sight,\n\n2:18 Saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the\nhands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.\n\n3:1 Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be\nsafe.\n\n3:2 For the Lord hath given the father honour over the children, and\nhath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons.\n\n3:3 Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins:\n\n3:4 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure.\n\n3:5 Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children; and\nwhen he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.\n\n3:6 He that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is\nobedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother.\n\n3:7 He that feareth the Lord will honour his father, and will do\nservice unto his parents, as to his masters.\n\n3:8 Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing\nmay come upon thee from them.\n\n3:9 For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children;\nbut the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations.\n\n3:10 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father\u2019s\ndishonour is no glory unto thee.\n\n3:11 For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a\nmother in dishonour is a reproach to the children.\n\n3:12 My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as\nhe liveth.\n\n3:13 And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise\nhim not when thou art in thy full strength.\n\n3:14 For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and\ninstead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.\n\n3:15 In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins\nalso shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather.\n\n3:16 He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that\nangereth his mother is cursed: of God.\n\n3:17 My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be\nbeloved of him that is approved.\n\n3:18 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find\nfavour before the Lord.\n\n3:19 Many are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are revealed\nunto the meek.\n\n3:20 For the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured of the\nlowly.\n\n3:21 Seek not out things that are too hard for thee, neither search the\nthings that are above thy strength.\n\n3:22 But what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence, for it\nis not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in\nsecret.\n\n3:23 Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shewed\nunto thee than men understand.\n\n3:24 For many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and an evil\nsuspicion hath overthrown their judgment.\n\n3:25 Without eyes thou shalt want light: profess not the knowledge\ntherefore that thou hast not.\n\n3:26 A stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that loveth\ndanger shall perish therein.\n\n3:27 An obstinate heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the wicked man\nshall heap sin upon sin.\n\n3:28 In the punishment of the proud there is no remedy; for the plant\nof wickedness hath taken root in him.\n\n3:29 The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; and an\nattentive ear is the desire of a wise man.\n\n3:30 Water will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an atonement for\nsins.\n\n3:31 And he that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which may come\nhereafter; and when he falleth, he shall find a stay.\n\n4:1 My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy\neyes to wait long.\n\n4:2 Make not an hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his\ndistress.\n\n4:3 Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed; and defer not to\ngive to him that is in need.\n\n4:4 Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away thy\nface from a poor man.\n\n4:5 Turn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none occasion\nto curse thee:\n\n4:6 For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer\nshall be heard of him that made him.\n\n4:7 Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to a\ngreat man.\n\n4:8 Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give\nhim a friendly answer with meekness.\n\n4:9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor;\nand be not fainthearted when thou sittest in judgment.\n\n4:10 Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of an husband unto\ntheir mother: so shalt thou be as the son of the most High, and he\nshall love thee more than thy mother doth.\n\n4:11 Wisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that seek\nher.\n\n4:12 He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early\nshall be filled with joy.\n\n4:13 He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she\nentereth, the Lord will bless.\n\n4:14 They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One: and them that\nlove her the Lord doth love.\n\n4:15 Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he that\nattendeth unto her shall dwell securely.\n\n4:16 If a man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her; and his\ngeneration shall hold her in possession.\n\n4:17 For at the first she will walk with him by crooked ways, and bring\nfear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she\nmay trust his soul, and try him by her laws.\n\n4:18 Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him,\nand shew him her secrets.\n\n4:19 But if he go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his\nown ruin.\n\n4:20 Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed\nwhen it concerneth thy soul.\n\n4:21 For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which\nis glory and grace.\n\n4:22 Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of\nany man cause thee to fall.\n\n4:23 And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and\nhide not thy wisdom in her beauty.\n\n4:24 For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of\nthe tongue.\n\n4:25 In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of\nthine ignorance.\n\n4:26 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of\nthe river.\n\n4:27 Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the\nperson of the mighty.\n\n4:28 Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for\nthee.\n\n4:29 Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.\n\n4:30 Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.\n\n4:31 Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou\nshouldest repay.\n\n5:1 Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my\nlife.\n\n5:2 Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of\nthy heart:\n\n5:3 And say not, Who shall controul me for my works? for the Lord will\nsurely revenge thy pride.\n\n5:4 Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for\nthe Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.\n\n5:5 Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin:\n\n5:6 And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the\nmultitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his\nindignation resteth upon sinners.\n\n5:7 Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to\nday: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy\nsecurity thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.\n\n5:8 Set not thine heart upon goods unjustly gotten, for they shall not\nprofit thee in the day of calamity.\n\n5:9 Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so doth\nthe sinner that hath a double tongue.\n\n5:10 Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the same.\n\n5:11 Be swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience\ngive answer.\n\n5:12 If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy\nhand upon thy mouth.\n\n5:13 Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his fall.\n\n5:14 Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue:\nfor a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the\ndouble tongue.\n\n5:15 Be not ignorant of any thing in a great matter or a small.\n\n6:1 Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby] thou shalt\ninherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that\nhath a double tongue.\n\n6:2 Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul\nbe not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone.]\n\n6:3 Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself\nas a dry tree.\n\n6:4 A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to\nbe laughed to scorn of his enemies.\n\n6:5 Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue\nwill increase kind greetings.\n\n6:6 Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a\nthousand.\n\n6:7 If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to\ncredit him.\n\n6:8 For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide\nin the day of thy trouble.\n\n6:9 And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will\ndiscover thy reproach.\n\n6:10 Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not\ncontinue in the day of thy affliction.\n\n6:11 But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over\nthy servants.\n\n6:12 If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide\nhimself from thy face.\n\n6:13 Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.\n\n6:14 A faithfull friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found\nsuch an one hath found a treasure.\n\n6:15 Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is\ninvaluable.\n\n6:16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the\nLord shall find him.\n\n6:17 Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as\nhe is, so shall his neighbour be also.\n\n6:18 My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find\nwisdom till thine old age.\n\n6:19 Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her\ngood fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but\nthou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.\n\n6:20 She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without\nunderstanding will not remain with her.\n\n6:21 She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast\nher from him ere it be long.\n\n6:22 For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto\nmany.\n\n6:23 Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,\n\n6:24 And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.\n\n6:25 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her\nbonds.\n\n6:26 Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy\npower.\n\n6:27 Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when\nthou hast got hold of her, let her not go.\n\n6:28 For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned\nto thy joy.\n\n6:29 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her\nchains a robe of glory.\n\n6:30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple\nlace.\n\n6:31 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about\nthee as a crown of joy.\n\n6:32 My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply\nthy mind, thou shalt be prudent.\n\n6:33 If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if\nthou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,\n\n6:34 Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is\nwise.\n\n6:35 Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables\nof understanding escape thee.\n\n6:36 And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto\nhim, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.\n\n6:37 Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate\ncontinually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and\ngive thee wisdom at thine own desire.\n\n7:1 Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.\n\n7:2 Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.\n\n7:3 My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt\nnot reap them sevenfold.\n\n7:4 Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of\nhonour.\n\n7:5 Justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom\nbefore the king.\n\n7:6 Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at\nany time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the\nway of thy uprightness.\n\n7:7 Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not\ncast thyself down among the people.\n\n7:8 Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be\nunpunished.\n\n7:9 Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when\nI offer to the most high God, he will accept it.\n\n7:10 Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not\nto give alms.\n\n7:11 Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is\none which humbleth and exalteth.\n\n7:12 Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy\nfriend.\n\n7:13 Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not\ngood.\n\n7:14 Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much\nbabbling when thou prayest.\n\n7:15 Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High\nhath ordained.\n\n7:16 Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember\nthat wrath will not tarry long.\n\n7:17 Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire\nand worms.\n\n7:18 Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful\nbrother for the gold of Ophir.\n\n7:19 Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.\n\n7:20 Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil, nor the\nhireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.\n\n7:21 Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.\n\n7:22 Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy\nprofit, keep them with thee.\n\n7:23 Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from\ntheir youth.\n\n7:24 Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not\nthyself cheerful toward them.\n\n7:25 Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty\nmatter: but give her to a man of understanding.\n\n7:26 Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not\nthyself over to a light woman.\n\n7:27 Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows\nof thy mother.\n\n7:28 Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou\nrecompense them the things that they have done for thee?\n\n7:29 Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.\n\n7:30 Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his\nministers.\n\n7:31 Fear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his portion, as\nit is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and\nthe gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the\nfirstfruits of the holy things.\n\n7:32 And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be\nperfected.\n\n7:33 A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the\ndead detain it not.\n\n7:34 Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that\nmourn.\n\n7:35 Be not slow to visit the sick: for that shall make thee to be\nbeloved.\n\n7:36 Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt\nnever do amiss.\n\n8:1 Strive not with a mighty man, lest thou fall into his hands.\n\n8:2 Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee: for\ngold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings.\n\n8:3 Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood\nupon his fire.\n\n8:4 Jest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be disgraced.\n\n8:5 Reproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember that we are\nall worthy of punishment.\n\n8:6 Dishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax old.\n\n8:7 Rejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead, but remember that\nwe die all.\n\n8:8 Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself with\ntheir proverbs: for of them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to\nserve great men with ease.\n\n8:9 Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of\ntheir fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give\nanswer as need requireth.\n\n8:10 Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burnt with the\nflame of his fire.\n\n8:11 Rise not up [in anger] at the presence of an injurious person,\nlest he lie in wait to entrap thee in thy words\n\n8:12 Lend not unto him that is mightier than thyself; for if thou\nlendest him, count it but lost.\n\n8:13 Be not surety above thy power: for if thou be surety, take care to\npay it.\n\n8:14 Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according\nto his honour.\n\n8:15 Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become grievous\nunto thee: for he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt\nperish with him through his folly.\n\n8:16 Strive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a solitary\nplace: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no\nhelp, he will overthrow thee.\n\n8:17 Consult not with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel.\n\n8:18 Do no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he\nwill bring forth.\n\n8:19 Open not thine heart to every man, lest he requite thee with a\nshrewd turn.\n\n9:1 Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an\nevil lesson against thyself.\n\n9:2 Give not thy soul unto a woman to set her foot upon thy substance.\n\n9:3 Meet not with an harlot, lest thou fall into her snares.\n\n9:4 Use not much the company of a woman that is a singer, lest thou be\ntaken with her attempts.\n\n9:5 Gaze not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things that are\nprecious in her.\n\n9:6 Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine\ninheritance.\n\n9:7 Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither\nwander thou in the solitary place thereof.\n\n9:8 Turn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon\nanother\u2019s beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman;\nfor herewith love is kindled as a fire.\n\n9:9 Sit not at all with another man\u2019s wife, nor sit down with her in\nthine arms, and spend not thy money with her at the wine; lest thine\nheart incline unto her, and so through thy desire thou fall into\ndestruction.\n\n9:10 Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a\nnew friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with\npleasure.\n\n9:11 Envy not the glory of a sinner: for thou knowest not what shall be\nhis end.\n\n9:12 Delight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in; but\nremember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave.\n\n9:13 Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill; so shalt thou\nnot doubt the fear of death: and if thou come unto him, make no fault,\nlest he take away thy life presently: remember that thou goest in the\nmidst of snares, and that thou walkest upon the battlements of the\ncity.\n\n9:14 As near as thou canst, guess at thy neighbour, and consult with\nthe wise.\n\n9:15 Let thy talk be with the wise, and all thy communication in the\nlaw of the most High.\n\n9:16 And let just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be\nin the fear of the Lord.\n\n9:17 For the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended: and the\nwise ruler of the people for his speech.\n\n9:18 A man of an ill tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is\nrash in his talk shall be hated.\n\n10:1 A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a\nprudent man is well ordered.\n\n10:2 As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and\nwhat manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that\ndwell therein.\n\n10:3 An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of\nthem which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.\n\n10:4 The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time\nhe will set over it one that is profitable.\n\n10:5 In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person\nof the scribe shall he lay his honour.\n\n10:6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing\nat all by injurious practices.\n\n10:7 Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit\niniquity.\n\n10:8 Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by\ndeceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.\n\n10:9 Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing\nthan a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale;\nbecause while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.\n\n10:10 The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a\nking to morrow shall die.\n\n10:11 For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts,\nand worms.\n\n10:12 The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his\nheart is turned away from his Maker.\n\n10:13 For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour\nout abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange\ncalamities, and overthrew them utterly.\n\n10:14 The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up\nthe meek in their stead.\n\n10:15 The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and\nplanted the lowly in their place.\n\n10:16 The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them\nto the foundations of the earth.\n\n10:17 He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made\ntheir memorial to cease from the earth.\n\n10:18 Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are\nborn of a woman.\n\n10:19 They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him\nan honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable\nseed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.\n\n10:20 Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they that\nfear the Lord in his eyes.\n\n10:21 The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but\nroughness and pride is the losing thereof.\n\n10:22 Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of\nthe Lord.\n\n10:23 It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding;\nneither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.\n\n10:24 Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is\nthere none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.\n\n10:25 Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do\nservice: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is\nreformed.\n\n10:26 Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in\nthe time of thy distress.\n\n10:27 Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he\nthat boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.\n\n10:28 My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour\naccording to the dignity thereof.\n\n10:29 Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who\nwill honour him that dishonoureth his own life?\n\n10:30 The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is\nhonoured for his riches.\n\n10:31 He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he\nthat is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?\n\n11:1 Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and\nmaketh him to sit among great men.\n\n11:2 Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his\noutward appearance.\n\n11:3 The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of\nsweet things.\n\n11:4 Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in\nthe day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his\nworks among men are hidden.\n\n11:5 Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never\nthought of hath worn the crown.\n\n11:6 Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable\ndelivered into other men\u2019s hands.\n\n11:7 Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first,\nand then rebuke.\n\n11:8 Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men\nin the midst of their talk.\n\n11:9 Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in\njudgment with sinners.\n\n11:10 My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much,\nthou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not\nobtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.\n\n11:11 There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste,\nand is so much the more behind.\n\n11:12 Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help,\nwanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked\nupon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,\n\n11:13 And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it\nmarvelled at him.\n\n11:14 Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches,\ncome of the Lord.\n\n11:15 Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord:\nlove, and the way of good works, are from him.\n\n11:16 Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and\nevil shall wax old with them that glory therein.\n\n11:17 The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his favour\nbringeth prosperity for ever.\n\n11:18 There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this\nis the portion of his reward:\n\n11:19 Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually\nof my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and\nthat he must leave those things to others, and die.\n\n11:20 Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax\nold in thy work.\n\n11:21 Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and\nabide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord\non the sudden to make a poor man rich.\n\n11:22 The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and\nsuddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.\n\n11:23 Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things\nshall I have hereafter?\n\n11:24 Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what\nevil can come to me hereafter?\n\n11:25 In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction:\nand in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of\nprosperity.\n\n11:26 For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to\nreward a man according to his ways.\n\n11:27 The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in\nhis end his deeds shall be discovered.\n\n11:28 Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in\nhis children.\n\n11:29 Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath\nmany trains.\n\n11:30 Like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart\nof the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:\n\n11:31 For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things\nworthy praise will lay blame upon thee.\n\n11:32 Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man\nlayeth wait for blood.\n\n11:33 Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest\nhe bring upon thee a perpetual blot.\n\n11:34 Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee,\nand turn thee out of thine own.\n\n12:1 When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou\nbe thanked for thy benefits.\n\n12:2 Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if\nnot from him, yet from the most High.\n\n12:3 There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor\nto him that giveth no alms.\n\n12:4 Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.\n\n12:5 Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold\nback thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster thee\nthereby: for [else] thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the\ngood thou shalt have done unto him.\n\n12:6 For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto\nthe ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their\npunishment.\n\n12:7 Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.\n\n12:8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be\nhidden in adversity.\n\n12:9 In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his\nadversity even a friend will depart.\n\n12:10 Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his\nwickedness.\n\n12:11 Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good heed\nand beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a\nlookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been\naltogether wiped away.\n\n12:12 Set him not by thee, lest, when he hath overthrown thee, he stand\nup in thy place; neither let him sit at thy right hand, lest he seek to\ntake thy seat, and thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked\ntherewith.\n\n12:13 Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any\nsuch as come nigh wild beasts?\n\n12:14 So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his\nsins, who will pity?\n\n12:15 For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall,\nhe will not tarry.\n\n12:16 An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he\nimagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his eyes, but\nif he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.\n\n12:17 If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and\nthough he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.\n\n12:18 He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and\nchange his countenance.\n\n13:1 He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he that\nhath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him.\n\n13:2 Burden not thyself above thy power while thou livest; and have no\nfellowship with one that is mightier and richer than thyself: for how\nagree the kettle and the earthen pot together? for if the one be\nsmitten against the other, it shall be broken.\n\n13:3 The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he threateneth withal: the\npoor is wronged, and he must intreat also.\n\n13:4 If thou be for his profit, he will use thee: but if thou have\nnothing, he will forsake thee.\n\n13:5 If thou have any thing, he will live with thee: yea, he will make\nthee bare, and will not be sorry for it.\n\n13:6 If he have need of thee, he will deceive thee, and smile upon\nthee, and put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and say, What\nwantest thou?\n\n13:7 And he will shame thee by his meats, until he have drawn thee dry\ntwice or thrice, and at the last he will laugh thee to scorn afterward,\nwhen he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.\n\n13:8 Beware that thou be not deceived and brought down in thy jollity.\n\n13:9 If thou be invited of a mighty man, withdraw thyself, and so much\nthe more will he invite thee.\n\n13:10 Press thou not upon him, lest thou be put back; stand not far\noff, lest thou be forgotten.\n\n13:11 Affect not to be made equal unto him in talk, and believe not his\nmany words: for with much communication will he tempt thee, and smiling\nupon thee will get out thy secrets:\n\n13:12 But cruelly he will lay up thy words, and will not spare to do\nthee hurt, and to put thee in prison.\n\n13:13 Observe, and take good heed, for thou walkest in peril of thy\noverthrowing: when thou hearest these things, awake in thy sleep.\n\n13:14 Love the Lord all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation.\n\n13:15 Every beast loveth his like, and every man loveth his neighbor.\n\n13:16 All flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will cleave to\nhis like.\n\n13:17 What fellowship hath the wolf with the lamb? so the sinner with\nthe godly.\n\n13:18 What agreement is there between the hyena and a dog? and what\npeace between the rich and the poor?\n\n13:19 As the wild ass is the lion\u2019s prey in the wilderness: so the rich\neat up the poor.\n\n13:20 As the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the poor.\n\n13:21 A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a\npoor man being down is thrust away by his friends.\n\n13:22 When a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh\nthings not to be spoken, and yet men justify him: the poor man slipped,\nand yet they rebuked him too; he spake wisely, and could have no place.\n\n13:23 When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and,\nlook, what he saith, they extol it to the clouds: but if the poor man\nspeak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he stumble, they will help\nto overthrow him.\n\n13:24 Riches are good unto him that hath no sin, and poverty is evil in\nthe mouth of the ungodly.\n\n13:25 The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for\ngood or evil: and a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.\n\n13:26 A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in\nprosperity; and the finding out of parables is a wearisome labour of\nthe mind.\n\n14:1 Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is\nnot pricked with the multitude of sins.\n\n14:2 Blessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is\nnot fallen from his hope in the Lord.\n\n14:3 Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious\nman do with money?\n\n14:4 He that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for others,\nthat shall spend his goods riotously.\n\n14:5 He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not\ntake pleasure in his goods.\n\n14:6 There is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a\nrecompence of his wickedness.\n\n14:7 And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he\nwill declare his wickedness.\n\n14:8 The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and\ndespiseth men.\n\n14:9 A covetous man\u2019s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the\niniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.\n\n14:10 A wicked eye envieth [his] bread, and he is a niggard at his\ntable.\n\n14:11 My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the\nLord his due offering.\n\n14:12 Remember that death will not be long in coming, and that the\ncovenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.\n\n14:13 Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy\nability stretch out thy hand and give to him.\n\n14:14 Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a\ngood desire overpass thee.\n\n14:15 Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours\nto be divided by lot?\n\n14:16 Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no seeking of\ndainties in the grave.\n\n14:17 All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the\nbeginning is, Thou shalt die the death.\n\n14:18 As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some grow;\nso is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and\nanother is born.\n\n14:19 Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof\nshall go withal.\n\n14:20 Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and\nthat reasoneth of holy things by his understanding.\n\n14:21 He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have\nunderstanding in her secrets.\n\n14:22 Go after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.\n\n14:23 He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.\n\n14:24 He that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her\nwalls.\n\n14:25 He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a\nlodging where good things are.\n\n14:26 He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge\nunder her branches.\n\n14:27 By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he\ndwell.\n\n15:1 He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the\nknowledge of the law shall obtain her.\n\n15:2 And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife\nmarried of a virgin.\n\n15:3 With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him\nthe water of wisdom to drink.\n\n15:4 He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall\nrely upon her, and shall not be confounded.\n\n15:5 She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the\ncongregation shall she open his mouth.\n\n15:6 He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him\nto inherit an everlasting name.\n\n15:7 But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not\nsee her.\n\n15:8 For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember\nher.\n\n15:9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent\nhim of the Lord.\n\n15:10 For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper\nit.\n\n15:11 Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou\noughtest not to do the things that he hateth.\n\n15:12 Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of\nthe sinful man.\n\n15:13 The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it\nnot.\n\n15:14 He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand\nof his counsel;\n\n15:15 If thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable\nfaithfulness.\n\n15:16 He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand\nunto whether thou wilt.\n\n15:17 Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be\ngiven him.\n\n15:18 For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in power,\nand beholdeth all things:\n\n15:19 And his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every\nwork of man.\n\n15:20 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given\nany man licence to sin.\n\n16:1 Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight\nin ungodly sons.\n\n16:2 Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the\nLord be with them.\n\n16:3 Trust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for\none that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die\nwithout children, than to have them that are ungodly.\n\n16:4 For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished:\nbut the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.\n\n16:5 Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath\nheard greater things than these.\n\n16:6 In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in\na rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.\n\n16:7 He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the\nstrength of their foolishness.\n\n16:8 Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them\nfor their pride.\n\n16:9 He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in\ntheir sins:\n\n16:10 Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together\nin the hardness of their hearts.\n\n16:11 And if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if\nhe escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to\nforgive, and to pour out displeasure.\n\n16:12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a\nman according to his works.\n\n16:13 The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of\nthe godly shall not be frustrate.\n\n16:14 Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find\naccording to his works.\n\n16:15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his\npowerful works might be known to the world.\n\n16:16 His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated\nhis light from the darkness with an adamant.\n\n16:17 Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall any\nremember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people:\nfor what is my soul among such an infinite number of creatures?\n\n16:18 Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the\nearth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit.\n\n16:19 The mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken with\ntrembling, when the Lord looketh upon them.\n\n16:20 No heart can think upon these things worthily: and who is able to\nconceive his ways?\n\n16:21 It is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of his\nworks are hid.\n\n16:22 Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them?\nfor his covenant is afar off, and the trial of all things is in the\nend.\n\n16:23 He that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: and a\nfoolish man erring imagineth follies.\n\n16:24 My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my words\nwith thy heart.\n\n16:25 I will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his knowledge\nexactly.\n\n16:26 The works of the Lord are done in judgment from the beginning:\nand from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof.\n\n16:27 He garnished his works for ever, and in his hand are the chief of\nthem unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are weary, nor\ncease from their works.\n\n16:28 None of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey his\nword.\n\n16:29 After this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his\nblessings.\n\n16:30 With all manner of living things hath he covered the face\nthereof; and they shall return into it again.\n\n17:1 The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.\n\n17:2 He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the\nthings therein.\n\n17:3 He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them\naccording to his image,\n\n17:4 And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over\nbeasts and fowls.\n\n17:5 They received the use of the five operations of the Lord, and in\nthe sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the seventh\nspeech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof.\n\n17:6 Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them\nto understand.\n\n17:7 Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and\nshewed them good and evil.\n\n17:8 He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the\ngreatness of his works.\n\n17:9 He gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that they\nmight declare his works with understanding.\n\n17:10 And the elect shall praise his holy name.\n\n17:11 Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an\nheritage.\n\n17:12 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his\njudgments.\n\n17:13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his\nglorious voice.\n\n17:14 And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave\nevery man commandment concerning his neighbour.\n\n17:15 Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his\neyes.\n\n17:16 Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they\nmake to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.\n\n17:17 For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a\nruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord\u2019s portion:\n\n17:18 Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and\ngiving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.\n\n17:19 Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes\nare continually upon their ways.\n\n17:20 None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their\nsins are before the Lord\n\n17:21 But the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship, neither\nleft nor forsook them, but spared them.\n\n17:22 The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep the\ngood deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his\nsons and daughters.\n\n17:23 Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their\nrecompence upon their heads.\n\n17:24 But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted\nthose that failed in patience.\n\n17:25 Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer\nbefore his face, and offend less.\n\n17:26 Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he\nwill lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou\nabomination vehemently.\n\n17:27 Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them\nwhich live and give thanks?\n\n17:28 Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not:\nthe living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.\n\n17:29 How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his\ncompassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!\n\n17:30 For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not\nimmortal.\n\n17:31 What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and\nflesh and blood will imagine evil.\n\n17:32 He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but\nearth and ashes.\n\n18:1 He that liveth for ever created all things in general.\n\n18:2 The Lord only is righteous, and there is none other but he,\n\n18:3 Who governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all things\nobey his will: for he is the King of all, by his power dividing holy\nthings among them from profane.\n\n18:4 To whom hath he given power to declare his works? and who shall\nfind out his noble acts?\n\n18:5 Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also\ntell out his mercies?\n\n18:6 As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken\nfrom them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the\nground of them be found out.\n\n18:7 When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off,\nthen he shall be doubtful.\n\n18:8 What is man, and whereto serveth he? what is his good, and what is\nhis evil?\n\n18:9 The number of a man\u2019s days at the most are an hundred years.\n\n18:10 As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in comparison\nof the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.\n\n18:11 Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his mercy\nupon them.\n\n18:12 He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he\nmultiplied his compassion.\n\n18:13 The mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the\nLord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth and\nbringeth again, as a shepherd his flock.\n\n18:14 He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that\ndiligently seek after his judgments.\n\n18:15 My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable\nwords when thou givest any thing.\n\n18:16 Shall not the dew asswage the heat? so is a word better than a\ngift.\n\n18:17 Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a\ngracious man.\n\n18:18 A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious\nconsumeth the eyes.\n\n18:19 Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.\n\n18:20 Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation\nthou shalt find mercy.\n\n18:21 Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew\nrepentance.\n\n18:22 Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not\nuntil death to be justified.\n\n18:23 Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that\ntempteth the Lord.\n\n18:24 Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of\nvengeance, when he shall turn away his face.\n\n18:25 When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou\nart rich, think upon poverty and need.\n\n18:26 From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all\nthings are soon done before the Lord.\n\n18:27 A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he\nwill beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time.\n\n18:28 Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise\nunto him that found her.\n\n18:29 They that were of understanding in sayings became also wise\nthemselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.\n\n18:30 Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites.\n\n18:31 If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will\nmake thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee.\n\n18:32 Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the\nexpence thereof.\n\n18:33 Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast\nnothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life,\nand be talked on.\n\n19:1 A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich:\nand he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.\n\n19:2 Wine and women will make men of understanding to fall away: and he\nthat cleaveth to harlots will become impudent.\n\n19:3 Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, and a bold man shall\nbe taken away.\n\n19:4 He that is hasty to give credit is lightminded; and he that\nsinneth shall offend against his own soul.\n\n19:5 Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he\nthat resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.\n\n19:6 He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that\nhateth babbling shall have less evil.\n\n19:7 Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou\nshalt fare never the worse.\n\n19:8 Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men\u2019s lives; and\nif thou canst without offence, reveal them not.\n\n19:9 For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate\nthee.\n\n19:10 If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it\nwill not burst thee.\n\n19:11 A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child.\n\n19:12 As an arrow that sticketh in a man\u2019s thigh, so is a word within a\nfool\u2019s belly.\n\n19:13 Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have\ndone it, that he do it no more.\n\n19:14 Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he\nhave, that he speak it not again.\n\n19:15 Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe\nnot every tale.\n\n19:16 There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart;\nand who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?\n\n19:17 Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being\nangry, give place to the law of the most High.\n\n19:18 The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted [of him,]\nand wisdom obtaineth his love.\n\n19:19 The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of\nlife: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit\nof the tree of immortality.\n\n19:20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the\nperformance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency.\n\n19:21 If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth\nthee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him.\n\n19:22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time\nthe counsel of sinners prudence.\n\n19:23 There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is\na fool wanting in wisdom.\n\n19:24 He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than\none that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.\n\n19:25 There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there\nis one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise\nman that justifieth in judgment.\n\n19:26 There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but\ninwardly he is full of deceit,\n\n19:27 Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not:\nwhere he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.\n\n19:28 And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he\nfindeth opportunity he will do evil.\n\n19:29 A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding\nby his countenance, when thou meetest him.\n\n19:30 A man\u2019s attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he\nis.\n\n20:1 There is a reproof that is not comely: again, some man holdeth his\ntongue, and he is wise.\n\n20:2 It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly: and he\nthat confesseth his fault shall be preserved from hurt.\n\n20:3 How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for so\nshalt thou escape wilful sin.\n\n20:4 As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; so is he that\nexecuteth judgment with violence.\n\n20:5 There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise: and another\nby much babbling becometh hateful.\n\n20:6 Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not to answer: and\nsome keepeth silence, knowing his time.\n\n20:7 A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity: but a\nbabbler and a fool will regard no time.\n\n20:8 He that useth many words shall be abhorred; and he that taketh to\nhimself authority therein shall be hated.\n\n20:9 There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and there\nis a gain that turneth to loss.\n\n20:10 There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift\nwhose recompence is double.\n\n20:11 There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that lifteth\nup his head from a low estate.\n\n20:12 There is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it\nsevenfold.\n\n20:13 A wise man by his words maketh him beloved: but the graces of\nfools shall be poured out.\n\n20:14 The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it;\nneither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looketh to receive\nmany things for one.\n\n20:15 He giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth like\na crier; to day he lendeth, and to morrow will he ask it again: such an\none is to be hated of God and man.\n\n20:16 The fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my\ngood deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.\n\n20:17 How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he\nknoweth not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto him as if\nhe had it not.\n\n20:18 To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue:\nso the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.\n\n20:19 An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.\n\n20:20 A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool\u2019s\nmouth; for he will not speak it in due season.\n\n20:21 There is that is hindered from sinning through want: and when he\ntaketh rest, he shall not be troubled.\n\n20:22 There is that destroyeth his own soul through bashfulness, and by\naccepting of persons overthroweth himself.\n\n20:23 There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and maketh\nhim his enemy for nothing.\n\n20:24 A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth\nof the untaught.\n\n20:25 A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to lie: but they\nboth shall have destruction to heritage.\n\n20:26 The disposition of a liar is dishonourable, and his shame is ever\nwith him.\n\n20:27 A wise man shall promote himself to honour with his words: and he\nthat hath understanding will please great men.\n\n20:28 He that tilleth his land shall increase his heap: and he that\npleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.\n\n20:29 Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and stop up his\nmouth that he cannot reprove.\n\n20:30 Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit\nis in them both?\n\n20:31 Better is he that hideth his folly than a man that hideth his\nwisdom.\n\n20:32 Necessary patience in seeking the Lord is better than he that\nleadeth his life without a guide.\n\n21:1 My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask pardon for thy\nformer sins.\n\n21:2 Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest\ntoo near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a\nlion, slaying the souls of men.\n\n21:3 All iniquity is as a two edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be\nhealed.\n\n21:4 To terrify and do wrong will waste riches: thus the house of proud\nmen shall be made desolate.\n\n21:5 A prayer out of a poor man\u2019s mouth reacheth to the ears of God,\nand his judgment cometh speedily.\n\n21:6 He that hateth to be reproved is in the way of sinners: but he\nthat feareth the Lord will repent from his heart.\n\n21:7 An eloquent man is known far and near; but a man of understanding\nknoweth when he slippeth.\n\n21:8 He that buildeth his house with other men\u2019s money is like one that\ngathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial.\n\n21:9 The congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together: and\nthe end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them.\n\n21:10 The way of sinners is made plain with stones, but at the end\nthereof is the pit of hell.\n\n21:11 He that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding\nthereof: and the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.\n\n21:12 He that is not wise will not be taught: but there is a wisdom\nwhich multiplieth bitterness.\n\n21:13 The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood: and his\ncounsel is like a pure fountain of life.\n\n21:14 The inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel, and he will\nhold no knowledge as long as he liveth.\n\n21:15 If a skilful man hear a wise word, he will commend it, and add\nunto it: but as soon as one of no understanding heareth it, it\ndispleaseth him, and he casteth it behind his back.\n\n21:16 The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but grace\nshall be found in the lips of the wise.\n\n21:17 They enquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation,\nand they shall ponder his words in their heart.\n\n21:18 As is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the\nknowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.\n\n21:19 Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles\non the right hand.\n\n21:20 A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter; but a wise man doth\nscarce smile a little.\n\n21:21 Learning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold, and like a\nbracelet upon his right arm.\n\n21:22 A foolish man\u2019s foot is soon in his [neighbour\u2019s] house: but a\nman of experience is ashamed of him.\n\n21:23 A fool will peep in at the door into the house: but he that is\nwell nurtured will stand without.\n\n21:24 It is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door: but a wise\nman will be grieved with the disgrace.\n\n21:25 The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not\nunto them: but the words of such as have understanding are weighed in\nthe balance.\n\n21:26 The heart of fools is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wise\nis in their heart.\n\n21:27 When the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul.\n\n21:28 A whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he\ndwelleth.\n\n22:1 A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will\nhiss him out to his disgrace.\n\n22:2 A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man\nthat takes it up will shake his hand.\n\n22:3 An evilnurtured son is the dishonour of his father that begat him:\nand a [foolish] daughter is born to his loss.\n\n22:4 A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she\nthat liveth dishonestly is her father\u2019s heaviness.\n\n22:5 She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but\nthey both shall despise her.\n\n22:6 A tale out of season [is as] musick in mourning: but stripes and\ncorrection of wisdom are never out of time.\n\n22:7 Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together,\nand as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.\n\n22:8 He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber:\nwhen he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?\n\n22:9 If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover\nthe baseness of their parents.\n\n22:10 But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture\ndo stain the nobility of their kindred.\n\n22:11 Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep for the\nfool, for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for the dead,\nfor he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death.\n\n22:12 Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and\nan ungodly man all the days of his life.\n\n22:13 Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no\nunderstanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou shalt\nnever be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt\nfind rest, and never be disquieted with madness.\n\n22:14 What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a\nfool?\n\n22:15 Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man\nwithout understanding.\n\n22:16 As timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be loosed\nwith shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall\nfear at no time.\n\n22:17 A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair\nplaistering on the wall of a gallery.\n\n22:18 Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so\na fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any\nfear.\n\n22:19 He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that\npricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.\n\n22:20 Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that\nupbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.\n\n22:21 Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for\nthere may be a returning [to favour.]\n\n22:22 If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; for\nthere may be a reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or pride, or\ndisclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for these things every\nfriend will depart.\n\n22:23 Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest\nrejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his\ntrouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean\nestate is not always to be contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to\nbe had in admiration.\n\n22:24 As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so\nreviling before blood.\n\n22:25 I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide\nmyself from him.\n\n22:26 And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it\nwill beware of him.\n\n22:27 Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon\nmy lips, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy\nme not?\n\n23:1 O Lord, Father and Governor of all my whole life, leave me not to\ntheir counsels, and let me not fall by them.\n\n23:2 Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of\nwisdom over mine heart? that they spare me not for mine ignorances, and\nit pass not by my sins:\n\n23:3 Lest mine ignorances increase, and my sins abound to my\ndestruction, and I fall before mine adversaries, and mine enemy rejoice\nover me, whose hope is far from thy mercy.\n\n23:4 O Lord, Father and God of my life, give me not a proud look, but\nturn away from thy servants always a haughty mind.\n\n23:5 Turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence, and thou shalt\nhold him up that is desirous always to serve thee.\n\n23:6 Let not the greediness of the belly nor lust of the flesh take\nhold of me; and give not over me thy servant into an impudent mind.\n\n23:7 Hear, O ye children, the discipline of the mouth: he that keepeth\nit shall never be taken in his lips.\n\n23:8 The sinner shall be left in his foolishness: both the evil speaker\nand the proud shall fall thereby.\n\n23:9 Accustom not thy mouth to swearing; neither use thyself to the\nnaming of the Holy One.\n\n23:10 For as a servant that is continually beaten shall not be without\na blue mark: so he that sweareth and nameth God continually shall not\nbe faultless.\n\n23:11 A man that useth much swearing shall be filled with iniquity, and\nthe plague shall never depart from his house: if he shall offend, his\nsin shall be upon him: and if he acknowledge not his sin, he maketh a\ndouble offence: and if he swear in vain, he shall not be innocent, but\nhis house shall be full of calamities.\n\n23:12 There is a word that is clothed about with death: God grant that\nit be not found in the heritage of Jacob; for all such things shall be\nfar from the godly, and they shall not wallow in their sins.\n\n23:13 Use not thy mouth to intemperate swearing, for therein is the\nword of sin.\n\n23:14 Remember thy father and thy mother, when thou sittest among great\nmen. Be not forgetful before them, and so thou by thy custom become a\nfool, and wish that thou hadst not been born, and curse the day of thy\nnativity.\n\n23:15 The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words will never be\nreformed all the days of his life.\n\n23:16 Two sorts of men multiply sin, and the third will bring wrath: a\nhot mind is as a burning fire, it will never be quenched till it be\nconsumed: a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease till\nhe hath kindled a fire.\n\n23:17 All bread is sweet to a whoremonger, he will not leave off till\nhe die.\n\n23:18 A man that breaketh wedlock, saying thus in his heart, Who seeth\nme? I am compassed about with darkness, the walls cover me, and no body\nseeth me; what need I to fear? the most High will not remember my sins:\n\n23:19 Such a man only feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that the\neyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun,\nbeholding all the ways of men, and considering the most secret parts.\n\n23:20 He knew all things ere ever they were created; so also after they\nwere perfected he looked upon them all.\n\n23:21 This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and where\nhe suspecteth not he shall be taken.\n\n23:22 Thus shall it go also with the wife that leaveth her husband, and\nbringeth in an heir by another.\n\n23:23 For first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High; and\nsecondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she\nhath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man.\n\n23:24 She shall be brought out into the congregation, and inquisition\nshall be made of her children.\n\n23:25 Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring\nforth no fruit.\n\n23:26 She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her reproach shall\nnot be blotted out.\n\n23:27 And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better than\nthe fear of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter than to take\nheed unto the commandments of the Lord.\n\n23:28 It is great glory to follow the Lord, and to be received of him\nis long life.\n\n24:1 Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her\npeople.\n\n24:2 In the congregation of the most High shall she open her mouth, and\ntriumph before his power.\n\n24:3 I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as\na cloud.\n\n24:4 I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar.\n\n24:5 I alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom\nof the deep.\n\n24:6 In the waves of the sea and in all the earth, and in every people\nand nation, I got a possession.\n\n24:7 With all these I sought rest: and in whose inheritance shall I\nabide?\n\n24:8 So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that\nmade me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in\nJacob, and thine inheritance in Israel.\n\n24:9 He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall\nnever fail.\n\n24:10 In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I\nestablished in Sion.\n\n24:11 Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem\nwas my power.\n\n24:12 And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of\nthe Lord\u2019s inheritance.\n\n24:13 I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon\nthe mountains of Hermon.\n\n24:14 I was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant\nin Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a\nplane tree by the water.\n\n24:15 I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded\na pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet\nstorax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle.\n\n24:16 As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my\nbranches are the branches of honour and grace.\n\n24:17 As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are\nthe fruit of honour and riches.\n\n24:18 I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy\nhope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are\nnamed of him.\n\n24:19 Come unto me, all ye that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves\nwith my fruits.\n\n24:20 For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than\nthe honeycomb.\n\n24:21 They that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me\nshall yet be thirsty.\n\n24:22 He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work\nby me shall not do amiss.\n\n24:23 All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high\nGod, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage unto the\ncongregations of Jacob.\n\n24:24 Faint not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you,\ncleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him\nthere is no other Saviour.\n\n24:25 He filleth all things with his wisdom, as Phison and as Tigris in\nthe time of the new fruits.\n\n24:26 He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as\nJordan in the time of the harvest.\n\n24:27 He maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as\nGeon in the time of vintage.\n\n24:28 The first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the last find\nher out.\n\n24:29 For her thoughts are more than the sea, and her counsels\nprofounder than the great deep.\n\n24:30 I also came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a\ngarden.\n\n24:31 I said, I will water my best garden, and will water abundantly my\ngarden bed: and, lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a\nsea.\n\n24:32 I will yet make doctrine to shine as the morning, and will send\nforth her light afar off.\n\n24:33 I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all\nages for ever.\n\n24:34 Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them\nthat seek wisdom.\n\n25:1 In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both\nbefore God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbours, a\nman and a wife that agree together.\n\n25:2 Three sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended at\ntheir life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an\nold adulterer that doateth.\n\n25:3 If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find\nany thing in thine age?\n\n25:4 O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient\nmen to know counsel!\n\n25:5 O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and\ncounsel to men of honour.\n\n25:6 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is\ntheir glory.\n\n25:7 There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be\nhappy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that hath joy\nof his children; and he that liveth to see the fall of his enemy:\n\n25:8 Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that\nhath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man more\nunworthy than himself:\n\n25:9 Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the\nears of them that will hear:\n\n25:10 O how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above\nhim that feareth the Lord.\n\n25:11 But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination: he\nthat holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened?\n\n25:12 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is\nthe beginning of cleaving unto him.\n\n25:13 [Give me] any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any\nwickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:\n\n25:14 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me:\nand any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.\n\n25:15 There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no\nwrath above the wrath of an enemy.\n\n25:16 I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house\nwith a wicked woman.\n\n25:17 The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her\ncountenance like sackcloth.\n\n25:18 Her husband shall sit among his neighbours; and when he heareth\nit shall sigh bitterly.\n\n25:19 All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let\nthe portion of a sinner fall upon her.\n\n25:20 As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is\na wife full of words to a quiet man.\n\n25:21 Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for\npleasure.\n\n25:22 A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger,\nimpudence, and much reproach.\n\n25:23 A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh an heavy countenance\nand a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in\ndistress maketh weak hands and feeble knees.\n\n25:24 Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all\ndie.\n\n25:25 Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad\nabroad.\n\n25:26 If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy\nflesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.\n\n26:1 Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of\nhis days shall be double.\n\n26:2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil the\nyears of his life in peace.\n\n26:3 A good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the portion\nof them that fear the Lord.\n\n26:4 Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the\nLord, he shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful countenance.\n\n26:5 There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth\nI was sore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering together of an\nunruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse than\ndeath.\n\n26:6 But a grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous over\nanother woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with\nall.\n\n26:7 An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her\nis as though he held a scorpion.\n\n26:8 A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she\nwill not cover her own shame.\n\n26:9 The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and\neyelids.\n\n26:10 If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she\nabuse herself through overmuch liberty.\n\n26:11 Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass\nagainst thee.\n\n26:12 She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath\nfound a fountain, and drink of every water near her: by every hedge\nwill she sit down, and open her quiver against every arrow.\n\n26:13 The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion\nwill fatten his bones.\n\n26:14 A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is\nnothing so much worth as a mind well instructed.\n\n26:15 A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her\ncontinent mind cannot be valued.\n\n26:16 As the sun when it ariseth in the high heaven; so is the beauty\nof a good wife in the ordering of her house.\n\n26:17 As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so is the beauty\nof the face in ripe age.\n\n26:18 As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver; so are the\nfair feet with a constant heart.\n\n26:19 My son, keep the flower of thine age sound; and give not thy\nstrength to strangers.\n\n26:20 When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the\nfield, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the goodness of thy\nstock.\n\n26:21 So thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified, having the\nconfidence of their good descent.\n\n26:22 An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a\ntower against death to her husband.\n\n26:23 A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly\nwoman is given to him that feareth the Lord.\n\n26:24 A dishonest woman contemneth shame: but an honest woman will\nreverence her husband.\n\n26:25 A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is\nshamefaced will fear the Lord.\n\n26:26 A woman that honoureth her husband shall be judged wise of all;\nbut she that dishonoureth him in her pride shall be counted ungodly of\nall.\n\n26:27 A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away\nthe enemies.\n\n26:28 There be two things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me\nangry: a man of war that suffereth poverty; and men of understanding\nthat are not set by; and one that returneth from righteousness to sin;\nthe Lord prepareth such an one for the sword.\n\n26:29 A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and an\nhuckster shall not be freed from sin.\n\n27:1 Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for\nabundance will turn his eyes away.\n\n27:2 As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so\ndoth sin stick close between buying and selling.\n\n27:3 Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his\nhouse shall soon be overthrown.\n\n27:4 As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the\nfilth of man in his talk.\n\n27:5 The furnace proveth the potter\u2019s vessels; so the trial of man is\nin his reasoning.\n\n27:6 The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the\nutterance of a conceit in the heart of man.\n\n27:7 Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial\nof men.\n\n27:8 If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put\nher on, as a glorious long robe.\n\n27:9 The birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto\nthem that practise in her.\n\n27:10 As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work\niniquity.\n\n27:11 The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool\nchangeth as the moon.\n\n27:12 If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be\ncontinually among men of understanding.\n\n27:13 The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the\nwantonness of sin.\n\n27:14 The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright;\nand their brawls make one stop his ears.\n\n27:15 The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are\ngrievous to the ear.\n\n27:16 Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find\nfriend to his mind.\n\n27:17 Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou betrayest\nhis secrets, follow no more after him.\n\n27:18 For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love\nof thy neighbor.\n\n27:19 As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let\nthy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again\n\n27:20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe\nescaped out of the snare.\n\n27:21 As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may\nbe reconcilement: but he that betrayeth secrets is without hope.\n\n27:22 He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth\nhim will depart from him.\n\n27:23 When thou art present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire thy\nwords: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander thy\nsayings.\n\n27:24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will\nhate him.\n\n27:25 Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a\ndeceitful stroke shall make wounds.\n\n27:26 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a\ntrap shall be taken therein.\n\n27:27 He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall\nnot know whence it cometh.\n\n27:28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a\nlion, shall lie in wait for them.\n\n27:29 They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in\nthe snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.\n\n27:30 Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man\nshall have them both.\n\n28:1 He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will\nsurely keep his sins [in remembrance.]\n\n28:2 Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so\nshall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.\n\n28:3 One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon\nfrom the Lord?\n\n28:4 He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he\nask forgiveness of his own sins?\n\n28:5 If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for\npardon of his sins?\n\n28:6 Remember thy end, and let enmity cease; [remember] corruption and\ndeath, and abide in the commandments.\n\n28:7 Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour:\n[remember] the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.\n\n28:8 Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a\nfurious man will kindle strife,\n\n28:9 A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them\nthat be at peace.\n\n28:10 As the matter of the fire is, so it burneth: and as a man\u2019s\nstrength is, so is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger\nriseth; and the stronger they are which contend, the more they will be\ninflamed.\n\n28:11 An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting\nsheddeth blood.\n\n28:12 If thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it, it\nshall be quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth.\n\n28:13 Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed\nmany that were at peace.\n\n28:14 A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from\nnation to nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the\nhouses of great men.\n\n28:15 A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived\nthem of their labours.\n\n28:16 Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell\nquietly.\n\n28:17 The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke\nof the tongue breaketh the bones.\n\n28:18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as\nhave fallen by the tongue.\n\n28:19 Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who hath\nnot drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands.\n\n28:20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are\nbands of brass.\n\n28:21 The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than\nit.\n\n28:22 It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall\nthey be burned with the flame thereof.\n\n28:23 Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in\nthem, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and\ndevour them as a leopard.\n\n28:24 Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind\nup thy silver and gold,\n\n28:25 And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy\nmouth.\n\n28:26 Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth\nin wait.\n\n29:1 He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that\nstrengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.\n\n29:2 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy\nneighbour again in due season.\n\n29:3 Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always\nfind the thing that is necessary for thee.\n\n29:4 Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put\nthem to trouble that helped them.\n\n29:5 Till he hath received, he will kiss a man\u2019s hand; and for his\nneighbour\u2019s money he will speak submissly: but when he should repay, he\nwill prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the\ntime.\n\n29:6 If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count\nas if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and\nhe hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings\nand railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace.\n\n29:7 Many therefore have refused to lend for other men\u2019s ill dealing,\nfearing to be defrauded.\n\n29:8 Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to\nshew him mercy.\n\n29:9 Help the poor for the commandment\u2019s sake, and turn him not away\nbecause of his poverty.\n\n29:10 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not\nrust under a stone to be lost.\n\n29:11 Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most\nHigh, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.\n\n29:12 Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from\nall affliction.\n\n29:13 It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a\nmighty shield and strong spear.\n\n29:14 An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is\nimpudent will forsake him.\n\n29:15 Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his\nlife for thee.\n\n29:16 A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:\n\n29:17 And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him [in danger]\nthat delivered him.\n\n29:18 Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a\nwave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that\nthey wandered among strange nations.\n\n29:19 A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall\nfall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men\u2019s\nbusiness for gain shall fall into suits.\n\n29:20 Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou\nthyself fall not into the same.\n\n29:21 The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and\nan house to cover shame.\n\n29:22 Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate\nfare in another man\u2019s house.\n\n29:23 Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the\nreproach of thy house.\n\n29:24 For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where\nthou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.\n\n29:25 Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover\nthou shalt hear bitter words:\n\n29:26 Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that\nthou hast ready.\n\n29:27 Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother\ncometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.\n\n29:28 These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the\nupbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.\n\n30:1 He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he\nmay have joy of him in the end.\n\n30:2 He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall\nrejoice of him among his acquaintance.\n\n30:3 He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his\nfriends he shall rejoice of him.\n\n30:4 Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for\nhe hath left one behind him that is like himself.\n\n30:5 While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he\nwas not sorrowful.\n\n30:6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that\nshall requite kindness to his friends.\n\n30:7 He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and\nhis bowels will be troubled at every cry.\n\n30:8 An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to\nhimself will be wilful.\n\n30:9 Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him,\nand he will bring thee to heaviness.\n\n30:10 Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou\ngnash thy teeth in the end.\n\n30:11 Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.\n\n30:12 Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides\nwhile he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto\nthee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart.\n\n30:13 Chastise thy son, and hold him to labour, lest his lewd behaviour\nbe an offence unto thee.\n\n30:14 Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than\na rich man that is afflicted in his body.\n\n30:15 Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong\nbody above infinite wealth.\n\n30:16 There is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy\nof the heart.\n\n30:17 Death is better than a bitter life or continual sickness.\n\n30:18 Delicates poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of meat set\nupon a grave.\n\n30:19 What good doeth the offering unto an idol? for neither can it eat\nnor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord.\n\n30:20 He seeth with his eyes and groaneth, as an eunuch that embraceth\na virgin and sigheth.\n\n30:21 Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself in\nthine own counsel.\n\n30:22 The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness\nof a man prolongeth his days.\n\n30:23 Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far\nfrom thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein.\n\n30:24 Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age\nbefore the time.\n\n30:25 A cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and diet.\n\n31:1 Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof\ndriveth away sleep.\n\n31:2 Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease\nbreaketh sleep,\n\n31:3 The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when\nhe resteth, he is filled with his delicates.\n\n31:4 The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he\nis still needy.\n\n31:5 He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth\ncorruption shall have enough thereof.\n\n31:6 Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was\npresent.\n\n31:7 It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every\nfool shall be taken therewith.\n\n31:8 Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not\ngone after gold.\n\n31:9 Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath\nhe done among his people.\n\n31:10 Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him\nglory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath\nnot done it?\n\n31:11 His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall\ndeclare his alms.\n\n31:12 If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say\nnot, There is much meat on it.\n\n31:13 Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created\nmore wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.\n\n31:14 Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it\nnot with him into the dish.\n\n31:15 Judge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every\npoint.\n\n31:16 Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee;\nand devour not, lest thou be hated.\n\n31:17 Leave off first for manners\u2019 sake; and be not unsatiable, lest\nthou offend.\n\n31:18 When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of\nall.\n\n31:19 A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he\nfetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.\n\n31:20 Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his\nwits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of\nthe belly, are with an unsatiable man.\n\n31:21 And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and\nthou shalt have rest.\n\n31:22 My son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt\nfind as I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall there no\nsickness come unto thee.\n\n31:23 Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and\nthe report of his good housekeeping will be believed.\n\n31:24 But against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city\nshall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be\ndoubted of.\n\n31:25 Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.\n\n31:26 The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts\nof the proud by drunkeness.\n\n31:27 Wine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what\nlife is then to a man that is without wine? for it was made to make men\nglad.\n\n31:28 Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the\nheart, and cheerfulness of the mind:\n\n31:29 But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with\nbrawling and quarrelling.\n\n31:30 Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it\ndiminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.\n\n31:31 Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his\nmirth: give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging\nhim [to drink.]\n\n32:1 If thou be made the master [of a feast,] lift not thyself up, but\nbe among them as one of the rest; take diligent care for them, and so\nsit down.\n\n32:2 And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou\nmayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well ordering of\nthe feast.\n\n32:3 Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with\nsound judgment; and hinder not musick.\n\n32:4 Pour not out words where there is a musician, and shew not forth\nwisdom out of time.\n\n32:5 A concert of musick in a banquet of wine is as a signet of\ncarbuncle set in gold.\n\n32:6 As a signet of an emerald set in a work of gold, so is the melody\nof musick with pleasant wine.\n\n32:7 Speak, young man, if there be need of thee: and yet scarcely when\nthou art twice asked.\n\n32:8 Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be as\none that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.\n\n32:9 If thou be among great men, make not thyself equal with them; and\nwhen ancient men are in place, use not many words.\n\n32:10 Before the thunder goeth lightning; and before a shamefaced man\nshall go favour.\n\n32:11 Rise up betimes, and be not the last; but get thee home without\ndelay.\n\n32:12 There take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: but sin not by\nproud speech.\n\n32:13 And for these things bless him that made thee, and hath\nreplenished thee with his good things.\n\n32:14 Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; and they that\nseek him early shall find favour.\n\n32:15 He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: but the\nhypocrite will be offended thereat.\n\n32:16 They that fear the Lord shall find judgment, and shall kindle\njustice as a light.\n\n32:17 A sinful man will not be reproved, but findeth an excuse\naccording to his will.\n\n32:18 A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud man\nis not daunted with fear, even when of himself he hath done without\ncounsel.\n\n32:19 Do nothing without advice; and when thou hast once done, repent\nnot.\n\n32:20 Go not in a way wherein thou mayest fall, and stumble not among\nthe stones.\n\n32:21 Be not confident in a plain way.\n\n32:22 And beware of thine own children.\n\n32:23 In every good work trust thy own soul; for this is the keeping of\nthe commandments.\n\n32:24 He that believeth in the Lord taketh heed to the commandment; and\nhe that trusteth in him shall fare never the worse.\n\n33:1 There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in\ntemptation even again he will deliver him.\n\n33:2 A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein\nis as a ship in a storm.\n\n33:3 A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is\nfaithful unto him, as an oracle.\n\n33:4 Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up\ninstruction, and then make answer.\n\n33:5 The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are\nlike a rolling axletree.\n\n33:6 A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every\none that sitteth upon him.\n\n33:7 Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day\nin the year is of the sun?\n\n33:8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he\naltered seasons and feasts.\n\n33:9 Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some\nof them hath he made ordinary days.\n\n33:10 And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:\n\n33:11 In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways\ndiverse.\n\n33:12 Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he\nsanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and\nbrought low, and turned out of their places.\n\n33:13 As the clay is in the potter\u2019s hand, to fashion it at his\npleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them\nas liketh him best.\n\n33:14 Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly\nagainst the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.\n\n33:15 So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two\nand two, one against another.\n\n33:16 I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the\ngrapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my\nwinepress like a gatherer of grapes.\n\n33:17 Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them\nthat seek learning.\n\n33:18 Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your\nears, ye rulers of the congregation.\n\n33:19 Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over\nthee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it\nrepent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.\n\n33:20 As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself\nover to any.\n\n33:21 For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that\nthou shouldest stand to their courtesy.\n\n33:22 In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a\nstain in thine honour.\n\n33:23 At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life,\ndistribute thine inheritance.\n\n33:24 Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread,\ncorrection, and work, for a servant.\n\n33:25 If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if\nthou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.\n\n33:26 A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments\nfor an evil servant.\n\n33:27 Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth\nmuch evil.\n\n33:28 Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on\nmore heavy fetters.\n\n33:29 But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do\nnothing.\n\n33:30 If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because\nthou hast bought him with a price.\n\n33:31 If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast\nneed of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run\nfrom thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?\n\n34:1 The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false: and\ndreams lift up fools.\n\n34:2 Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow, and\nfolloweth after the wind.\n\n34:3 The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another,\neven as the likeness of a face to a face.\n\n34:4 Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing\nwhich is false what truth can come?\n\n34:5 Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart\nfancieth, as a woman\u2019s heart in travail.\n\n34:6 If they be not sent from the most High in thy visitation, set not\nthy heart upon them.\n\n34:7 For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their\ntrust in them.\n\n34:8 The law shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is\nperfection to a faithful mouth.\n\n34:9 A man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and he that hath\nmuch experience will declare wisdom.\n\n34:10 He that hath no experience knoweth little: but he that hath\ntravelled is full of prudence.\n\n34:11 When I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more than I\ncan express.\n\n34:12 I was ofttimes in danger of death: yet I was delivered because of\nthese things.\n\n34:13 The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live; for their hope\nis in him that saveth them.\n\n34:14 Whoso feareth the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid; for he is\nhis hope.\n\n34:15 Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to whom doth he\nlook? and who is his strength?\n\n34:16 For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their\nmighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover\nfrom the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from\nfalling.\n\n34:17 He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth\nhealth, life, and blessing.\n\n34:18 He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is\nridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted.\n\n34:19 The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked;\nneither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices.\n\n34:20 Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as one\nthat killeth the son before his father\u2019s eyes.\n\n34:21 The bread of the needy is their life: he that defraudeth him\nthereof is a man of blood.\n\n34:22 He that taketh away his neighbour\u2019s living slayeth him; and he\nthat defraudeth the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder.\n\n34:23 When one buildeth, and another pulleth down, what profit have\nthey then but labour?\n\n34:24 When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the Lord\nhear?\n\n34:25 He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he\ntouch it again, what availeth his washing?\n\n34:26 So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and goeth again,\nand doeth the same: who will hear his prayer? or what doth his humbling\nprofit him?\n\n35:1 He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh\nheed to the commandment offereth a peace offering.\n\n35:2 He that requiteth a good turn offereth fine flour; and he that\ngiveth alms sacrificeth praise.\n\n35:3 To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to\nforsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.\n\n35:4 Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord.\n\n35:5 For all these things [are to be done] because of the commandment.\n\n35:6 The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet\nsavour thereof is before the most High.\n\n35:7 The sacrifice of a just man is acceptable, and the memorial\nthereof shall never be forgotten.\n\n35:8 Give the Lord his honour with a good eye, and diminish not the\nfirstfruits of thine hands.\n\n35:9 In all thy gifts shew a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy\ntithes with gladness.\n\n35:10 Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and\nas thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.\n\n35:11 For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as\nmuch.\n\n35:12 Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive:\nand trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and\nwith him is no respect of persons.\n\n35:13 He will not accept any person against a poor man, but will hear\nthe prayer of the oppressed.\n\n35:14 He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the\nwidow, when she poureth out her complaint.\n\n35:15 Do not the tears run down the widow\u2019s cheeks? and is not her cry\nagainst him that causeth them to fall?\n\n35:16 He that serveth the Lord shall be accepted with favour, and his\nprayer shall reach unto the clouds.\n\n35:17 The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come\nnigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High\nshall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment.\n\n35:18 For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be\npatient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the\nunmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken\naway the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the\nunrighteous;\n\n35:19 Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to\nthe works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the\ncause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy.\n\n35:20 Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain\nin the time of drought.\n\n36:1 Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us:\n\n36:2 And send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after thee.\n\n36:3 Lift up thy hand against the strange nations, and let them see thy\npower.\n\n36:4 As thou wast sanctified in us before them: so be thou magnified\namong them before us.\n\n36:5 And let them know thee, as we have known thee, that there is no\nGod but only thou, O God.\n\n36:6 Shew new signs, and make other strange wonders: glorify thy hand\nand thy right arm, that they may set forth thy wondrous works.\n\n36:7 Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath: take away the adversary,\nand destroy the enemy.\n\n36:8 Sake the time short, remember the covenant, and let them declare\nthy wonderful works.\n\n36:9 Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire; and let\nthem perish that oppress the people.\n\n36:10 Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that say,\nThere is none other but we.\n\n36:11 Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and inherit thou them,\nas from the beginning.\n\n36:12 O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by thy name,\nand upon Israel, whom thou hast named thy firstborn.\n\n36:13 O be merciful unto Jerusalem, thy holy city, the place of thy\nrest.\n\n36:14 Fill Sion with thine unspeakable oracles, and thy people with thy\nglory:\n\n36:15 Give testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the\nbeginning, and raise up prophets that have been in thy name.\n\n36:16 Reward them that wait for thee, and let thy prophets be found\nfaithful.\n\n36:17 O Lord, hear the prayer of thy servants, according to the\nblessing of Aaron over thy people, that all they which dwell upon the\nearth may know that thou art the Lord, the eternal God.\n\n36:18 The belly devoureth all meats, yet is one meat better than\nanother.\n\n36:19 As the palate tasteth divers kinds of venison: so doth an heart\nof understanding false speeches.\n\n36:20 A froward heart causeth heaviness: but a man of experience will\nrecompense him.\n\n36:21 A woman will receive every man, yet is one daughter better than\nanother.\n\n36:22 The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance, and a man loveth\nnothing better.\n\n36:23 If there be kindness, meekness, and comfort, in her tongue, then\nis not her husband like other men.\n\n36:24 He that getteth a wife beginneth a possession, a help like unto\nhimself, and a pillar of rest.\n\n36:25 Where no hedge is, there the possession is spoiled: and he that\nhath no wife will wander up and down mourning.\n\n36:26 Who will trust a thief well appointed, that skippeth from city to\ncity? so [who will believe] a man that hath no house, and lodgeth\nwheresoever the night taketh him?\n\n37:1 Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend,\nwhich is only a friend in name.\n\n37:2 Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is\nturned to an enemy?\n\n37:3 O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth\nwith deceit?\n\n37:4 There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a\nfriend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.\n\n37:5 There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and\ntaketh up the buckler against the enemy.\n\n37:6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in\nthy riches.\n\n37:7 Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that\ncounselleth for himself.\n\n37:8 Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he\nwill counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,\n\n37:9 And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the\nother side, to see what shall befall thee.\n\n37:10 Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel\nfrom such as envy thee.\n\n37:11 Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous;\nneither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning\nexchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of\nthankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with\nthe slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing\nwork; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these\nin any matter of counsel.\n\n37:12 But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep\nthe commandments of the Lord, whose mind is according to thy mind, and\nwill sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.\n\n37:13 And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man\nmore faithful unto thee than it.\n\n37:14 For a man\u2019s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven\nwatchmen, that sit above in an high tower.\n\n37:15 And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy\nway in truth.\n\n37:16 Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every\naction.\n\n37:17 The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.\n\n37:18 Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but\nthe tongue ruleth over them continually.\n\n37:19 There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is\nunprofitable to himself.\n\n37:20 There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall\nbe destitute of all food.\n\n37:21 For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived\nof all wisdom.\n\n37:22 Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are\ncommendable in his mouth.\n\n37:23 A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his\nunderstanding fail not.\n\n37:24 A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see\nhim shall count him happy.\n\n37:25 The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of\nIsrael are innumerable.\n\n37:26 A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name\nshall be perpetual.\n\n37:27 My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it,\nand give not that unto it.\n\n37:28 For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every\nsoul pleasure in every thing.\n\n37:29 Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:\n\n37:30 For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn\ninto choler.\n\n37:31 By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed\nprolongeth his life.\n\n38:1 Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which\nye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.\n\n38:2 For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour\nof the king.\n\n38:3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the\nsight of great men he shall be in admiration.\n\n38:4 The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is\nwise will not abhor them.\n\n38:5 Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof\nmight be known?\n\n38:6 And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his\nmarvellous works.\n\n38:7 With such doth he heal [men,] and taketh away their pains.\n\n38:8 Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works\nthere is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,\n\n38:9 My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord,\nand he will make thee whole.\n\n38:10 Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy\nheart from all wickedness.\n\n38:11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat\noffering, as not being.\n\n38:12 Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him:\nlet him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.\n\n38:13 There is a time when in their hands there is good success.\n\n38:14 For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper\nthat, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.\n\n38:15 He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of\nthe physician.\n\n38:16 My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament,\nas if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body\naccording to the custom, and neglect not his burial.\n\n38:17 Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is\nworthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then\ncomfort thyself for thy heaviness.\n\n38:18 For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart\nbreaketh strength.\n\n38:19 In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is\nthe curse of the heart.\n\n38:20 Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last\nend.\n\n38:21 Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do\nhim good, but hurt thyself.\n\n38:22 Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for\nme, and to day for thee.\n\n38:23 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be\ncomforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.\n\n38:24 The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and\nhe that hath little business shall become wise.\n\n38:25 How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth\nin the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and\nwhose talk is of bullocks?\n\n38:26 He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the\nkine fodder.\n\n38:27 So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day:\nand they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great\nvariety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to\nfinish a work:\n\n38:28 The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron\nwork, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with\nthe heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever\nin his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that\nhe maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to\npolish it perfectly:\n\n38:29 So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel\nabout with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh\nall his work by number;\n\n38:30 He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength\nbefore his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is\ndiligent to make clean the furnace:\n\n38:31 All these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his\nwork.\n\n38:32 Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not\ndwell where they will, nor go up and down:\n\n38:33 They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in\nthe congregation: they shall not sit on the judges\u2019 seat, nor\nunderstand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and\njudgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken.\n\n38:34 But they will maintain the state of the world, and [all] their\ndesire is in the work of their craft.\n\n39:1 But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is\noccupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the\nancient, and be occupied in prophecies.\n\n39:2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil\nparables are, he will be there also.\n\n39:3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant\nin dark parables.\n\n39:4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will\ntravel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the\nevil among men.\n\n39:5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him,\nand will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer,\nand make supplication for his sins.\n\n39:6 When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of\nunderstanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto\nthe Lord in his prayer.\n\n39:7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets\nshall he meditate.\n\n39:8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in\nthe law of the covenant of the Lord.\n\n39:9 Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world\nendureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart\naway, and his name shall live from generation to generation.\n\n39:10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall\ndeclare his praise.\n\n39:11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if\nhe live, he shall increase it.\n\n39:12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am\nfilled as the moon at the full.\n\n39:13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose\ngrowing by the brook of the field:\n\n39:14 And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a\nlily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in\nall his works.\n\n39:15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of\nyour lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this\nmanner:\n\n39:16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he\ncommandeth shall be accomplished in due season.\n\n39:17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time\nconvenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters\nstood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of\nwaters.\n\n39:18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can\nhinder, when he will save.\n\n39:19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid\nfrom his eyes.\n\n39:20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing\nwonderful before him.\n\n39:21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he\nhath made all things for their uses.\n\n39:22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a\nflood.\n\n39:23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen\ninherit his wrath.\n\n39:24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks\nunto the wicked.\n\n39:25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil\nthings for sinners.\n\n39:26 The principal things for the whole use of man\u2019s life are water,\nfire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the\ngrape, and oil, and clothing.\n\n39:27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners\nthey are turned into evil.\n\n39:28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their\nfury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out\ntheir force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.\n\n39:29 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for\nvengeance;\n\n39:30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword\npunishing the wicked to destruction.\n\n39:31 They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready\nupon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not\ntransgress his word.\n\n39:32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon\nthese things, and have left them in writing.\n\n39:33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every\nneedful thing in due season.\n\n39:34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time\nthey shall all be well approved.\n\n39:35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth,\nand bless the name of the Lord.\n\n40:1 Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon\nthe sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother\u2019s womb,\ntill the day that they return to the mother of all things.\n\n40:2 Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death,\n[trouble] their thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart;\n\n40:3 From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is\nhumbled in earth and ashes;\n\n40:4 From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed\nwith a linen frock.\n\n40:5 Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and\nanger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night\nsleep, do change his knowledge.\n\n40:6 A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep,\nas in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as\nif he were escaped out of a battle.\n\n40:7 When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was\nnothing.\n\n40:8 [Such things happen] unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that\nis sevenfold more upon sinners.\n\n40:9 Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine,\ntribulation, and the scourge;\n\n40:10 These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came\nthe flood.\n\n40:11 All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again:\nand that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.\n\n40:12 All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing\nshall endure for ever.\n\n40:13 The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall\nvanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.\n\n40:14 While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall\ntransgressors come to nought.\n\n40:15 The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches:\nbut are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.\n\n40:16 The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be\npulled up before all grass.\n\n40:17 Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness\nendureth for ever.\n\n40:18 To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet\nlife: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.\n\n40:19 Children and the building of a city continue a man\u2019s name: but a\nblameless wife is counted above them both.\n\n40:20 Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is\nabove them both.\n\n40:21 The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant\ntongue is above them both.\n\n40:22 Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn\nwhile it is green.\n\n40:23 A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife\nwith her husband.\n\n40:24 Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall\ndeliver more than them both.\n\n40:25 Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed\nabove them both.\n\n40:26 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord\nis above them both: there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it\nneedeth not to seek help.\n\n40:27 The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above\nall glory.\n\n40:28 My son, lead not a beggar\u2019s life; for better it is to die than to\nbeg.\n\n40:29 The life of him that dependeth on another man\u2019s table is not to\nbe counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men\u2019s meat:\nbut a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.\n\n40:30 Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly\nthere shall burn a fire.\n\n41:1 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that\nliveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to\nvex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is\nyet able to receive meat!\n\n41:2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him\nwhose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with\nall things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!\n\n41:3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been\nbefore thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord\nover all flesh.\n\n41:4 And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is\nno inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an\nhundred, or a thousand years.\n\n41:5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are\nconversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.\n\n41:6 The inheritance of sinners\u2019 children shall perish, and their\nposterity shall have a perpetual reproach.\n\n41:7 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they\nshall be reproached for his sake.\n\n41:8 Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the\nmost high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:\n\n41:9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a\ncurse shall be your portion.\n\n41:10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the\nungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.\n\n41:11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of\nsinners shall be blotted out.\n\n41:12 Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above\na thousand great treasures of gold.\n\n41:13 A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever.\n\n41:14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid,\nand a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?\n\n41:15 A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that\nhideth his wisdom.\n\n41:16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good\nto retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in\nevery thing.\n\n41:17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie\nbefore a prince and a mighty man;\n\n41:18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a\ncongregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and\nfriend;\n\n41:19 And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in\nregard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine\nelbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;\n\n41:20 And of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon an\nharlot;\n\n41:21 And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a\nportion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man\u2019s wife.\n\n41:22 Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of\nupbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid\nnot;\n\n41:23 Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard;\nand of revealing of secrets.\n\n41:24 So shalt thou be truly shamefaced and find favour before all men.\n\n42:1 Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to sin\nthereby:\n\n42:2 Of the law of the most High, and his covenant; and of judgment to\njustify the ungodly;\n\n42:3 Of reckoning with thy partners and travellers; or of the gift of\nthe heritage of friends;\n\n42:4 Of exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much or little;\n\n42:5 And of merchants\u2019 indifferent selling; of much correction of\nchildren; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed.\n\n42:6 Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up, where\nmany hands are.\n\n42:7 Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing\nthat thou givest out, or receivest in.\n\n42:8 Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme\naged that contendeth with those that are young: thus shalt thou be\ntruly learned, and approved of all men living.\n\n42:9 The father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth; and the\ncare for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she pass away\nthe flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated:\n\n42:10 In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with\nchild in her father\u2019s house; and having an husband, lest she should\nmisbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be barren.\n\n42:11 Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a\nlaughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a\nreproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude.\n\n42:12 Behold not every body\u2019s beauty, and sit not in the midst of\nwomen.\n\n42:13 For from garments cometh a moth, and from women wickedness.\n\n42:14 Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a\nwoman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach.\n\n42:15 I will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things\nthat I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.\n\n42:16 The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work\nthereof is full of the glory of the Lord.\n\n42:17 The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his\nmarvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that\nwhatsoever is might be established for his glory.\n\n42:18 He seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their\ncrafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he\nbeholdeth the signs of the world.\n\n42:19 He declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and\nrevealeth the steps of hidden things.\n\n42:20 No thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him.\n\n42:21 He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he is\nfrom everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be added, neither\ncan he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.\n\n42:22 Oh how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see even\nto a spark.\n\n42:23 All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they\nare all obedient.\n\n42:24 All things are double one against another: and he hath made\nnothing imperfect.\n\n42:25 One thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be\nfilled with beholding his glory?\n\n43:1 The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of\nheaven, with his glorious shew;\n\n43:2 The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous\ninstrument, the work of the most High:\n\n43:3 At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning\nheat thereof?\n\n43:4 A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth\nthe mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours, and\nsending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.\n\n43:5 Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment runneth\nhastily.\n\n43:6 He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of\ntimes, and a sign of the world.\n\n43:7 From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth in\nher perfection.\n\n43:8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her\nchanging, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the\nfirmament of heaven;\n\n43:9 The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving\nlight in the highest places of the Lord.\n\n43:10 At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their\norder, and never faint in their watches.\n\n43:11 Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very\nbeautiful it is in the brightness thereof.\n\n43:12 It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the\nhands of the most High have bended it.\n\n43:13 By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth\nswiftly the lightnings of his judgment.\n\n43:14 Through this the treasures are opened: and clouds fly forth as\nfowls.\n\n43:15 By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and the hailstones\nare broken small.\n\n43:16 At his sight the mountains are shaken, and at his will the south\nwind bloweth.\n\n43:17 The noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the\nnorthern storm and the whirlwind: as birds flying he scattereth the\nsnow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers:\n\n43:18 The eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and\nthe heart is astonished at the raining of it.\n\n43:19 The hoarfrost also as salt he poureth on the earth, and being\ncongealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes.\n\n43:20 When the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into\nice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and clotheth\nthe water as with a breastplate.\n\n43:21 It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and\nconsumeth the grass as fire.\n\n43:22 A present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily, a dew coming\nafter heat refresheth.\n\n43:23 By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands\ntherein.\n\n43:24 They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we\nhear it with our ears, we marvel thereat.\n\n43:25 For therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all kinds\nof beasts and whales created.\n\n43:26 By him the end of them hath prosperous success, and by his word\nall things consist.\n\n43:27 We may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he is\nall.\n\n43:28 How shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above all\nhis works.\n\n43:29 The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power.\n\n43:30 When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even\nyet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your\nstrength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.\n\n43:31 Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify him\nas he is?\n\n43:32 There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen\nbut a few of his works.\n\n43:33 For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given\nwisdom.\n\n44:1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.\n\n44:2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power\nfrom the beginning.\n\n44:3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their\npower, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:\n\n44:4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of\nlearning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:\n\n44:5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:\n\n44:6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their\nhabitations:\n\n44:7 All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory\nof their times.\n\n44:8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their\npraises might be reported.\n\n44:9 And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as\nthough they had never been; and are become as though they had never\nbeen born; and their children after them.\n\n44:10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been\nforgotten.\n\n44:11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and\ntheir children are within the covenant.\n\n44:12 Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.\n\n44:13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be\nblotted out.\n\n44:14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for\nevermore.\n\n44:15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will\nshew forth their praise.\n\n44:16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of\nrepentance to all generations.\n\n44:17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was\ntaken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant\nunto the earth, when the flood came.\n\n44:18 An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should\nperish no more by the flood.\n\n44:19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there\nnone like unto him;\n\n44:20 Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him:\nhe established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he\nwas found faithful.\n\n44:21 Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the\nnations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the\nearth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from\nsea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.\n\n44:22 With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his father\u2019s\nsake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon\nthe head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an\nheritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part\nthem.\n\n45:1 And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in\nthe sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose\nmemorial is blessed.\n\n45:2 He made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him, so\nthat his enemies stood in fear of him.\n\n45:3 By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him\nglorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his\npeople, and shewed him part of his glory.\n\n45:4 He sanctified him in his faithfuless and meekness, and chose him\nout of all men.\n\n45:5 He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark\ncloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life\nand knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his\njudgments.\n\n45:6 He exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him, even his brother, of\nthe tribe of Levi.\n\n45:7 An everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the\npriesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments,\nand clothed him with a robe of glory.\n\n45:8 He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich\ngarments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.\n\n45:9 And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells\nround about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made\nthat might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of\nhis people;\n\n45:10 With an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the\nwork of the embroiderer, with a breastplate of judgment, and with Urim\nand Thummim;\n\n45:11 With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with\nprecious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the\njeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of\nthe tribes of Israel.\n\n45:12 He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved\nHoliness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the\neyes, goodly and beautiful.\n\n45:13 Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger\nput them on, but only his children and his children\u2019s children\nperpetually.\n\n45:14 Their sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day twice\ncontinually.\n\n45:15 Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil: this was\nappointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long\nas the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him, and\nexecute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name.\n\n45:16 He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the\nLord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make\nreconciliation for his people.\n\n45:17 He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes\nof judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform\nIsrael in his laws.\n\n45:18 Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the\nwilderness, even the men that were of Dathan\u2019s and Abiron\u2019s side, and\nthe congregation of Core, with fury and wrath.\n\n45:19 This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful\nindignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume\nthem with the fiery flame.\n\n45:20 But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and\ndivided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he\nprepared bread in abundance:\n\n45:21 For they eat of the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave unto\nhim and his seed.\n\n45:22 Howbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither\nhad he any portion among the people: for the Lord himself is his\nportion and inheritance.\n\n45:23 The third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had\nzeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart:\nwhen the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel.\n\n45:24 Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he\nshould be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and\nhis posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever:\n\n45:25 According to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of the\ntribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to his\nposterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his\nseed.\n\n45:26 God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in\nrighteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their\nglory may endure for ever.\n\n46:1 Jesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was the\nsuccessor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was made\ngreat for the saving of the elect of God, and taking vengeance of the\nenemies that rose up against them, that he might set Israel in their\ninheritance.\n\n46:2 How great glory gat he, when he did lift up his hands, and\nstretched out his sword against the cities!\n\n46:3 Who before him so stood to it? for the Lord himself brought his\nenemies unto him.\n\n46:4 Did not the sun go back by his means? and was not one day as long\nas two?\n\n46:5 He called upon the most high Lord, when the enemies pressed upon\nhim on every side; and the great Lord heard him.\n\n46:6 And with hailstones of mighty power he made the battle to fall\nviolently upon the nations, and in the descent [of Beth-horon] he\ndestroyed them that resisted, that the nations might know all their\nstrength, because he fought in the sight of the Lord, and he followed\nthe Mighty One.\n\n46:7 In the time of Moses also he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the\nson of Jephunne, in that they withstood the congregation, and withheld\nthe people from sin, and appeased the wicked murmuring.\n\n46:8 And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two were\npreserved to bring them in to the heritage, even unto the land that\nfloweth with milk and honey.\n\n46:9 The Lord gave strength also unto Caleb, which remained with him\nunto his old age: so that he entered upon the high places of the land,\nand his seed obtained it for an heritage:\n\n46:10 That all the children of Israel might see that it is good to\nfollow the Lord.\n\n46:11 And concerning the judges, every one by name, whose heart went\nnot a whoring, nor departed from the Lord, let their memory be blessed.\n\n46:12 Let their bones flourish out of their place, and let the name of\nthem that were honoured be continued upon their children.\n\n46:13 Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, established\na kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.\n\n46:14 By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord\nhad respect unto Jacob.\n\n46:15 By his faithfulness he was found a true prophet, and by his word\nhe was known to be faithful in vision.\n\n46:16 He called upon the mighty Lord, when his enemies pressed upon him\non every side, when he offered the sucking lamb.\n\n46:17 And the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise made\nhis voice to be heard.\n\n46:18 And he destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, and all the princes\ncf the Philistines.\n\n46:19 And before his long sleep he made protestations in the sight of\nthe Lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man\u2019s goods, so much as\na shoe: and no man did accuse him.\n\n46:20 And after his death he prophesied, and shewed the king his end,\nand lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the\nwickedness of the people.\n\n47:1 And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David.\n\n47:2 As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David\nchosen out of the children of Israel.\n\n47:3 He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs.\n\n47:4 Slew he not a giant, when he was yet but young? and did he not\ntake away reproach from the people, when he lifted up his hand with the\nstone in the sling, and beat down the boasting of Goliath?\n\n47:5 For he called upon the most high Lord; and he gave him strength in\nhis right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the horn of his\npeople.\n\n47:6 So the people honoured him with ten thousands, and praised him in\nthe blessings of the Lord, in that he gave him a crown of glory.\n\n47:7 For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought\nthe Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in sunder unto\nthis day.\n\n47:8 In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words of\nglory; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that made him.\n\n47:9 He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they\nmight make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs.\n\n47:10 He beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn times\nuntil the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that the\ntemple might sound from morning.\n\n47:11 The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: he\ngave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in Israel.\n\n47:12 After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at large.\n\n47:13 Solomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was honoured; for God\nmade all quiet round about him, that he might build an house in his\nname, and prepare his sanctuary for ever.\n\n47:14 How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with\nunderstanding!\n\n47:15 Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark\nparables.\n\n47:16 Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou wast\nbeloved.\n\n47:17 The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and\nparables, and interpretations.\n\n47:18 By the name of the Lord God, which is called the Lord God of\nIsrael, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver as\nlead.\n\n47:19 Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast\nbrought into subjection.\n\n47:20 Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou\nbroughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly.\n\n47:21 So the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a rebellious\nkingdom.\n\n47:22 But the Lord will never leave off his mercy, neither shall any of\nhis works perish, neither will he abolish the posterity of his elect,\nand the seed of him that loveth him he will not take away: wherefore he\ngave a remnant unto Jacob, and out of him a root unto David.\n\n47:23 Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and of his seed he left\nbehind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the people, and one that had\nno understanding, who turned away the people through his counsel. There\nwas also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and\nshewed Ephraim the way of sin:\n\n47:24 And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were driven\nout of the land.\n\n47:25 For they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon\nthem.\n\n48:1 Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like\na lamp.\n\n48:2 He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he diminished\ntheir number.\n\n48:3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three\ntimes brought down fire.\n\n48:4 O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may\nglory like unto thee!\n\n48:5 Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the\nplace of the dead, by the word of the most High:\n\n48:6 Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honorable men from their\nbed:\n\n48:7 Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the\njudgment of vengeance:\n\n48:8 Who annointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to succeed\nafter him:\n\n48:9 Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery\nhorses:\n\n48:10 Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the\nwrath of the Lord\u2019s judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to\nturn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of\nJacob.\n\n48:11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall\nsurely live.\n\n48:12 Elias it was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was\nfilled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he was not moved with the\npresence of any prince, neither could any bring him into subjection.\n\n48:13 No word could overcome him; and after his death his body\nprophesied.\n\n48:14 He did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works\nmarvellous.\n\n48:15 For all this the people repented not, neither departed they from\ntheir sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their land, and\nwere scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small\npeople, and a ruler in the house of David:\n\n48:16 Of whom some did that which was pleasing to God, and some\nmultiplied sins.\n\n48:17 Ezekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst\nthereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters.\n\n48:18 In his time Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up\nhis hand against Sion, and boasted proudly.\n\n48:19 Then trembled their hearts and hands, and they were in pain, as\nwomen in travail.\n\n48:20 But they called upon the Lord which is merciful, and stretched\nout their hands toward him: and immediately the Holy One heard them out\nof heaven, and delivered them by the ministry of Esay.\n\n48:21 He smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them.\n\n48:22 For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was\nstrong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who was\ngreat and faithful in his vision, had commanded him.\n\n48:23 In his time the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king\u2019s\nlife.\n\n48:24 He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the\nlast, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.\n\n48:25 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things or\never they came.\n\n49:1 The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume\nthat is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in all\nmouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.\n\n49:2 He behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people, and\ntook away the abominations of iniquity.\n\n49:3 He directed his heart unto the Lord, and in the time of the\nungodly he established the worship of God.\n\n49:4 All, except David and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for they\nforsook the law of the most High, even the kings of Juda failed.\n\n49:5 Therefore he gave their power unto others, and their glory to a\nstrange nation.\n\n49:6 They burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets\ndesolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremias.\n\n49:7 For they entreated him evil, who nevertheless was a prophet,\nsanctified in his mother\u2019s womb, that he might root out, and afflict,\nand destroy; and that he might build up also, and plant.\n\n49:8 It was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which was shewed him\nupon the chariot of the cherubims.\n\n49:9 For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of the rain,\nand directed them that went right.\n\n49:10 And of the twelve prophets let the memorial be blessed, and let\ntheir bones flourish again out of their place: for they comforted\nJacob, and delivered them by assured hope.\n\n49:11 How shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the\nright hand:\n\n49:12 So was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the\nhouse, and set up an holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for\neverlasting glory.\n\n49:13 And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who\nraised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and\nthe bars, and raised up our ruins again.\n\n49:14 But upon the earth was no man created like Enoch; for he was\ntaken from the earth.\n\n49:15 Neither was there a young man born like Joseph, a governor of his\nbrethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of the Lord.\n\n49:16 Sem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam\nabove every living thing in creation.\n\n50:1 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired\nthe house again, and in his days fortified the temple:\n\n50:2 And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the\nhigh fortress of the wall about the temple:\n\n50:3 In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the\nsea, was covered with plates of brass:\n\n50:4 He took care of the temple that it should not fall, and fortified\nthe city against besieging:\n\n50:5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out\nof the sanctuary!\n\n50:6 He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the\nmoon at the full:\n\n50:7 As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the\nrainbow giving light in the bright clouds:\n\n50:8 And as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, as lilies by\nthe rivers of waters, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in\nthe time of summer:\n\n50:9 As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold\nset with all manner of precious stones:\n\n50:10 And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress\ntree which groweth up to the clouds.\n\n50:11 When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the\nperfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the\ngarment of holiness honourable.\n\n50:12 When he took the portions out of the priests\u2019 hands, he himself\nstood by the hearth of the altar, compassed about, as a young cedar in\nLibanus; and as palm trees compassed they him round about.\n\n50:13 So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations\nof the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.\n\n50:14 And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the\noffering of the most high Almighty,\n\n50:15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of\nthe grape, he poured out at the foot of the altar a sweetsmelling\nsavour unto the most high King of all.\n\n50:16 Then shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver trumpets,\nand made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most\nHigh.\n\n50:17 Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth\nupon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High.\n\n50:18 The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great\nvariety of sounds was there made sweet melody.\n\n50:19 And the people besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer before\nhim that is merciful, till the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and\nthey had finished his service.\n\n50:20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole\ncongregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of the\nLord with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.\n\n50:21 And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that\nthey might receive a blessing from the most High.\n\n50:22 Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous\nthings every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth\nwith us according to his mercy.\n\n50:23 He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our\ndays in Israel for ever:\n\n50:24 That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his\ntime!\n\n50:25 There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the\nthird is no nation:\n\n50:26 They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell\namong the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.\n\n50:27 Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem hath written in this book\nthe instruction of understanding and knowledge, who out of his heart\npoured forth wisdom.\n\n50:28 Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he\nthat layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.\n\n50:29 For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the\nlight of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly. Blessed\nbe the name of the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.\n\n[A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach.]\n\n51:1 I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my\nSaviour: I do give praise unto thy name:\n\n51:2 For thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my body\nfrom destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from\nthe lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine\nadversaries:\n\n51:3 And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of thy mercies\nand greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to\ndevour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and\nfrom the manifold afflictions which I had;\n\n51:4 From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the\nfire which I kindled not;\n\n51:5 From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and\nfrom lying words.\n\n51:6 By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul\ndrew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath.\n\n51:7 They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me:\nI looked for the succour of men, but there was none.\n\n51:8 Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old,\nhow thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the\nhands of the enemies.\n\n51:9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for\ndeliverance from death.\n\n51:10 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not\nleave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when\nthere was no help.\n\n51:11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with\nthanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:\n\n51:12 For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the\nevil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless thy\nname, O Lord.\n\n51:13 When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom\nopenly in my prayer.\n\n51:14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to\nthe end.\n\n51:15 Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart\ndelighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up sought I\nafter her.\n\n51:16 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much\nlearning.\n\n51:17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that\ngiveth me wisdom.\n\n51:18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that\nwhich is good; so shall I not be confounded.\n\n51:19 My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I\nstretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my\nignorances of her.\n\n51:20 I directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have\nhad my heart joined with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not\nbe foresaken.\n\n51:21 My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a\ngood possession.\n\n51:22 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise\nhim therewith.\n\n51:23 Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of\nlearning.\n\n51:24 Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing\nyour souls are very thirsty?\n\n51:25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without\nmoney.\n\n51:26 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive\ninstruction: she is hard at hand to find.\n\n51:27 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and\nhave gotten unto me much rest.\n\n51:28 Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.\n\n51:29 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his\npraise.\n\n51:30 Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your\nreward.\n\n\n\n\nThe Book of Baruch\n\n\n1:1 And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of\nNerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Asadias,\nthe son of Chelcias, wrote in Babylon,\n\n1:2 In the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, what time\nas the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire.\n\n1:3 And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of\nJechonias the son of Joachim king of Juda, and in the ears of all the\npeople that came to hear the book,\n\n1:4 And in the hearing of the nobles, and of the king\u2019s sons, and in\nthe hearing of the elders, and of all the people, from the lowest unto\nthe highest, even of all them that dwelt at Babylon by the river Sud.\n\n1:5 Whereupon they wept, fasted, and prayed before the Lord.\n\n1:6 They made also a collection of money according to every man\u2019s\npower:\n\n1:7 And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest, the son\nof Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people\nwhich were found with him at Jerusalem,\n\n1:8 At the same time when he received the vessels of the house of the\nLord, that were carried out of the temple, to return them into the land\nof Juda, the tenth day of the month Sivan, namely, silver vessels,\nwhich Sedecias the son of Josias king of Jada had made,\n\n1:9 After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away\nJechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and\nthe people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.\n\n1:10 And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt\nofferings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and\noffer upon the altar of the Lord our God;\n\n1:11 And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for\nthe life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the\ndays of heaven:\n\n1:12 And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we\nshall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and\nunder the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many\ndays, and find favour in their sight.\n\n1:13 Pray for us also unto the Lord our God, for we have sinned against\nthe Lord our God; and unto this day the fury of the Lord and his wrath\nis not turned from us.\n\n1:14 And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make\nconfession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.\n\n1:15 And ye shall say, To the Lord our God belongeth righteousness, but\nunto us the confusion of faces, as it is come to pass this day, unto\nthem of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,\n\n1:16 And to our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to\nour prophets, and to our fathers:\n\n1:17 For we have sinned before the Lord,\n\n1:18 And disobeyed him, and have not hearkened unto the voice of the\nLord our God, to walk in the commandments that he gave us openly:\n\n1:19 Since the day that the Lord brought our forefathers out of the\nland of Egypt, unto this present day, we have been disobedient unto the\nLord our God, and we have been negligent in not hearing his voice.\n\n1:20 Wherefore the evils cleaved unto us, and the curse, which the Lord\nappointed by Moses his servant at the time that he brought our fathers\nout of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that floweth with milk and\nhoney, like as it is to see this day.\n\n1:21 Nevertheless we have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our\nGod, according unto all the words of the prophets, whom he sent unto\nus:\n\n1:22 But every man followed the imagination of his own wicked heart, to\nserve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God.\n\n2:1 Therefore the Lord hath made good his word, which he pronounced\nagainst us, and against our judges that judged Israel, and against our\nkings, and against our princes, and against the men of Israel and Juda,\n\n2:2 To bring upon us great plagues, such as never happened under the\nwhole heaven, as it came to pass in Jerusalem, according to the things\nthat were written in the law of Moses;\n\n2:3 That a man should eat the flesh of his own son, and the flesh of\nhis own daughter.\n\n2:4 Moreover he hath delivered them to be in subjection to all the\nkingdoms that are round about us, to be as a reproach and desolation\namong all the people round about, where the Lord hath scattered them.\n\n2:5 Thus we were cast down, and not exalted, because we have sinned\nagainst the Lord our God, and have not been obedient unto his voice.\n\n2:6 To the Lord our God appertaineth righteousness: but unto us and to\nour fathers open shame, as appeareth this day.\n\n2:7 For all these plagues are come upon us, which the Lord hath\npronounced against us\n\n2:8 Yet have we not prayed before the Lord, that we might turn every\none from the imaginations of his wicked heart.\n\n2:9 Wherefore the Lord watched over us for evil, and the Lord hath\nbrought it upon us: for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he\nhath commanded us.\n\n2:10 Yet we have not hearkened unto his voice, to walk in the\ncommandments of the Lord, that he hath set before us.\n\n2:11 And now, O Lord God of Israel, that hast brought thy people out of\nthe land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and high arm, and with signs, and\nwith wonders, and with great power, and hast gotten thyself a name, as\nappeareth this day:\n\n2:12 O Lord our God, we have sinned, we have done ungodly, we have\ndealt unrighteously in all thine ordinances.\n\n2:13 Let thy wrath turn from us: for we are but a few left among the\nheathen, where thou hast scattered us.\n\n2:14 Hear our prayers, O Lord, and our petitions, and deliver us for\nthine own sake, and give us favour in the sight of them which have led\nus away:\n\n2:15 That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God,\nbecause Israel and his posterity is called by thy name.\n\n2:16 O Lord, look down from thine holy house, and consider us: bow down\nthine ear, O Lord, to hear us.\n\n2:17 Open thine eyes, and behold; for the dead that are in the graves,\nwhose souls are taken from their bodies, will give unto the Lord\nneither praise nor righteousness:\n\n2:18 But the soul that is greatly vexed, which goeth stooping and\nfeeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry soul, will give thee\npraise and righteousness, O Lord.\n\n2:19 Therefore we do not make our humble supplication before thee, O\nLord our God, for the righteousness of our fathers, and of our kings.\n\n2:20 For thou hast sent out thy wrath and indignation upon us, as thou\nhast spoken by thy servants the prophets, saying,\n\n2:21 Thus saith the Lord, Bow down your shoulders to serve the king of\nBabylon: so shall ye remain in the land that I gave unto your fathers.\n\n2:22 But if ye will not hear the voice of the Lord, to serve the king\nof Babylon,\n\n2:23 I will cause to cease out of the cites of Judah, and from without\nJerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of joy, the voice of the\nbridegroom, and the voice of the bride: and the whole land shall be\ndesolate of inhabitants.\n\n2:24 But we would not hearken unto thy voice, to serve the king of\nBabylon: therefore hast thou made good the words that thou spakest by\nthy servants the prophets, namely, that the bones of our kings, and the\nbones of our fathers, should be taken out of their place.\n\n2:25 And, lo, they are cast out to the heat of the day, and to the\nfrost of the night, and they died in great miseries by famine, by\nsword, and by pestilence.\n\n2:26 And the house which is called by thy name hast thou laid waste, as\nit is to be seen this day, for the wickedness of the house of Israel\nand the house of Juda.\n\n2:27 O Lord our God, thou hast dealt with us after all thy goodness,\nand according to all that great mercy of thine,\n\n2:28 As thou spakest by thy servant Moses in the day when thou didst\ncommand him to write the law before the children of Israel, saying,\n\n2:29 If ye will not hear my voice, surely this very great multitude\nshall be turned into a small number among the nations, where I will\nscatter them.\n\n2:30 For I knew that they would not hear me, because it is a\nstiffnecked people: but in the land of their captivities they shall\nremember themselves.\n\n2:31 And shall know that I am the Lord their God: for I will give them\nan heart, and ears to hear:\n\n2:32 And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and think\nupon my name,\n\n2:33 And return from their stiff neck, and from their wicked deeds: for\nthey shall remember the way of their fathers, which sinned before the\nLord.\n\n2:34 And I will bring them again into the land which I promised with an\noath unto their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they shall be\nlords of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be\ndiminished.\n\n2:35 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God,\nand they shall be my people: and I will no more drive my people of\nIsrael out of the land that I have given them.\n\n3:1 O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish the troubled\nspirit, crieth unto thee.\n\n3:2 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy; as thou art merciful: and have pity\nupon us, because we have sinned before thee.\n\n3:3 For thou endurest for ever, and we perish utterly.\n\n3:4 O Lord Almighty, thou God of Israel, hear now the prayers of the\ndead Israelites, and of their children, which have sinned before thee,\nand not hearkened unto the voice of thee their God: for the which cause\nthese plagues cleave unto us.\n\n3:5 Remember not the iniquities of our forefathers: but think upon thy\npower and thy name now at this time.\n\n3:6 For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise.\n\n3:7 And for this cause thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the\nintent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our\ncaptivity: for we have called to mind all the iniquity of our\nforefathers, that sinned before thee.\n\n3:8 Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where thou hast\nscattered us, for a reproach and a curse, and to be subject to\npayments, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which\ndeparted from the Lord our God.\n\n3:9 Hear, Israel, the commandments of life: give ear to understand\nwisdom.\n\n3:10 How happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thine enemies\u2019 land,\nthat thou art waxen old in a strange country, that thou art defiled\nwith the dead,\n\n3:11 That thou art counted with them that go down into the grave?\n\n3:12 Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom.\n\n3:13 For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou shouldest have\ndwelled in peace for ever.\n\n3:14 Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding;\nthat thou mayest know also where is length of days, and life, where is\nthe light of the eyes, and peace.\n\n3:15 Who hath found out her place? or who hath come into her treasures?\n\n3:16 Where are the princes of the heathen become, and such as ruled the\nbeasts upon the earth;\n\n3:17 They that had their pastime with the fowls of the air, and they\nthat hoarded up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and made no end of\ntheir getting?\n\n3:18 For they that wrought in silver, and were so careful, and whose\nworks are unsearchable,\n\n3:19 They are vanished and gone down to the grave, and others are come\nup in their steads.\n\n3:20 Young men have seen light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way\nof knowledge have they not known,\n\n3:21 Nor understood the paths thereof, nor laid hold of it: their\nchildren were far off from that way.\n\n3:22 It hath not been heard of in Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in\nTheman.\n\n3:23 The Agarenes that seek wisdom upon earth, the merchants of Meran\nand of Theman, the authors of fables, and searchers out of\nunderstanding; none of these have known the way of wisdom, or remember\nher paths.\n\n3:24 O Israel, how great is the house of God! and how large is the\nplace of his possession!\n\n3:25 Great, and hath none end; high, and unmeasurable.\n\n3:26 There were the giants famous from the beginning, that were of so\ngreat stature, and so expert in war.\n\n3:27 Those did not the Lord choose, neither gave he the way of\nknowledge unto them:\n\n3:28 But they were destroyed, because they had no wisdom, and perished\nthrough their own foolishness.\n\n3:29 Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down\nfrom the clouds?\n\n3:30 Who hath gone over the sea, and found her, and will bring her for\npure gold?\n\n3:31 No man knoweth her way, nor thinketh of her path.\n\n3:32 But he that knoweth all things knoweth her, and hath found her out\nwith his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore hath\nfilled it with fourfooted beasts:\n\n3:33 He that sendeth forth light, and it goeth, calleth it again, and\nit obeyeth him with fear.\n\n3:34 The stars shined in their watches, and rejoiced: when he calleth\nthem, they say, Here we be; and so with cheerfulness they shewed light\nunto him that made them.\n\n3:35 This is our God, and there shall none other be accounted of in\ncomparison of him\n\n3:36 He hath found out all the way of knowledge, and hath given it unto\nJacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.\n\n3:37 Afterward did he shew himself upon earth, and conversed with men.\n\n4:1 This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that\nendureth for ever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but such\nas leave it shall die.\n\n4:2 Turn thee, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk in the presence of\nthe light thereof, that thou mayest be illuminated.\n\n4:3 Give not thine honour to another, nor the things that are\nprofitable unto thee to a strange nation.\n\n4:4 O Israel, happy are we: for things that are pleasing to God are\nmade known unto us.\n\n4:5 Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel.\n\n4:6 Ye were sold to the nations, not for [your] destruction: but\nbecause ye moved God to wrath, ye were delivered unto the enemies.\n\n4:7 For ye provoked him that made you by sacrificing unto devils, and\nnot to God.\n\n4:8 Ye have forgotten the everlasting God, that brought you up; and ye\nhave grieved Jerusalem, that nursed you.\n\n4:9 For when she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, she said,\nHearken, O ye that dwell about Sion: God hath brought upon me great\nmourning;\n\n4:10 For I saw the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the\nEverlasting brought upon them.\n\n4:11 With joy did I nourish them; but sent them away with weeping and\nmourning.\n\n4:12 Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many, who for\nthe sins of my children am left desolate; because they departed from\nthe law of God.\n\n4:13 They knew not his statutes, nor walked in the ways of his\ncommandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.\n\n4:14 Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember ye the captivity\nof my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting hath brought upon them.\n\n4:15 For he hath brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless\nnation, and of a strange language, who neither reverenced old man, nor\npitied child.\n\n4:16 These have carried away the dear beloved children of the widow,\nand left her that was alone desolate without daughters.\n\n4:17 But what can I help you?\n\n4:18 For he that brought these plagues upon you will deliver you from\nthe hands of your enemies.\n\n4:19 Go your way, O my children, go your way: for I am left desolate.\n\n4:20 I have put off the clothing of peace, and put upon me the\nsackcloth of my prayer: I will cry unto the Everlasting in my days.\n\n4:21 Be of good cheer, O my children, cry unto the Lord, and he will\ndeliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.\n\n4:22 For my hope is in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy\nis come unto me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall\nsoon come unto you from the Everlasting our Saviour.\n\n4:23 For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but God will give\nyou to me again with joy and gladness for ever.\n\n4:24 Like as now the neighbours of Sion have seen your captivity: so\nshall they see shortly your salvation from our God which shall come\nupon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.\n\n4:25 My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from\nGod: for thine enemy hath persecuted thee; but shortly thou shalt see\nhis destruction, and shalt tread upon his neck.\n\n4:26 My delicate ones have gone rough ways, and were taken away as a\nflock caught of the enemies.\n\n4:27 Be of good comfort, O my children, and cry unto God: for ye shall\nbe remembered of him that brought these things upon you.\n\n4:28 For as it was your mind to go astray from God: so, being returned,\nseek him ten times more.\n\n4:29 For he that hath brought these plagues upon you shall bring you\neverlasting joy with your salvation.\n\n4:30 Take a good heart, O Jerusalem: for he that gave thee that name\nwill comfort thee.\n\n4:31 Miserable are they that afflicted thee, and rejoiced at thy fall.\n\n4:32 Miserable are the cities which thy children served: miserable is\nshe that received thy sons.\n\n4:33 For as she rejoiced at thy ruin, and was glad of thy fall: so\nshall she be grieved for her own desolation.\n\n4:34 For I will take away the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her\npride shall be turned into mourning.\n\n4:35 For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure;\nand she shall be inhabited of devils for a great time.\n\n4:36 O Jerusalem, look about thee toward the east, and behold the joy\nthat cometh unto thee from God.\n\n4:37 Lo, thy sons come, whom thou sentest away, they come gathered\ntogether from the east to the west by the word of the Holy One,\nrejoicing in the glory of God.\n\n5:1 Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of mourning and affliction, and\nput on the comeliness of the glory that cometh from God for ever.\n\n5:2 Cast about thee a double garment of the righteousness which cometh\nfrom God; and set a diadem on thine head of the glory of the\nEverlasting.\n\n5:3 For God will shew thy brightness unto every country under heaven.\n\n5:4 For thy name shall be called of God for ever The peace of\nrighteousness, and The glory of God\u2019s worship.\n\n5:5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and look about toward the\neast, and behold thy children gathered from the west unto the east by\nthe word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God.\n\n5:6 For they departed from thee on foot, and were led away of their\nenemies: but God bringeth them unto thee exalted with glory, as\nchildren of the kingdom.\n\n5:7 For God hath appointed that every high hill, and banks of long\ncontinuance, should be cast down, and valleys filled up, to make even\nthe ground, that Israel may go safely in the glory of God,\n\n5:8 Moreover even the woods and every sweetsmelling tree shall\novershadow Israel by the commandment of God.\n\n5:9 For God shall lead Israel with joy in the light of his glory with\nthe mercy and righteousness that cometh from him.\n\n\n\n\nThe Epistle [or Letter] of Jeremiah [Jeremy]\n[The Epistle of Jeremy [sometimes Chapter Six of Baruch]]\n\n\n6:1 A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent unto them which were to be\nled captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify\nthem, as it was commanded him of God.\n\n6:2 Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be\nled away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the\nBabylonians.\n\n6:3 So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years,\nand for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will\nbring you away peaceably from thence.\n\n6:4 Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of\nwood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.\n\n6:5 Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither\nbe ye afraid of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind\nthem, worshipping them.\n\n6:6 But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee.\n\n6:7 For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls.\n\n6:8 As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they\nthemselves are gilded and laid over with silver; yet are they but\nfalse, and cannot speak.\n\n6:9 And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay,\nthey make crowns for the heads of their gods.\n\n6:10 Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver,\nand bestow it upon themselves.\n\n6:11 Yea, they will give thereof to the common harlots, and deck them\nas men with garments, [being] gods of silver, and gods of gold, and\nwood.\n\n6:12 Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though\nthey be covered with purple raiment.\n\n6:13 They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when\nthere is much upon them.\n\n6:14 And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a\nsceptre, as though he were a judge of the country.\n\n6:15 He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax: but cannot\ndeliver himself from war and thieves.\n\n6:16 Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not.\n\n6:17 For like as a vessel that a man useth is nothing worth when it is\nbroken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the\ntemple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come\nin.\n\n6:18 And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that\noffendeth the king, as being committed to suffer death: even so the\npriests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest\ntheir gods be spoiled with robbers.\n\n6:19 They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof\nthey cannot see one.\n\n6:20 They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their\nhearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth; and when\nthey eat them and their clothes, they feel it not.\n\n6:21 Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the\ntemple.\n\n6:22 Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the\ncats also.\n\n6:23 By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them\nnot.\n\n6:24 Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them\nbeautiful, except they wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for\nneither when they were molten did they feel it.\n\n6:25 The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high\nprice.\n\n6:26 They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare\nunto men that they be nothing worth.\n\n6:27 They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the\nground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither,\nif one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they\nbe bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts\nbefore them as unto dead men.\n\n6:28 As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests\nsell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt;\nbut unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.\n\n6:29 Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by\nthese things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not.\n\n6:30 For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the\ngods of silver, gold, and wood.\n\n6:31 And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent,\nand their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.\n\n6:32 They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when\none is dead.\n\n6:33 The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives\nand children.\n\n6:34 Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not\nable to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him\ndown.\n\n6:35 In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a\nman make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it.\n\n6:36 They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the\nmighty.\n\n6:37 They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in\nhis distress.\n\n6:38 They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the\nfatherless.\n\n6:39 Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver,\nare like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship\nthem shall be confounded.\n\n6:40 How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even\nthe Chaldeans themselves dishonour them?\n\n6:41 Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him,\nand intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to\nunderstand.\n\n6:42 Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for\nthey have no knowledge.\n\n6:43 The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn\nbran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by,\nlie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as\nworthy as herself, nor her cord broken.\n\n6:44 Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought\nor said that they are gods?\n\n6:45 They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing\nelse than the workmen will have them to be.\n\n6:46 And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how\nshould then the things that are made of them be gods?\n\n6:47 For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.\n\n6:48 For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests\nconsult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.\n\n6:49 How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can\nneither save themselves from war, nor from plague?\n\n6:50 For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold,\nit shall be known hereafter that they are false:\n\n6:51 And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they\nare no gods, but the works of men\u2019s hands, and that there is no work of\nGod in them.\n\n6:52 Who then may not know that they are no gods?\n\n6:53 For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto\nmen.\n\n6:54 Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being\nunable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.\n\n6:55 Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or\nlaid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and\nescape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.\n\n6:56 Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it\nthen be thought or said that they be gods?\n\n6:57 Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold,\nable to escape either from thieves or robbers.\n\n6:58 Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed,\nthey that are strong do take, and go away withal: neither are they able\nto help themselves.\n\n6:59 Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or\nelse a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use\nof, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such\nthings therein, than such false gods, or a pillar of wood in a palace,\nthan such false gods.\n\n6:60 For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their\noffices, are obedient.\n\n6:61 In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be\nseen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.\n\n6:62 And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world,\nthey do as they are bidden.\n\n6:63 And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as\nit is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor\npower.\n\n6:64 Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are\ngods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good\nunto men.\n\n6:65 Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,\n\n6:66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings:\n\n6:67 Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor\nshine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.\n\n6:68 The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover\nand help themselves.\n\n6:69 It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods:\ntherefore fear them not.\n\n6:70 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so\nare their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.\n\n6:71 And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and\ngold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth\nupon; as also to a dead body, that is cast into the dark.\n\n6:72 And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that\nrotteth upon them: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and\nshall be a reproach in the country.\n\n6:73 Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he\nshall be far from reproach.\n\n\n\n\nThe Song of the Three Holy Children\n\n\nWhich followeth in the third Chapter of DANIEL after this place,\u2014_fell\ndown bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace_.\u2014Verse 23. That\nwhich followeth is not in the Hebrew, to wit, _And they walked_\u2014unto\nthese words. _Then Nebuchadnezzar_\u2014verse 24.\n\n1 And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing\nthe Lord.\n\n2 Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his\nmouth in the midst of the fire said,\n\n3 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be\npraised and glorified for evermore:\n\n4 For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us:\nyea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments\ntruth.\n\n5 In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy\ncity of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment:\nfor according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things\nupon us because of our sins.\n\n6 For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee.\n\n7 In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments,\nnor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go\nwell with us.\n\n8 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that\nthou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.\n\n9 And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most\nhateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in\nall the world.\n\n10 And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and\nreproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee.\n\n11 Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name\u2019s sake, neither disannul\nthou thy covenant:\n\n12 And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham\u2019s\nsake, for thy servant Isaac\u2019s sake, and for thy holy Israel\u2019s sake;\n\n13 To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply\ntheir seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the\nseashore.\n\n14 For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under\nthis day in all the world because of our sins.\n\n15 Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or\nburnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to\nsacrifice before thee, and to find mercy.\n\n16 Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be\naccepted.\n\n17 Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in\nten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this\nday, and grant that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall not be\nconfounded that put their trust in thee.\n\n18 And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek\nthy face.\n\n19 Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and\naccording to the multitude of thy mercies.\n\n20 Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to\nthy name, O Lord: and let all them that do thy servants hurt be\nashamed;\n\n21 And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let\ntheir strength be broken;\n\n22 And let them know that thou art Lord, the only God, and glorious\nover the whole world.\n\n23 And the king\u2019s servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the\noven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood;\n\n24 So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine\ncubits.\n\n25 And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the\nfurnace.\n\n26 But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with\nAzarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the\noven;\n\n27 And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling\nwind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor\ntroubled them.\n\n28 Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and\nblessed, God in the furnace, saying,\n\n29 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and\nexalted above all for ever.\n\n30 And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be praised and\nexalted above all for ever.\n\n31 Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to be\npraised and glorified above all for ever.\n\n32 Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the\ncherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.\n\n33 Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be\npraised and glorified above all for ever.\n\n34 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be\npraised and glorified for ever.\n\n35 O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n36 O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for\never.\n\n37 O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n38 O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise\nand exalt him above all for ever.\n\n39 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n40 O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all\nfor ever.\n\n41 O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above\nall for ever.\n\n42 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n43 O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all\nfor ever.\n\n44 O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above\nall for ever.\n\n45 O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n46 O ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt\nhim above all for ever.\n\n47 O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above\nall for ever.\n\n48 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n49 O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all\nfor ever.\n\n50 O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above\nall for ever.\n\n51 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n52 O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for\never.\n\n53 O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt\nhim above all for ever.\n\n54 O all ye things that grow on the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise\nand exalt him above all for ever.\n\n55 O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all\nfor ever.\n\n56 O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above\nall for ever.\n\n57 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord:\npraise and exalt him above all for ever.\n\n58 O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n59 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n60 O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above\nall for ever.\n\n61 O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for\never.\n\n62 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n63 O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him\nabove all for ever.\n\n64 O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise\nand exalt him above all for ever.\n\n65 O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and\nexalt him above all for ever.\n\n66 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt\nhim above all for ever: for he hath delivered us from hell, and saved\nus from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the\nfurnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he\ndelivered us.\n\n67 O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy\nendureth for ever.\n\n68 O all ye that worship the Lord bless the God of gods, praise him,\nand give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.\n\n\n\n\nThe Book of Susanna [in Daniel]\n[The History of Susanna [in Daniel]]\n\n\nSet apart from the beginning of Daniel, because it is not in the\nHebrew, as neither the Narration of Bel and the Dragon.\n\n1:1 There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim:\n\n1:2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of\nChelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.\n\n1:3 Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter\naccording to the law of Moses.\n\n1:4 Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto\nhis house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable\nthan all others.\n\n1:5 The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to\nbe judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon\nfrom ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.\n\n1:6 These kept much at Joacim\u2019s house: and all that had any suits in\nlaw came unto them.\n\n1:7 Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her\nhusband\u2019s garden to walk.\n\n1:8 And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that\ntheir lust was inflamed toward her.\n\n1:9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that\nthey might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.\n\n1:10 And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one\nshew another his grief.\n\n1:11 For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to\nhave to do with her.\n\n1:12 Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.\n\n1:13 And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is\ndinner time.\n\n1:14 So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other,\nand turning back again they came to the same place; and after that they\nhad asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: then\nappointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.\n\n1:15 And it fell out, as they watched a fit time, she went in as before\nwith two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the\ngarden: for it was hot.\n\n1:16 And there was no body there save the two elders, that had hid\nthemselves, and watched her.\n\n1:17 Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and\nshut the garden doors, that I may wash me.\n\n1:18 And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went\nout themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she had\ncommanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid.\n\n1:19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and\nran unto her, saying,\n\n1:20 Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we\nare in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us.\n\n1:21 If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young\nman was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from\nthee.\n\n1:22 Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened on every side: for\nif I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not I cannot\nescape your hands.\n\n1:23 It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than\nto sin in the sight of the Lord.\n\n1:24 With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders\ncried out against her.\n\n1:25 Then ran the one, and opened the garden door.\n\n1:26 So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden,\nthey rushed in at the privy door, to see what was done unto her.\n\n1:27 But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were\ngreatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.\n\n1:28 And it came to pass the next day, when the people were assembled\nto her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full of mischievous\nimagination against Susanna to put her to death;\n\n1:29 And said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of\nChelcias, Joacim\u2019s wife. And so they sent.\n\n1:30 So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her\nkindred.\n\n1:31 Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.\n\n1:32 And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was\ncovered) that they might be filled with her beauty.\n\n1:33 Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.\n\n1:34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid\ntheir hands upon her head.\n\n1:35 And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in\nthe Lord.\n\n1:36 And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman\ncame in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids\naway.\n\n1:37 Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with\nher.\n\n1:38 Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this\nwickedness, ran unto them.\n\n1:39 And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he\nwas stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.\n\n1:40 But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but\nshe would not tell us: these things do we testify.\n\n1:41 Then the assembly believed them as those that were the elders and\njudges of the people: so they condemned her to death.\n\n1:42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting\nGod, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things before they be:\n\n1:43 Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and,\nbehold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have\nmaliciously invented against me.\n\n1:44 And the Lord heard her voice.\n\n1:45 Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up\nthe holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel:\n\n1:46 Who cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this\nwoman.\n\n1:47 Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What mean\nthese words that thou hast spoken?\n\n1:48 So he standing in the midst of them said, Are ye such fools, ye\nsons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye\nhave condemned a daughter of Israel?\n\n1:49 Return again to the place of judgment: for they have borne false\nwitness against her.\n\n1:50 Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders\nsaid unto him, Come, sit down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath\ngiven thee the honour of an elder.\n\n1:51 Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside one far from\nanother, and I will examine them.\n\n1:52 So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of\nthem, and said unto him, O thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now\nthy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light.\n\n1:53 For thou hast pronounced false judgment and hast condemned the\ninnocent and hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord saith, The\ninnocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.\n\n1:54 Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, Under what tree sawest\nthou them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree.\n\n1:55 And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast lied against thine own head;\nfor even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut\nthee in two.\n\n1:56 So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said\nunto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived\nthee, and lust hath perverted thine heart.\n\n1:57 Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear\ncompanied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide your\nwickedness.\n\n1:58 Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them\ncompanying together? Who answered, Under an holm tree.\n\n1:59 Then said Daniel unto him, Well; thou hast also lied against thine\nown head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in\ntwo, that he may destroy you.\n\n1:60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and\npraised God, who saveth them that trust in him.\n\n1:61 And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted\nthem of false witness by their own mouth:\n\n1:62 And according to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort\nas they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour: and they put\nthem to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.\n\n1:63 Therefore Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter\nSusanna, with Joacim her husband, and all the kindred, because there\nwas no dishonesty found in her.\n\n1:64 From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the\nsight of the people.\n\n\n\n\nThe History of the Destruction of\nBel and the Dragon\n\n\nCut off from the end of Daniel.\n\n\n1:1 And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus of Persia\nreceived his kingdom.\n\n1:2 And Daniel conversed with the king, and was honoured above all his\nfriends.\n\n1:3 Now the Babylons had an idol, called Bel, and there were spent upon\nhim every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and\nsix vessels of wine.\n\n1:4 And the king worshipped it and went daily to adore it: but Daniel\nworshipped his own God. And the king said unto him, Why dost not thou\nworship Bel?\n\n1:5 Who answered and said, Because I may not worship idols made with\nhands, but the living God, who hath created the heaven and the earth,\nand hath sovereignty over all flesh.\n\n1:6 Then said the king unto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is a living\nGod? seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day?\n\n1:7 Then Daniel smiled, and said, O king, be not deceived: for this is\nbut clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or drink any\nthing.\n\n1:8 So the king was wroth, and called for his priests, and said unto\nthem, If ye tell me not who this is that devoureth these expences, ye\nshall die.\n\n1:9 But if ye can certify me that Bel devoureth them, then Daniel shall\ndie: for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel said unto the\nking, Let it be according to thy word.\n\n1:10 Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, beside their wives\nand children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.\n\n1:11 So Bel\u2019s priests said, Lo, we go out: but thou, O king, set on the\nmeat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast and seal it with\nthine own signet;\n\n1:12 And to morrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not that Bel\nhath eaten up all, we will suffer death: or else Daniel, that speaketh\nfalsely against us.\n\n1:13 And they little regarded it: for under the table they had made a\nprivy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those\nthings.\n\n1:14 So when they were gone forth, the king set meats before Bel. Now\nDaniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and those they\nstrewed throughout all the temple in the presence of the king alone:\nthen went they out, and shut the door, and sealed it with the king\u2019s\nsignet, and so departed.\n\n1:15 Now in the night came the priests with their wives and children,\nas they were wont to do, and did eat and drinck up all.\n\n1:16 In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him.\n\n1:17 And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he said, Yea,\nO king, they be whole.\n\n1:18 And as soon as he had opened the dour, the king looked upon the\ntable, and cried with a loud voice, Great art thou, O Bel, and with\nthee is no deceit at all.\n\n1:19 Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not go in,\nand said, Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps are\nthese.\n\n1:20 And the king said, I see the footsteps of men, women, and\nchildren. And then the king was angry,\n\n1:21 And took the priests with their wives and children, who shewed him\nthe privy doors, where they came in, and consumed such things as were\nupon the table.\n\n1:22 Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into Daniel\u2019s\npower, who destroyed him and his temple.\n\n1:23 And in that same place there was a great dragon, which they of\nBabylon worshipped.\n\n1:24 And the king said unto Daniel, Wilt thou also say that this is of\nbrass? lo, he liveth, he eateth and drinketh; thou canst not say that\nhe is no living god: therefore worship him.\n\n1:25 Then said Daniel unto the king, I will worship the Lord my God:\nfor he is the living God.\n\n1:26 But give me leave, O king, and I shall slay this dragon without\nsword or staff. The king said, I give thee leave.\n\n1:27 Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe them\ntogether, and made lumps thereof: this he put in the dragon\u2019s mouth,\nand so the dragon burst in sunder: and Daniel said, Lo, these are the\ngods ye worship.\n\n1:28 When they of Babylon heard that, they took great indignation, and\nconspired against the king, saying, The king is become a Jew, and he\nhath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the dragon, and put the priests to\ndeath.\n\n1:29 So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or else we\nwill destroy thee and thine house.\n\n1:30 Now when the king saw that they pressed him sore, being\nconstrained, he delivered Daniel unto them:\n\n1:31 Who cast him into the lions\u2019 den: where he was six days.\n\n1:32 And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them\nevery day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not given to\nthem, to the intent they might devour Daniel.\n\n1:33 Now there was in Jewry a prophet, called Habbacuc, who had made\npottage, and had broken bread in a bowl, and was going into the field,\nfor to bring it to the reapers.\n\n1:34 But the angel of the Lord said unto Habbacuc, Go, carry the dinner\nthat thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lions\u2019 den.\n\n1:35 And Habbacuc said, Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I know\nwhere the den is.\n\n1:36 Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and bare him by\nthe hair of his head, and through the vehemency of his spirit set him\nin Babylon over the den.\n\n1:37 And Habbacuc cried, saying, O Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner\nwhich God hath sent thee.\n\n1:38 And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God: neither hast thou\nforsaken them that seek thee and love thee.\n\n1:39 So Daniel arose, and did eat: and the angel of the Lord set\nHabbacuc in his own place again immediately.\n\n1:40 Upon the seventh day the king went to bewail Daniel: and when he\ncame to the den, he looked in, and behold, Daniel was sitting.\n\n1:41 Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying, Great art Lord God\nof Daniel, and there is none other beside thee.\n\n1:42 And he drew him out, and cast those that were the cause of his\ndestruction into the den: and they were devoured in a moment before his\nface.\n\n\n\n\nThe Prayer of Manasses\nKing of Judah\n\n\nO Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of\ntheir righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the\nornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy\ncommandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible\nand glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power; for\nthe majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening\ntoward sinners is importable: but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable\nand unsearchable; for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion,\nlongsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou,\nO Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and\nforgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine\ninfinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may\nbe saved. Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast\nnot appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and\nJacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed\nrepentance unto me that am a sinner: for I have sinned above the number\nof the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my\ntransgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see\nthe height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. I am bowed\ndown with many iron bands, that I cannot life up mine head, neither\nhave any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before\nthee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set\nup abominations, and have multiplied offences. Now therefore I bow the\nknee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I\nhave sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: wherefore, I humbly\nbeseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with\nmine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for\nme; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou art\nthe God, even the God of them that repent; and in me thou wilt shew all\nthy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy\ngreat mercy. Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my\nlife: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is\nthe glory for ever and ever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\nThe First Book of the Maccabees\n\n\n1:1 And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the\nMacedonian, who came out of the land of Chettim, had smitten Darius\nking of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first\nover Greece,\n\n1:2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings\nof the earth,\n\n1:3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many\nnations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was\nexalted and his heart was lifted up.\n\n1:4 And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and\nnations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him.\n\n1:5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should\ndie.\n\n1:6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had\nbeen brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among\nthem, while he was yet alive.\n\n1:7 So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.\n\n1:8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place.\n\n1:9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did\ntheir sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the\nearth.\n\n1:10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed\nEpiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome,\nand he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the\nkingdom of the Greeks.\n\n1:11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded\nmany, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are\nround about us: for since we departed from them we have had much\nsorrow.\n\n1:12 So this device pleased them well.\n\n1:13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went\nto the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the\nheathen:\n\n1:14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to\nthe customs of the heathen:\n\n1:15 And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant,\nand joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.\n\n1:16 Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought\nto reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms.\n\n1:17 Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with\nchariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy,\n\n1:18 And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was\nafraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death.\n\n1:19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took\nthe spoils thereof.\n\n1:20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in\nthe hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and\nJerusalem with a great multitude,\n\n1:21 And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden\naltar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof,\n\n1:22 And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the\nvials, and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the\ngolden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.\n\n1:23 He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels:\nalso he took the hidden treasures which he found.\n\n1:24 And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having\nmade a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.\n\n1:25 Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place\nwhere they were;\n\n1:26 So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men\nwere made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed.\n\n1:27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the\nmarriage chamber was in heaviness,\n\n1:28 The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the\nhouse of Jacob was covered with confusion.\n\n1:29 And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief\ncollector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem\nwith a great multitude,\n\n1:30 And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when\nthey had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote\nit very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.\n\n1:31 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire,\nand pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.\n\n1:32 But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the\ncattle.\n\n1:33 Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall,\nand with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them.\n\n1:34 And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified\nthemselves therein.\n\n1:35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had\ngathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and\nso they became a sore snare:\n\n1:36 For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an\nevil adversary to Israel.\n\n1:37 Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and\ndefiled it:\n\n1:38 Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them:\nwhereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became\nstrange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.\n\n1:39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were\nturned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into\ncontempt.\n\n1:40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her\nexcellency was turned into mourning.\n\n1:41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all\nshould be one people,\n\n1:42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed\naccording to the commandment of the king.\n\n1:43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and\nsacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.\n\n1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the\ncities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,\n\n1:45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in\nthe temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival\ndays:\n\n1:46 And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:\n\n1:47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice\nswine\u2019s flesh, and unclean beasts:\n\n1:48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make\ntheir souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:\n\n1:49 To the end they might forget the law, and change all the\nordinances.\n\n1:50 And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the\nking, he said, he should die.\n\n1:51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and\nappointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda\nto sacrifice, city by city.\n\n1:52 Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one\nthat forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land;\n\n1:53 And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they\ncould flee for succour.\n\n1:54 Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty\nand fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the\naltar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every\nside;\n\n1:55 And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the\nstreets.\n\n1:56 And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they\nfound, they burnt them with fire.\n\n1:57 And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if\nany consented to the law, the king\u2019s commandment was, that they should\nput him to death.\n\n1:58 Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month,\nto as many as were found in the cities.\n\n1:59 Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice\nupon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.\n\n1:60 At which time according to the commandment they put to death\ncertain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised.\n\n1:61 And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their\nhouses, and slew them that had circumcised them.\n\n1:62 Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in\nthemselves not to eat any unclean thing.\n\n1:63 Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with\nmeats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they\ndied.\n\n1:64 And there was very great wrath upon Israel.\n\n2:1 In those days arose Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon,\na priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin.\n\n2:2 And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis:\n\n2:3 Simon; called Thassi:\n\n2:4 Judas, who was called Maccabeus:\n\n2:5 Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus.\n\n2:6 And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Juda and\nJerusalem,\n\n2:7 He said, Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see this misery of my\npeople, and of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was delivered\ninto the hand of the enemy, and the sanctuary into the hand of\nstrangers?\n\n2:8 Her temple is become as a man without glory.\n\n2:9 Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants\nare slain in the streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy.\n\n2:10 What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom and gotten of her\nspoils?\n\n2:11 All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she is become a\nbondslave.\n\n2:12 And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid\nwaste, and the Gentiles have profaned it.\n\n2:13 To what end therefore shall we live any longer?\n\n2:14 Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on\nsackcloth, and mourned very sore.\n\n2:15 In the mean while the king\u2019s officers, such as compelled the\npeople to revolt, came into the city Modin, to make them sacrifice.\n\n2:16 And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his\nsons came together.\n\n2:17 Then answered the king\u2019s officers, and said to Mattathias on this\nwise, Thou art a ruler, and an honourable and great man in this city,\nand strengthened with sons and brethren:\n\n2:18 Now therefore come thou first, and fulfil the king\u2019s commandment,\nlike as all the heathen have done, yea, and the men of Juda also, and\nsuch as remain at Jerusalem: so shalt thou and thy house be in the\nnumber of the king\u2019s friends, and thou and thy children shall be\nhonoured with silver and gold, and many rewards.\n\n2:19 Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice, Though all\nthe nations that are under the king\u2019s dominion obey him, and fall away\nevery one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his\ncommandments:\n\n2:20 Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our\nfathers.\n\n2:21 God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.\n\n2:22 We will not hearken to the king\u2019s words, to go from our religion,\neither on the right hand, or the left.\n\n2:23 Now when he had left speaking these words, there came one of the\nJews in the sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin,\naccording to the king\u2019s commandment.\n\n2:24 Which thing when Mattathias saw, he was inflamed with zeal, and\nhis reins trembled, neither could he forbear to shew his anger\naccording to judgment: wherefore he ran, and slew him upon the altar.\n\n2:25 Also the king\u2019s commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he\nkilled at that time, and the altar he pulled down.\n\n2:26 Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God like as Phinees did\nunto Zambri the son of Salom.\n\n2:27 And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice,\nsaying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant,\nlet him follow me.\n\n2:28 So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever\nthey had in the city.\n\n2:29 Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into\nthe wilderness, to dwell there:\n\n2:30 Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle;\nbecause afflictions increased sore upon them.\n\n2:31 Now when it was told the king\u2019s servants, and the host that was at\nJerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the\nking\u2019s commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the\nwilderness,\n\n2:32 They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them,\nthey camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day.\n\n2:33 And they said unto them, Let that which ye have done hitherto\nsuffice; come forth, and do according to the commandment of the king,\nand ye shall live.\n\n2:34 But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the\nking\u2019s commandment, to profane the sabbath day.\n\n2:35 So then they gave them the battle with all speed.\n\n2:36 Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them,\nnor stopped the places where they lay hid;\n\n2:37 But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will\ntestify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.\n\n2:38 So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they\nslew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the\nnumber of a thousand people.\n\n2:39 Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they\nmourned for them right sore.\n\n2:40 And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have\ndone, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they\nwill now quickly root us out of the earth.\n\n2:41 At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come\nto make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him;\nneither will we die all, as our brethren that were murdered in the\nsecret places.\n\n2:42 Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty\nmen of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law.\n\n2:43 Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto\nthem, and were a stay unto them.\n\n2:44 So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger,\nand wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for\nsuccour.\n\n2:45 Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down\nthe altars:\n\n2:46 And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel\nuncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.\n\n2:47 They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in\ntheir hand.\n\n2:48 So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out\nof the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.\n\n2:49 Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said\nunto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time\nof destruction, and the wrath of indignation:\n\n2:50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your\nlives for the covenant of your fathers.\n\n2:51 Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so\nshall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name.\n\n2:52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed\nunto him for righteousness?\n\n2:53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment and was\nmade lord of Egypt.\n\n2:54 Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the\ncovenant of an everlasting priesthood.\n\n2:55 Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.\n\n2:56 Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the\nheritage of the land.\n\n2:57 David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting\nkingdom.\n\n2:58 Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into\nheaven.\n\n2:59 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out of the\nflame.\n\n2:60 Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.\n\n2:61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their\ntrust in him shall be overcome.\n\n2:62 Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be\ndung and worms.\n\n2:63 To day he shall be lifted up and to morrow he shall not be found,\nbecause he is returned into his dust, and his thought is come to\nnothing.\n\n2:64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and shew yourselves men in the\nbehalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory.\n\n2:65 And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel,\ngive ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you.\n\n2:66 As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from\nhis youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the\npeople.\n\n2:67 Take also unto you all those that observe the law, and avenge ye\nthe wrong of your people.\n\n2:68 Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of\nthe law.\n\n2:69 So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.\n\n2:70 And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons\nburied him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel\nmade great lamentation for him.\n\n3:1 Then his son Judas, called Maccabeus, rose up in his stead.\n\n3:2 And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that held with\nhis father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel.\n\n3:3 So he gat his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a\ngiant, and girt his warlike harness about him, and he made battles,\nprotecting the host with his sword.\n\n3:4 In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion\u2019s whelp roaring for\nhis prey.\n\n3:5 For He pursued the wicked, and sought them out, and burnt up those\nthat vexed his people.\n\n3:6 Wherefore the wicked shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of\niniquity were troubled, because salvation prospered in his hand.\n\n3:7 He grieved also many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and\nhis memorial is blessed for ever.\n\n3:8 Moreover he went through the cities of Juda, destroying the ungodly\nout of them, and turning away wrath from Israel:\n\n3:9 So that he was renowned unto the utmost part of the earth, and he\nreceived unto him such as were ready to perish.\n\n3:10 Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together, and a great host\nout of Samaria, to fight against Israel.\n\n3:11 Which thing when Judas perceived, he went forth to meet him, and\nso he smote him, and slew him: many also fell down slain, but the rest\nfled.\n\n3:12 Wherefore Judas took their spoils, and Apollonius\u2019 sword also, and\ntherewith he fought all his life long.\n\n3:13 Now when Seron, a prince of the army of Syria, heard say that\nJudas had gathered unto him a multitude and company of the faithful to\ngo out with him to war;\n\n3:14 He said, I will get me a name and honour in the kingdom; for I\nwill go fight with Judas and them that are with him, who despise the\nking\u2019s commandment.\n\n3:15 So he made him ready to go up, and there went with him a mighty\nhost of the ungodly to help him, and to be avenged of the children of\nIsrael.\n\n3:16 And when he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, Judas went\nforth to meet him with a small company:\n\n3:17 Who, when they saw the host coming to meet them, said unto Judas,\nHow shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great a\nmultitude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all\nthis day?\n\n3:18 Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut\nup in the hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to\ndeliver with a great multitude, or a small company:\n\n3:19 For the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an\nhost; but strength cometh from heaven.\n\n3:20 They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and\nour wives and children, and to spoil us:\n\n3:21 But we fight for our lives and our laws.\n\n3:22 Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face:\nand as for you, be ye not afraid of them.\n\n3:23 Now as soon as he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon\nthem, and so Seron and his host was overthrown before him.\n\n3:24 And they pursued them from the going down of Bethhoron unto the\nplain, where were slain about eight hundred men of them; and the\nresidue fled into the land of the Philistines.\n\n3:25 Then began the fear of Judas and his brethren, and an exceeding\ngreat dread, to fall upon the nations round about them:\n\n3:26 Insomuch as his fame came unto the king, and all nations talked of\nthe battles of Judas.\n\n3:27 Now when king Antiochus heard these things, he was full of\nindignation: wherefore he sent and gathered together all the forces of\nhis realm, even a very strong army.\n\n3:28 He opened also his treasure, and gave his soldiers pay for a year,\ncommanding them to be ready whensoever he should need them.\n\n3:29 Nevertheless, when he saw that the money of his treasures failed\nand that the tributes in the country were small, because of the\ndissension and plague, which he had brought upon the land in taking\naway the laws which had been of old time;\n\n3:30 He feared that he should not be able to bear the charges any\nlonger, nor to have such gifts to give so liberally as he did before:\nfor he had abounded above the kings that were before him.\n\n3:31 Wherefore, being greatly perplexed in his mind, he determined to\ngo into Persia, there to take the tributes of the countries, and to\ngather much money.\n\n3:32 So he left Lysias, a nobleman, and one of the blood royal, to\noversee the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates unto the\nborders of Egypt:\n\n3:33 And to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again.\n\n3:34 Moreover he delivered unto him the half of his forces, and the\nelephants, and gave him charge of all things that he would have done,\nas also concerning them that dwelt in Juda and Jerusalem:\n\n3:35 To wit, that he should send an army against them, to destroy and\nroot out the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to\ntake away their memorial from that place;\n\n3:36 And that he should place strangers in all their quarters, and\ndivide their land by lot.\n\n3:37 So the king took the half of the forces that remained, and\ndeparted from Antioch, his royal city, the hundred forty and seventh\nyear; and having passed the river Euphrates, he went through the high\ncountries.\n\n3:38 Then Lysias chose Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and\nGorgias, mighty men of the king\u2019s friends:\n\n3:39 And with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and seven thousand\nhorsemen, to go into the land of Juda, and to destroy it, as the king\ncommanded.\n\n3:40 So they went forth with all their power, and came and pitched by\nEmmaus in the plain country.\n\n3:41 And the merchants of the country, hearing the fame of them, took\nsilver and gold very much, with servants, and came into the camp to buy\nthe children of Israel for slaves: a power also of Syria and of the\nland of the Philistines joined themselves unto them.\n\n3:42 Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied,\nand that the forces did encamp themselves in their borders: for they\nknew how the king had given commandment to destroy the people, and\nutterly abolish them;\n\n3:43 They said one to another, Let us restore the decayed estate of our\npeople, and let us fight for our people and the sanctuary.\n\n3:44 Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be\nready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and\ncompassion.\n\n3:45 Now Jerusalem lay void as a wilderness, there was none of her\nchildren that went in or out: the sanctuary also was trodden down, and\naliens kept the strong hold; the heathen had their habitation in that\nplace; and joy was taken from Jacob, and the pipe with the harp ceased.\n\n3:46 Wherefore the Israelites assembled themselves together, and came\nto Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha was the place where\nthey prayed aforetime in Israel.\n\n3:47 Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and cast ashes\nupon their heads, and rent their clothes,\n\n3:48 And laid open the book of the law, wherein the heathen had sought\nto paint the likeness of their images.\n\n3:49 They brought also the priests\u2019 garments, and the firstfruits, and\nthe tithes: and the Nazarites they stirred up, who had accomplished\ntheir days.\n\n3:50 Then cried they with a loud voice toward heaven, saying, What\nshall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them away?\n\n3:51 For thy sanctuary is trodden down and profaned, and thy priests\nare in heaviness, and brought low.\n\n3:52 And lo, the heathen are assembled together against us to destroy\nus: what things they imagine against us, thou knowest.\n\n3:53 How shall we be able to stand against them, except thou, O God, be\nour help?\n\n3:54 Then sounded they with trumpets, and cried with a loud voice.\n\n3:55 And after this Judas ordained captains over the people, even\ncaptains over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over\ntens.\n\n3:56 But as for such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives,\nor were planting vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that\nthey should return, every man to his own house, according to the law.\n\n3:57 So the camp removed, and pitched upon the south side of Emmaus.\n\n3:58 And Judas said, arm yourselves, and be valiant men, and see that\nye be in readiness against the morning, that ye may fight with these\nnations, that are assembled together against us to destroy us and our\nsanctuary:\n\n3:59 For it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the\ncalamities of our people and our sanctuary.\n\n3:60 Nevertheless, as the will of God is in heaven, so let him do.\n\n4:1 Then took Gorgias five thousand footmen, and a thousand of the best\nhorsemen, and removed out of the camp by night;\n\n4:2 To the end he might rush in upon the camp of the Jews, and smite\nthem suddenly. And the men of the fortress were his guides.\n\n4:3 Now when Judas heard thereof he himself removed, and the valiant\nmen with him, that he might smite the king\u2019s army which was at Emmaus,\n\n4:4 While as yet the forces were dispersed from the camp.\n\n4:5 In the mean season came Gorgias by night into the camp of Judas:\nand when he found no man there, he sought them in the mountains: for\nsaid he, These fellows flee from us\n\n4:6 But as soon as it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with\nthree thousand men, who nevertheless had neither armour nor swords to\ntheir minds.\n\n4:7 And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and well\nharnessed, and compassed round about with horsemen; and these were\nexpert of war.\n\n4:8 Then said Judas to the men that were with him, Fear ye not their\nmultitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault.\n\n4:9 Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red sea, when\nPharaoh pursued them with an army.\n\n4:10 Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the Lord\nwill have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and\ndestroy this host before our face this day:\n\n4:11 That so all the heathen may know that there is one who delivereth\nand saveth Israel.\n\n4:12 Then the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming over\nagainst them.\n\n4:13 Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that were\nwith Judas sounded their trumpets.\n\n4:14 So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled into\nthe plain.\n\n4:15 Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for\nthey pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and\nAzotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them upon a three\nthousand men.\n\n4:16 This done, Judas returned again with his host from pursuing them,\n\n4:17 And said to the people, Be not greedy of the spoil inasmuch as\nthere is a battle before us,\n\n4:18 And Gorgias and his host are here by us in the mountain: but stand\nye now against our enemies, and overcome them, and after this ye may\nboldly take the spoils.\n\n4:19 As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part of\nthem looking out of the mountain:\n\n4:20 Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight\nand were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what\nwas done:\n\n4:21 When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid,\nand seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight,\n\n4:22 They fled every one into the land of strangers.\n\n4:23 Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold,\nand silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.\n\n4:24 After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and\npraised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy\nendureth forever.\n\n4:25 Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day.\n\n4:26 Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias what\nhad happened:\n\n4:27 Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged,\nbecause neither such things as he would were done unto Israel, nor such\nthings as the king commanded him were come to pass.\n\n4:28 The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together\nthreescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand horsemen,\nthat he might subdue them.\n\n4:29 So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and\nJudas met them with ten thousand men.\n\n4:30 And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed art\nthou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell the violence of the mighty\nman by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of strangers\ninto the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armourbearer;\n\n4:31 Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let them\nbe confounded in their power and horsemen:\n\n4:32 Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of their\nstrength to fall away, and let them quake at their destruction:\n\n4:33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let all\nthose that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving.\n\n4:34 So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias\nabout five thousand men, even before them were they slain.\n\n4:35 Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of\nJudas\u2019 soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die\nvaliantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together a company of\nstrangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to\ncome again into Judea.\n\n4:36 Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are\ndiscomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.\n\n4:37 Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up\ninto mount Sion.\n\n4:38 And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned,\nand the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a\nforest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests\u2019 chambers\npulled down;\n\n4:39 They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast\nashes upon their heads,\n\n4:40 And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an\nalarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven.\n\n4:41 Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that were\nin the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary.\n\n4:42 So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had\npleasure in the law:\n\n4:43 Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare out the defiled stones into\nan unclean place.\n\n4:44 And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt\nofferings, which was profaned;\n\n4:45 They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach\nto them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it\ndown,\n\n4:46 And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a\nconvenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what should\nbe done with them.\n\n4:47 Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new\naltar according to the former;\n\n4:48 And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the\ntemple, and hallowed the courts.\n\n4:49 They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought\nthe candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and\nthe table.\n\n4:50 And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were\nupon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the\ntemple.\n\n4:51 Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the\nveils, and finished all the works which they had begun to make.\n\n4:52 Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is\ncalled the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they\nrose up betimes in the morning,\n\n4:53 And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of\nburnt offerings, which they had made.\n\n4:54 Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, even\nin that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and\ncymbals.\n\n4:55 Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and\npraising the God of heaven, who had given them good success.\n\n4:56 And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and\noffered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of\ndeliverance and praise.\n\n4:57 They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold,\nand with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and\nhanged doors upon them.\n\n4:58 Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the\nreproach of the heathen was put away.\n\n4:59 Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of\nIsrael ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be\nkept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from\nthe five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and\ngladness.\n\n4:60 At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high walls\nand strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should come and tread\nit down as they had done before.\n\n4:61 And they set there a garrison to keep it, and fortified Bethsura\nto preserve it; that the people might have a defence against Idumea.\n\n5:1 Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and\nthe sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased them very much.\n\n5:2 Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was\namong them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.\n\n5:3 Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at\nArabattine, because they besieged Israel: and he gave them a great\noverthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.\n\n5:4 Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been\na snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for\nthem in the ways.\n\n5:5 He shut them up therefore in the towers, and encamped against them,\nand destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers of that place with\nfire, and all that were therein.\n\n5:6 Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a\nmighty power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain.\n\n5:7 So he fought many battles with them, till at length they were\ndiscomfited before him; and he smote them.\n\n5:8 And when he had taken Jazar, with the towns belonging thereto, he\nreturned into Judea.\n\n5:9 Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together\nagainst the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them;\nbut they fled to the fortress of Dathema.\n\n5:10 And sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, The heathen that are\nround about us are assembled together against us to destroy us:\n\n5:11 And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we\nare fled, Timotheus being captain of their host.\n\n5:12 Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of\nus are slain:\n\n5:13 Yea, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to\ndeath: their wives and their children also they have carried away\ncaptives, and borne away their stuff; and they have destroyed there\nabout a thousand men.\n\n5:14 While these letters were yet reading, behold, there came other\nmessengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported on this\nwise,\n\n5:15 And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all\nGalilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume\nus.\n\n5:16 Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a\ngreat congregation together, to consult what they should do for their\nbrethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted of them.\n\n5:17 Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and\ngo and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my\nbrother will go into the country of Galaad.\n\n5:18 So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of\nthe people, with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.\n\n5:19 Unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Take ye the charge of this\npeople, and see that ye make not war against the heathen until the time\nthat we come again.\n\n5:20 Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee,\nand unto Judas eight thousand men for the country of Galaad.\n\n5:21 Then went Simon into Galilee, where he fought many battles with\nthe heathen, so that the heathen were discomfited by him.\n\n5:22 And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais; and there were\nslain of the heathen about three thousand men, whose spoils he took.\n\n5:23 And those that were in Galilee, and in Arbattis, with their wives\nand their children, and all that they had, took he away with him, and\nbrought them into Judea with great joy.\n\n5:24 Judas Maccabeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan,\nand travelled three days\u2019 journey in the wilderness,\n\n5:25 Where they met with the Nabathites, who came unto them in a\npeaceable manner, and told them every thing that had happened to their\nbrethren in the land of Galaad:\n\n5:26 And how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and\nAlema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and\ngreat:\n\n5:27 And that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the\ncountry of Galaad, and that against to morrow they had appointed to\nbring their host against the forts, and to take them, and to destroy\nthem all in one day.\n\n5:28 Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the\nwilderness unto Bosora; and when he had won the city, he slew all the\nmales with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned\nthe city with fire,\n\n5:29 From whence he removed by night, and went till he came to the\nfortress.\n\n5:30 And betimes in the morning they looked up, and, behold, there was\nan innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take\nthe fortress: for they assaulted them.\n\n5:31 When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the\ncry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound,\n\n5:32 He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.\n\n5:33 So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their\ntrumpets, and cried with prayer.\n\n5:34 Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled\nfrom him: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there\nwere killed of them that day about eight thousand men.\n\n5:35 This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha; and after he had\nassaulted it he took and slew all the males therein, and received the\nspoils thereof, and burnt it with fire.\n\n5:36 From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other\ncities of the country of Galaad.\n\n5:37 After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped\nagainst Raphon beyond the brook.\n\n5:38 So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying,\nAll the heathen that be round about us are assembled unto them, even a\nvery great host.\n\n5:39 He hath also hired the Arabians to help them and they have pitched\ntheir tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee.\nUpon this Judas went to meet them.\n\n5:40 Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and\nhis host come near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we shall\nnot be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:\n\n5:41 But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over\nunto him, and prevail against him.\n\n5:42 Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the\npeople to remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying,\nSuffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.\n\n5:43 So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him:\nthen all the heathen, being discomfited before him, cast away their\nweapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Carnaim.\n\n5:44 But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were\ntherein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer\nbefore Judas.\n\n5:45 Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the\ncountry of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives,\nand their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they\nmight come into the land of Judea.\n\n5:46 Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way\nas they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it,\neither on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the\nmidst of it.\n\n5:47 Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with\nstones.\n\n5:48 Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying, Let us\npass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do\nyou any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit they would not\nopen unto him.\n\n5:49 Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the\nhost, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.\n\n5:50 So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and\nall that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his\nhands:\n\n5:51 Who then slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and rased\nthe city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over\nthem that were slain.\n\n5:52 After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before\nBethsan.\n\n5:53 And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted\nthe people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.\n\n5:54 So they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, where they\noffered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they\nhad returned in peace.\n\n5:55 Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad,\nand Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,\n\n5:56 Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the\ngarrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had\ndone.\n\n5:57 Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight\nagainst the heathen that are round about us.\n\n5:58 So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with\nthem, they went toward Jamnia.\n\n5:59 Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to fight against\nthem.\n\n5:60 And so it was, that Joseph and Azaras were put to flight, and\npursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were slain that day of the\npeople of Israel about two thousand men.\n\n5:61 Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel,\nbecause they were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought\nto do some valiant act.\n\n5:62 Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand\ndeliverance was given unto Israel.\n\n5:63 Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in\nthe sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name\nwas heard of;\n\n5:64 Insomuch as the people assembled unto them with joyful\nacclamations.\n\n5:65 Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against\nthe children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote\nHebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and\nburned the towers thereof round about.\n\n5:66 From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and\npassed through Samaria.\n\n5:67 At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were\nslain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.\n\n5:68 So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when\nhe had pulled down their altars, and burned their carved images with\nfire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the land of Judea.\n\n6:1 About that time king Antiochus travelling through the high\ncountries heard say, that Elymais in the country of Persia was a city\ngreatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold;\n\n6:2 And that there was in it a very rich temple, wherein were coverings\nof gold, and breastplates, and shields, which Alexander, son of Philip,\nthe Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Grecians, had left\nthere.\n\n6:3 Wherefore he came and sought to take the city, and to spoil it; but\nhe was not able, because they of the city, having had warning thereof,\n\n6:4 Rose up against him in battle: so he fled, and departed thence with\ngreat heaviness, and returned to Babylon.\n\n6:5 Moreover there came one who brought him tidings into Persia, that\nthe armies, which went against the land of Judea, were put to flight:\n\n6:6 And that Lysias, who went forth first with a great power was driven\naway of the Jews; and that they were made strong by the armour, and\npower, and store of spoils, which they had gotten of the armies, whom\nthey had destroyed:\n\n6:7 Also that they had pulled down the abomination, which he had set up\nupon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the\nsanctuary with high walls, as before, and his city Bethsura.\n\n6:8 Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore\nmoved: whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for\ngrief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for.\n\n6:9 And there he continued many days: for his grief was ever more and\nmore, and he made account that he should die.\n\n6:10 Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The\nsleep is gone from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for very care.\n\n6:11 And I thought with myself, Into what tribulation am I come, and\nhow great a flood of misery is it, wherein now I am! for I was\nbountiful and beloved in my power.\n\n6:12 But now I remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem, and that I\ntook all the vessels of gold and silver that were therein, and sent to\ndestroy the inhabitants of Judea without a cause.\n\n6:13 I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come\nupon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land.\n\n6:14 Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler\nover all his realm,\n\n6:15 And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end\nhe should bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish him up for the\nkingdom.\n\n6:16 So king Antiochus died there in the hundred forty and ninth year.\n\n6:17 Now when Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus\nhis son, whom he had brought up being young, to reign in his stead, and\nhis name he called Eupator.\n\n6:18 About this time they that were in the tower shut up the Israelites\nround about the sanctuary, and sought always their hurt, and the\nstrengthening of the heathen.\n\n6:19 Wherefore Judas, purposing to destroy them, called all the people\ntogether to besiege them.\n\n6:20 So they came together, and besieged them in the hundred and\nfiftieth year, and he made mounts for shot against them, and other\nengines.\n\n6:21 Howbeit certain of them that were besieged got forth, unto whom\nsome ungodly men of Israel joined themselves:\n\n6:22 And they went unto the king, and said, How long will it be ere\nthou execute judgment, and avenge our brethren?\n\n6:23 We have been willing to serve thy father, and to do as he would\nhave us, and to obey his commandments;\n\n6:24 For which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and are\nalienated from us: moreover as many of us as they could light on they\nslew, and spoiled our inheritance.\n\n6:25 Neither have they stretched out their hand against us only, but\nalso against their borders.\n\n6:26 And, behold, this day are they besieging the tower at Jerusalem,\nto take it: the sanctuary also and Bethsura have they fortified.\n\n6:27 Wherefore if thou dost not prevent them quickly, they will do the\ngreater things than these, neither shalt thou be able to rule them.\n\n6:28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together\nall his friends, and the captains of his army, and those that had\ncharge of the horse.\n\n6:29 There came also unto him from other kingdoms, and from isles of\nthe sea, bands of hired soldiers.\n\n6:30 So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen,\nand twenty thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants exercised in\nbattle.\n\n6:31 These went through Idumea, and pitched against Bethsura, which\nthey assaulted many days, making engines of war; but they of Bethsura\ncame out, and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.\n\n6:32 Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in\nBathzacharias, over against the king\u2019s camp.\n\n6:33 Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his host\ntoward Bathzacharias, where his armies made them ready to battle, and\nsounded the trumpets.\n\n6:34 And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they\nshewed them the blood of grapes and mulberries.\n\n6:35 Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies, and for every\nelephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and\nwith helmets of brass on their heads; and beside this, for every beast\nwere ordained five hundred horsemen of the best.\n\n6:36 These were ready at every occasion: wheresoever the beast was, and\nwhithersoever the beast went, they went also, neither departed they\nfrom him.\n\n6:37 And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which\ncovered every one of them, and were girt fast unto them with devices:\nthere were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, that fought\nupon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.\n\n6:38 As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and\nthat side at the two parts of the host giving them signs what to do,\nand being harnessed all over amidst the ranks.\n\n6:39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the\nmountains glistered therewith, and shined like lamps of fire.\n\n6:40 So part of the king\u2019s army being spread upon the high mountains,\nand part on the valleys below, they marched on safely and in order.\n\n6:41 Wherefore all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the\nmarching of the company, and the rattling of the harness, were moved:\nfor the army was very great and mighty.\n\n6:42 Then Judas and his host drew near, and entered into battle, and\nthere were slain of the king\u2019s army six hundred men.\n\n6:43 Eleazar also, surnamed Savaran, perceiving that one of the beasts,\narmed with royal harness, was higher than all the rest, and supposing\nthat the king was upon him,\n\n6:44 Put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people,\nand get him a perpetual name:\n\n6:45 Wherefore he ran upon him courageously through the midst of the\nbattle, slaying on the right hand and on the left, so that they were\ndivided from him on both sides.\n\n6:46 Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and\nslew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died.\n\n6:47 Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and\nthe violence of his forces, turned away from them.\n\n6:48 Then the king\u2019s army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the\nking pitched his tents against Judea, and against mount Sion.\n\n6:49 But with them that were in Bethsura he made peace: for they came\nout of the city, because they had no victuals there to endure the\nsiege, it being a year of rest to the land.\n\n6:50 So the king took Bethsura, and set a garrison there to keep it.\n\n6:51 As for the sanctuary, he besieged it many days: and set there\nartillery with engines and instruments to cast fire and stones, and\npieces to cast darts and slings.\n\n6:52 Whereupon they also made engines against their engines, and held\nthem battle a long season.\n\n6:53 Yet at the last, their vessels being without victuals, (for that\nit was the seventh year, and they in Judea that were delivered from the\nGentiles, had eaten up the residue of the store;)\n\n6:54 There were but a few left in the sanctuary, because the famine did\nso prevail against them, that they were fain to disperse themselves,\nevery man to his own place.\n\n6:55 At that time Lysias heard say, that Philip, whom Antiochus the\nking, whiles he lived, had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus,\nthat he might be king,\n\n6:56 Was returned out of Persia and Media, and the king\u2019s host also\nthat went with him, and that he sought to take unto him the ruling of\nthe affairs.\n\n6:57 Wherefore he went in all haste, and said to the king and the\ncaptains of the host and the company, We decay daily, and our victuals\nare but small, and the place we lay siege unto is strong, and the\naffairs of the kingdom lie upon us:\n\n6:58 Now therefore let us be friends with these men, and make peace\nwith them, and with all their nation;\n\n6:59 And covenant with them, that they shall live after their laws, as\nthey did before: for they are therefore displeased, and have done all\nthese things, because we abolished their laws.\n\n6:60 So the king and the princes were content: wherefore he sent unto\nthem to make peace; and they accepted thereof.\n\n6:61 Also the king and the princes made an oath unto them: whereupon\nthey went out of the strong hold.\n\n6:62 Then the king entered into mount Sion; but when he saw the\nstrength of the place, he broke his oath that he had made, and gave\ncommandment to pull down the wall round about.\n\n6:63 Afterward departed he in all haste, and returned unto Antiochia,\nwhere he found Philip to be master of the city: so he fought against\nhim, and took the city by force.\n\n7:1 In the hundred and one and fiftieth year Demetrius the son of\nSeleucus departed from Rome, and came up with a few men unto a city of\nthe sea coast, and reigned there.\n\n7:2 And as he entered into the palace of his ancestors, so it was, that\nhis forces had taken Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them unto him.\n\n7:3 Wherefore, when he knew it, he said, Let me not see their faces.\n\n7:4 So his host slew them. Now when Demetrius was set upon the throne\nof his kingdom,\n\n7:5 There came unto him all the wicked and ungodly men of Israel,\nhaving Alcimus, who was desirous to be high priest, for their captain:\n\n7:6 And they accused the people to the king, saying, Judas and his\nbrethren have slain all thy friends, and driven us out of our own land.\n\n7:7 Now therefore send some man whom thou trustest, and let him go and\nsee what havock he hath made among us, and in the king\u2019s land, and let\nhim punish them with all them that aid them.\n\n7:8 Then the king chose Bacchides, a friend of the king, who ruled\nbeyond the flood, and was a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to\nthe king,\n\n7:9 And him he sent with that wicked Alcimus, whom he made high priest,\nand commanded that he should take vengeance of the children of Israel.\n\n7:10 So they departed, and came with a great power into the land of\nJudea, where they sent messengers to Judas and his brethren with\npeaceable words deceitfully.\n\n7:11 But they gave no heed to their words; for they saw that they were\ncome with a great power.\n\n7:12 Then did there assemble unto Alcimus and Bacchides a company of\nscribes, to require justice.\n\n7:13 Now the Assideans were the first among the children of Israel that\nsought peace of them:\n\n7:14 For said they, One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come\nwith this army, and he will do us no wrong.\n\n7:15 So he spake unto them, peaceably, and sware unto them, saying, we\nwill procure the harm neither of you nor your friends.\n\n7:16 Whereupon they believed him: howbeit he took of them threescore\nmen, and slew them in one day, according to the words which he wrote,\n\n7:17 The flesh of thy saints have they cast out, and their blood have\nthey shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.\n\n7:18 Wherefore the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, who\nsaid, There is neither truth nor righteousness in them; for they have\nbroken the covenant and oath that they made.\n\n7:19 After this, removed Bacchides from Jerusalem, and pitched his\ntents in Bezeth, where he sent and took many of the men that had\nforsaken him, and certain of the people also, and when he had slain\nthem, he cast them into the great pit.\n\n7:20 Then committed he the country to Alcimus, and left with him a\npower to aid him: so Bacchides went to the king.\n\n7:21 But Alcimus contended for the high priesthood.\n\n7:22 And unto him resorted all such as troubled the people, who, after\nthey had gotten the land of Juda into their power, did much hurt in\nIsrael.\n\n7:23 Now when Judas saw all the mischief that Alcimus and his company\nhad done among the Israelites, even above the heathen,\n\n7:24 He went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and took\nvengeance of them that had revolted from him, so that they durst no\nmore go forth into the country.\n\n7:25 On the other side, when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company had\ngotten the upper hand, and knew that he was not able to abide their\nforce, he went again to the king, and said all the worst of them that\nhe could.\n\n7:26 Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honourable princes, a man\nthat bare deadly hate unto Israel, with commandment to destroy the\npeople.\n\n7:27 So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great force; and sent unto\nJudas and his brethren deceitfully with friendly words, saying,\n\n7:28 Let there be no battle between me and you; I will come with a few\nmen, that I may see you in peace.\n\n7:29 He came therefore to Judas, and they saluted one another\npeaceably. Howbeit the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by\nviolence.\n\n7:30 Which thing after it was known to Judas, to wit, that he came unto\nhim with deceit, he was sore afraid of him, and would see his face no\nmore.\n\n7:31 Nicanor also, when he saw that his counsel was discovered, went\nout to fight against Judas beside Capharsalama:\n\n7:32 Where there were slain of Nicanor\u2019s side about five thousand men,\nand the rest fled into the city of David.\n\n7:33 After this went Nicanor up to mount Sion, and there came out of\nthe sanctuary certain of the priests and certain of the elders of the\npeople, to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the burnt sacrifice\nthat was offered for the king.\n\n7:34 But he mocked them, and laughed at them, and abused them\nshamefully, and spake proudly,\n\n7:35 And sware in his wrath, saying, Unless Judas and his host be now\ndelivered into my hands, if ever I come again in safety, I will burn up\nthis house: and with that he went out in a great rage.\n\n7:36 Then the priests entered in, and stood before the altar and the\ntemple, weeping, and saying,\n\n7:37 Thou, O Lord, didst choose this house to be called by thy name,\nand to be a house of prayer and petition for thy people:\n\n7:38 Be avenged of this man and his host, and let them fall by the\nsword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any\nlonger.\n\n7:39 So Nicanor went out of Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in\nBethhoron, where an host out of Syria met him.\n\n7:40 But Judas pitched in Adasa with three thousand men, and there he\nprayed, saying,\n\n7:41 O Lord, when they that were sent from the king of the Assyrians\nblasphemed, thine angel went out, and smote an hundred fourscore and\nfive thousand of them.\n\n7:42 Even so destroy thou this host before us this day, that the rest\nmay know that he hath spoken blasphemously against thy sanctuary, and\njudge thou him according to his wickedness.\n\n7:43 So the thirteenth day of the month Adar the hosts joined battle:\nbut Nicanor\u2019s host was discomfited, and he himself was first slain in\nthe battle.\n\n7:44 Now when Nicanor\u2019s host saw that he was slain, they cast away\ntheir weapons, and fled.\n\n7:45 Then they pursued after them a day\u2019s journey, from Adasa unto\nGazera, sounding an alarm after them with their trumpets.\n\n7:46 Whereupon they came forth out of all the towns of Judea round\nabout, and closed them in; so that they, turning back upon them that\npursued them, were all slain with the sword, and not one of them was\nleft.\n\n7:47 Afterwards they took the spoils, and the prey, and smote off\nNicanors head, and his right hand, which he stretched out so proudly,\nand brought them away, and hanged them up toward Jerusalem.\n\n7:48 For this cause the people rejoiced greatly, and they kept that day\na day of great gladness.\n\n7:49 Moreover they ordained to keep yearly this day, being the\nthirteenth of Adar.\n\n7:50 Thus the land of Juda was in rest a little while.\n\n8:1 Now Judas had heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were\nmighty and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept all that\njoined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all that\ncame unto them;\n\n8:2 And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also of\ntheir wars and noble acts which they had done among the Galatians, and\nhow they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute;\n\n8:3 And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of\nthe mines of the silver and gold which is there;\n\n8:4 And that by their policy and patience they had conquered all the\nplace, though it were very far from them; and the kings also that came\nagainst them from the uttermost part of the earth, till they had\ndiscomfited them, and given them a great overthrow, so that the rest\ndid give them tribute every year:\n\n8:5 Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and\nPerseus, king of the Citims, with others that lifted up themselves\nagainst them, and had overcome them:\n\n8:6 How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against them\nin battle, having an hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and\nchariots, and a very great army, was discomfited by them;\n\n8:7 And how they took him alive, and covenanted that he and such as\nreigned after him should pay a great tribute, and give hostages, and\nthat which was agreed upon,\n\n8:8 And the country of India, and Media and Lydia and of the goodliest\ncountries, which they took of him, and gave to king Eumenes:\n\n8:9 Moreover how the Grecians had determined to come and destroy them;\n\n8:10 And that they, having knowledge thereof sent against them a\ncertain captain, and fighting with them slew many of them, and carried\naway captives their wives and their children, and spoiled them, and\ntook possession of their lands, and pulled down their strong holds, and\nbrought them to be their servants unto this day:\n\n8:11 It was told him besides, how they destroyed and brought under\ntheir dominion all other kingdoms and isles that at any time resisted\nthem;\n\n8:12 But with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept\namity: and that they had conquered kingdoms both far and nigh, insomuch\nas all that heard of their name were afraid of them:\n\n8:13 Also that, whom they would help to a kingdom, those reign; and\nwhom again they would, they displace: finally, that they were greatly\nexalted:\n\n8:14 Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in\npurple, to be magnified thereby:\n\n8:15 Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, wherein\nthree hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting alway for\nthe people, to the end they might be well ordered:\n\n8:16 And that they committed their government to one man every year,\nwho ruled over all their country, and that all were obedient to that\none, and that there was neither envy nor emmulation among them.\n\n8:17 In consideration of these things, Judas chose Eupolemus the son of\nJohn, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to\nRome, to make a league of amity and confederacy with them,\n\n8:18 And to intreat them that they would take the yoke from them; for\nthey saw that the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel with\nservitude.\n\n8:19 They went therefore to Rome, which was a very great journey, and\ncame into the senate, where they spake and said.\n\n8:20 Judas Maccabeus with his brethren, and the people of the Jews,\nhave sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and\nthat we might be registered your confederates and friends.\n\n8:21 So that matter pleased the Romans well.\n\n8:22 And this is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote back\nagain in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that there they might\nhave by them a memorial of peace and confederacy:\n\n8:23 Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by\nsea and by land for ever: the sword also and enemy be far from them,\n\n8:24 If there come first any war upon the Romans or any of their\nconfederates throughout all their dominion,\n\n8:25 The people of the Jews shall help them, as the time shall be\nappointed, with all their heart:\n\n8:26 Neither shall they give any thing unto them that make war upon\nthem, or aid them with victuals, weapons, money, or ships, as it hath\nseemed good unto the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants\nwithout taking any thing therefore.\n\n8:27 In the same manner also, if war come first upon the nation of the\nJews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the\ntime shall be appointed them:\n\n8:28 Neither shall victuals be given to them that take part against\nthem, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the\nRomans; but they shall keep their covenants, and that without deceit.\n\n8:29 According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with\nthe people of the Jews.\n\n8:30 Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think to\nmeet to add or diminish any thing, they may do it at their pleasures,\nand whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified.\n\n8:31 And as touching the evils that Demetrius doeth to the Jews, we\nhave written unto him, saying, Wherefore thou made thy yoke heavy upon\nour friends and confederates the Jews?\n\n8:32 If therefore they complain any more against thee, we will do them\njustice, and fight with thee by sea and by land.\n\n9:1 Furthermore, when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his host were\nslain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judea\nthe second time, and with them the chief strength of his host:\n\n9:2 Who went forth by the way that leadeth to Galgala, and pitched\ntheir tents before Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won\nit, they slew much people.\n\n9:3 Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they\nencamped before Jerusalem:\n\n9:4 From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand\nfootmen and two thousand horsemen.\n\n9:5 Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa, and three thousand\nchosen men with him:\n\n9:6 Who seeing the multitude of the other army to be so great were sore\nafraid; whereupon many conveyed themselves out of the host, insomuch as\nthere abode of them no more but eight hundred men.\n\n9:7 When Judas therefore saw that his host slipt away, and that the\nbattle pressed upon him, he was sore troubled in mind, and much\ndistressed, for that he had no time to gather them together.\n\n9:8 Nevertheless unto them that remained he said, Let us arise and go\nup against our enemies, if peradventure we may be able to fight with\nthem.\n\n9:9 But they dehorted him, saying, We shall never be able: let us now\nrather save our lives, and hereafter we will return with our brethren,\nand fight against them: for we are but few.\n\n9:10 Then Judas said, God forbid that I should do this thing, and flee\naway from them: if our time be come, let us die manfully for our\nbrethren, and let us not stain our honour.\n\n9:11 With that the host of Bacchides removed out of their tents, and\nstood over against them, their horsemen being divided into two troops,\nand their slingers and archers going before the host and they that\nmarched in the foreward were all mighty men.\n\n9:12 As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near\non the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.\n\n9:13 They also of Judas\u2019 side, even they sounded their trumpets also,\nso that the earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle\ncontinued from morning till night.\n\n9:14 Now when Judas perceived that Bacchides and the strength of his\narmy were on the right side, he took with him all the hardy men,\n\n9:15 Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount\nAzotus.\n\n9:16 But when they of the left wing saw that they of the right wing\nwere discomfited, they followed upon Judas and those that were with him\nhard at the heels from behind:\n\n9:17 Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on\nboth parts.\n\n9:18 Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.\n\n9:19 Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him\nin the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.\n\n9:20 Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation\nfor him, and mourned many days, saying,\n\n9:21 How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel!\n\n9:22 As for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the\nnoble acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for\nthey were very many.\n\n9:23 Now after the death of Judas the wicked began to put forth their\nheads in all the coasts of Israel, and there arose up all such as\nwrought iniquity.\n\n9:24 In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason\nwhereof the country revolted, and went with them.\n\n9:25 Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the\ncountry.\n\n9:26 And they made enquiry and search for Judas\u2019 friends, and brought\nthem unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them\ndespitefully.\n\n9:27 So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was\nnot since the time that a prophet was not seen among them.\n\n9:28 For this cause all Judas\u2019 friends came together, and said unto\nJonathan,\n\n9:29 Since thy brother Judas died, we have no man like him to go forth\nagainst our enemies, and Bacchides, and against them of our nation that\nare adversaries to us.\n\n9:30 Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and\ncaptain in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles.\n\n9:31 Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and\nrose up instead of his brother Judas.\n\n9:32 But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay\nhim.\n\n9:33 Then Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him,\nperceiving that, fled into the wilderness of Thecoe, and pitched their\ntents by the water of the pool Asphar.\n\n9:34 Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all\nhis host upon the sabbath day.\n\n9:35 Now Jonathan had sent his brother John, a captain of the people,\nto pray his friends the Nabathites, that they might leave with them\ntheir carriage, which was much.\n\n9:36 But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and\nall that he had, and went their way with it.\n\n9:37 After this came word to Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the\nchildren of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride\nfrom Nadabatha with a great train, as being the daughter of one of the\ngreat princes of Chanaan.\n\n9:38 Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid\nthemselves under the covert of the mountain:\n\n9:39 Where they lifted up their eyes, and looked, and, behold, there\nwas much ado and great carriage: and the bridegroom came forth, and his\nfriends and brethren, to meet them with drums, and instruments of\nmusick, and many weapons.\n\n9:40 Then Jonathan and they that were with him rose up against them\nfrom the place where they lay in ambush, and made a slaughter of them\nin such sort, as many fell down dead, and the remnant fled into the\nmountain, and they took all their spoils.\n\n9:41 Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their\nmelody into lamentation.\n\n9:42 So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they\nturned again to the marsh of Jordan.\n\n9:43 Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the sabbath day unto\nthe banks of Jordan with a great power.\n\n9:44 Then Jonathan said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for\nour lives, for it standeth not with us to day, as in time past:\n\n9:45 For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us, and the water\nof Jordan on this side and that side, the marsh likewise and wood,\nneither is there place for us to turn aside.\n\n9:46 Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from\nthe hand of your enemies.\n\n9:47 With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his\nhand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him.\n\n9:48 Then Jonathan and they that were with him leapt into Jordan, and\nswam over unto the other bank: howbeit the other passed not over Jordan\nunto them.\n\n9:49 So there were slain of Bacchides\u2019 side that day about a thousand\nmen.\n\n9:50 Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong\ncites in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and\nBethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen\nwith high walls, with gates and with bars.\n\n9:51 And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon\nIsrael.\n\n9:52 He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower,\nand put forces in them, and provision of victuals.\n\n9:53 Besides, he took the chief men\u2019s sons in the country for hostages,\nand put them into the tower at Jerusalem to be kept.\n\n9:54 Moreover in the hundred fifty and third year, in the second month,\nAlcimus commanded that the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary\nshould be pulled down; he pulled down also the works of the prophets\n\n9:55 And as he began to pull down, even at that time was Alcimus\nplagued, and his enterprizes hindered: for his mouth was stopped, and\nhe was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak any thing,\nnor give order concerning his house.\n\n9:56 So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.\n\n9:57 Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the\nking: whereupon the land of Judea was in rest two years.\n\n9:58 Then all the ungodly men held a council, saying, Behold, Jonathan\nand his company are at ease, and dwell without care: now therefore we\nwill bring Bacchides hither, who shall take them all in one night.\n\n9:59 So they went and consulted with him.\n\n9:60 Then removed he, and came with a great host, and sent letters\nprivily to his adherents in Judea, that they should take Jonathan and\nthose that were with him: howbeit they could not, because their counsel\nwas known unto them.\n\n9:61 Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors\nof that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.\n\n9:62 Afterward Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, got\nthem away to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and they repaired\nthe decays thereof, and made it strong.\n\n9:63 Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his\nhost, and sent word to them that were of Judea.\n\n9:64 Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought\nagainst it a long season and made engines of war.\n\n9:65 But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth\nhimself into the country, and with a certain number went he forth.\n\n9:66 And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of\nPhasiron in their tent.\n\n9:67 And when he began to smite them, and came up with his forces,\nSimon and his company went out of the city, and burned up the engines\nof war,\n\n9:68 And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and\nthey afflicted him sore: for his counsel and travail was in vain.\n\n9:69 Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked men that gave him\ncounsel to come into the country, inasmuch as he slew many of them, and\npurposed to return into his own country.\n\n9:70 Whereof when Jonathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadors unto him,\nto the end he should make peace with him, and deliver them the\nprisoners.\n\n9:71 Which thing he accepted, and did according to his demands, and\nsware unto him that he would never do him harm all the days of his\nlife.\n\n9:72 When therefore he had restored unto him the prisoners that he had\ntaken aforetime out of the land of Judea, he returned and went his way\ninto his own land, neither came he any more into their borders.\n\n9:73 Thus the sword ceased from Israel: but Jonathan dwelt at Machmas,\nand began to govern the people; and he destroyed the ungodly men out of\nIsrael.\n\n10:1 In the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander, the son of Antiochus\nsurnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais: for the people had\nreceived him, by means whereof he reigned there,\n\n10:2 Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an\nexceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight.\n\n10:3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words,\nso as he magnified him.\n\n10:4 For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with\nAlexander against us:\n\n10:5 Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him,\nand against his brethren and his people.\n\n10:6 Wherefore he gave him authority to gather together an host, and to\nprovide weapons, that he might aid him in battle: he commanded also\nthat the hostages that were in the tower should be delivered him.\n\n10:7 Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the\naudience of all the people, and of them that were in the tower:\n\n10:8 Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him\nauthority to gather together an host.\n\n10:9 Whereupon they of the tower delivered their hostages unto\nJonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.\n\n10:10 This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to\nbuild and repair the city.\n\n10:11 And he commanded the workmen to build the walls and the mount\nSion and about with square stones for fortification; and they did so.\n\n10:12 Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides\nhad built, fled away;\n\n10:13 Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own\ncountry.\n\n10:14 Only at Bethsura certain of those that had forsaken the law and\nthe commandments remained still: for it was their place of refuge.\n\n10:15 Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had\nsent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of the battles and noble\nacts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had\nendured,\n\n10:16 He said, Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will\nmake him our friend and confederate.\n\n10:17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to\nthese words, saying,\n\n10:18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sendeth greeting:\n\n10:19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and\nmeet to be our friend.\n\n10:20 Wherefore now this day we ordain thee to be the high priest of\nthy nation, and to be called the king\u2019s friend; (and therewithal he\nsent him a purple robe and a crown of gold:) and require thee to take\nour part, and keep friendship with us.\n\n10:21 So in the seventh month of the hundred and sixtieth year, at the\nfeast of the tabernacles, Jonathan put on the holy robe, and gathered\ntogether forces, and provided much armour.\n\n10:22 Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was very sorry, and said,\n\n10:23 What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making\namity with the Jews to strengthen himself?\n\n10:24 I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and promise\nthem dignities and gifts, that I may have their aid.\n\n10:25 He sent unto them therefore to this effect: King Demetrius unto\nthe people of the Jews sendeth greeting:\n\n10:26 Whereas ye have kept covenants with us, and continued in our\nfriendship, not joining yourselves with our enemies, we have heard\nhereof, and are glad.\n\n10:27 Wherefore now continue ye still to be faithful unto us, and we\nwill well recompense you for the things ye do in our behalf,\n\n10:28 And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.\n\n10:29 And now do I free you, and for your sake I release all the Jews,\nfrom tributes, and from the customs of salt, and from crown taxes,\n\n10:30 And from that which appertaineth unto me to receive for the third\npart or the seed, and the half of the fruit of the trees, I release it\nfrom this day forth, so that they shall not be taken of the land of\nJudea, nor of the three governments which are added thereunto out of\nthe country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth for evermore.\n\n10:31 Let Jerusalem also be holy and free, with the borders thereof,\nboth from tenths and tributes.\n\n10:32 And as for the tower which is at Jerusalem, I yield up authority\nover it, and give it to the high priest, that he may set in it such men\nas he shall choose to keep it.\n\n10:33 Moreover I freely set at liberty every one of the Jews, that were\ncarried captives out of the land of Judea into any part of my kingdom,\nand I will that all my officers remit the tributes even of their\ncattle.\n\n10:34 Furthermore I will that all the feasts, and sabbaths, and new\nmoons, and solemn days, and the three days before the feast, and the\nthree days after the feast shall be all of immunity and freedom for all\nthe Jews in my realm.\n\n10:35 Also no man shall have authority to meddle with or to molest any\nof them in any matter.\n\n10:36 I will further, that there be enrolled among the king\u2019s forces\nabout thirty thousand men of the Jews, unto whom pay shall be given, as\nbelongeth to all king\u2019s forces.\n\n10:37 And of them some shall be placed in the king\u2019s strong holds, of\nwhom also some shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, which are\nof trust: and I will that their overseers and governors be of\nthemselves, and that they live after their own laws, even as the king\nhath commanded in the land of Judea.\n\n10:38 And concerning the three governments that are added to Judea from\nthe country of Samaria, let them be joined with Judea, that they may be\nreckoned to be under one, nor bound to obey other authority than the\nhigh priest\u2019s.\n\n10:39 As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I give it as a\nfree gift to the sanctuary at Jerusalem for the necessary expences of\nthe sanctuary.\n\n10:40 Moreover I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver out\nof the king\u2019s accounts from the places appertaining.\n\n10:41 And all the overplus, which the officers payed not in as in\nformer time, from henceforth shall be given toward the works of the\ntemple.\n\n10:42 And beside this, the five thousand shekels of silver, which they\ntook from the uses of the temple out of the accounts year by year, even\nthose things shall be released, because they appertain to the priests\nthat minister.\n\n10:43 And whosoever they be that flee unto the temple at Jerusalem, or\nbe within the liberties hereof, being indebted unto the king, or for\nany other matter, let them be at liberty, and all that they have in my\nrealm.\n\n10:44 For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary\nexpences shall be given of the king\u2019s accounts.\n\n10:45 Yea, and for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the\nfortifying thereof round about, expences shall be given out of the\nking\u2019s accounts, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.\n\n10:46 Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no\ncredit unto them, nor received them, because they remembered the great\nevil that he had done in Israel; for he had afflicted them very sore.\n\n10:47 But with Alexander they were well pleased, because he was the\nfirst that entreated of true peace with them, and they were confederate\nwith him always.\n\n10:48 Then gathered king Alexander great forces, and camped over\nagainst Demetrius.\n\n10:49 And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius\u2019 host fled:\nbut Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.\n\n10:50 And he continued the battle very sore until the sun went down:\nand that day was Demetrius slain.\n\n10:51 Afterward Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt\nwith a message to this effect:\n\n10:52 Forasmuch as I am come again to my realm, and am set in the\nthrone of my progenitors, and have gotten the dominion, and overthrown\nDemetrius, and recovered our country;\n\n10:53 For after I had joined battle with him, both he and his host was\ndiscomfited by us, so that we sit in the throne of his kingdom:\n\n10:54 Now therefore let us make a league of amity together, and give me\nnow thy daughter to wife: and I will be thy son in law, and will give\nboth thee and her gifts according to thy dignity.\n\n10:55 Then Ptolemee the king gave answer, saying, Happy be the day\nwherein thou didst return into the land of thy fathers, and satest in\nthe throne of their kingdom.\n\n10:56 And now will I do to thee, as thou hast written: meet me\ntherefore at Ptolemais, that we may see one another; for I will marry\nmy daughter to thee according to thy desire.\n\n10:57 So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, and\nthey came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore and second year:\n\n10:58 Where king Alexander meeting him, he gave unto him his daughter\nCleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great glory,\nas the manner of kings is.\n\n10:59 Now king Alexander had written unto Jonathan, that he should come\nand meet him.\n\n10:60 Who thereupon went honourably to Ptolemais, where he met the two\nkings, and gave them and their friends silver and gold, and many\npresents, and found favour in their sight.\n\n10:61 At that time certain pestilent fellows of Israel, men of a wicked\nlife, assembled themselves against him, to accuse him: but the king\nwould not hear them.\n\n10:62 Yea more than that, the king commanded to take off his garments,\nand clothe him in purple: and they did so.\n\n10:63 And he made him sit by himself, and said into his princes, Go\nwith him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man\ncomplain against him of any matter, and that no man trouble him for any\nmanner of cause.\n\n10:64 Now when his accusers saw that he was honored according to the\nproclamation, and clothed in purple, they fled all away.\n\n10:65 So the king honoured him, and wrote him among his chief friends,\nand made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.\n\n10:66 Afterward Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.\n\n10:67 Furthermore in the hundred threescore and fifth year came\nDemetrius son of Demetrius out of Crete into the land of his fathers:\n\n10:68 Whereof when king Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and\nreturned into Antioch.\n\n10:69 Then Demetrius made Apollonius the governor of Celosyria his\ngeneral, who gathered together a great host, and camped in Jamnia, and\nsent unto Jonathan the high priest, saying,\n\n10:70 Thou alone liftest up thyself against us, and I am laughed to\nscorn for thy sake, and reproached: and why dost thou vaunt thy power\nagainst us in the mountains?\n\n10:71 Now therefore, if thou trustest in thine own strength, come down\nto us into the plain field, and there let us try the matter together:\nfor with me is the power of the cities.\n\n10:72 Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that take our part, and they\nshall tell thee that thy foot is not able to to flight in their own\nland.\n\n10:73 Wherefore now thou shalt not be able to abide the horsemen and so\ngreat a power in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place\nto flee unto.\n\n10:74 So when Jonathan heard these words of Apollonius, he was moved in\nhis mind, and choosing ten thousand men he went out of Jerusalem, where\nSimon his brother met him for to help him.\n\n10:75 And he pitched his tents against Joppa: but; they of Joppa shut\nhim out of the city, because Apollonius had a garrison there.\n\n10:76 Then Jonathan laid siege unto it: whereupon they of the city let\nhim in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa.\n\n10:77 Whereof when Apollonius heard, he took three thousand horsemen,\nwith a great host of footmen, and went to Azotus as one that journeyed,\nand therewithal drew him forth into the plain, because he had a great\nnumber of horsemen, in whom he put his trust.\n\n10:78 Then Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, where the armies\njoined battle.\n\n10:79 Now Apollonius had left a thousand horsemen in ambush.\n\n10:80 And Jonathan knew that there was an ambushment behind him; for\nthey had compassed in his host, and cast darts at the people, from\nmorning till evening.\n\n10:81 But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and\nso the enemies\u2019 horses were tired.\n\n10:82 Then brought Simon forth his host, and set them against the\nfootmen, (for the horsemen were spent) who were discomfited by him, and\nfled.\n\n10:83 The horsemen also, being scattered in the field, fled to Azotus,\nand went into Bethdagon, their idol\u2019s temple, for safety.\n\n10:84 But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and the cities round about it,\nand took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, with them that were\nfled into it, he burned with fire.\n\n10:85 Thus there were burned and slain with the sword well nigh eight\nthousand men.\n\n10:86 And from thence Jonathan removed his host, and camped against\nAscalon, where the men of the city came forth, and met him with great\npomp.\n\n10:87 After this returned Jonathan and his host unto Jerusalem, having\nmany spoils.\n\n10:88 Now when king Alexander heard these things, he honoured Jonathan\nyet more.\n\n10:89 And sent him a buckle of gold, as the use is to be given to such\nas are of the king\u2019s blood: he gave him also Accaron with the borders\nthereof in possession.\n\n11:1 And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the\nsand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about\nthrough deceit to get Alexander\u2019s kingdom, and join it to his own.\n\n11:2 Whereupon he took his journey into Syria in peaceable manner, so\nas they of the cities opened unto him, and met him: for king Alexander\nhad commanded them so to do, because he was his brother in law.\n\n11:3 Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one of\nthem a garrison of soldiers to keep it.\n\n11:4 And when he came near to Azotus, they shewed him the temple of\nDagon that was burnt, and Azotus and the suburbs thereof that were\ndestroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad and them that he had\nburnt in the battle; for they had made heaps of them by the way where\nhe should pass.\n\n11:5 Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done, to the\nintent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.\n\n11:6 Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppa, where they\nsaluted one another, and lodged.\n\n11:7 Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the river\ncalled Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.\n\n11:8 King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities\nby the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels\nagainst Alexander.\n\n11:9 Whereupon he sent ambasadors unto king Demetrius, saying, Come,\nlet us make a league betwixt us, and I will give thee my daughter whom\nAlexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy father\u2019s kingdom:\n\n11:10 For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to\nslay me.\n\n11:11 Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his kingdom.\n\n11:12 Wherefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to\nDemetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly\nknown.\n\n11:13 Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon\nhis head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.\n\n11:14 In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because those\nthat dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.\n\n11:15 But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him:\nwhereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host, and met him with a\nmighty power, and put him to flight.\n\n11:16 So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended; but king\nPtolemee was exalted:\n\n11:17 For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander\u2019s head, and sent it\nunto Ptolemee.\n\n11:18 King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that were\nin the strong holds were slain one of another.\n\n11:19 By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and\nseventh year.\n\n11:20 At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in\nJudea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many engines\nof war against it.\n\n11:21 Then certain ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went\nunto the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower,\n\n11:22 Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately removing, he\ncame to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan, that he should not lay\nsiege to the tower, but come and speak with him at Ptolemais in great\nhaste.\n\n11:23 Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard this, commanded to besiege\nit still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and the priests,\nand put himself in peril;\n\n11:24 And took silver and gold, and raiment, and divers presents\nbesides, and went to Ptolemais unto the king, where he found favour in\nhis sight.\n\n11:25 And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints\nagainst him,\n\n11:26 Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before,\nand promoted him in the sight of all his friends,\n\n11:27 And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honours\nthat he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends.\n\n11:28 Then Jonathan desired the king, that he would make Judea free\nfrom tribute, as also the three governments, with the country of\nSamaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.\n\n11:29 So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all\nthese things after this manner:\n\n11:30 King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation of\nthe Jews, sendeth greeting:\n\n11:31 We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto our\ncousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.\n\n11:32 King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:\n\n11:33 We are determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who are\nour friends, and keep covenants with us, because of their good will\ntoward us.\n\n11:34 Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with\nthe three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are\nadded unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and all things\nappertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem,\ninstead of the payments which the king received of them yearly\naforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.\n\n11:35 And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes and\ncustoms pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the crown taxes,\nwhich are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.\n\n11:36 And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for\never.\n\n11:37 Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and let\nit be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount in a\nconspicuous place.\n\n11:38 After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet\nbefore him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent away\nall his forces, every one to his own place, except certain bands of\nstrangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the heathen:\nwherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.\n\n11:39 Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander\u2019s part\nafore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against Demetrius, went\nto Simalcue the Arabian that brought up Antiochus the young son of\nAlexander,\n\n11:40 And lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus, that\nhe might reign in his father\u2019s stead: he told him therefore all that\nDemetrius had done, and how his men of war were at enmity with him, and\nthere he remained a long season.\n\n11:41 In the mean time Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he would\ncast those of the tower out of Jerusalem, and those also in the\nfortresses: for they fought against Israel.\n\n11:42 So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying, I will not only do this\nfor thee and thy people, but I will greatly honour thee and thy nation,\nif opportunity serve.\n\n11:43 Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men to help me;\nfor all my forces are gone from me.\n\n11:44 Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto\nAntioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very glad of\ntheir coming.\n\n11:45 Howbeit they that were of the city gathered themselves together\ninto the midst of the city, to the number of an hundred and twenty\nthousand men, and would have slain the king.\n\n11:46 Wherefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city kept\nthe passages of the city, and began to fight.\n\n11:47 Then the king called to the Jews for help, who came unto him all\nat once, and dispersing themselves through the city slew that day in\nthe city to the number of an hundred thousand.\n\n11:48 Also they set fire on the city, and gat many spoils that day, and\ndelivered the king.\n\n11:49 So when they of the city saw that the Jews had got the city as\nthey would, their courage was abated: wherefore they made supplication\nto the king, and cried, saying,\n\n11:50 Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and the\ncity.\n\n11:51 With that they cast away their weapons, and made peace; and the\nJews were honoured in the sight of the king, and in the sight of all\nthat were in his realm; and they returned to Jerusalem, having great\nspoils.\n\n11:52 So king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land\nwas quiet before him.\n\n11:53 Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spake, and\nestranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he him according to\nthe benefits which he had received of him, but troubled him very sore.\n\n11:54 After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child\nAntiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.\n\n11:55 Then there gathered unto him all the men of war, whom Demetrius\nhad put away, and they fought against Demetrius, who turned his back\nand fled.\n\n11:56 Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch.\n\n11:57 At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I\nconfirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler over the\nfour governments, and to be one of the king\u2019s friends.\n\n11:58 Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and gave\nhim leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a\ngolden buckle.\n\n11:59 His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called The\nladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.\n\n11:60 Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond\nthe water, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for\nto help him: and when he came to Ascalon, they of the city met him\nhonourably.\n\n11:61 From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out;\nwherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with\nfire, and spoiled them.\n\n11:62 Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication unto Jonathan, he\nmade peace with them, and took the sons of their chief men for\nhostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through the country\nunto Damascus.\n\n11:63 Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius\u2019 princes were come to\nCades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing to remove him\nout of the country,\n\n11:64 He went to meet them, and left Simon his brother in the country.\n\n11:65 Then Simon encamped against Bethsura and fought against it a long\nseason, and shut it up:\n\n11:66 But they desired to have peace with him, which he granted them,\nand then put them out from thence, and took the city, and set a\ngarrison in it.\n\n11:67 As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of\nGennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to the plain\nof Nasor.\n\n11:68 And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, who,\nhaving laid men in ambush for him in the mountains, came themselves\nover against him.\n\n11:69 So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and\njoined battle, all that were of Jonathan\u2019s side fled;\n\n11:70 Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except Mattathias the\nson of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of the host.\n\n11:71 Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and\nprayed.\n\n11:72 Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so\nthey ran away.\n\n11:73 Now when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned again\nunto him, and with him pursued them to Cades, even unto their own\ntents, and there they camped.\n\n11:74 So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand\nmen: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.\n\n12:1 Now when Jonathan saw that time served him, he chose certain men,\nand sent them to Rome, for to confirm and renew the friendship that\nthey had with them.\n\n12:2 He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places,\nfor the same purpose.\n\n12:3 So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate, and said,\nJonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you,\nto the end ye should renew the friendship, which ye had with them, and\nleague, as in former time.\n\n12:4 Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every\nplace that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably.\n\n12:5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the\nLacedemonians:\n\n12:6 Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the\npriests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their\nbrethren send greeting:\n\n12:7 There were letters sent in times past unto Onias the high priest\nfrom Darius, who reigned then among you, to signify that ye are our\nbrethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.\n\n12:8 At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent\nhonourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of\nthe league and friendship.\n\n12:9 Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, that we\nhave the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us,\n\n12:10 Have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of\nbrotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you\naltogether: for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us.\n\n12:11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts,\nand other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we\noffer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think\nupon our brethren:\n\n12:12 And we are right glad of your honour.\n\n12:13 As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every\nside, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought\nagainst us.\n\n12:14 Howbeit we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of\nour confederates and friends, in these wars:\n\n12:15 For we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are\ndelivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.\n\n12:16 For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and\nAntipater he son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the\namity that we had with them, and the former league.\n\n12:17 We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute and to\ndeliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.\n\n12:18 Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.\n\n12:19 And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent.\n\n12:20 Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest,\ngreeting:\n\n12:21 It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are\nbrethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:\n\n12:22 Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do\nwell to write unto us of your prosperity.\n\n12:23 We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are\nours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore our ambassadors to\nmake report unto you on this wise.\n\n12:24 Now when Jonathan heard that Demebius\u2019 princes were come to fight\nagainst him with a greater host than afore,\n\n12:25 He removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amathis:\nfor he gave them no respite to enter his country.\n\n12:26 He sent spies also unto their tents, who came again, and told him\nthat they were appointed to come upon them in the night season.\n\n12:27 Wherefore so soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men\nto watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be\nready to fight: also he sent forth sentinels round about the host.\n\n12:28 But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were\nready for battle, they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they\nkindled fires in their camp.\n\n12:29 Howbeit Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning:\nfor they saw the lights burning.\n\n12:30 Then Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they\nwere gone over the river Eleutherus.\n\n12:31 Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians, who were called\nZabadeans, and smote them, and took their spoils.\n\n12:32 And removing thence, he came to Damascus, and so passed through\nall the country,\n\n12:33 Simon also went forth, and passed through the country unto\nAscalon, and the holds there adjoining, from whence he turned aside to\nJoppa, and won it.\n\n12:34 For he had heard that they would deliver the hold unto them that\ntook Demetrius\u2019 part; wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it.\n\n12:35 After this came Jonathan home again, and calling the elders of\nthe people together, he consulted with them about building strong holds\nin Judea,\n\n12:36 And making the walls of Jerusalem higher, and raising a great\nmount between the tower and the city, for to separate it from the city,\nthat so it might be alone, that men might neither sell nor buy in it.\n\n12:37 Upon this they came together to build up the city, forasmuch as\npart of the wall toward the brook on the east side was fallen down, and\nthey repaired that which was called Caphenatha.\n\n12:38 Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates\nand bars.\n\n12:39 Now Tryphon went about to get the kingdom of Asia, and to kill\nAntiochus the king, that he might set the crown upon his own head.\n\n12:40 Howbeit he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him, and\nthat he would fight against him; wherefore he sought a way how to take\nJonathan, that he might kill him. So he removed, and came to Bethsan.\n\n12:41 Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen\nfor the battle, and came to Bethsan.\n\n12:42 Now when Tryphon saw Jonathan came with so great a force, he\ndurst not stretch his hand against him;\n\n12:43 But received him honourably, and commended him unto all his\nfriends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his men of war to be as\nobedient unto him, as to himself.\n\n12:44 Unto Jonathan also he said, Why hast thou brought all this people\nto so great trouble, seeing there is no war betwixt us?\n\n12:45 Therefore send them now home again, and choose a few men to wait\non thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, for I will give it thee,\nand the rest of the strong holds and forces, and all that have any\ncharge: as for me, I will return and depart: for this is the cause of\nmy coming.\n\n12:46 So Jonathan believing him did as he bade him, and sent away his\nhost, who went into the land of Judea.\n\n12:47 And with himself he retained but three thousand men, of whom he\nsent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.\n\n12:48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais\nshut the gates and took him, and all them that came with him they slew\nwith the sword.\n\n12:49 Then sent Tryphon an host of footmen and horsemen into Galilee,\nand into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan\u2019s company.\n\n12:50 But when they knew that Jonathan and they that were with him were\ntaken and slain, they encouraged one another; and went close together,\nprepared to fight.\n\n12:51 They therefore that followed upon them, perceiving that they were\nready to fight for their lives, turned back again.\n\n12:52 Whereupon they all came into the land of Judea peaceably, and\nthere they bewailed Jonathan, and them that were with him, and they\nwere sore afraid; wherefore all Israel made great lamentation.\n\n12:53 Then all the heathen that were round about then sought to destroy\nthem: for said they, They have no captain, nor any to help them: now\ntherefore let us make war upon them, and take away their memorial from\namong men.\n\n13:1 Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a great\nhost to invade the land of Judea, and destroy it,\n\n13:2 And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he went\nup to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together,\n\n13:3 And gave them exhortation, saying, Ye yourselves know what great\nthings I, and my brethren, and my father\u2019s house, have done for the\nlaws and the sanctuary, the battles also and troubles which we have\nseen.\n\n13:4 By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel\u2019s sake, and\nI am left alone.\n\n13:5 Now therefore be it far from me, that I should spare mine own life\nin any time of trouble: for I am no better than my brethren.\n\n13:6 Doubtless I will avenge my nation, and the sanctuary, and our\nwives, and our children: for all the heathen are gathered to destroy us\nof very malice.\n\n13:7 Now as soon as the people heard these words, their spirit revived.\n\n13:8 And they answered with a loud voice, saying, Thou shalt be our\nleader instead of Judas and Jonathan thy brother.\n\n13:9 Fight thou our battles, and whatsoever, thou commandest us, that\nwill we do.\n\n13:10 So then he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste\nto finish the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.\n\n13:11 Also he sent Jonathan the son of Absolom, and with him a great\npower, to Joppa: who casting out them that were therein remained there\nin it.\n\n13:12 So Tryphon removed from Ptolemaus with a great power to invade\nthe land of Judea, and Jonathan was with him in ward.\n\n13:13 But Simon pitched his tents at Adida, over against the plain.\n\n13:14 Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his\nbrother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers\nunto him, saying,\n\n13:15 Whereas we have Jonathan thy brother in hold, it is for money\nthat he is owing unto the king\u2019s treasure, concerning the business that\nwas committed unto him.\n\n13:16 Wherefore now send an hundred talents of silver, and two of his\nsons for hostages, that when he is at liberty he may not revolt from\nus, and we will let him go.\n\n13:17 Hereupon Simon, albeit he perceived that they spake deceitfully\nunto him yet sent he the money and the children, lest peradventure he\nshould procure to himself great hatred of the people:\n\n13:18 Who might have said, Because I sent him not the money and the\nchildren, therefore is Jonathan dead.\n\n13:19 So he sent them the children and the hundred talents: howbeit\nTryphon dissembled neither would he let Jonathan go.\n\n13:20 And after this came Tryphon to invade the land, and destroy it,\ngoing round about by the way that leadeth unto Adora: but Simon and his\nhost marched against him in every place, wheresoever he went.\n\n13:21 Now they that were in the tower sent messengers unto Tryphon, to\nthe end that he should hasten his coming unto them by the wilderness,\nand send them victuals.\n\n13:22 Wherefore Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night:\nbut there fell a very great snow, by reason whereof he came not. So he\ndeparted, and came into the country of Galaad.\n\n13:23 And when he came near to Bascama he slew Jonathan, who was buried\nthere.\n\n13:24 Afterward Tryphon returned and went into his own land.\n\n13:25 Then sent Simon, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and\nburied them in Modin, the city of his fathers.\n\n13:26 And all Israel made great lamentation for him, and bewailed him\nmany days.\n\n13:27 Simon also built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and\nhis brethren, and raised it aloft to the sight, with hewn stone behind\nand before.\n\n13:28 Moreover he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his\nfather, and his mother, and his four brethren.\n\n13:29 And in these he made cunning devices, about the which he set\ngreat pillars, and upon the pillars he made all their armour for a\nperpetual memory, and by the armour ships carved, that they might be\nseen of all that sail on the sea.\n\n13:30 This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it standeth yet\nunto this day.\n\n13:31 Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and\nslew him.\n\n13:32 And he reigned in his stead, and crowned himself king of Asia,\nand brought a great calamity upon the land.\n\n13:33 Then Simon built up the strong holds in Judea, and fenced them\nabout with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars, and laid\nup victuals therein.\n\n13:34 Moreover Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end\nhe should give the land an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was\nto spoil.\n\n13:35 Unto whom king Demetrius answered and wrote after this manner:\n\n13:36 King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest, and friend of kings,\nas also unto the elders and nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:\n\n13:37 The golden crown, and the scarlet robe, which ye sent unto us, we\nhave received: and we are ready to make a stedfast peace with you, yea,\nand to write unto our officers, to confirm the immunities which we have\ngranted.\n\n13:38 And whatsoever covenants we have made with you shall stand; and\nthe strong holds, which ye have builded, shall be your own.\n\n13:39 As for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive\nit, and the crown tax also, which ye owe us: and if there were any\nother tribute paid in Jerusalem, it shall no more be paid.\n\n13:40 And look who are meet among you to be in our court, let then be\nenrolled, and let there be peace betwixt us.\n\n13:41 Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in the\nhundred and seventieth year.\n\n13:42 Then the people of Israel began to write in their instruments and\ncontracts, In the first year of Simon the high priest, the governor and\nleader of the Jews.\n\n13:43 In those days Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it round\nabout; he made also an engine of war, and set it by the city, and\nbattered a certain tower, and took it.\n\n13:44 And they that were in the engine leaped into the city; whereupon\nthere was a great uproar in the city:\n\n13:45 Insomuch as the people of the city rent their clothes, and\nclimbed upon the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a\nloud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.\n\n13:46 And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but\naccording to thy mercy.\n\n13:47 So Simon was appeased toward them, and fought no more against\nthem, but put them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the\nidols were, and so entered into it with songs and thanksgiving.\n\n13:48 Yea, he put all uncleanness out of it, and placed such men there\nas would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and\nbuilt therein a dwellingplace for himself.\n\n13:49 They also of the tower in Jerusalem were kept so strait, that\nthey could neither come forth, nor go into the country, nor buy, nor\nsell: wherefore they were in great distress for want of victuals, and a\ngreat number of them perished through famine.\n\n13:50 Then cried they to Simon, beseeching him to be at one with them:\nwhich thing he granted them; and when he had put them out from thence,\nhe cleansed the tower from pollutions:\n\n13:51 And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second\nmonth in the hundred seventy and first year, with thanksgiving, and\nbranches of palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols,\nand hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of\nIsrael.\n\n13:52 He ordained also that that day should be kept every year with\ngladness. Moreover the hill of the temple that was by the tower he made\nstronger than it was, and there he dwelt himself with his company.\n\n13:53 And when Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man, he made\nhim captain of all the hosts; and he dwelt in Gazera.\n\n14:1 Now in the hundred threescore and twelfth year king Demetrius\ngathered his forces together, and went into Media to get him help to\nfight against Tryphone.\n\n14:2 But when Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that\nDemetrius was entered within his borders, he sent one of his princes to\ntake him alive:\n\n14:3 Who went and smote the host of Demetrius, and took him, and\nbrought him to Arsaces, by whom he was put in ward.\n\n14:4 As for the land of Judea, that was quiet all the days of Simon;\nfor he sought the good of his nation in such wise, as that evermore his\nauthority and honour pleased them well.\n\n14:5 And as he was honourable in all his acts, so in this, that he took\nJoppa for an haven, and made an entrance to the isles of the sea,\n\n14:6 And enlarged the bounds of his nation, and recovered the country,\n\n14:7 And gathered together a great number of captives, and had the\ndominion of Gazera, and Bethsura, and the tower, out of the which he\ntook all uncleaness, neither was there any that resisted him.\n\n14:8 Then did they till their ground in peace, and the earth gave her\nincrease, and the trees of the field their fruit.\n\n14:9 The ancient men sat all in the streets, communing together of good\nthings, and the young men put on glorious and warlike apparel.\n\n14:10 He provided victuals for the cities, and set in them all manner\nof munition, so that his honourable name was renowned unto the end of\nthe world.\n\n14:11 He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy:\n\n14:12 For every man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was\nnone to fray them:\n\n14:13 Neither was there any left in the land to fight against them:\nyea, the kings themselves were overthrown in those days.\n\n14:14 Moreover he strengthened all those of his people that were\nbrought low: the law he searched out; and every contemner of the law\nand wicked person he took away.\n\n14:15 He beautified the sanctuary, and multiplied vessels of the\ntemple.\n\n14:16 Now when it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that\nJonathan was dead, they were very sorry.\n\n14:17 But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made high\npriest in his stead, and ruled the country, and the cities therein:\n\n14:18 They wrote unto him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship\nand league which they had made with Judas and Jonathan his brethren:\n\n14:19 Which writings were read before the congregation at Jerusalem.\n\n14:20 And this is the copy of the letters that the Lacedemonians sent;\nThe rulers of the Lacedemonians, with the city, unto Simon the high\npriest, and the elders, and priests, and residue of the people of the\nJews, our brethren, send greeting:\n\n14:21 The ambassadors that were sent unto our people certified us of\nyour glory and honour: wherefore we were glad of their coming,\n\n14:22 And did register the things that they spake in the council of the\npeople in this manner; Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of\nJason, the Jews\u2019 ambassadors, came unto us to renew the friendship they\nhad with us.\n\n14:23 And it pleased the people to entertain the men honourably, and to\nput the copy of their ambassage in publick records, to the end the\npeople of the Lacedemonians might have a memorial thereof: furthermore\nwe have written a copy thereof unto Simon the high priest.\n\n14:24 After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great shield of\ngold of a thousand pound weight to confirm the league with them.\n\n14:25 Whereof when the people heard, they said, What thanks shall we\ngive to Simon and his sons?\n\n14:26 For he and his brethren and the house of his father have\nestablished Israel, and chased away in fight their enemies from them,\nand confirmed their liberty.\n\n14:27 So then they wrote it in tables of brass, which they set upon\npillars in mount Sion: and this is the copy of the writing; The\neighteenth day of the month Elul, in the hundred threescore and twelfth\nyear, being the third year of Simon the high priest,\n\n14:28 At Saramel in the great congregation of the priests, and people,\nand rulers of the nation, and elders of the country, were these things\nnotified unto us.\n\n14:29 Forasmuch as oftentimes there have been wars in the country,\nwherein for the maintenance of their sanctuary, and the law, Simon the\nson of Mattathias, of the posterity of Jarib, together with his\nbrethren, put themselves in jeopardy, and resisting the enemies of\ntheir nation did their nation great honour:\n\n14:30 (For after that Jonathan, having gathered his nation together,\nand been their high priest, was added to his people,\n\n14:31 Their enemies prepared to invade their country, that they might\ndestroy it, and lay hands on the sanctuary:\n\n14:32 At which time Simon rose up, and fought for his nation, and spent\nmuch of his own substance, and armed the valiant men of his nation and\ngave them wages,\n\n14:33 And fortified the cities of Judea, together with Bethsura, that\nlieth upon the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies had\nbeen before; but he set a garrison of Jews there:\n\n14:34 Moreover he fortified Joppa, which lieth upon the sea, and\nGazera, that bordereth upon Azotus, where the enemies had dwelt before:\nbut he placed Jews there, and furnished them with all things convenient\nfor the reparation thereof.)\n\n14:35 The people therefore seeing the acts of Simon, and unto what\nglory he thought to bring his nation, made him their governor and chief\npriest, because he had done all these things, and for the justice and\nfaith which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought by all means\nto exalt his people.\n\n14:36 For in his time things prospered in his hands, so that the\nheathen were taken out of their country, and they also that were in the\ncity of David in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a tower, out of\nwhich they issued, and polluted all about the sanctuary, and did much\nhurt in the holy place:\n\n14:37 But he placed Jews therein, and fortified it for the safety of\nthe country and the city, and raised up the walls of Jerusalem.\n\n14:38 King Demetrius also confirmed him in the high priesthood\naccording to those things,\n\n14:39 And made him one of his friends, and honoured him with great\nhonour.\n\n14:40 For he had heard say, that the Romans had called the Jews their\nfriends and confederates and brethren; and that they had entertained\nthe ambassadors of Simon honourably;\n\n14:41 Also that the Jews and priests were well pleased that Simon\nshould be their governor and high priest for ever, until there should\narise a faithful prophet;\n\n14:42 Moreover that he should be their captain, and should take charge\nof the sanctuary, to set them over their works, and over the country,\nand over the armour, and over the fortresses, that, I say, he should\ntake charge of the sanctuary;\n\n14:43 Beside this, that he should be obeyed of every man, and that all\nthe writings in the country should be made in his name, and that he\nshould be clothed in purple, and wear gold:\n\n14:44 Also that it should be lawful for none of the people or priests\nto break any of these things, or to gainsay his words, or to gather an\nassembly in the country without him, or to be clothed in purple, or\nwear a buckle of gold;\n\n14:45 And whosoever should do otherwise, or break any of these things,\nhe should be punished.\n\n14:46 Thus it liked all the people to deal with Simon, and to do as\nhath been said.\n\n14:47 Then Simon accepted hereof, and was well pleased to be high\npriest, and captain and governor of the Jews and priests, and to defend\nthem all.\n\n14:48 So they commanded that this writing should be put in tables of\nbrass, and that they should be set up within the compass of the\nsanctuary in a conspicuous place;\n\n14:49 Also that the copies thereof should be laid up in the treasury,\nto the end that Simon and his sons might have them.\n\n15:1 Moreover Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from the\nisles of the sea unto Simon the priest and prince of the Jews, and to\nall the people;\n\n15:2 The contents whereof were these: King Antiochus to Simon the high\npriest and prince of his nation, and to the people of the Jews,\ngreeting:\n\n15:3 Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of our\nfathers, and my purpose is to challenge it again, that I may restore it\nto the old estate, and to that end have gathered a multitude of foreign\nsoldiers together, and prepared ships of war;\n\n15:4 My meaning also being to go through the country, that I may be\navenged of them that have destroyed it, and made many cities in the\nkingdom desolate:\n\n15:5 Now therefore I confirm unto thee all the oblations which the\nkings before me granted thee, and whatsoever gifts besides they\ngranted.\n\n15:6 I give thee leave also to coin money for thy country with thine\nown stamp.\n\n15:7 And as concerning Jerusalem and the sanctuary, let them be free;\nand all the armour that thou hast made, and fortresses that thou hast\nbuilt, and keepest in thine hands, let them remain unto thee.\n\n15:8 And if any thing be, or shall be, owing to the king, let it be\nforgiven thee from this time forth for evermore.\n\n15:9 Furthermore, when we have obtained our kingdom, we will honour\nthee, and thy nation, and thy temple, with great honour, so that your\nhonour shall be known throughout the world.\n\n15:10 In the hundred threescore and fourteenth year went Antiochus into\nthe land of his fathers: at which time all the forces came together\nunto him, so that few were left with Tryphon.\n\n15:11 Wherefore being pursued by king Antiochus, he fled unto Dora,\nwhich lieth by the sea side:\n\n15:12 For he saw that troubles came upon him all at once, and that his\nforces had forsaken him.\n\n15:13 Then camped Antiochus against Dora, having with him an hundred\nand twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen.\n\n15:14 And when he had compassed the city round about, and joined ships\nclose to the town on the sea side, he vexed the city by land and by\nsea, neither suffered he any to go out or in.\n\n15:15 In the mean season came Numenius and his company from Rome,\nhaving letters to the kings and countries; wherein were written these\nthings:\n\n15:16 Lucius, consul of the Romans unto king Ptolemee, greeting:\n\n15:17 The Jews\u2019 ambassadors, our friends and confederates, came unto us\nto renew the old friendship and league, being sent from Simon the high\npriest, and from the people of the Jews:\n\n15:18 And they brought a shield of gold of a thousand pound.\n\n15:19 We thought it good therefore to write unto the kings and\ncountries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight against them,\ntheir cities, or countries, nor yet aid their enemies against them.\n\n15:20 It seemed also good to us to receive the shield of them.\n\n15:21 If therefore there be any pestilent fellows, that have fled from\ntheir country unto you, deliver them unto Simon the high priest, that\nhe may punish them according to their own law.\n\n15:22 The same things wrote he likewise unto Demetrius the king, and\nAttalus, to Ariarathes, and Arsaces,\n\n15:23 And to all the countries and to Sampsames, and the Lacedemonians,\nand to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samos, and\nPamphylia, and Lycia, and Halicarnassus, and Rhodus, and Phaselis, and\nCos, and Side, and Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and Cyprus, and\nCyrene.\n\n15:24 And the copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high priest.\n\n15:25 So Antiochus the king camped against Dora the second day,\nassaulting it continually, and making engines, by which means he shut\nup Tryphon, that he could neither go out nor in.\n\n15:26 At that time Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to aid him;\nsilver also, and gold, and much armour.\n\n15:27 Nevertheless he would not receive them, but brake all the\ncovenants which he had made with him afore, and became strange unto\nhim.\n\n15:28 Furthermore he sent unto him Athenobius, one of his friends, to\ncommune with him, and say, Ye withhold Joppa and Gazera; with the tower\nthat is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my realm.\n\n15:29 The borders thereof ye have wasted, and done great hurt in the\nland, and got the dominion of many places within my kingdom.\n\n15:30 Now therefore deliver the cities which ye have taken, and the\ntributes of the places, whereof ye have gotten dominion without the\nborders of Judea:\n\n15:31 Or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver; and for\nthe harm that ye have done, and the tributes of the cities, other five\nhundred talents: if not, we will come and fight against you.\n\n15:32 So Athenobius the king\u2019s friend came to Jerusalem: and when he\nsaw the glory of Simon, and the cupboard of gold and silver plate, and\nhis great attendance, he was astonished, and told him the king\u2019s\nmessage.\n\n15:33 Then answered Simon, and said unto him, We have neither taken\nother men\u2019s land, nor holden that which appertaineth to others, but the\ninheritance of our fathers, which our enemies had wrongfully in\npossession a certain time.\n\n15:34 Wherefore we, having opportunity, hold the inheritance of our\nfathers.\n\n15:35 And whereas thou demandest Joppa and Gazera, albeit they did\ngreat harm unto the people in our country, yet will we give thee an\nhundred talents for them. Hereunto Athenobius answered him not a word;\n\n15:36 But returned in a rage to the king, and made report unto him of\nthese speeches, and of the glory of Simon, and of all that he had seen:\nwhereupon the king was exceeding wroth.\n\n15:37 In the mean time fled Tryphon by ship unto Orthosias.\n\n15:38 Then the king made Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and gave\nhim an host of footmen and horsemen,\n\n15:39 And commanded him to remove his host toward Judea; also he\ncommanded him to build up Cedron, and to fortify the gates, and to war\nagainst the people; but as for the king himself, he pursued Tryphon.\n\n15:40 So Cendebeus came to Jamnia and began to provoke the people and\nto invade Judea, and to take the people prisoners, and slay them.\n\n15:41 And when he had built up Cedrou, he set horsemen there, and an\nhost of footmen, to the end that issuing out they might make outroads\nupon the ways of Judea, as the king had commanded him.\n\n16:1 Then came up John from Gazera, and told Simon his father what\nCendebeus had done.\n\n16:2 Wherefore Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and\nsaid unto them, I, and my brethren, and my father\u2019s house, have ever\nfrom our youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Israel; and\nthings have prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered\nIsrael oftentimes.\n\n16:3 But now I am old, and ye, by God\u2019s mercy, are of a sufficient age:\nbe ye instead of me and my brother, and go and fight for our nation,\nand the help from heaven be with you.\n\n16:4 So he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war with\nhorsemen, who went out against Cendebeus, and rested that night at\nModin.\n\n16:5 And when as they rose in the morning, and went into the plain,\nbehold, a mighty great host both of footmen and horsemen came against\nthem: howbeit there was a water brook betwixt them.\n\n16:6 So he and his people pitched over against them: and when he saw\nthat the people were afraid to go over the water brook, he went first\nover himself, and then the men seeing him passed through after him.\n\n16:7 That done, he divided his men, and set the horsemen in the midst\nof the footmen: for the enemies\u2019 horsemen were very many.\n\n16:8 Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and\nhis host were put to flight, so that many of them were slain, and the\nremnant gat them to the strong hold.\n\n16:9 At that time was Judas John\u2019s brother wounded; but John still\nfollowed after them, until he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had\nbuilt.\n\n16:10 So they fled even unto the towers in the fields of Azotus;\nwherefore he burned it with fire: so that there were slain of them\nabout two thousand men. Afterward he returned into the land of Judea in\npeace.\n\n16:11 Moreover in the plain of Jericho was Ptolemeus the son of Abubus\nmade captain, and he had abundance of silver and gold:\n\n16:12 For he was the high priest\u2019s son in law.\n\n16:13 Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the\ncountry to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon\nand his sons to destroy them.\n\n16:14 Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and\ntaking care for the good ordering of them; at which time he came down\nhimself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred\nthreescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat:\n\n16:15 Where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little\nhold, called Docus, which he had built, made them a great banquet:\nhowbeit he had hid men there.\n\n16:16 So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his\nmen rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the\nbanqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his\nservants.\n\n16:17 In which doing he committed a great treachery, and recompensed\nevil for good.\n\n16:18 Then Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he\nshould send him an host to aid him, and he would deliver him the\ncountry and cities.\n\n16:19 He sent others also to Gazera to kill John: and unto the tribunes\nhe sent letters to come unto him, that he might give them silver, and\ngold, and rewards.\n\n16:20 And others he sent to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the\ntemple.\n\n16:21 Now one had run afore to Gazera and told John that his father and\nbrethren were slain, and, quoth he, Ptolemee hath sent to slay thee\nalso.\n\n16:22 Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished: so he laid hands on\nthem that were come to destroy him, and slew them; for he knew that\nthey sought to make him away.\n\n16:23 As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and\nworthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made,\nand his doings,\n\n16:24 Behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood,\nfrom the time he was made high priest after his father.\n\n\n\n\nThe Second Book of the Maccabees\n\n\n1:1 The brethren, the Jews that be at Jerusalem and in the land of\nJudea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt\nhealth and peace:\n\n1:2 God be gracious unto you, and remember his covenant that he made\nwith Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants;\n\n1:3 And give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will, with a\ngood courage and a willing mind;\n\n1:4 And open your hearts in his law and commandments, and send you\npeace,\n\n1:5 And hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake\nyou in time of trouble.\n\n1:6 And now we be here praying for you.\n\n1:7 What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth\nyear, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came\nupon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company\nrevolted from the holy land and kingdom,\n\n1:8 And burned the porch, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed unto\nthe Lord, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour,\nand lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.\n\n1:9 And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the month\nCasleu.\n\n1:10 In the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people that were at\nJerusalem and in Judea, and the council, and Judas, sent greeting and\nhealth unto Aristobulus, king Ptolemeus\u2019 master, who was of the stock\nof the anointed priests, and to the Jews that were in Egypt:\n\n1:11 Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank him\nhighly, as having been in battle against a king.\n\n1:12 For he cast them out that fought within the holy city.\n\n1:13 For when the leader was come into Persia, and the army with him\nthat seemed invincible, they were slain in the temple of Nanea by the\ndeceit of Nanea\u2019s priests.\n\n1:14 For Antiochus, as though he would marry her, came into the place,\nand his friends that were with him, to receive money in name of a\ndowry.\n\n1:15 Which when the priests of Nanea had set forth, and he was entered\nwith a small company into the compass of the temple, they shut the\ntemple as soon as Antiochus was come in:\n\n1:16 And opening a privy door of the roof, they threw stones like\nthunderbolts, and struck down the captain, hewed them in pieces, smote\noff their heads and cast them to those that were without.\n\n1:17 Blessed be our God in all things, who hath delivered up the\nungodly.\n\n1:18 Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of\nthe temple upon the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, we\nthought it necessary to certify you thereof, that ye also might keep\nit, as the feast of the tabernacles, and of the fire, which was given\nus when Neemias offered sacrifice, after that he had builded the temple\nand the altar.\n\n1:19 For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that were\nthen devout took the fire of the altar privily, and hid it in an hollow\nplace of a pit without water, where they kept it sure, so that the\nplace was unknown to all men.\n\n1:20 Now after many years, when it pleased God, Neemias, being sent\nfrom the king of Persia, did send of the posterity of those priests\nthat had hid it to the fire: but when they told us they found no fire,\nbut thick water;\n\n1:21 Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it; and when\nthe sacrifices were laid on, Neemias commanded the priests to sprinkle\nthe wood and the things laid thereupon with the water.\n\n1:22 When this was done, and the time came that the sun shone, which\nafore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that\nevery man marvelled.\n\n1:23 And the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was consuming,\nI say, both the priests, and all the rest, Jonathan beginning, and the\nrest answering thereunto, as Neemias did.\n\n1:24 And the prayer was after this manner; O Lord, Lord God, Creator of\nall things, who art fearful and strong, and righteous, and merciful,\nand the only and gracious King,\n\n1:25 The only giver of all things, the only just, almighty, and\neverlasting, thou that deliverest Israel from all trouble, and didst\nchoose the fathers, and sanctify them:\n\n1:26 Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and preserve\nthine own portion, and sanctify it.\n\n1:27 Gather those together that are scattered from us, deliver them\nthat serve among the heathen, look upon them that are despised and\nabhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art our God.\n\n1:28 Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.\n\n1:29 Plant thy people again in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.\n\n1:30 And the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving.\n\n1:31 Now when the sacrifice was consumed, Neemias commanded the water\nthat was left to be poured on the great stones.\n\n1:32 When this was done, there was kindled a flame: but it was consumed\nby the light that shined from the altar.\n\n1:33 So when this matter was known, it was told the king of Persia,\nthat in the place, where the priests that were led away had hid the\nfire, there appeared water, and that Neemias had purified the\nsacrifices therewith.\n\n1:34 Then the king, inclosing the place, made it holy, after he had\ntried the matter.\n\n1:35 And the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on those whom\nhe would gratify.\n\n1:36 And Neemias called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as to\nsay, a cleansing: but many men call it Nephi.\n\n2:1 It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet commanded\nthem that were carried away to take of the fire, as it hath been\nsignified:\n\n2:2 And how that the prophet, having given them the law, charged them\nnot to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not\nerr in their minds, when they see images of silver and gold, with their\nornaments.\n\n2:3 And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should\nnot depart from their hearts.\n\n2:4 It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being\nwarned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him, as\nhe went forth into the mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the\nheritage of God.\n\n2:5 And when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave, wherein he\nlaid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so\nstopped the door.\n\n2:6 And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they\ncould not find it.\n\n2:7 Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that\nplace, it shall be unknown until the time that God gather his people\nagain together, and receive them unto mercy.\n\n2:8 Then shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of the\nLord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed under Moses,\nand as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably\nsanctified.\n\n2:9 It was also declared, that he being wise offered the sacrifice of\ndedication, and of the finishing of the temple.\n\n2:10 And as when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire came down from\nheaven, and consumed the sacrifices: even so prayed Solomon also, and\nthe fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offerings.\n\n2:11 And Moses said, Because the sin offering was not to be eaten, it\nwas consumed.\n\n2:12 So Solomon kept those eight days.\n\n2:13 The same things also were reported in the writings and\ncommentaries of Neemias; and how he founding a library gathered\ntogether the acts of the kings, and the prophets, and of David, and the\nepistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.\n\n2:14 In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that\nwere lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with us,\n\n2:15 Wherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto\nyou.\n\n2:16 Whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification, we have\nwritten unto you, and ye shall do well, if ye keep the same days.\n\n2:17 We hope also, that the God, that delivered all his people, and\ngave them all an heritage, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the\nsanctuary,\n\n2:18 As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and\ngather us together out of every land under heaven into the holy place:\nfor he hath delivered us out of great troubles, and hath purified the\nplace.\n\n2:19 Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the\npurification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,\n\n2:20 And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,\n\n2:21 And the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that\nbehaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism: so that, being\nbut a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased barbarous\nmultitudes,\n\n2:22 And recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, and\nfreed the city, and upheld the laws which were going down, the Lord\nbeing gracious unto them with all favour:\n\n2:23 All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five\nbooks, we will assay to abridge in one volume.\n\n2:24 For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they\nfind that desire to look into the narrations of the story, for the\nvariety of the matter,\n\n2:25 We have been careful, that they that will read may have delight,\nand that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease,\nand that all into whose hands it comes might have profit.\n\n2:26 Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour of\nabridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching;\n\n2:27 Even as it is no ease unto him that prepareth a banquet, and\nseeketh the benefit of others: yet for the pleasuring of many we will\nundertake gladly this great pains;\n\n2:28 Leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular, and\nlabouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.\n\n2:29 For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole\nbuilding; but he that undertaketh to set it out, and paint it, must\nseek out fit things for the adorning thereof: even so I think it is\nwith us.\n\n2:30 To stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and to be\ncurious in particulars, belongeth to the first author of the story:\n\n2:31 But to use brevity, and avoid much labouring of the work, is to be\ngranted to him that will make an abridgment.\n\n2:32 Here then will we begin the story: only adding thus much to that\nwhich hath been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a long\nprologue, and to be short in the story itself.\n\n3:1 Now when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and the laws\nwere kept very well, because of the godliness of Onias the high priest,\nand his hatred of wickedness,\n\n3:2 It came to pass that even the kings themselves did honour the\nplace, and magnify the temple with their best gifts;\n\n3:3 Insomuch that Seleucus of Asia of his own revenues bare all the\ncosts belonging to the service of the sacrifices.\n\n3:4 But one Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, who was made governor of\nthe temple, fell out with the high priest about disorder in the city.\n\n3:5 And when he could not overcome Onias, he gat him to Apollonius the\nson of Thraseas, who then was governor of Celosyria and Phenice,\n\n3:6 And told him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of infinite\nsums of money, so that the multitude of their riches, which did not\npertain to the account of the sacrifices, was innumerable, and that it\nwas possible to bring all into the king\u2019s hand.\n\n3:7 Now when Apollonius came to the king, and had shewed him of the\nmoney whereof he was told, the king chose out Heliodorus his treasurer,\nand sent him with a commandment to bring him the foresaid money.\n\n3:8 So forthwith Heliodorus took his journey; under a colour of\nvisiting the cities of Celosyria and Phenice, but indeed to fulfil the\nking\u2019s purpose.\n\n3:9 And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously\nreceived of the high priest of the city, he told him what intelligence\nwas given of the money, and declared wherefore he came, and asked if\nthese things were so indeed.\n\n3:10 Then the high priest told him that there was such money laid up\nfor the relief of widows and fatherless children:\n\n3:11 And that some of it belonged to Hircanus son of Tobias, a man of\ngreat dignity, and not as that wicked Simon had misinformed: the sum\nwhereof in all was four hundred talents of silver, and two hundred of\ngold:\n\n3:12 And that it was altogether impossible that such wrongs should be\ndone unto them, that had committed it to the holiness of the place, and\nto the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple, honoured over all\nthe world.\n\n3:13 But Heliodorus, because of the king\u2019s commandment given him, said,\nThat in any wise it must be brought into the king\u2019s treasury.\n\n3:14 So at the day which he appointed he entered in to order this\nmatter: wherefore there was no small agony throughout the whole city.\n\n3:15 But the priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their\npriests\u2019 vestments, called unto heaven upon him that made a law\nconcerning things given to be kept, that they should safely be\npreserved for such as had committed them to be kept.\n\n3:16 Then whoso had looked the high priest in the face, it would have\nwounded his heart: for his countenance and the changing of his colour\ndeclared the inward agony of his mind.\n\n3:17 For the man was so compassed with fear and horror of the body,\nthat it was manifest to them that looked upon him, what sorrow he had\nnow in his heart.\n\n3:18 Others ran flocking out of their houses to the general\nsupplication, because the place was like to come into contempt.\n\n3:19 And the women, girt with sackcloth under their breasts, abounded\nin the streets, and the virgins that were kept in ran, some to the\ngates, and some to the walls, and others looked out of the windows.\n\n3:20 And all, holding their hands toward heaven, made supplication.\n\n3:21 Then it would have pitied a man to see the falling down of the\nmultitude of all sorts, and the fear of the high priest being in such\nan agony.\n\n3:22 They then called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things\ncommitted of trust safe and sure for those that had committed them.\n\n3:23 Nevertheless Heliodorus executed that which was decreed.\n\n3:24 Now as he was there present himself with his guard about the\ntreasury, the Lord of spirits, and the Prince of all power, caused a\ngreat apparition, so that all that presumed to come in with him were\nastonished at the power of God, and fainted, and were sore afraid.\n\n3:25 For there appeared unto them an horse with a terrible rider upon\nhim, and adorned with a very fair covering, and he ran fiercely, and\nsmote at Heliodorus with his forefeet, and it seemed that he that sat\nupon the horse had complete harness of gold.\n\n3:26 Moreover two other young men appeared before him, notable in\nstrength, excellent in beauty, and comely in apparel, who stood by him\non either side; and scourged him continually, and gave him many sore\nstripes.\n\n3:27 And Heliodorus fell suddenly unto the ground, and was compassed\nwith great darkness: but they that were with him took him up, and put\nhim into a litter.\n\n3:28 Thus him, that lately came with a great train and with all his\nguard into the said treasury, they carried out, being unable to help\nhimself with his weapons: and manifestly they acknowledged the power of\nGod.\n\n3:29 For he by the hand of God was cast down, and lay speechless\nwithout all hope of life.\n\n3:30 But they praised the Lord, that had miraculously honoured his own\nplace: for the temple; which a little afore was full of fear and\ntrouble, when the Almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and\ngladness.\n\n3:31 Then straightways certain of Heliodorus\u2019 friends prayed Onias,\nthat he would call upon the most High to grant him his life, who lay\nready to give up the ghost.\n\n3:32 So the high priest, suspecting lest the king should misconceive\nthat some treachery had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, offered a\nsacrifice for the health of the man.\n\n3:33 Now as the high priest was making an atonement, the same young men\nin the same clothing appeared and stood beside Heliodorus, saying, Give\nOnias the high priest great thanks, insomuch as for his sake the Lord\nhath granted thee life:\n\n3:34 And seeing that thou hast been scourged from heaven, declare unto\nall men the mighty power of God. And when they had spoken these words,\nthey appeared no more.\n\n3:35 So Heliodorus, after he had offered sacrifice unto the Lord, and\nmade great vows unto him that had saved his life, and saluted Onias,\nreturned with his host to the king.\n\n3:36 Then testified he to all men the works of the great God, which he\nhad seen with his eyes.\n\n3:37 And when the king asked Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be\nsent yet once again to Jerusalem, he said,\n\n3:38 If thou hast any enemy or traitor, send him thither, and thou\nshalt receive him well scourged, if he escape with his life: for in\nthat place, no doubt; there is an especial power of God.\n\n3:39 For he that dwelleth in heaven hath his eye on that place, and\ndefendeth it; and he beateth and destroyeth them that come to hurt it.\n\n3:40 And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the\ntreasury, fell out on this sort.\n\n4:1 This Simon now, of whom we spake afore, having been a betrayer of\nthe money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he had terrified\nHeliodorus, and been the worker of these evils.\n\n4:2 Thus was he bold to call him a traitor, that had deserved well of\nthe city, and tendered his own nation, and was so zealous of the laws.\n\n4:3 But when their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon\u2019s faction\nmurders were committed,\n\n4:4 Onias seeing the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, as\nbeing the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, did rage, and increase\nSimon\u2019s malice,\n\n4:5 He went to the king, not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but\nseeking the good of all, both publick and private:\n\n4:6 For he saw that it was impossible that the state should continue\nquiet, and Simon leave his folly, unless the king did look thereunto.\n\n4:7 But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called Epiphanes,\ntook the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be\nhigh priest,\n\n4:8 Promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and\nthreescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents:\n\n4:9 Beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more, if he\nmight have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and for the\ntraining up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and to write them\nof Jerusalem by the name of Antiochians.\n\n4:10 Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his hand\nthe rule he forthwith brought his own nation to the Greekish fashion.\n\n4:11 And the royal privileges granted of special favour to the Jews by\nthe means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome\nfor amity and aid, he took away; and putting down the governments which\nwere according to the law, he brought up new customs against the law:\n\n4:12 For he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower itself,\nand brought the chief young men under his subjection, and made them\nwear a hat.\n\n4:13 Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of\nheathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that\nungodly wretch, and no high priest;\n\n4:14 That the priests had no courage to serve any more at the altar,\nbut despising the temple, and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be\npartakers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise, after the\ngame of Discus called them forth;\n\n4:15 Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the glory\nof the Grecians best of all.\n\n4:16 By reason whereof sore calamity came upon them: for they had them\nto be their enemies and avengers, whose custom they followed so\nearnestly, and unto whom they desired to be like in all things.\n\n4:17 For it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws of\nGod: but the time following shall declare these things.\n\n4:18 Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at\nTyrus, the king being present,\n\n4:19 This ungracious Jason sent special messengers from Jerusalem, who\nwere Antiochians, to carry three hundred drachms of silver to the\nsacrifice of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof thought fit not\nto bestow upon the sacrifice, because it was not convenient, but to be\nreserved for other charges.\n\n4:20 This money then, in regard of the sender, was appointed to\nHercules\u2019 sacrifice; but because of the bearers thereof, it was\nemployed to the making of gallies.\n\n4:21 Now when Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt for\nthe coronation of king Ptolemeus Philometor, Antiochus, understanding\nhim not to be well affected to his affairs, provided for his own\nsafety: whereupon he came to Joppa, and from thence to Jerusalem:\n\n4:22 Where he was honourably received of Jason, and of the city, and\nwas brought in with torch alight, and with great shoutings: and so\nafterward went with his host unto Phenice.\n\n4:23 Three years afterward Jason sent Menelaus, the aforesaid Simon\u2019s\nbrother, to bear the money unto the king, and to put him in mind of\ncertain necessary matters.\n\n4:24 But he being brought to the presence of the king, when he had\nmagnified him for the glorious appearance of his power, got the\npriesthood to himself, offering more than Jason by three hundred\ntalents of silver.\n\n4:25 So he came with the king\u2019s mandate, bringing nothing worthy the\nhigh priesthood, but having the fury of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of\na savage beast.\n\n4:26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being undermined\nby another, was compelled to flee into the country of the Ammonites.\n\n4:27 So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money that he had\npromised unto the king, he took no good order for it, albeit Sostratis\nthe ruler of the castle required it:\n\n4:28 For unto him appertained the gathering of the customs. Wherefore\nthey were both called before the king.\n\n4:29 Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the\npriesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the\nCyprians.\n\n4:30 While those things were in doing, they of Tarsus and Mallos made\ninsurrection, because they were given to the king\u2019s concubine, called\nAntiochus.\n\n4:31 Then came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving\nAndronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy.\n\n4:32 Now Menelaus, supposing that he had gotten a convenient time,\nstole certain vessels of gold out of the temple, and gave some of them\nto Andronicus, and some he sold into Tyrus and the cities round about.\n\n4:33 Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew\nhimself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by Antiochia.\n\n4:34 Wherefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus apart, prayed him to get\nOnias into his hands; who being persuaded thereunto, and coming to\nOnias in deceit, gave him his right hand with oaths; and though he were\nsuspected by him, yet persuaded he him to come forth of the sanctuary:\nwhom forthwith he shut up without regard of justice.\n\n4:35 For the which cause not only the Jews, but many also of other\nnations, took great indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust\nmurder of the man.\n\n4:36 And when the king was come again from the places about Cilicia,\nthe Jews that were in the city, and certain of the Greeks that abhorred\nthe fact also, complained because Onias was slain without cause.\n\n4:37 Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry, and moved to pity, and\nwept, because of the sober and modest behaviour of him that was dead.\n\n4:38 And being kindled with anger, forthwith he took away Andronicus\nhis purple, and rent off his clothes, and leading him through the whole\ncity unto that very place, where he had committed impiety against\nOnias, there slew he the cursed murderer. Thus the Lord rewarded him\nhis punishment, as he had deserved.\n\n4:39 Now when many sacrileges had been committed in the city by\nLysimachus with the consent of Menelaus, and the bruit thereof was\nspread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against\nLysimachus, many vessels of gold being already carried away.\n\n4:40 Whereupon the common people rising, and being filled with rage,\nLysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began first to offer\nviolence; one Auranus being the leader, a man far gone in years, and no\nless in folly.\n\n4:41 They then seeing the attempt of Lysimachus, some of them caught\nstones, some clubs, others taking handfuls of dust, that was next at\nhand, cast them all together upon Lysimachus, and those that set upon\nthem.\n\n4:42 Thus many of them they wounded, and some they struck to the\nground, and all of them they forced to flee: but as for the\nchurchrobber himself, him they killed beside the treasury.\n\n4:43 Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid against\nMenelaus.\n\n4:44 Now when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent from the\nsenate pleaded the cause before him:\n\n4:45 But Menelaus, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son of\nDorymenes to give him much money, if he would pacify the king toward\nhim.\n\n4:46 Whereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain gallery,\nas it were to take the air, brought him to be of another mind:\n\n4:47 Insomuch that he discharged Menelaus from the accusations, who\nnotwithstanding was cause of all the mischief: and those poor men, who,\nif they had told their cause, yea, before the Scythians, should have\nbeen judged innocent, them he condemned to death.\n\n4:48 Thus they that followed the matter for the city, and for the\npeople, and for the holy vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.\n\n4:49 Wherefore even they of Tyrus, moved with hatred of that wicked\ndeed, caused them to be honourably buried.\n\n4:50 And so through the covetousness of them that were of power\nMenelaus remained still in authority, increasing in malice, and being a\ngreat traitor to the citizens.\n\n5:1 About the same time Antiochus prepared his second voyage into\nEgypt:\n\n5:2 And then it happened, that through all the city, for the space\nalmost of forty days, there were seen horsemen running in the air, in\ncloth of gold, and armed with lances, like a band of soldiers,\n\n5:3 And troops of horsemen in array, encountering and running one\nagainst another, with shaking of shields, and multitude of pikes, and\ndrawing of swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden\nornaments, and harness of all sorts.\n\n5:4 Wherefore every man prayed that that apparition might turn to good.\n\n5:5 Now when there was gone forth a false rumour, as though Antiochus\nhad been dead, Jason took at the least a thousand men, and suddenly\nmade an assault upon the city; and they that were upon the walls being\nput back, and the city at length taken, Menelaus fled into the castle:\n\n5:6 But Jason slew his own citizens without mercy, not considering that\nto get the day of them of his own nation would be a most unhappy day\nfor him; but thinking they had been his enemies, and not his\ncountrymen, whom he conquered.\n\n5:7 Howbeit for all this he obtained not the principality, but at the\nlast received shame for the reward of his treason, and fled again into\nthe country of the Ammonites.\n\n5:8 In the end therefore he had an unhappy return, being accused before\nAretas the king of the Arabians, fleeing from city to city, pursued of\nall men, hated as a forsaker of the laws, and being had in abomination\nas an open enemy of his country and countrymen, he was cast out into\nEgypt.\n\n5:9 Thus he that had driven many out of their country perished in a\nstrange land, retiring to the Lacedemonians, and thinking there to find\nsuccour by reason of his kindred:\n\n5:10 And he that had cast out many unburied had none to mourn for him,\nnor any solemn funerals at all, nor sepulchre with his fathers.\n\n5:11 Now when this that was done came to the king\u2019s ear, he thought\nthat Judea had revolted: whereupon removing out of Egypt in a furious\nmind, he took the city by force of arms,\n\n5:12 And commanded his men of war not to spare such as they met, and to\nslay such as went up upon the houses.\n\n5:13 Thus there was killing of young and old, making away of men,\nwomen, and children, slaying of virgins and infants.\n\n5:14 And there were destroyed within the space of three whole days\nfourscore thousand, whereof forty thousand were slain in the conflict;\nand no fewer sold than slain.\n\n5:15 Yet was he not content with this, but presumed to go into the most\nholy temple of all the world; Menelaus, that traitor to the laws, and\nto his own country, being his guide:\n\n5:16 And taking the holy vessels with polluted hands, and with profane\nhands pulling down the things that were dedicated by other kings to the\naugmentation and glory and honour of the place, he gave them away.\n\n5:17 And so haughty was Antiochus in mind, that he considered not that\nthe Lord was angry for a while for the sins of them that dwelt in the\ncity, and therefore his eye was not upon the place.\n\n5:18 For had they not been formerly wrapped in many sins, this man, as\nsoon as he had come, had forthwith been scourged, and put back from his\npresumption, as Heliodorus was, whom Seleucus the king sent to view the\ntreasury.\n\n5:19 Nevertheless God did not choose the people for the place\u2019s sake,\nbut the place far the people\u2019s sake.\n\n5:20 And therefore the place itself, that was partaker with them of the\nadversity that happened to the nation, did afterward communicate in the\nbenefits sent from the Lord: and as it was forsaken in the wrath of the\nAlmighty, so again, the great Lord being reconciled, it was set up with\nall glory.\n\n5:21 So when Antiochus had carried out of the temple a thousand and\neight hundred talents, he departed in all haste unto Antiochia, weening\nin his pride to make the land navigable, and the sea passable by foot:\nsuch was the haughtiness of his mind.\n\n5:22 And he left governors to vex the nation: at Jerusalem, Philip, for\nhis country a Phrygian, and for manners more barbarous than he that set\nhim there;\n\n5:23 And at Garizim, Andronicus; and besides, Menelaus, who worse than\nall the rest bare an heavy hand over the citizens, having a malicious\nmind against his countrymen the Jews.\n\n5:24 He sent also that detestable ringleader Apollonius with an army of\ntwo and twenty thousand, commanding him to slay all those that were in\ntheir best age, and to sell the women and the younger sort:\n\n5:25 Who coming to Jerusalem, and pretending peace, did forbear till\nthe holy day of the sabbath, when taking the Jews keeping holy day, he\ncommanded his men to arm themselves.\n\n5:26 And so he slew all them that were gone to the celebrating of the\nsabbath, and running through the city with weapons slew great\nmultitudes.\n\n5:27 But Judas Maccabeus with nine others, or thereabout, withdrew\nhimself into the wilderness, and lived in the mountains after the\nmanner of beasts, with his company, who fed on herbs continually, lest\nthey should be partakers of the pollution.\n\n6:1 Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel\nthe Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live\nafter the laws of God:\n\n6:2 And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the\ntemple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the\nDefender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place.\n\n6:3 The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people:\n\n6:4 For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles,\nwho dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit\nof the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not\nlawful.\n\n6:5 The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law\nforbiddeth.\n\n6:6 Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient\nfasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.\n\n6:7 And in the day of the king\u2019s birth every month they were brought by\nbitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the fast of\nBacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to\nBacchus, carrying ivy.\n\n6:8 Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the\nheathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they\nshould observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices:\n\n6:9 And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the\nGentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the present\nmisery.\n\n6:10 For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their\nchildren; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes\nhanging at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.\n\n6:11 And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the\nsabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt\ntogether, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the\nhonour of the most sacred day.\n\n6:12 Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not\ndiscouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments\nnot to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.\n\n6:13 For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not\nsuffered any long time, but forthwith punished.\n\n6:14 For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth\nto punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth\nhe with us,\n\n6:15 Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should\ntake vengeance of us.\n\n6:16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though\nhe punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.\n\n6:17 But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And now\nwill we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.\n\n6:18 Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well\nfavoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat\nswine\u2019s flesh.\n\n6:19 But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained\nwith such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to\nthe torment,\n\n6:20 As it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against\nsuch things, as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted.\n\n6:21 But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old\nacquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to\nbring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use,\nand make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice\ncommanded by the king;\n\n6:22 That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old\nfriendship with them find favour.\n\n6:23 But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and\nthe excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray head,\nwhereunto he was come, and his most honest education from a child, or\nrather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered\naccordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave.\n\n6:24 For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble,\nwhereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore\nyears old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;\n\n6:25 And so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a little\ntime and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain\nto mine old age, and make it abominable.\n\n6:26 For though for the present time I should be delivered from the\npunishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty,\nneither alive, nor dead.\n\n6:27 Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself\nsuch an one as mine age requireth,\n\n6:28 And leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly\nand courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And when he had said\nthese words, immediately he went to the torment:\n\n6:29 They that led him changing the good will they bare him a little\nbefore into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they\nthought, from a desperate mind.\n\n6:30 But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and said,\nIt is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that\nwhereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains\nin body by being beaten: but in soul am well content to suffer these\nthings, because I fear him.\n\n6:31 And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a\nnoble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but\nunto all his nation.\n\n7:1 It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were\ntaken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine\u2019s\nflesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.\n\n7:2 But one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest thou ask\nor learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws\nof our fathers.\n\n7:3 Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be\nmade hot:\n\n7:4 Which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of\nhim that spake first, and to cut off the utmost parts of his body, the\nrest of his brethren and his mother looking on.\n\n7:5 Now when he was thus maimed in all his members, he commanded him\nbeing yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan:\nand as the vapour of the pan was for a good space dispersed, they\nexhorted one another with the mother to die manfully, saying thus,\n\n7:6 The Lord God looketh upon us, and in truth hath comfort in us, as\nMoses in his song, which witnessed to their faces, declared, saying,\nAnd he shall be comforted in his servants.\n\n7:7 So when the first was dead after this number, they brought the\nsecond to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the\nskin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Wilt thou eat, before\nthou be punished throughout every member of thy body?\n\n7:8 But he answered in his own language, and said, No. Wherefore he\nalso received the next torment in order, as the former did.\n\n7:9 And when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury takest\nus out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us\nup, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.\n\n7:10 After him was the third made a mocking stock: and when he was\nrequired, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his\nhands manfully.\n\n7:11 And said courageously, These I had from heaven; and for his laws I\ndespise them; and from him I hope to receive them again.\n\n7:12 Insomuch that the king, and they that were with him, marvelled at\nthe young man\u2019s courage, for that he nothing regarded the pains.\n\n7:13 Now when this man was dead also, they tormented and mangled the\nfourth in like manner.\n\n7:14 So when he was ready to die he said thus, It is good, being put to\ndeath by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him:\nas for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life.\n\n7:15 Afterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him.\n\n7:16 Then looked he unto the king, and said, Thou hast power over men,\nthou art corruptible, thou doest what thou wilt; yet think not that our\nnation is forsaken of God;\n\n7:17 But abide a while, and behold his great power, how he will torment\nthee and thy seed.\n\n7:18 After him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to die\nsaid, Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for\nourselves, having sinned against our God: therefore marvellous things\nare done unto us.\n\n7:19 But think not thou, that takest in hand to strive against God,\nthat thou shalt escape unpunished.\n\n7:20 But the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of honourable\nmemory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one\nday, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had\nin the Lord.\n\n7:21 Yea, she exhorted every one of them in her own language, filled\nwith courageous spirits; and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a\nmanly stomach, she said unto them,\n\n7:22 I cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave you\nbreath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one\nof you;\n\n7:23 But doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the generation\nof man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own\nmercy give you breath and life again, as ye now regard not your own\nselves for his laws\u2019 sake.\n\n7:24 Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be\na reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive, did not only\nexhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would\nmake him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the laws of\nhis fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and trust\nhim with affairs.\n\n7:25 But when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the king\ncalled his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the young\nman to save his life.\n\n7:26 And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him\nthat she would counsel her son.\n\n7:27 But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to\nscorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my son, have\npity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee such\nthree years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and\nendured the troubles of education.\n\n7:28 I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and\nall that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that\nwere not; and so was mankind made likewise.\n\n7:29 Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren, take\nthy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren.\n\n7:30 Whiles she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, Whom\nwait ye for? I will not obey the king\u2019s commandment: but I will obey\nthe commandment of the law that was given unto our fathers by Moses.\n\n7:31 And thou, that hast been the author of all mischief against the\nHebrews, shalt not escape the hands of God.\n\n7:32 For we suffer because of our sins.\n\n7:33 And though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our\nchastening and correction, yet shall he be at one again with his\nservants.\n\n7:34 But thou, O godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not\nlifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes, lifting\nup thy hand against the servants of God:\n\n7:35 For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God, who\nseeth all things.\n\n7:36 For our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are dead\nunder God\u2019s covenant of everlasting life: but thou, through the\njudgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.\n\n7:37 But I, as my brethren, offer up my body and life for the laws of\nour fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our\nnation; and that thou by torments and plagues mayest confess, that he\nalone is God;\n\n7:38 And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is\njustly brought upon our nation, may cease.\n\n7:39 Than the king\u2019 being in a rage, handed him worse than all the\nrest, and took it grievously that he was mocked.\n\n7:40 So this man died undefiled, and put his whole trust in the Lord.\n\n7:41 Last of all after the sons the mother died.\n\n7:42 Let this be enough now to have spoken concerning the idolatrous\nfeasts, and the extreme tortures.\n\n8:1 Then Judas Maccabeus, and they that were with him, went privily\ninto the towns, and called their kinsfolks together, and took unto them\nall such as continued in the Jews\u2019 religion, and assembled about six\nthousand men.\n\n8:2 And they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon the people\nthat was trodden down of all; and also pity the temple profaned of\nungodly men;\n\n8:3 And that he would have compassion upon the city, sore defaced, and\nready to be made even with the ground; and hear the blood that cried\nunto him,\n\n8:4 And remember the wicked slaughter of harmless infants, and the\nblasphemies committed against his name; and that he would shew his\nhatred against the wicked.\n\n8:5 Now when Maccabeus had his company about him, he could not be\nwithstood by the heathen: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into\nmercy.\n\n8:6 Therefore he came at unawares, and burnt up towns and cities, and\ngot into his hands the most commodious places, and overcame and put to\nflight no small number of his enemies.\n\n8:7 But specially took he advantage of the night for such privy\nattempts, insomuch that the bruit of his manliness was spread every\nwhere.\n\n8:8 So when Philip saw that this man increased by little and little,\nand that things prospered with him still more and more, he wrote unto\nPtolemeus, the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, to yield more aid to\nthe king\u2019s affairs.\n\n8:9 Then forthwith choosing Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of his\nspecial friends, he sent him with no fewer than twenty thousand of all\nnations under him, to root out the whole generation of the Jews; and\nwith him he joined also Gorgias a captain, who in matters of war had\ngreat experience.\n\n8:10 So Nicanor undertook to make so much money of the captive Jews, as\nshould defray the tribute of two thousand talents, which the king was\nto pay to the Romans.\n\n8:11 Wherefore immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast,\nproclaiming a sale of the captive Jews, and promising that they should\nhave fourscore and ten bodies for one talent, not expecting the\nvengeance that was to follow upon him from the Almighty God.\n\n8:12 Now when word was brought unto Judas of Nicanor\u2019s coming, and he\nhad imparted unto those that were with him that the army was at hand,\n\n8:13 They that were fearful, and distrusted the justice of God, fled,\nand conveyed themselves away.\n\n8:14 Others sold all that they had left, and withal besought the Lord\nto deliver them, being sold by the wicked Nicanor before they met\ntogether:\n\n8:15 And if not for their own sakes, yet for the covenants he had made\nwith their fathers, and for his holy and glorious name\u2019s sake, by which\nthey were called.\n\n8:16 So Maccabeus called his men together unto the number of six\nthousand, and exhorted them not to be stricken with terror of the\nenemy, nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen, who came wrongly\nagainst them; but to fight manfully,\n\n8:17 And to set before their eyes the injury that they had unjustly\ndone to the holy place, and the cruel handling of the city, whereof\nthey made a mockery, and also the taking away of the government of\ntheir forefathers:\n\n8:18 For they, said he, trust in their weapons and boldness; but our\nconfidence is in the Almighty who at a beck can cast down both them\nthat come against us, and also all the world.\n\n8:19 Moreover, he recounted unto them what helps their forefathers had\nfound, and how they were delivered, when under Sennacherib an hundred\nfourscore and five thousand perished.\n\n8:20 And he told them of the battle that they had in Babylon with the\nGalatians, how they came but eight thousand in all to the business,\nwith four thousand Macedonians, and that the Macedonians being\nperplexed, the eight thousand destroyed an hundred and twenty thousand\nbecause of the help that they had from heaven, and so received a great\nbooty.\n\n8:21 Thus when he had made them bold with these words, and ready to die\nfor the law and the country, he divided his army into four parts;\n\n8:22 And joined with himself his own brethren, leaders of each band, to\nwit Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving each one fifteen hundred\nmen.\n\n8:23 Also he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book: and when he had\ngiven them this watchword, The help of God; himself leading the first\nband, he joined battle with Nicanor.\n\n8:24 And by the help of the Almighty they slew above nine thousand of\ntheir enemies, and wounded and maimed the most part of Nicanor\u2019s host,\nand so put all to flight;\n\n8:25 And took their money that came to buy them, and pursued them far:\nbut lacking time they returned:\n\n8:26 For it was the day before the sabbath, and therefore they would no\nlonger pursue them.\n\n8:27 So when they had gathered their armour together, and spoiled their\nenemies, they occupied themselves about the sabbath, yielding exceeding\npraise and thanks to the Lord, who had preserved them unto that day,\nwhich was the beginning of mercy distilling upon them.\n\n8:28 And after the sabbath, when they had given part of the spoils to\nthe maimed, and the widows, and orphans, the residue they divided among\nthemselves and their servants.\n\n8:29 When this was done, and they had made a common supplication, they\nbesought the merciful Lord to be reconciled with his servants for ever.\n\n8:30 Moreover of those that were with Timotheus and Bacchides, who\nfought against them, they slew above twenty thousand, and very easily\ngot high and strong holds, and divided among themselves many spoils\nmore, and made the maimed, orphans, widows, yea, and the aged also,\nequal in spoils with themselves.\n\n8:31 And when they had gathered their armour together, they laid them\nup all carefully in convenient places, and the remnant of the spoils\nthey brought to Jerusalem.\n\n8:32 They slew also Philarches, that wicked person, who was with\nTimotheus, and had annoyed the Jews many ways.\n\n8:33 Furthermore at such time as they kept the feast for the victory in\ntheir country they burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire upon the holy\ngates, who had fled into a little house; and so he received a reward\nmeet for his wickedness.\n\n8:34 As for that most ungracious Nicanor, who had brought a thousand\nmerchants to buy the Jews,\n\n8:35 He was through the help of the Lord brought down by them, of whom\nhe made least account; and putting off his glorious apparel, and\ndischarging his company, he came like a fugitive servant through the\nmidland unto Antioch having very great dishonour, for that his host was\ndestroyed.\n\n8:36 Thus he, that took upon him to make good to the Romans their\ntribute by means of captives in Jerusalem, told abroad, that the Jews\nhad God to fight for them, and therefore they could not be hurt,\nbecause they followed the laws that he gave them.\n\n9:1 About that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the country of\nPersia.\n\n9:2 For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and went about to\nrob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude running\nto defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight; and so it\nhappened, that Antiochus being put to flight of the inhabitants\nreturned with shame.\n\n9:3 Now when he came to Ecbatane, news was brought him what had\nhappened unto Nicanor and Timotheus.\n\n9:4 Then swelling with anger, he thought to avenge upon the Jews the\ndisgrace done unto him by those that made him flee. Therefore commanded\nhe his chariotman to drive without ceasing, and to dispatch the\njourney, the judgment of God now following him. For he had spoken\nproudly in this sort, That he would come to Jerusalem and make it a\ncommon burying place of the Jews.\n\n9:5 But the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, smote him with an\nincurable and invisible plague: or as soon as he had spoken these\nwords, a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon him, and sore\ntorments of the inner parts;\n\n9:6 And that most justly: for he had tormented other men\u2019s bowels with\nmany and strange torments.\n\n9:7 Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was\nfilled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and\ncommanding to haste the journey: but it came to pass that he fell down\nfrom his chariot, carried violently; so that having a sore fall, all\nthe members of his body were much pained.\n\n9:8 And thus he that a little afore thought he might command the waves\nof the sea, (so proud was he beyond the condition of man) and weigh the\nhigh mountains in a balance, was now cast on the ground, and carried in\nan horselitter, shewing forth unto all the manifest power of God.\n\n9:9 So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and\nwhiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the\nfilthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.\n\n9:10 And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach to the\nstars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable\nstink.\n\n9:11 Here therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his great\npride, and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of God,\nhis pain increasing every moment.\n\n9:12 And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these\nwords, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal\nshould not proudly think of himself if he were God.\n\n9:13 This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more would\nhave mercy upon him, saying thus,\n\n9:14 That the holy city (to the which he was going in haste to lay it\neven with the ground, and to make it a common buryingplace,) he would\nset at liberty:\n\n9:15 And as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy so much as\nto be buried, but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of\nthe fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all equals to the\ncitizens of Athens:\n\n9:16 And the holy temple, which before he had spoiled, he would garnish\nwith goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels with many more, and\nout of his own revenue defray the charges belonging to the sacrifices:\n\n9:17 Yea, and that also he would become a Jew himself, and go through\nall the world that was inhabited, and declare the power of God.\n\n9:18 But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment\nof God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote\nunto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a\nsupplication, after this manner:\n\n9:19 Antiochus, king and governor, to the good Jews his citizens\nwisheth much joy, health, and prosperity:\n\n9:20 If ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to your\ncontentment, I give very great thanks to God, having my hope in heaven.\n\n9:21 As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your\nhonour and good will returning out of Persia, and being taken with a\ngrievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety\nof all:\n\n9:22 Not distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape this\nsickness.\n\n9:23 But considering that even my father, at what time he led an army\ninto the high countries, appointed a successor,\n\n9:24 To the end that, if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or\nif any tidings were brought that were grievous, they of the land,\nknowing to whom the state was left, might not be troubled:\n\n9:25 Again, considering how that the princes that are borderers and\nneighbours unto my kingdom wait for opportunities, and expect what\nshall be the event. I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom I\noften committed and commended unto many of you, when I went up into the\nhigh provinces; to whom I have written as followeth:\n\n9:26 Therefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits that I\nhave done unto you generally, and in special, and that every man will\nbe still faithful to me and my son.\n\n9:27 For I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favourably\nand graciously yield to your desires.\n\n9:28 Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously,\nas he entreated other men, so died he a miserable death in a strange\ncountry in the mountains.\n\n9:29 And Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body,\nwho also fearing the son of Antiochus went into Egypt to Ptolemeus\nPhilometor.\n\n10:1 Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered\nthe temple and the city:\n\n10:2 But the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and\nalso the chapels, they pulled down.\n\n10:3 And having cleansed the temple they made another altar, and\nstriking stones they took fire out of them, and offered a sacrifice\nafter two years, and set forth incense, and lights, and shewbread.\n\n10:4 When that was done, they fell flat down, and besought the Lord\nthat they might come no more into such troubles; but if they sinned any\nmore against him, that he himself would chasten them with mercy, and\nthat they might not be delivered unto the blasphemous and barbarous\nnations.\n\n10:5 Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple, on\nthe very same day it was cleansed again, even the five and twentieth\nday of the same month, which is Casleu.\n\n10:6 And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the\ntabernacles, remembering that not long afore they had held the feast of\nthe tabernacles, when as they wandered in the mountains and dens like\nbeasts.\n\n10:7 Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and\nsang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his\nplace.\n\n10:8 They ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every year\nthose days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.\n\n10:9 And this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.\n\n10:10 Now will we declare the acts of Antiochus Eupator, who was the\nson of this wicked man, gathering briefly the calamities of the wars.\n\n10:11 So when he was come to the crown, he set one Lysias over the\naffairs of his realm, and appointed him his chief governor of Celosyria\nand Phenice.\n\n10:12 For Ptolemeus, that was called Macron, choosing rather to do\njustice unto the Jews for the wrong that had been done unto them,\nendeavoured to continue peace with them.\n\n10:13 Whereupon being accused of the king\u2019s friends before Eupator, and\ncalled traitor at every word because he had left Cyprus, that\nPhilometor had committed unto him, and departed to Antiochus Epiphanes,\nand seeing that he was in no honourable place, he was so discouraged,\nthat he poisoned himself and died.\n\n10:14 But when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired soldiers,\nand nourished war continually with the Jews:\n\n10:15 And therewithall the Idumeans, having gotten into their hands the\nmost commodious holds, kept the Jews occupied, and receiving those that\nwere banished from Jerusalem, they went about to nourish war.\n\n10:16 Then they that were with Maccabeus made supplication, and\nbesought God that he would be their helper; and so they ran with\nviolence upon the strong holds of the Idumeans,\n\n10:17 And assaulting them strongly, they won the holds, and kept off\nall that fought upon the wall, and slew all that fell into their hands,\nand killed no fewer than twenty thousand.\n\n10:18 And because certain, who were no less than nine thousand, were\nfled together into two very strong castles, having all manner of things\nconvenient to sustain the siege,\n\n10:19 Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zaccheus also, and them that\nwere with him, who were enough to besiege them, and departed himself\nunto those places which more needed his help.\n\n10:20 Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were\npersuaded for money through certain of those that were in the castle,\nand took seventy thousand drachms, and let some of them escape.\n\n10:21 But when it was told Maccabeus what was done, he called the\ngovernors of the people together, and accused those men, that they had\nsold their brethren for money, and set their enemies free to fight\nagainst them.\n\n10:22 So he slew those that were found traitors, and immediately took\nthe two castles.\n\n10:23 And having good success with his weapons in all things he took in\nhand, he slew in the two holds more than twenty thousand.\n\n10:24 Now Timotheus, whom the Jews had overcome before, when he had\ngathered a great multitude of foreign forces, and horses out of Asia\nnot a few, came as though he would take Jewry by force of arms.\n\n10:25 But when he drew near, they that were with Maccabeus turned\nthemselves to pray unto God, and sprinkled earth upon their heads, and\ngirded their loins with sackcloth,\n\n10:26 And fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought him to be\nmerciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary\nto their adversaries, as the law declareth.\n\n10:27 So after the prayer they took their weapons, and went on further\nfrom the city: and when they drew near to their enemies, they kept by\nthemselves.\n\n10:28 Now the sun being newly risen, they joined both together; the one\npart having together with their virtue their refuge also unto the Lord\nfor a pledge of their success and victory: the other side making their\nrage leader of their battle\n\n10:29 But when the battle waxed strong, there appeared unto the enemies\nfrom heaven five comely men upon horses, with bridles of gold, and two\nof them led the Jews,\n\n10:30 And took Maccabeus betwixt them, and covered him on every side\nwith their weapons, and kept him safe, but shot arrows and lightnings\nagainst the enemies: so that being confounded with blindness, and full\nof trouble, they were killed.\n\n10:31 And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred,\nand six hundred horsemen.\n\n10:32 As for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold, called\nGazara, where Chereas was governor.\n\n10:33 But they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the fortress\ncourageously four days.\n\n10:34 And they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place,\nblasphemed exceedingly, and uttered wicked words.\n\n10:35 Nevertheless upon the fifth day early twenty young men of\nMaccabeus\u2019 company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies,\nassaulted the wall manly, and with a fierce courage killed all that\nthey met withal.\n\n10:36 Others likewise ascending after them, whiles they were busied\nwith them that were within, burnt the towers, and kindling fires burnt\nthe blasphemers alive; and others broke open the gates, and, having\nreceived in the rest of the army, took the city,\n\n10:37 And killed Timotheus, that was hid in a certain pit, and Chereas\nhis brother, with Apollophanes.\n\n10:38 When this was done, they praised the Lord with psalms and\nthanksgiving, who had done so great things for Israel, and given them\nthe victory.\n\n11:1 Not long after the Lysias the king\u2019s protector and cousin, who\nalso managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that\nwere done.\n\n11:2 And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the\nhorsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the city an\nhabitation of the Gentiles,\n\n11:3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other chapels of the\nheathen, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:\n\n11:4 Not at all considering the power of God but puffed up with his ten\nthousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore\nelephants.\n\n11:5 So he came to Judea, and drew near to Bethsura, which was a strong\ntown, but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs, and he laid sore\nsiege unto it.\n\n11:6 Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the\nholds, they and all the people with lamentation and tears besought the\nLord that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel.\n\n11:7 Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the\nother that they would jeopard themselves together with him to help\ntheir brethren: so they went forth together with a willing mind.\n\n11:8 And as they were at Jerusalem, there appeared before them on\nhorseback one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold.\n\n11:9 Then they praised the merciful God all together, and took heart,\ninsomuch that they were ready not only to fight with men, but with most\ncruel beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron.\n\n11:10 Thus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper from\nheaven: for the Lord was merciful unto them.\n\n11:11 And giving a charge upon their enemies like lions, they slew\neleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the\nother to flight.\n\n11:12 Many of them also being wounded escaped naked; and Lysias himself\nfled away shamefully, and so escaped.\n\n11:13 Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what\nloss he had had, and considering that the Hebrews could not be\novercome, because the Almighty God helped them, he sent unto them,\n\n11:14 And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and\npromised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend\nunto them.\n\n11:15 Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being\ncareful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto Lysias\nconcerning the Jews, the king granted it.\n\n11:16 For there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to this\neffect: Lysias unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:\n\n11:17 John and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the\npetition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the\ncontents thereof.\n\n11:18 Therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the\nking, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be.\n\n11:19 And if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state, hereafter\nalso will I endeavour to be a means of your good.\n\n11:20 But of the particulars I have given order both to these and the\nother that came from me, to commune with you.\n\n11:21 Fare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four\nand twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.\n\n11:22 Now the king\u2019s letter contained these words: King Antiochus unto\nhis brother Lysias sendeth greeting:\n\n11:23 Since our father is translated unto the gods, our will is, that\nthey that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may attend upon\nhis own affairs.\n\n11:24 We understand also that the Jews would not consent to our father,\nfor to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but had rather keep\ntheir own manner of living: for the which cause they require of us,\nthat we should suffer them to live after their own laws.\n\n11:25 Wherefore our mind is, that this nation shall be in rest, and we\nhave determined to restore them their temple, that they may live\naccording to the customs of their forefathers.\n\n11:26 Thou shalt do well therefore to send unto them, and grant them\npeace, that when they are certified of our mind, they may be of good\ncomfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own affairs.\n\n11:27 And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was after\nthis manner: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council, and the\nrest of the Jews:\n\n11:28 If ye fare well, we have our desire; we are also in good health.\n\n11:29 Menelaus declared unto us, that your desire was to return home,\nand to follow your own business:\n\n11:30 Wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till the\nthirtieth day of Xanthicus with security.\n\n11:31 And the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as\nbefore; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for\nthings ignorantly done.\n\n11:32 I have sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.\n\n11:33 Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the\nfifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.\n\n11:34 The Romans also sent unto them a letter containing these words:\nQuintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the Romans, send\ngreeting unto the people of the Jews.\n\n11:35 Whatsoever Lysias the king\u2019s cousin hath granted, therewith we\nalso are well pleased.\n\n11:36 But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king,\nafter ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare\nas it is convenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.\n\n11:37 Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your\nmind.\n\n11:38 Farewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the fifteenth\nday of the month Xanthicus.\n\n12:1 When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the\nJews were about their husbandry.\n\n12:2 But of the governors of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius\nthe son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them\nNicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and\nlive in peace.\n\n12:3 The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the\nJews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the\nboats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.\n\n12:4 Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as\nbeing desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they\nwere gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of\nthem.\n\n12:5 When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he\ncommanded those that were with him to make them ready.\n\n12:6 And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those\nmurderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the\nboats on fire, and those that fled thither he slew.\n\n12:7 And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would\nreturn to root out all them of the city of Joppa.\n\n12:8 But when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like\nmanner unto the Jews that dwelt among them,\n\n12:9 He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven\nand the navy, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two\nhundred and forty furlongs off.\n\n12:10 Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their\njourney toward Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on foot and\nfive hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon him.\n\n12:11 Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas\u2019 side by the\nhelp of God got the victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being\novercome, besought Judas for peace, promising both to give him cattle,\nand to pleasure him otherwise.\n\n12:12 Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many\nthings, granted them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they\ndeparted to their tents.\n\n12:13 He went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city,\nwhich was fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of divers\ncountries; and the name of it was Caspis.\n\n12:14 But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of\nthe walls and provision of victuals, that they behaved themselves\nrudely toward them that were with Judas, railing and blaspheming, and\nuttering such words as were not to be spoken.\n\n12:15 Wherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord of\nthe world, who without rams or engines of war did cast down Jericho in\nthe time of Joshua, gave a fierce assault against the walls,\n\n12:16 And took the city by the will of God, and made unspeakable\nslaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining\nthereunto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.\n\n12:17 Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs,\nand came to Characa unto the Jews that are called Tubieni.\n\n12:18 But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for\nbefore he had dispatched any thing, he departed from thence, having\nleft a very strong garrison in a certain hold.\n\n12:19 Howbeit Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus\u2019 captains,\nwent forth, and slew those that Timotheus had left in the fortress,\nabove ten thousand men.\n\n12:20 And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the\nbands, and went against Timotheus, who had about him an hundred and\ntwenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred\nhorsemen.\n\n12:21 Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas\u2019 coming, he sent the\nwomen and children and the other baggage unto a fortress called\nCarnion: for the town was hard to besiege, and uneasy to come unto, by\nreason of the straitness of all the places.\n\n12:22 But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being\nsmitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him who seeth all\nthings, fled amain, one running into this way, another that way, so as\nthat they were often hurt of their own men, and wounded with the points\nof their own swords.\n\n12:23 Judas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those\nwicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men.\n\n12:24 Moreover Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and\nSosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his\nlife, because he had many of the Jews\u2019 parents, and the brethren of\nsome of them, who, if they put him to death, should not be regarded.\n\n12:25 So when he had assured them with many words that he would restore\nthem without hurt, according to the agreement, they let him go for the\nsaving of their brethren.\n\n12:26 Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the temple of\nAtargatis, and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons.\n\n12:27 And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed\nthe host toward Ephron, a strong city, wherein Lysias abode, and a\ngreat multitude of divers nations, and the strong young men kept the\nwalls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of\nengines and darts.\n\n12:28 But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, who\nwith his power breaketh the strength of his enemies, they won the city,\nand slew twenty and five thousand of them that were within,\n\n12:29 From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred\nfurlongs from Jerusalem,\n\n12:30 But when the Jews that dwelt there had testified that the\nScythopolitans dealt lovingly with them, and entreated them kindly in\nthe time of their adversity;\n\n12:31 They gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still unto\nthem: and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks\napproaching.\n\n12:32 And after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth against\nGorgias the governor of Idumea,\n\n12:33 Who came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred\nhorsemen.\n\n12:34 And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews\nwere slain.\n\n12:35 At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor\u2019s company, who was on\nhorseback, and a strong man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking hold of\nhis coat drew him by force; and when he would have taken that cursed\nman alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him smote off his\nshoulder, so that Gorgias fled unto Marisa.\n\n12:36 Now when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and were\nweary, Judas called upon the Lord, that he would shew himself to be\ntheir helper and leader of the battle.\n\n12:37 And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with\na loud voice, and rushing unawares upon Gorgias\u2019 men, he put them to\nflight.\n\n12:38 So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam,\nAnd when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, as the custom\nwas, and kept the sabbath in the same place.\n\n12:39 And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his\ncompany came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury\nthem with their kinsmen in their fathers\u2019 graves.\n\n12:40 Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things\nconsecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews\nby the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they\nwere slain.\n\n12:41 All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had\nopened the things that were hid,\n\n12:42 Betook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin\ncommitted might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble\nJudas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as\nthey saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of\nthose that were slain.\n\n12:43 And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the\nsum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer\na sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was\nmindful of the resurrection:\n\n12:44 For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have\nrisen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.\n\n12:45 And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up\nfor those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon\nhe made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered\nfrom sin.\n\n13:1 In the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas, that\nAntiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea,\n\n13:2 And with him Lysias his protector, and ruler of his affairs,\nhaving either of them a Grecian power of footmen, an hundred and ten\nthousand, and horsemen five thousand and three hundred, and elephants\ntwo and twenty, and three hundred chariots armed with hooks.\n\n13:3 Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great\ndissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the safeguard of the\ncountry, but because he thought to have been made governor.\n\n13:4 But the King of kings moved Antiochus\u2019 mind against this wicked\nwretch, and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all\nmischief, so that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea, and to\nput him to death, as the manner is in that place.\n\n13:5 Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high, full of\nashes, and it had a round instrument which on every side hanged down\ninto the ashes.\n\n13:6 And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or had committed any\nother grievous crime, there did all men thrust him unto death.\n\n13:7 Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having so\nmuch as burial in the earth; and that most justly:\n\n13:8 For inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar, whose\nfire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.\n\n13:9 Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far\nworse to the Jews, than had been done in his father\u2019s time.\n\n13:10 Which things when Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude to\ncall upon the Lord night and day, that if ever at any other time, he\nwould now also help them, being at the point to be put from their law,\nfrom their country, and from the holy temple:\n\n13:11 And that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been\nbut a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations.\n\n13:12 So when they had all done this together, and besought the\nmerciful Lord with weeping and fasting, and lying flat upon the ground\nthree days long, Judas, having exhorted them, commanded they should be\nin a readiness.\n\n13:13 And Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before the\nking\u2019s host should enter into Judea, and get the city, to go forth and\ntry the matter in fight by the help of the Lord.\n\n13:14 So when he had committed all to the Creator of the world, and\nexhorted his soldiers to fight manfully, even unto death, for the laws,\nthe temple, the city, the country, and the commonwealth, he camped by\nModin:\n\n13:15 And having given the watchword to them that were about him,\nVictory is of God; with the most valiant and choice young men he went\nin into the king\u2019s tent by night, and slew in the camp about four\nthousand men, and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that were\nupon him.\n\n13:16 And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and\ndeparted with good success.\n\n13:17 This was done in the break of the day, because the protection of\nthe Lord did help him.\n\n13:18 Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews,\nhe went about to take the holds by policy,\n\n13:19 And marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews:\nbut he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:\n\n13:20 For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as\nwere necessary.\n\n13:21 But Rhodocus, who was in the Jews\u2019 host, disclosed the secrets to\nthe enemies; therefore he was sought out, and when they had gotten him,\nthey put him in prison.\n\n13:22 The king treated with them in Bethsura the second time, gave his\nhand, took theirs, departed, fought with Judas, was overcome;\n\n13:23 Heard that Philip, who was left over the affairs in Antioch, was\ndesperately bent, confounded, intreated the Jews, submitted himself,\nand sware to all equal conditions, agreed with them, and offered\nsacrifice, honoured the temple, and dealt kindly with the place,\n\n13:24 And accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor from\nPtolemais unto the Gerrhenians;\n\n13:25 Came to Ptolemais: the people there were grieved for the\ncovenants; for they stormed, because they would make their covenants\nvoid:\n\n13:26 Lysias went up to the judgment seat, said as much as could be in\ndefence of the cause, persuaded, pacified, made them well affected,\nreturned to Antioch. Thus it went touching the king\u2019s coming and\ndeparting.\n\n14:1 After three years was Judas informed, that Demetrius the son of\nSeleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great power\nand navy,\n\n14:2 Had taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and Lysias his\nprotector.\n\n14:3 Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest, and had defiled himself\nwilfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that\nby no means he could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy\naltar,\n\n14:4 Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year,\npresenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and also of the boughs\nwhich were used solemnly in the temple: and so that day he held his\npeace.\n\n14:5 Howbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish\nenterprize, and being called into counsel by Demetrius, and asked how\nthe Jews stood affected, and what they intended, he answered thereunto:\n\n14:6 Those of the Jews that he called Assideans, whose captain is Judas\nMaccabeus, nourish war and are seditious, and will not let the realm be\nin peace.\n\n14:7 Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors\u2019 honour, I mean the\nhigh priesthood, am now come hither:\n\n14:8 First, verily for the unfeigned care I have of things pertaining\nto the king; and secondly, even for that I intend the good of mine own\ncountrymen: for all our nation is in no small misery through the\nunadvised dealing of them aforersaid.\n\n14:9 Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, be\ncareful for the country, and our nation, which is pressed on every\nside, according to the clemency that thou readily shewest unto all.\n\n14:10 For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state\nshould be quiet.\n\n14:11 This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king\u2019s\nfriends, being maliciously set against Judas, did more incense\nDemetrius.\n\n14:12 And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the\nelephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him forth,\n\n14:13 Commanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter them that were with\nhim, and to make Alcimus high priest of the great temple.\n\n14:14 Then the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to\nNicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities of the Jews to be\ntheir welfare.\n\n14:15 Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor\u2019s coming, and that the heathen\nwere up against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made\nsupplication to him that had established his people for ever, and who\nalways helpeth his portion with manifestation of his presence.\n\n14:16 So at the commandment of the captain they removed straightways\nfrom thence, and came near unto them at the town of Dessau.\n\n14:17 Now Simon, Judas\u2019 brother, had joined battle with Nicanor, but\nwas somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies.\n\n14:18 Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the manliness of them that were\nwith Judas, and the courageousness that they had to fight for their\ncountry, durst not try the matter by the sword.\n\n14:19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Mattathias, to\nmake peace.\n\n14:20 So when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the captain\nhad made the multitude acquainted therewith, and it appeared that they\nwere all of one mind, they consented to the covenants,\n\n14:21 And appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and when\nthe day came, and stools were set for either of them,\n\n14:22 Ludas placed armed men ready in convenient places, lest some\ntreachery should be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made a\npeaceable conference.\n\n14:23 Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no hurt, but sent away\nthe people that came flocking unto him.\n\n14:24 And he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight: for he\nloved the man from his heart.\n\n14:25 He prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so he\nmarried, was quiet, and took part of this life.\n\n14:26 But Alcimus, perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and\nconsidering the covenants that were made, came to Demetrius, and told\nhim that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state; for that he\nhad ordained Judas, a traitor to his realm, to be the king\u2019s successor.\n\n14:27 Then the king being in a rage, and provoked with the accusations\nof the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was much\ndispleased with the covenants, and commanding him that he should send\nMaccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Antioch.\n\n14:28 When this came to Nicanor\u2019s hearing, he was much confounded in\nhimself, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles\nwhich were agreed upon, the man being in no fault.\n\n14:29 But because there was no dealing against the king, he watched his\ntime to accomplish this thing by policy.\n\n14:30 Notwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be\nchurlish unto him, and that he entreated him more roughly than he was\nwont, perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of good, he gathered\ntogether not a few of his men, and withdrew himself from Nicanor.\n\n14:31 But the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by Judas\u2019\npolicy, came into the great and holy temple, and commanded the priests,\nthat were offering their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the man.\n\n14:32 And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was\nwhom he sought,\n\n14:33 He stretched out his right hand toward the temple, and made an\noath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I\nwill lay this temple of God even with the ground, and I will break down\nthe altar, and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus.\n\n14:34 After these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up their\nhands toward heaven, and besought him that was ever a defender of their\nnation, saying in this manner;\n\n14:35 Thou, O Lord of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast\npleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us:\n\n14:36 Therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house ever\nundefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every unrighteous mouth.\n\n14:37 Now was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the elders\nof Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen, and a man of very good report,\nwho for his kindness was called a father of the Jews.\n\n14:38 For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with\nthe Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and did boldly jeopard\nhis body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews.\n\n14:39 So Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the\nJews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him:\n\n14:40 For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.\n\n14:41 Now when the multitude would have taken the tower, and violently\nbroken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to\nburn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;\n\n14:42 Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of\nthe wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:\n\n14:43 But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing\nwithin the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down\nmanfully among the thickest of them.\n\n14:44 But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell\ndown into the midst of the void place.\n\n14:45 Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being\ninflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like\nspouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the\nmidst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,\n\n14:46 When as his blood was now quite gone, he plucked out his bowels,\nand taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the throng, and\ncalling upon the Lord of life and spirit to restore him those again, he\nthus died.\n\n15:1 But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong\nplaces about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on\nthe sabbath day.\n\n15:2 Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O\ndestroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour to that day,\nwhich he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with holiness above all\nother days.\n\n15:3 Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty\none in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.\n\n15:4 And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty,\nwho commanded the seventh day to be kept:\n\n15:5 Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I\ncommand to take arms, and to do the king\u2019s business. Yet he obtained\nnot to have his wicked will done.\n\n15:6 So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up\na publick monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with\nhim.\n\n15:7 But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help\nhim:\n\n15:8 Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the\nheathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times\nthey had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid,\nwhich should come unto them from the Almighty.\n\n15:9 And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal\nputting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, he made them\nmore cheerful.\n\n15:10 And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their\ncharge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen, and the\nbreach of oaths.\n\n15:11 Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of\nshields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside\nthat, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so\nindeed, which did not a little rejoice them.\n\n15:12 And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a\nvirtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition,\nwell spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue,\nholding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.\n\n15:13 This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs,\nand exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty.\n\n15:14 Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who\nprayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias\nthe prophet of God.\n\n15:15 Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a\nsword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,\n\n15:16 Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt\nwound the adversaries.\n\n15:17 Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very\ngood, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage the hearts\nof the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously\nto set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because\nthe city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.\n\n15:18 For the care that they took for their wives, and their children,\ntheir brethren, and folks, was in least account with them: but the\ngreatest and principal fear was for the holy temple.\n\n15:19 Also they that were in the city took not the least care, being\ntroubled for the conflict abroad.\n\n15:20 And now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the\nenemies were already come near, and the army was set in array, and the\nbeasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings,\n\n15:21 Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers\npreparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out\nhis hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders,\nknowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to\nhim, he giveth it to such as are worthy:\n\n15:22 Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord, thou\ndidst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of Judea, and didst\nslay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand:\n\n15:23 Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us\nfor a fear and dread unto them;\n\n15:24 And through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with\nterror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended\nthus.\n\n15:25 Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with\ntrumpets and songs.\n\n15:26 But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation\nand prayer.\n\n15:27 So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with\ntheir hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for\nthrough the appearance of God they were greatly cheered.\n\n15:28 Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew\nthat Nicanor lay dead in his harness.\n\n15:29 Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty\nin their own language.\n\n15:30 And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both\nin body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all\nhis life, commanded to strike off Nicanor\u2019s head, and his hand with his\nshoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.\n\n15:31 So when he was there, and called them of his nation together, and\nset the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the\ntower,\n\n15:32 And shewed them vile Nicanor\u2019s head, and the hand of that\nblasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the\nholy temple of the Almighty.\n\n15:33 And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, he\ncommanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls, and hang\nup the reward of his madness before the temple.\n\n15:34 So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, saying,\nBlessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.\n\n15:35 He hanged also Nicanor\u2019s head upon the tower, an evident and\nmanifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord.\n\n15:36 And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that\nday pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirtieth day of the\ntwelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the day\nbefore Mardocheus\u2019 day.\n\n15:37 Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the Hebrews\nhad the city in their power. And here will I make an end.\n\n15:38 And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that\nwhich I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could\nattain unto.\n\n15:39 For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine\nmingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so\nspeech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story.\nAnd here shall be an end.","title":"Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible: Apocrypha","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":147215}